Wednesday’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has nine games starting at 6:40 p.m. ET. The suggested player props from PrizePicks and Underdog are also from the nine-game slate.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Wednesday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Carlos Rodon (NYY) vs. MIN
Carlos Rodon has had five consecutive quality starts heading into tonight. According to FanGraphs, in those five starts spanning 30.1 innings, the lefty has had a 2.37 ERA, 4.01 SIERA, 0.96 WHIP, 5.0 BB%, 21.7 K%, 28.7 CSW%, 122 Stuff+, 100 Location+ and 107 Pitching+. Rodon's gap between his ERA and SIERA wasn't ideal, but his elite pitch modeling assuaged some of the concern.
The Twins aren't a flawless matchup, but the betting info is stellar. Minnesota is 12th in wRC+ (106) with a 21.3 K% versus lefties and tied for 10th in wRC+ (103) with a 22.4 K% on the road this year. The Yankees are -190 tonight, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) at OAK
Logan Gilbert was white-hot to open the season, got shelled for eight runs by the Twins on May 9 and has bounced back, albeit not to his scalding-hot start to the year. In Gilbert's past four starts totaling 24.2 innings, he's had a 4.01 ERA, 3.79 xFIP, 4.00 SIERA, 1.14 WHIP, 5.1 BB%, 17.3 K%, 26.0 CSW%, 123 Stuff+, 101 Location+ and 104 Pitching+. Gilbert's pitch modeling was superb, and it is encouraging for his outlook tonight.
The matchup is ideal for Gilbert's ceiling, and the betting info is beautiful. This year, the Athletics are tied for 15th in wRC+ (99) with a 26.5 K% versus righties and tied for sixth in wRC+ (115) with a 24.0 K% at home. They were 12th in wRC+ (104) with a 26.1 K% in the previous 14 days. Thus, the Mariners are -160, and the game's total is 7.5 runs.
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs. LAD
Paul Skenes has lived up to his lofty prospect billing. In four starts spanning 22.0 innings for the Pirates, he has a 2.45 ERA, 2.82 xERA, 2.23 SIERA, 0.91 WHIP, 6.0 BB%, 35.7 K%, 30.0 CSW%, 113 Stuff+, 107 Location+ and 112 Pitching+. Skenes has had three straight quality starts and struck out at least seven batters in three of four turns.
The flame-throwing righty has a challenging matchup tonight. This season, the Dodgers are fourth in wRC+ (117) with a 22.7 K% versus righties and tied for third in wRC+ (117) with a 21.9 K% on the road. However, they were just 11th in wRC+ (106) with a 20.7 K% in the previous 14 days. The challenging matchup could also depress the percentage of rosters Skenes is on, enhancing his DFS appeal if he pitches to his capabilities. Finally, the Pirates are -120, and the game's total is a non-threatening 8.0 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Pirates have a delectable matchup tonight after getting past James Paxton's luck-aided ERA. In the veteran lefty's previous five starts, he had a 3.08 ERA, 4.58 xFIP, 4.71 SIERA, 1.10 WHIP, 5.7 BB%, 15.2 K%, 19.7 CSW%, 72 Stuff+, 103 Location+ and 93 Pitching+. The other shoe will drop for Paxton, so rolling the dice on the Pirates at their affordable salaries tonight is appealing.
- Home (Progressive Field)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/CLE -120
Brady Singer has outkicked his ERA estimators. In his last four starts, he has had a 2.95 ERA, 3.52 xFIP and 3.58 SIERA. The righty's ERA estimators were rock-solid. Therefore, Singer isn't a punching bag. Still, he's yielded a .336 wOBA to left-handed batters this season, and Cleveland's projected lineup has seven lefties.
Moreover, the Guardians have a potent offense. They're tied for 15th in wRC+ (99) versus righties and ninth in wRC+ (109) at home. Finally, they were third in wRC+ (121) in the previous 14 days.
Core Studs
- In 258 plate appearances this year, Jose Ramirez has a .329 OBP, .268 ISO, 144 wRC+ and nine stolen bases.
- In 250 plate appearances this year, Adley Rutschman has a .344 OBP, .163 ISO and 133 wRC+. Additionally, while it's usually unwise to put any stock in batter-versus-pitcher data, Rutschman has dominated Jose Berrios to an unbelievable degree, with the batted-ball data to support his dominance.
- In 591 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Andrew McCutchen has hit 29 homers with a .367 OBP, .232 ISO and 134 wRC+.
Value Plays/Punts
- In 282 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Edward Olivares has hit 12 homers with a .311 OBP, .220 ISO and 113 wRC+.
- J.P. Crawford is a bargain for a leadoff hitter with above-average numbers against righties. Since 2021, he's had a .353 OBP and 114 wRC+ against righties.
- Daniel Schneemann isn't a shoo-in to start, as it remains to be seen if he'll stick as a regular or semi-regular starter in Cleveland's lineup. Still, if he starts tonight, he's an exciting minimum salary selection at DK and a near-minimum pick at FD. In 223 plate appearances in Triple-A this year, Schneemann hit 10 homers and stole four bases with a .428 OBP, .261 ISO and 155 wRC+.
Wednesday's Top 3 Underdog and PrizePicks Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Jose Ramirez: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)
Jose Ramirez: 8.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
In addition to Ramirez's excellent full-season totals, he's in a groove and has a track record of success against righties. In 115 plate appearances since May 5, Ramirez has hit 11 homers and stolen five bases with a .400 OBP, .398 ISO and 216 wRC+. Furthermore, since 2021, Ramirez has had a .361 OBP, .243 ISO and 142 wRC+ against right-handed pitching.
Adley Rutschman: 7.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)
Adley Rutschman: 6.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
Rutschman is in the same boat as Ramirez. In other words, he's having a superb season but is also hot and has a favorable track record against righties. In Rutschman's past 79 plate appearances, he's had a .354 OBP, .194 ISO and 142 wRC+. Finally, since debuting in the majors in 2022, the switch-hitting catcher has had a .357 OBP, .169 ISO and 126 wRC+ against righties.
James Paxton: 4.5 Hits Allowed - Higher/More
As I noted above, Paxton has been lucky. Nevertheless, he's also coughed up hits. The Dodgers limited his pitch count in his last start, and the veteran lefty was sharp for three innings. However, in his six prior starts, Paxton allowed over 4.5 hits five times. The Pirates aren't a pushover for lefties, either.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.