Today’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel starts at 12:35 p.m. ET, but it has six games at the former and four at the latter. The Sleeper and Underdog picks are from the six games.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Michael Wacha (KC) at WSH
On a pitching-poor slate, Michael Wacha is rock-solid. According to FanGraphs, in his previous five games spanning 28.2 innings, Wacha has had a 3.14 ERA, 4.29 xFIP, 3.84 SIERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5.1 BB%, 25.6 K%, 27.7 CSW%, 91 Stuff+, 107 Location+, 102 Pitching+ and two quality starts. The veteran righty has an excellent matchup and matching betting info.
The Nationals are tied for 21st in wRC+ (94) with a 20.4 K% versus righties and 24th in wRC+ (94) with a 19.4 K% at home this year. Washington was also 29th in wRC+ (71) with a 22.0 K% in the previous 14 days. Thus, Kansas City is -166, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.
Aaron Civale (MIL) at PIT
Aaron Civale has out-kicked his ERA estimators lately. In his last five starts totaling 26.2 innings, he's had a 3.04 ERA, 4.31 xFIP, 4.12 SIERA, 1.05 WHIP, 6.6 BB%, 22.6 K%, 29.1 CSW%, 95 Stuff+, 105 Location+, 102 Pitching+ and one quality start. Civale was lucky. Nevertheless, his ERA estimators are adequate for today's pitching landscape. Moreover, Civale has a sweet matchup.
The Pirates are 29th in wRC+ (83) with a 24.1 K% versus righties and 26th in wRC+ (89) with a 23.2 K% at home this season. Pittsburgh was also 25th in wRC+ (80) with a 26.6 K% in the previous 14 days. Finally, the Brewers are -116, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
There's a game at Coors Field this afternoon, which should siphon popularity from stacking the Royals. However, it's always appealing to stack against Patrick Corbin. The veteran lefty has allowed a .376 wOBA to 595 righties this season. He's a punching bag for right-handed batters, making Kansas City's righties tantalizing options to stack.
Core Studs
- In 696 plate appearances this year, Bobby Witt has hit 32 homers and stolen 31 bases with 124 runs, 108 RBIs, a .389 OBP, .261 ISO and 169 wRC+.
- In 467 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Paul Goldschmidt has hit 20 homers with a .413 OBP, .222 ISO and 165 wRC+.
- Salvador Perez has smashed 19 homers with a .329 OBP, .199 ISO and 113 wRC+ in 414 plate appearances against lefties since 2022.
Value Plays/Punts
- In 440 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Tommy Pham has hit 19 homers with a .323 OBP, .191 ISO and 109 wRC+.
- In 103 plate appearances against righties this year, Jonathan Aranda has hit six homers with a .320 OBP, .237 ISO and 133 wRC+.
- In Jordan Walker's previous 78 plate appearances, he's hit five homers and stolen one base with 10 runs, 15 RBIs, a .269 OBP, .243 ISO and 104 wRC+.
Thursday's Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Bobby Witt: 1.5 Total Bases - More (Sleeper) (1.55x)
Bobby Witt: 2.0 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog)
Witt has crushed lefties. In 428 career plate appearances against southpaws, he's hit 23 doubles, five triples and 18 homers with a .283 batting average, .499 slugging and .216 ISO. On the flip side, Corbin has been crushed by righties, ceding 33 doubles, seven triples, 22 homers, a .317 batting average and .524 slugging to 595 righties this year.
Salvador Perez: 1.5 Total Bases - More (Sleeper) (1.74x)
Salvador Perez: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog)
Perez has the same cushy matchup as Witt. Fortunately, the veteran catcher has rebounded from a down year in 2023, positioning him to pummel Corbin. In 639 plate appearances this year, Perez has hit 27 doubles and 27 homers with a .272 batting average, .459 slugging and .187 ISO.
Jonathan Aranda: 0.5 Hits - More (Sleeper) (1.48x)
Jonathan Aranda: 0.5 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog) (0.76x)
Aranda has improved each season in the majors after initially faceplanting in 2022. The left-handed-hitting infielder has a .258 batting average against righties this year. Meanwhile, Reese Olson has allowed a .246 batting average to 243 lefties this year. So, we project Aranda to have 0.90 hits today, making his over for 0.5 hits/total bases an appealing selection.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
