MLB DFS Picks, Sleeper & Underdog Player Props: Thursday (8/29)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has four games starting at 6:40 p.m. ET. The suggested props from Sleeper and Underdog are also from the four-game slate.

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Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Hunter Brown (HOU) vs. KC
Hunter Brown isn't flawless. Nevertheless, he's a rock-solid option on a slate with lousy pitching choices. According to FanGraphs, in Brown's previous five starts spanning 30.0 innings, he's had a 2.70 ERA, 3.03 xFIP, 3.46 SIERA, 1.13 WHIP, 8.3 BB%, 27.5 K%, 26.4 CSW%, 104 Stuff+, 100 Location+, 100 Pitching+ and three quality starts.

The Royals aren't an optimal matchup, ranking tied for 12th in wRC+ (102) with an 18.5 K% versus righties and 16th in wRC+ (96) with a 19.6 K% on the road this season. Furthermore, Kansas City was second in wRC+ (132) with a 17.3 K% in the previous 14 days. Still, the Astros are -155, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.

Cristopher Sanchez (PHI) vs. ATL
Cristopher Sanchez is an underpriced pitching choice, offering gamers a lot of bang for their buck. In his last five starts, totaling 31.1 innings, Sanchez has had a 5.17 ERA. Yet, he also had a 2.92 xFIP, 3.32 SIERA, 1.31 WHIP, 3.8 BB%, 18.8 K%, 26.2 CSW%, 98 Stuff+, 106 Location+, 107 Pitching+ and three quality starts. Moreover, in 26 starts spanning 160.0 innings at home since last season, Sanchez has had a 2.98 ERA, 2.78 xFIP, 1.01 WHIP, 4.0 BB%, 24.7 K% and 16 quality starts.

The Braves are a slightly below-average matchup. Atlanta is 10th in wRC+ (110) with a 24.5 K% versus lefties and tied for 14th in wRC+ (97) with a 23.4 K% on the road this year. They were also tied for eighth in wRC+ (113) with a 21.2 K% in the previous 14 days. Still, the Phillies are -152, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Road (Dodger Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/BAL +135

The Orioles have a potent offense, even though they are in a funk. Baltimore is third in wRC+ (115) versus righties and third in wRC+ (115) on the road this year. They have a drool-inducing matchup tonight. Bobby Miller threw a quality start in his most recent turn. Regardless, he's had a 7.49 ERA, 6.49 xERA, 4.64 SIERA and allowed 2.50 HR/9 in nine starts this season. Miller has also coughed up a .410 wOBA to 96 righties and a .400 wOBA to 83 lefties this season.

Core Studs

• Since reaching the majors in 2022, Gunnar Henderson has had a .353 OBP, .270 ISO and 151 wRC+ against righties.
• Anthony Santander is having a big season at the dish. In 547 plate appearances this year, he's hit 38 homers with a .303 OBP, .280 ISO, 129 wRC+, .347 wOBA and .332 xwOBA.
• In 384 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Teoscar Hernandez has hit 25 homers with a .326 OBP, .283 ISO and 147 wRC+.

Value Plays/Punts

• Spencer Horwitz has hit eight homers with a .351 OBP, .160 ISO and 120 wRC+ in 276 plate appearances in his rookie campaign.
• In Ramon Urias's previous 78 plate appearances, he's hit six homers and stolen one base with a .372 OBP, .319 ISO and 177 wRC+.
• Jackson Holliday has hit five homers with a .268 OBP, .211 ISO and 94 wRC+ in his past 97 plate appearances. The rookie's wRC+ has left something to be desired, but his power was stellar, and he has a tasty matchup tonight.

Thursday's Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Cristopher Sanchez: 24.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Sleeper)(1.76x)

Cristopher Sanchez: 28.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

Sanchez has enjoyed home cooking. In 26 starts spanning 160.0 innings at home since last year, the lefty has had a 2.98 ERA, 2.78 xFIP, 1.01 WHIP, 4.0 BB% and 24.7 K%. He also had a quality start in 16 of those 26 turns. Sanchez has a matchup to bolster his strikeout potential, boosting his fantasy scoring upside. The Braves have had a 24.5 K% versus lefties and a 23.5 K% on the road this year. Finally, per Baseball Savant, Sanchez has held Atlanta's hitters to a .262 wOBA, .213 xwOBA and struck them out at a 32.2% rate in 59 plate appearances.

Spencer Horwitz: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs - Higher (Sleeper) (1.78x)

Spencer Horwitz: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs - Higher (Underdog)

In 223 plate appearances against righties this year, Horwitz has had a .279 batting average, .377 OBP and .189 ISO. The left-handed-hitting infielder typically hits cleanup against righties. Horwitz has exceeded 1.5 hits plus runs and RBIs in four of his previous seven games and has a plus matchup with optimal park factors at Fenway Park. Kutter Crawford has had an 8.13 ERA, 5.54 xFIP and allowed a .384 wOBA in 34.1 innings in the second half.

Gunnar Henderson: 7.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Sleeper)(1.80x)

Gunnar Henderson: 8.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

In Henderson's past 117 plate appearances and 27 games, he's hit five homers with 18 runs, 14 RBI, one stolen base, a .342 OBP, .200 ISO and 131 wRC+. Henderson's recent numbers are behind his full-season totals, yet they're excellent. He has a mouthwatering matchup tonight against Miller. The young right-handed pitcher has coughed up .400 wOBA to 83 lefties this season.

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