Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has 11 games starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. The 11-game slate is also the source for the suggested player props from PrizePicks and Underdog.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs. TB
Gerrit Cole hasn't pitched flawlessly since opening the season on the Injured List (IL), as evidenced by his 5.40 ERA and underwhelming ERA estimators in five starts. Still, per FanGraphs, Cole has had an 8.7 BB%, 25.2 K%, 28.1 CSW%, 110 Stuff+, 97 Location+ and 101 Pitching+ this season. Cole also had his best start of the season in his last opportunity, allowing one run on five hits, one walk and seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings in Baltimore, exceeding 100 pitches.
Cole can come out of the break hot in a plus matchup. The Rays are tied for 20th in wRC+ (94) with a 23.8 K% versus righties and 11th in wRC+ (99) with a 24.2 K% on the road this year. Thus, the Yankees are -170, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.
Hunter Brown (HOU) at SEA
I nearly ranked Hunter Brown ahead of Cole as the top pitcher on tonight's slate, so it's safe to say he's an exciting selection. Since a rough beginning to the 2024 season, Brown has settled into a groove. In his past 13 appearances (12 starts) spanning 75.1 innings, Brown has had a 2.75 ERA, 3.50 xFIP, 3.54 SIERA, 1.12 WHIP, 7.8 BB%, 26.4 K%, 28.1 CSW%, 104 Stuff+, 102 Location+ and 103 Pitching+.
Brown has a drool-inducing matchup tonight. The Mariners are tied for 20th in wRC+ (94) with a 28.9 K% versus righties and 25th in wRC+ (93) with a 29.5 K% at home this season. Yet, the Astros are +110 because Luis Castillo is taking the hill for the Mariners. Nevertheless, the game's total (7.0 runs) is pitcher-friendly, and Brown can excel in DFS via strikeouts, even if he doesn't earn a win.
Sean Manaea (NYM) at MIA
In 18 starts totaling 96.1 innings this season, Sean Manaea has had a 3.46 ERA, 4.15 xERA, 4.21 SIERA, 1.21 WHIP, 10.0 BB%, 24.0 K%, 25.6 CSW%, 86 Stuff+, 96 Location+ and 96 Pitching+. Clearly, the veteran lefty has outkicked his underlying data. Regardless, Manaea can produce a useful start in an ideal matchup.
The Marlins are 30th in wRC+ (70) with a 22.2 K% versus lefties and 28th in wRC+ (84) with a 21.1 K% at home this season. Therefore, the Mets are -135, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Cal Quantrill has overperformed his underlying data, and Coors Field is the ultimate venue for bringing overachieving pitchers back to Earth. Quantrill's 4.48 xERA and 4.62 SIERA have been more representative of the quality of his work than his 4.13 ERA. The veteran righty is also at the mercy of batted balls with only an 18.0 K% this season, and he's yielded a .323 wOBA to lefties and a .338 wOBA to righties. Finally, the Giants have an average or better offense, ranking 16th in wRC+ (97) versus righties and tied for 12th in wRC+ (98) on the road this year.
- Road (loanDepot park)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 8.0 Runs/NYM -135
Edward Cabrera is the ideal archetype of a pitcher against whom to stack an offense. Sure, that might seem like an obvious statement for a pitcher with an 8.26 ERA in seven starts this season. Still, first, Cabrera has coughed up 2.54 HR/9 in 2024. Second, he has an 11.5 BB% and 1.59 WHIP. Third, he's allowed a .359 wOBA to righties and a .399 wOBA to lefties. So, in a summary of Cabrera's 2024 work, he's allowed a boatload of bombs, put many runners on base and struggled mightily against all hitters. The Mets can take advantage of the struggling hurler, ranking tied for eighth in wRC+ (109) versus righties and second in wRC+ (116) on the road this season.
Core Studs
- Since 2022, Brandon Nimmo has had a .370 OBP, .196 ISO and 137 wRC+ against righties.
- The switch-hitting Patrick Bailey is excelling against righties in a breakout campaign. In 217 plate appearances against righties this year, he's hit seven homers with a .356 OBP, .165 ISO and 130 wRC+.
- Heliot Ramos is nestled in the middle of San Francisco's lineup at Coors Field. Furthermore, he's had a .311 OBP, .162 ISO and 110 wRC+ in 193 plate appearances against righties.
Value Plays/Punts
- Since 2022, LaMonte Wade has had a .375 OBP, .161 ISO and 126 wRC+ against righties.
- In Colt Keith's final 201 plate appearances before the all-star break, he hit nine homers and stole three bases with a .353 OBP, .209 ISO and 144 wRC+.
- Adam Frazier is a lineup-spot-driven punt, hitting atop Kansas City's lineup. He's had a 98 wRC+ hitting leadoff for the Royals.
Friday's Top 3 Underdog and PrizePicks Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Brandon Nimmo: 7.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)
Brandon Nimmo: 7.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
In addition to Nimmo's sterling track record against righties, he's having a stellar season at the dish. In 399 plate appearances this year, Nimmo has hit 16 homers and stolen eight bases with a .361 OBP, .206 ISO, .357 wOBA, .373 xwOBA and 136 wRC+.
Pete Alonso: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs - Higher (Underdog)/More (PrizePicks) (Demon Multiplier)
Pete Alonso is in the middle of New York's lineup against a struggling pitcher, awarding him a golden opportunity to amass hits, runs and RBI. The slugging cleanup hitter has 53 runs, 61 RBI and a .240 batting average in 95 games (93 starts) this year. Furthermore, Alonso has had a .245 batting average, .327 OBP, .250 ISO and 127 wRC+ against righties since 2022.
Alonso has a plus matchup for his run production and hitting outlook tonight. Cabrera has allowed a .282 batting average and .493 slugging to 77 righties this year. Finally, per Baseball Savant, Alonso has hit three homers with a .250 batting average, .251 xBA, 1.000 slugging, .714 xSLG, .545 wOBA and .458 xwOBA against Cabrera in 15 career plate appearances. Thus, we project Alonso to have 1.97 hits plus runs and RBI.
Shohei Ohtani: 9.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)
Shohei Ohtani: 10.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
Shohei Ohtani is stuffing the boxscore this year. In 429 plate appearances this season, he's hit 29 homers and stolen 23 bases with a .400 OBP, .319 ISO, .433 wOBA, .458 xwOBA and 186 wRC+. Additionally, since 2022, Ohtani has had a .406 OBP, .337 ISO and 183 wRC+ against righties. He's an unstoppable force.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
