This is one of the final Sunday slates where we won’t have to battle with the NFL. What we need to consider is that the prize pools are about to plummet when football season starts. That is an annoying aspect of MLB DFS, but it happens yearly. That’s why we want to finish these last few Sunday slates strong before that inevitability!
With that in mind, let’s dive into this card!
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Sunday’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
| PLAYER | DK SALARY | FD SALARY | VALUE | RISK |
| Blake Snell (SF) at OAK | $9,800 | $10,500 | Low | Low |
| George Kirby (SEA) at PIT | $8,800 | $10,100 | Medium | Medium |
| Framber Valdez (HOU) vs. CWS | $8,900 | $10,600 | Low | Low |
| Charlie Morton (ATL) at LAA | $8,500 | $9,100 | Medium | High |
Blake Snell (SF) at OAK
Snell gets in these stretches where he looks like he could throw a no-hitter anytime out, and he’s in one of them right now. The lefty has only allowed five runs across his last seven starts, sporting a 0.99 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, and 11.9 K/9 rate in that span. That’s terrible news for this atrocious A’s offense, with Oakland ranked 25th in runs scored, 27th in K rate, and 24th in OBP.
George Kirby (SEA) at PIT
It feels unbelievable to use a pitcher who allowed 11 runs earlier in the week, but that was clearly a fluke. Kirby allowed only 19 runs across his previous 13 starts before that stinker, collecting a 2.17 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 9.2 K/9 rate in that span. We’re going to bank that he returns to that form in this matchup, with Pittsburgh ranked 23rd in runs scored, 25th in OBP, 26th in K rate, and 28th in wOBA.
Framber Valdez (HOU) vs. CWS
Valdez got off to a slow start this season, but the southpaw is slicing through lineups right now. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in 12 of his last 14 starts, generating a 2.93 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 8.9 K/9 rate in that span. He also has a 2.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 11.4 K/9 rate across his last six starts, which is tough to overlook since he squares off with a Chicago team that sits last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, and wOBA.
Charlie Morton (ATL) at LAA
When looking at his recent form, it isn’t easy to get excited about Morton, but this veteran will get it going. He showed glimpses of that in his last outing, scoring 40 FanDuel points. It’s the fifth time he’s scored at least 40 FD points in his previous 12 outings, and that sort of upside is unique for such a cheap player. We’re talking about a guy who has a 3.64 ERA and 1.20 WHIP since 2016, and we’re not scared of a 24th-ranked Angels lineup.
MLB DFS Picks: Suggested Lineup Stacks
Houston Astros (vs. Ky Bush)
- Home (Minute Maid Park)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/HOU -400
The Astros have one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, and they rank Top 5 in almost every hitting category over the last two months. That makes them an outstanding option against a guy like Bush, with the lefty posting an absurd 2.31 WHIP through his first two starts. He also had a 6.16 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in Triple-A and is simply a stopgap arm for the worst team in baseball.
Boston Red Sox (vs. Albert Suarez)
- Road (Camden Yards)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/BAL -140
Albert Suarez was a pleasant surprise through the first half of the season, but he’s been a pumpkin in the second half. The veteran, who period to this season hadn’t pitched since 2016, has a 5.12 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across his last 10 starts. That’s rough against the Red Sox, ranked fifth in OBP, and runs scored.
MLB DFS Picks: Core Studs
| POS | PLAYER | DK SALARY | FD SALARY |
| 3B | Jose Ramirez (CLE) | $6,400 | $4,200 |
| OF | Heliot Ramos (SF) | $4,500 | $3,100 |
| 2B | Jose Altuve (HOU) | $5,600 | $3,700 |
| OF | James Wood (WAS) | $4,800 | $3,400 |
- It’s hard to believe the sort of season Ramirez is having, and he’s not even in the MVP run. That’s a testament to Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt, with Ramirez on pace for nearly 40 homers and 35 steals. We’ve seen J-Ram play like that for years, and he comes into this matchup with a .397 OBP and 1.180 OPS across his last 16 outings. We love that since Colin Rea is due for some negative regression, registering a 5.05 xERA.
- Why does nobody talk about Ramos in San Fran? This guy has become one of the best southpaw slashers in MLB, sporting a .465 OBP and 1.241 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. Those splits are hard to fathom, and he should add to them against JP Sears‘ 4.45 ERA since the start of last year.
- Altuve gets crap for the Astros scandal, but this guy has carved out an unbelievable career. The second baseman is on his pace for another 20-20 season while hitting .300. Most importantly, he has a .398 OBP and .942 OPS against lefties since 2022, which is right on par with his sensational career splits!
- Wood is one of the best rookies in baseball, and he could be a star in the making. Washington has moved him up to third and fourth in their lineup after some deadline trades, with Wood totaling a .364 AVG, .455 OBP, .606 SLG, and 1.061 OPS across his last 18 games. He also had a .403 OBP and .942 OPS throughout his minor league career and gets to face a pitcher with a 5.68 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.
MLB DFS Picks: Value Plays/Punts
| POS | PLAYER | DK SALARY | FD SALARY |
| C | Yainer Diaz (HOU) | $4,600 | $3,100 |
| OF | Masataka Yoshida (BOS) | $4,400 | $3,000 |
| 1B | Rhys Hoskins (MIL) | $4,100 | $2,900 |
| 1B | Matt Olson (ATL) | $5,400 | $3,500 |
- We rarely recommend a catcher, but Diaz has been remarkable for the Astros in the second half. He’s been hitting fourth or fifth over the last few months, maintaining a .349 AVG, .500 SLG, and .874 OPS over his last 47 games. In addition, Diaz has the platoon advantage against Bush and should get plenty of RBI opportunities in this ‘Stros stack.
- Yoshida has been an underrated signing by the Red Sox. The outfielder has been a different player in the second half, sporting a .433 OBP and 1.018 OPS across his last 21 games. He also has a .870 OPS against righties this year and shouldn’t have any problems since Suarez has struggled since the break.
- Hoskins is having a horrid season, but a move down in the order is just what the doctor ordered. It has given Hoskins more RBI opportunities, totaling a .298 AVG, .574 SLG, and .922 OPS across his last 17 games. That should bode well against Ben Lively because he’s due for some negative regression behind his 5.02 FIP.
- I had difficulty finding a fourth GPP option, but Olson is an outstanding play with a resurgent second half. The slugger has eight homers and 18 RBI across his last 19 games, accruing a .954 OPS in that span. That’s the stud we saw last season, with Olson finishing with 54 homers and 139 RBI. What could keep him hot is this matchup with Jack Kochanowicz, collecting a 7.98 ERA and 1.64 WHIP while giving Olson the platoon advantage from the left side!
Sunday’s Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props
Paul Blackburn: 4.5 Strikeouts – Higher
Blackburn had at least six Ks in his first two starts off the IL and should be able to duplicate that against the second-worst offense in baseball.
Framber Valdez: 18.5 Outs Recorded – Higher
Valdez has a 0.86 WHIP across his last six starts and could flirt with a no-hitter against the worst team in baseball.
Jose Altuve: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher
We already talked about how poor Bush has been and how Altuve should reach this prop, given how dominant he’s been against lefties throughout his career.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
