Tonight’s MLB DFS slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has five games starting at 6:40 p.m. ET. The PrizePicks and Underdog pick ’em selections are also from those five games.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Shota Imanaga (CHC) vs. STL
Shota Imanaga has made a relatively seamless transition from NPB to MLB. According to FanGraphs, in 19 starts spanning 109.2 innings this year, the veteran lefty has had a 2.95 ERA, 3.47 xERA, 3.54 SIERA, 1.07 WHIP, 3.8 BB%, 24.9 K%, 14.0 SwStr%, 26.5 CSW%, 89 Stuff+, 104 Location+ and 102 Pitching+. Imanaga is also in excellent form. In his previous four starts spanning 24.2 innings, he's had a 2.55 ERA, 3.18 SIERA, 0.93 WHIP, 3.1 BB%, 27.8 K%, 14.0 SwStr%, 25.6 CSW%, 80 Stuff+, 105 Location+ and 100 Pitching+.
Imanaga has a tantalizing matchup and rock-solid betting info. The Cardinals are tied for 27th in wRC+ (83) with a 20.1 K% versus lefties and 18th in wRC+ (94) with a 23.0 K% on the road this year. St. Louis was tied for eighth in wRC+ (112) with a 20.7 K% since July 1. Still, the Cubs are -115, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.
Max Meyer (MIA) at ATL
Max Meyer has spent much of the season in Triple-A, holding his innings in check. Yet, in four starts spanning 21.0 innings for the Marlins, he's had a 3.00 ERA, 3.76 xERA, 3.93 SIERA, 0.95 WHIP, 6.2 BB%, 21.0 K%, 27.8 CSW%, 106 Stuff+, 100 Location+ and 103 Pitching+. Meyer's total package isn't too shabby as an SP2 at his salary on DK.
The youngster has a phenomenal matchup. The Braves are 22nd in wRC+ (93) with a 24.5 K% versus righties and tied for 15th in wRC+ (104) with a 24.8 K% at home. Atlanta was also 27th in wRC+ (94) with a 27.1 K% since July 1. The betting info is a drag since Miami is +165, and the game's total is 8.5 runs. Nevertheless, Meyer has a low bar to clear to provide DFS value at his salary.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Orioles have an explosive offense by every measure. They're tied for second in wRC+ (117) versus righties and tied for second in wRC+ (117) on the road this season. Baltimore was tied for eighth in wRC+ (112) since July 1. They're a handful for any pitcher, and Ben Lively is merely an OK hurler. In 18 starts this year, Lively has had a 3.44 ERA, 3.63 xERA and 4.20 SIERA. The veteran righty has also coughed up 1.45 HR/9.
Core Studs
- Gunnar Henderson is crushing the ball this year. In 488 plate appearances this season, he's hit 28 homers with 14 stolen bases and a .375 OBP, .274 ISO and 162 wRC+.
- Anthony Santander is on a heater. In his previous 108 plate appearances, he's hit nine homers with a .361 OBP, .323 ISO and 176 wRC+.
- Colton Cowser is also locked in. In his past 82 plate appearances, he's hit four homers with a .378 OBP, .192 ISO and 151 wRC+.
Value Plays/Punts
- Jackson Holliday struggled in his first taste of the majors. However, he hit a homer yesterday, and he's dominated in Triple-A. In 346 plate appearances in Triple-A this season, Holliday has hit 10 homers and stolen eight bases with a .431 OBP, .207 ISO and 140 wRC+.
- Jhonkensy Noel has hit three homers with a .296 OBP, .435 ISO and 153 wRC+ in his first 27 career plate appearances against lefties in the majors.
- Dillon Dingler is getting a crack in the majors after raking throughout his minor-league career, culminating with 17 homers, five stolen bases, a .379 OBP, .251 ISO and 137 wRC+ in 301 plate appearances in Triple-A this season.
Thursday's Top 3 Underdog and PrizePicks Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Gunnar Henderson: 0.5 Runs - Higher (Underdog)/More (PrizePicks)
Henderson is in the catbird seat to score runs atop Baltimore's high-octane offense. He's an excellent table-setter, sporting a .375 OBP this season. Thus, Henderson has scored 88 runs in 107 games. Furthermore, he's scored a run in four consecutive games.
Jose Ramirez: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)
Jose Ramirez: 8.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
In 546 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Jose Ramirez has hit 29 homers with a .333 OBP, .240 ISO and 127 wRC+. The switch-hitting third baseman has a plus matchup tonight. Trevor Rogers has allowed a .345 wOBA to 362 right-handed batters this season.
Jake Burger: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog) (Scorcher x1.05)
Jake Burger: 1.5 Total Bases - More (PrizePicks)
Jake Burger is on fire. In 96 plate appearances this month, he's hit four doubles and eight homers with a .287 batting average, .609 slugging and .322 ISO. He's exceeded 1.5 total bases in back-to-back games and four of his past five. Finally, Charlie Morton has allowed 13 doubles, nine homers, a .263 batting average and .486 slugging to 191 righties this year.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.