Today’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has seven games starting at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Underdog pick ’em choices are also from the afternoon contests.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
MacKenzie Gore (WAS) vs. ARI
First, here is the bad news. MacKenzie Gore has a brutal matchup. According to FanGraphs, the Diamondbacks are second in wRC+ (123) versus lefties and tied for seventh in wRC+ (105) on the road this season. In the previous 14 days, Arizona was fifth in wRC+ (142).
However, Gore can overcome a challenging matchup as a burgeoning ace. In his last five starts spanning 28.2 innings, he's had a 3.14 ERA, 3.06 xFIP, 2.93 SIERA, 1.22 WHIP, 5.7 BB%, 30.3 K%, 27.6 CSW%, 111 Stuff+, 98 Location+ and 101 Pitching+. The betting info is mixed. The game's total of 9.0 runs is semi-threatening, but the Nationals are -142.
Luis Castillo (SEA) at CLE
Luis Castillo also has a challenging matchup and the pitching ability to overcome it. The Guardians are an above-average offense by every meaningful split. Yet, in Castillo's last five starts totaling 29.0 innings, he's had a 3.41 ERA, 4.08 SIERA, 1.14 WHIP, 7.6 BB%, 21.8 K%, 27.0 CSW%, 101 Stuff+, 101 Location+ and 98 Pitching+.
The veteran righty's numbers weren't flawless. However, they were rock-solid. Finally, the Mariners are -115, and the game's total is 8.5 runs. As a result, Castillo is an adequate selection on a pitching-poor slate.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Mariners don't have an exciting offense. However, they were 12th in wRC+ (111) in the previous 14 days. Seattle's projected lineup also has eight right-handed batters. The righty-heavy lineup construction is significant for today's matchup. Logan Allen has coughed up a .395 wOBA to 249 righties this season.
- Road (Coors Field)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 12.0 Runs/LAD -250
The Dodgers are an offensive juggernaut in MLB's best hitting environment. Los Angeles is first in wRC+ (128) versus lefties and tied for first in wRC+ (123) on the road this year. They were also third in wRC+ (144) in the previous 14 days.
The Dodgers have a cupcake to feast on this afternoon. Ty Blach's 5.18 xERA this season is the highest among today's probable starters. Colorado's bullpen is also the worst in MLB. Thus, the Dodgers should light up the scoreboard today.
Core Studs
- In 54 career plate appearances against lefties, Andy Pages has hit two homers with a .389 OBP, .160 ISO and 159 wRC+.
- In 330 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Teoscar Hernandez has hit 23 homers with a .309 OBP, .294 ISO and 142 wRC+.
- Dylan Moore has excelled with the platoon advantage. In 291 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Moore has hit nine homers with a .344 OBP, .206 ISO and 124 wRC+.
Value Plays/Punts
- In 220 plate appearances against lefties, Mitch Garver has hit 11 home runs with a .414 OBP, .236 ISO and 164 wRC+.
- Miguel Vargas has done well in a part-time role for the Dodgers this year. In 27 plate appearances this season, he's hit one homer and stolen one base with a .370 OBP, .304 ISO and 169 wRC+.
- In 402 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Ty France has hit nine homers with a .342 OBP, .124 ISO and 115 wRC+.
Thursday's Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Logan Allen: 5.0 Hits Allowed - Higher
Allen has yielded a .300 batting average to 249 right-handed batters this season. In the lefty's last two starts, he's allowed only four and three hits. However, Allen has allowed at least five hits in 11 of 14 starts, surrendering over five in eight starts.
Teoscar Hernandez: 2.5 Total Bases - Higher
In addition to Hernandez's dominance against lefties, he's having a productive season at the dish. In 321 plate appearances this season, Hernandez has hit 15 doubles, one triple and 18 homers with a .255 batting average, .500 slugging and .245 ISO.
The conditions are ideal for him to exceed 2.5 total bases today. The 163 righties who've faced Blach this year have hit 10 doubles, one triple and five homers with a .349 batting average and .530 slugging. Finally, right-handed batters have park factors of 1.160 for singles, 1.380 for doubles, 1.940 for triples and 1.323 for homers at Coors Field.
Andy Pages: 2.0 Total Bases - Higher
Pages has the same mouthwatering matchup and right-handed park factors at Coors Field as Hernandez. In 228 plate appearances this year, the rookie outfielder has hit 10 doubles and eight homers with a .266 batting average, .430 slugging and .164 ISO. In 16 games this month, Pages has had at least two total bases eight times. Coors Field and Blach turn a coin flip into a tasty "higher" selection.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
