MLB DFS Picks, Sleeper & Underdog Player Props: Friday (8/23)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has 14 games starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. The massive slate is also the source for the suggested player props from Sleeper and Underdog.

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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

Chris Sale (ATL) vs. WSH
In a Cy Young Award-caliber campaign, Chris Sale is on a scorching hot stretch. According to FanGraphs, in his previous five starts spanning 30.2 innings, Sale has had a 2.35 ERA, 2.11 xFIP, 2.39 SIERA, 1.14 WHIP, 6.5 BB%, 37.9 K%, 36.0 CSW%, 88 Stuff+, 105 Location+, 106 Pitching+ and three quality starts.

Sale's matchup is cushy. The Nationals are 27th in wRC+ (84) with a 19.8 K% versus lefties and tied for 21st in wRC+ (92) with a 21.4 K% on the road this season. Washington was also 18th in wRC+ (93) with a 14.4 K% in the previous 14 days. Unsurprisingly, the Braves are -275, and the game's total is 7.5 runs.

Carlos Rodon (NYY) vs. COL
Carlos Rodon is largely a matchup-driven pick. The Rockies are 28th in wRC+ (80) with a 27.1 K% versus lefties and tied for 28th in wRC+ (78) with a 27.8 K% on the road this year. Colorado was also 27th in wRC+ (84) with a 27.4 K% in the previous 14 days. Thus, the Yankees are -290, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Meanwhile, Rodon has electric stuff and a high ceiling for strikeouts. In his past four starts, Rodon has had a 3.92 ERA, 4.37 xFIP, 4.01 SIERA, 1.31 WHIP, 10.1 BB%, 29.2 K%, 28.2 CSW%, 120 Stuff+, 99 Location+ and 104 Pitching+.

David Festa (MIN) vs. STL

David Festa is in a groove. The rookie righty has had a 2.38 ERA, 3.22 xFIP, 3.08 SIERA, 1.15 WHIP, 8.5 BB%, 33.0 K%, 31.0 CSW%, 102 Stuff+, 99 Location+ and 102 Pitching+in his previous five appearances (four starts), totaling 22.2 innings.

The Cardinals are an average matchup. St. Louis is tied for 12th in wRC+ (102) with a 22.4 K% versus righties and tied for 21st in wRC+ (92) with a 22.8 K% on the road this season. The Red Birds were 13th in wRC+ (106) with a 19.2 K% in the previous 14 days. Finally, the Twins are -140, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Road (Dodger Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.0 Runs/TB +170

The Rays have a mouthwatering matchup tonight. Bobby Miller's sophomore season is an unmitigated disaster. In eight starts for the Dodgers this year, Miller has had an 8.02 ERA, 6.72 xERA, 5.11 SIERA, 1.84 WHIP and coughed up 2.41 HR/9. Additionally, Miller has coughed up a .393 wOBA to righties and a .430 wOBA to lefties. Therefore, the Rays have a golden opportunity to light up the scoreboard.

• Home (Target Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/MIN -140

The Twins have a top-shelf offense. Minnesota is tied for fifth in wRC+ (113) versus righties and first in wRC+ (127) at home this year. They were also tied for ninth in wRC+ (116) in the previous 14 days.

Minnesota's matchup isn't too shabby, either. Andre Pallante has had a 4.43 ERA, 3.82 xFIP, 4.19 SIERA, 1.30 WHIP and 6.3 K-BB%. Finally, Byron Buxton might be activated from the Injured List (IL) tonight, hence his inclusion in the projected lineup.

Core Studs

• In Brandon Lowe's previous 108 plate appearances, he's hit five homers and stolen four bases with a .324 OBP, .247 ISO and 131 wRC+.
• In 345 career plate appearances against righties, Royce Lewis has hit 27 homers with a .339 OBP, .302 ISO and 154 wRC+.
• Matt Wallner has hit 22 homers with a .403 OBP, .290 ISO and 170 wRC+ in 382 career plate appearances against righties.

Value Plays/Punts

• Since 2022, Josh Lowe has had a .328 OBP, .192 ISO and 123 wRC+ against righties.
• Austin Martin has had a 101 wRC+ in his first 142 plate appearances against righties. In addition, Pallante has allowed a .323 wOBA to righties this season.
• Yandy Diaz is an above-average hitter against righties and the leadoff hitter against a trainwreck starting pitcher. Since 2022, Diaz has had a .377 OBP, .124 ISO and 132 wRC+ against righties.

Friday's Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Aaron Judge: 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs - Higher (Sleeper) (1.65x)

Aaron Judge: 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs - Higher (Underdog)

Aaron Judge is having a monster season at the plate. Yet, somehow, he's ratcheted up his production to an unreal level lately. In his previous 25 games and 117 plate appearances, the hulking slugger has hit 13 homers with 25 runs, 29 RBI, a .433 batting average, .564 OBP and .500 ISO. Judge has exceeded 2.5 hits plus runs and RBIs in three straight contests and eight of his past 12. He should stay hot in a cushy matchup tonight. Kyle Freeland has surrendered a .367 batting average, .403 OBP and .626 slugging to 150 righties on the road this year.

Royce Lewis: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Sleeper) (1.88x)

Royce Lewis: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog) (Scorcher 1.04x)

Pallante's reverse platoon spit is ideal for Lewis's total base's outlook tonight. In addition to Lewis's stellar numbers against righties, he's in decent form. In Lewis's previous 97 plate appearances, he's hit five doubles and five homers with a .241 batting average and .482 slugging. Additionally, Lewis is a monster at home. In 84 plate appearances at home this year, he's hit four doubles and nine homers with a .347 batting average, .778 slugging and .431 ISO.

Bobby Miller: 4.5 Strikeouts - Lower (Sleeper) (1.98x)

Bobby Miller: 5.0 Strikeouts - Lower (Underdog)

Miller's dominant debut this year is a distant memory. He's been a disaster since. In seven starts in the majors since Miller's opener, he's had a 9.76 ERA, 5.75 xFIP, 5.99 SIERA, 2.13 WHIP, 13.4 BB% and 12.7 K%. In that stretch, he's struck out only 17 batters in 27.2 innings.

Miller was also a mess after getting demoted to the minors. As a result, he's struck out fewer than 4.5 batters in seven straight starts in the majors and six of his seven in the minors. Miller's favorable matchup against the Rays tonight doesn't matter because he's ill-equipped to take advantage of it.

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