MLB DFS Picks, Sleeper & Underdog Player Props: Monday (9/9)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has six games starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Sleeper and Underdog picks are also from the six-game slate.

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Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Carlos Rodon (NYY) vs. KC
Carlos Rodon has had an up-and-down campaign. Fortunately, he's in good form. According to FanGraphs, in his previous five starts spanning 26.2 innings, Rodon has had a 3.38 ERA, 3.73 xFIP, 3.53 SIERA, 1.28 WHIP, 9.7 BB%, 31.0 K%, 27.7 CSW%, 121 Stuff+, 96 Location+, 103 Pitching+ and two quality starts. The lefty has an above-average matchup and favorable betting info.

The Royals are 19th in wRC+ (95) with an 18.5 K% versus lefties and 17th in wRC+ (100) with an 18.7 K% on the road this year. However, Kansas City was 24th in wRC+ (80) with a 21.8 K% in the previous 14 days. Thus, the Yankees are -185, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

David Festa (MIN) vs. LAA
David Festa is cooking with gas. In his last five starts totaling 23.0 innings, he's had a 3.91 ERA, 3.18 xFIP, 3.32 SIERA, 1.13 WHIP, 7.4 BB%, 29.5 K%, 30.0 CSW%, 100 Stuff+, 102 Location+, 102 Pitching+ and one quality start. Sadly, he's only a viable option at DraftKings because he's primarily a five-and-dive pitcher and must pitch six to qualify for a quality start. His matchup is soft enough to give him a shot for a quality start, though. He's a decent bet for a useful DFS start on DraftKings.

The Angels are 27th in wRC+ (87) with a 23.8 K% versus righties and 26th in wRC+ (85) with a 22.3 K% on the road this season. They were also tied for 27th in wRC+ (70) with a 24.4 K% in the previous 14 days. Finally, the Twins are -190, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Reid Detmers (LAA) at MIN

Reid Detmers is tailor-made for GPPs. The lefty was white-hot at the beginning of the season. Yet, the lefty had such a wretched stretch he was optioned to Triple-A, where he didn't immediately turn things around. Detmers has settled into a groove, though. In his last three starts spanning 21.0 innings in Triple-A, Detmers had a 1.29 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 0.86 WHIP, 8.8 BB% and 36.3 K%.

Detmers maintained momentum after the Angels recalled him from the minors earlier this month. He held the Dodgers to two runs on three hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Detmers had a juicy 34.0 CSW% against the Dodgers. The Twins are a challenging matchup, but they're in a funk. In the previous 14 days, Minnesota was 25th in wRC+ (78) with a 25.1 K%.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Home (Dodger Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/LAD -185

The Dodgers have a juggernaut offense. LA is tied for third in wRC+ (115) versus righties and tied for third in wRC+ (119) at home this year. They were also tied for sixth in wRC+ (115) in the previous 14 days.

They can pad their numbers in a tasty matchup tonight. In Kyle Hendricks's last four starts, he's had a 6.61 ERA, 4.67 xFIP, 5.18 SIERA, 1.90 WHIP, 7.6 BB% and 11.4 K%. The 34-year-old righty has also allowed a .319 wOBA to righties and a .396 wOBA to lefties this year.

Core Studs

• Shohei Ohtani is having an absurd season at the plate. In 642 plate appearances this year, he's hit 46 homers and stolen 46 bases with 113 runs, 101 RBIs, a .374 OBP, .327 ISO and 169 wRC+.
• Max Muncy had a lengthy stay on the Injured List (IL) but had a stellar campaign when playing. In 222 plate appearances, he's hit 12 homers with a .347 OBP, .264 ISO and 131 wRC+.
• In 479 plate appearances this year, Jesse Winker has hit 14 homers and stolen 14 bases with a .363 OBP, .159 ISO and 123 wRC+. Conversely, Chris Bassitt has coughed up a .376 wOBA to 351 lefties this season.

Value Plays/Punts

• Gavin Lux is locked in. In his last 91 plate appearances, he's hit four homers with a .341 OBP, .244 ISO and 139 wRC+.
• In 364 plate appearances in Triple-A this year, Kyle Manzardo hit 20 homers with a .398 OBP, .281 ISO and 142 wRC+. He didn't enjoy immediate success in the majors. Yet, the rookie has done much better in his second opportunity. In 21 plate appearances since he was recalled from Triple-A, Manzardo has hit two homers with a .381 OBP, .421 ISO and 209 wRC+.
• In Dansby Swanson's previous 100 plate appearances, he's hit five homers and stolen seven bases with 21 runs, 21 RBIs, a .350 OBP, .239 ISO and 140 wRC+.

Monday's Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Shohei Ohtani: 12.5 Fantasy Points - More (Sleeper) (1.76x)

Shohei Ohtani: 11.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

In addition to Ohtani's excellent full-season totals, he's in good form. In his previous 126 plate appearances, he's hit 11 homers with 26 runs, 18 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, a .312 OBP, .354 ISO and 145 wRC+. And, of course, Ohtani has smashed righties. Since 2022, he's had a .400 OBP, .344 ISO and 180 wRC+ against righties.

Freddie Freeman: 7.5 Fantasy Points - More (Sleeper) (1.69x)

Freddie Freeman: 8.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

Freddie Freeman's over for fantasy points correlates with Ohtani's. Moreover, he's additional left-handed exposure to Hendricks. Since 2022, Freeman has tallied a .415 OBP, .211 ISO and 160 wRC+ against righties. The veteran first baseman is also putting together an excellent season at the dish. In 569 plate appearances this year, Freeman has hit 21 homers and stolen six bases with 75 runs, 83 RBIs, a .381 OBP, .203 ISO and 141 wRC+.

Dansby Swanson: 5.5 Fantasy Points - More (Sleeper) (1.80x)

Dansby Swanson: 6.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

While Swanson's heater is the primary reason for suggesting this prop, he's also an average hitter against righties with a sweet matchup. Since 2022, Swanson has had a .314 OBP, .155 ISO and 100 wRC+. Meanwhile, Walker Buehler has coughed up a .375 wOBA to 120 righties. He's also permitted 11 stolen bases in 12 starts.

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