MLB DFS Picks, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props: Friday (8/2)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has 11 games starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. The top pick ’em choices from PrizePicks and Underdog are also from the 11-game slate.

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Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Joe Ryan (MIN) vs. CWS
Joe Ryan is stellar at home. According to FanGraphs, in 24 starts spanning 142.2 innings at home since last year, Ryan has had a 3.91 ERA, 3.24 xFIP, 1.03 WHIP, 3.8 BB% and 30.4 K%. The righty's 5.87 ERA in his past four starts shouldn't dissuade gamers from using him since his 3.27 xFIP and 3.10 SIERA were much better.

Ryan has a cupcake to feast on tonight. The White Sox are 30th in wRC+ (72) with a 24.1 K% versus righties and 30th in wRC+ (75) with a 25.7 K% on the road this year. Chicago was also 30th in wRC+ (67) with a 26.1 K% since July 1. As a result, the Twins are -292, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Spencer Schwellenbach (ATL) vs. MIA
Spencer Schwellenbach is rolling into tonight's start. In his previous four starts totaling 26.0 innings, the rookie has had a 2.08 ERA, 3.02 xFIP, 2.95 SIERA, 0.77 WHIP, 1.0 BB%, 28.9 K%, 30.4 CSW%, 101 Stuff+, 108 Location+ and 110 Pitching+.

He should maintain his momentum in a cushy matchup. The Marlins are 27th in wRC+ (87) with a 23.0 K% versus righties and 29th in wRC+ (78) with a 24.3 K% on the road. Miami did add some fresh faces to their lineup at the MLB trade deadline. Still, they should be an ideal matchup for Schwellenbach. Thus, the Braves are -270, making the game's total of 9.0 runs non-threatening for the rookie pitcher.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Home (Truist Park)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.0 Runs/ATL -270

The Braves have a drool-inducing matchup tonight. Valente Bellozo has made two starts for the Marlins, tallying a 4.50 ERA. He also had a 4.60 ERA in six starts in Double-A and a 4.67 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) in Triple-A this season. The Braves should tee off on him tonight.

• Road (Angel Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.0 Runs/NYM -136

The Mets might be a sneaky stack against Tyler Anderson. The veteran lefty has had a 2.70 ERA and 2.34 xFIP in his previous four starts, and he has had a 2.96 ERA in 21 starts this year. Yet, Anderson's 4.17 xERA, 4.75 xFIP and 4.79 SIERA were less impressive.

Meanwhile, the Mets have a powerhouse offense. New York is tied for first in wRC+ (120) versus lefties and tied for second in wRC+ (117) on the road this year. They were sixth in wRC+ (117) since July 1, too.

• Road (Great American Ball Park)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.0 Runs/SF EVEN

The Giants have a young offense. Yet, they've excelled against lefties this year, ranking tied for third in wRC+ (118) against them. They'll also get a park-factor boost at hitter-friendly Great American "Small" Park. Finally, Andrew Abbott's gap between his 3.38 ERA, 3.92 xERA, 5.05 xFIP and 4.98 SIERA this year says he's on borrowed time with good luck. The Giants can start the regression process tonight.

Core Studs

• Marcell Ozuna is having a monstrous season at the plate. In 457 plate appearances in 2024, Ozuna has hit 31 homers with a .379 OBP, .280 ISO and 165 wRC+.
• Mark Vientos has broken out this year. In 246 plate appearances this season, he's hit 16 homers with a .341 OBP, .277 ISO and 154 wRC+.
• In 146 career plate appearances against southpaws, Heliot Ramos has hit eight homers with a .390 OBP, .291 ISO and 173 wRC+.

Value Plays/Punts

• In 329 career plate appearances against righties, Matt Wallner has hit 20 homers with a .404 OBP, .295 ISO and 172 wRC+. Furthermore, in 51 plate appearances since the Twins recalled him from Triple-A, he's hit five homers with a .451 OBP, .455 ISO and 249 wRC+.
• In Santiago Espinal's past 46 plate appearances, he's hit three homers with a .457 OBP, .295 ISO and 223 wRC+. The veteran utility infielder has also had a 111 wRC+ against lefties since 2022.
• In Marco Luciano's last 92 plate appearances in Triple-A, he hit six homers with a 19.6 BB%, 19.6 K%, .413 OBP, .243 ISO and 132 wRC+.

Friday's Top 3 Underdog and PrizePicks Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Matt Chapman: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog)/More (PrizePicks)

In 354 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Matt Chapman has hit 27 doubles and 12 homers with a .280 batting average, .481 slugging and .201 ISO. The veteran third baseman is also in good form. In his previous 101 plate appearances, he's hit seven doubles and four homers with a .253 batting average, .482 slugging and .229 ISO. In addition, Great American Ball Park has right-handed-batter park factors of 1.027 for singles, 1.037 for doubles, 0.349 for triples and 1.338 for homers.

Marcell Ozuna: 8.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

Marcell Ozuna: 9.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

I highlighted Ozuna's excellent numbers this season in the core studs section. He also has a track record of success against righties. Since 2022, Ozuna has had a .329 OBP, .268 ISO and 133 wRC+ against righties. Moreover, he's dialed in. In Ozuna's previous 106 plate appearances, he's had a .377 OBP, .333 ISO and 183 wRC+.

Francisco Lindor: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher/More

In 543 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Francisco Lindor has hit 24 doubles and 33 homers with a .275 batting average, .524 slugging and .249 ISO. Finally, he's popped two doubles and eight homers with a .271 batting average, .542 slugging and .271 ISO in his previous 115 plate appearances.

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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.