Penned By: @Ryan_Humphries on Twitter/X and LineStar Chat.

• Rate LineStarApp on the App store and get a shoutout on Twitter from @LineStarApp official account!

• Have questions? Check out the LineStar Tutorial Wiki.

• LineStar’s 2025 MLB DFS Primer & Strategy Guide ⚾

Top DFS Offers 5/23/25 💸

Our editors found the top deals in sports-books so you don’t have to! Tapping below links will help support LineStar through an affiliate referral.

Offers for new users only, additional terms and conditions may apply — see operator site for full details. Must be 18+ (some states may require 21+) and be present in an eligible state; if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

LineStar MLB DFS & Prop Bet Shows 🎙️

Like, Subscribe, and Comment @ LineStar YouTube channel! You never know when we’ll shout you out or give you something cool. New episodes drop Mon-Fri feat. hosts Shannon Sommerville & Tyler Wiemann! Every episode is quick, informative, & easy to watch.

Main Slate Rundown 🏟

We’re back in business with another loaded Friday night slate! DraftKings will feature a 12-game main slate while FanDuel’s main sits at 11 games -- the only difference is the inclusion of game two of the doubleheader between the O’s and Red Sox on DraftKings. For pitching today, there are a couple of aces toeing the rubber but the position is mostly filled with middle-of-the-rotation arms. A few of those guys will likely pop off for big performances, so there will be a bit of homework to do to try to figure out which guys break through. There is no shortage of hitters/stacks to throw into the player pool as well. And, with the Yankees visiting Coors Field, you can readily assume a ton of ownership will fall in the direction of Aaron Judge & Co. On the weather front, I don’t believe we’ll see any postponements at the moment, but there will still be a couple of game locations to keep an eye on. It’s gonna be a doozy of a slate so let’s dig into it! Best of luck!

Main slate match-ups with implied run totals and moneyline odds:

💣5/23 Dinger Report💣

Today’s Top Dinger Odds (sorted by LineStar projected HR odds)

Main Slate Weather Outlook 💨🌦️☁️

Check LineStar's MLB Daily Dashboard to see an overview of the most up-to-date game forecasts.

• TOR at TB (7:05 ET, 9.0 O/U): Great hitting conditions in Tampa once again. 90 degrees to start with 10 mph winds blowing OUT to right for much of the game. Humidity levels will also be around 50-60%.

• CLE at DET (7:10 ET, 9.0 O/U): Mid-50s with 10 mph winds OUT to left. The cool temps favor pitching and the winds favor batters, so it ends up being a bit of a neutral environment.

• BAL at BOS (7:10 ET, 9.5 O/U): > DK Main Slate Only < It’s likely going to rain for most/all of this game but nothing is particularly heavy. So it seems playable as long as field conditions hold up, but definitely check in on a more updated forecast closer to first pitch. 50 degrees with 5-10 mph winds OUT to center.

• LAD at NYM (7:10 ET, 8.5 O/U): A few scattered showers around so there is at least a chance of a delay, but I fully expect the get nine innings in either way. Pitchers will just be a bit riskier to invest in in case of an in-game delay. Upper-50s with 10-15 mph winds OUT to right.

• SD at ATL (7:15 ET, 7.5 O/U): Mid-70s with 10 mph winds OUT to left.

• ARI at STL (8:15 ET, 8.5 O/U): Low-end chance of a brief in-game delay as there is a bit of rain moving through the area this evening. Not a major concern.

• NYY at COL (8:40 ET, 11.5 O/U): Warm weather in Denver today. 80 degrees to start with 10 mph winds, mostly right-to-left, a bit IN from right.

• MIA at LAA (9:38 ET, 9.0 O/U): 10 mph winds OUT to left.

• PHI at ATH (10:05 ET, 9.5 O/U): Mid-70s to start with 10-15 mph winds OUT to left.

Pitchers to Consider ⚾

Chris Sale (LHP), ATL | DK: $9.4k, FD: $10.4k | vs. SD

Sale got off to a ho-hum start but he has found a groove in recent weeks and looks much more like the 2024 version of Chris Sale who won the NL Cy Young Award. Over his last five starts (31.1 IP), dating back to April 25th, Sale has recorded a 1.72 ERA, 2.78 xFIP, 1.15 WHIP, 31.5% kRate, and 6.3% BB%. The slider (47.7% USG%) has been Sale’s most used pitch as well as his go-to putaway pitch. Opposing batters have just a .176 AVG against Sale’s slider, it has generated an excellent 43.2% Whiff%, and it has Sale ranked in the 99th percentile in breaking ball run value.

I’ve said it before but I don’t love targeting the Padres with pitching, but their offense has been having its fair share of struggles at the dish of late, and their typically low strikeout rate has been on the rise against southpaw pitchers. Before yesterday’s six-run performance against the Blue Jays, the Padres had scored just three combined runs in their previous five games. Against LHPs over the last month, San Diego has posted a subpar .630 OPS with a 78 wRC+ and 22.5% kRate. This is a big series for both teams as the Padres looking to stop a six-game losing skid and the Braves looking to claw back above .500. It should be a packed house at Truist Park tonight with Ronald Acuña Jr. making his big league return, so expect a high-energy environment that Chris Sale will look to feed off of this evening.

Yusei Kikuchi (LHP), LAA | DK: $8.2k, FD: $8.8k | vs. MIA

Kikuchi is one of those mid-range arms who is poised to outperform his salaries. It hasn’t been the most consistent season for Kikuchi, but he has shown some positive home splits and draws a promising matchup tonight. Here is a quick rundown of Kikuchi’s home/away splits from this season:

Home: 1.65 ERA, 3.97 xFIP, 1.29 WHIP, 24.3% kRate, 93.8% Left-on-Base%

Away: 4.30 ERA, 4.61 xFIP, 1.51 WHIP, 20.0% kRate, 74.0% Left-on-Base%

I don’t love the near-4.00 xFIP in those home splits, but the point remains -- Kikuchi has just been notably better on his home mound.

The Marlins also come in having found nearly zero success against lefty pitching lately. Against LHPs over the last month, they rank dead last in AVG (.130), OPS (.458), wOBA (.214), and wRC+ (30). Their kRate isn’t overly high, but firmly mid-pack at 21.8% in that span -- and there are currently four batters in the current projected MIA lineup who have at least a 29.4% kRate vs. LHPs this season. Kikuchi just shut down the potent Dodgers’ lineup on the road in his last outing so he should have plenty of confidence heading into this start against a much less dangerous group of Marlins hitters. From a DFS perspective, Kikuchi could very well post his best fantasy score of the season tonight.

Sean Burke (RHP), CWS | DK: $5.5k, FD: $7.5k | vs. TEX

Regular readers of this newsletter know I almost always include one cheap pitcher spotlight in these newsletters. This will be a major roll of the dice, more so than usual. And this guy should probably only fall into consideration on DraftKings as an SP2. But, if you want some Yankees bats at Coors Field or some other high-end sluggers, then sliding Burke into a lineup or two is one way to make that easier to accomplish as he checks in with a slate-low $5,500 price tag on DraftKings. There is no real sugarcoating it… Burke’s results have not been great this season -- 4.69 ERA, 5.71 xFIP, 1.52 WHIP, 15.1% kRate, 12.4% BB%, and 91 Pitching+ rating across 48.0 IP. However, he has popped for a couple of 20+ DKFP games this season -- both of those games happened to come at home (versus the Angels and Brewers), which is where he’ll be pitching today. Over his last six starts (31.1 IP), Burke has also come away with a respectable 3.16 ERA (though the kRate and underlying metrics remain ugly). But we’re mostly just pulling the lever on a Sean Burke slot machine in hopes of one of those random 20+ DKFP games.

The matchup isn’t too bad. The Rangers are bottom five versus RHPs this season in AVG, OPS, wOBA, and wRC+. They have also been the fourth-worst road offense in MLB, averaging just 3.08 runs/gm away. I can’t recommend Burke with high confidence, and he should be nowhere near a cash lineup, but it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if he happened to put together a decent outing tonight.

Other Pitchers to Consider

Zack Wheeler (RHP), PHI | DK: $11k, FD: $11k | at ATH

Pablo Lopez (RHP), MIN | DK: $9.9k, FD: $10k | vs. KC

Tyler Mahle (RHP), TEX | DK: $9.6k, FD: $9.1k | at CWS

Clarke Schmidt (RHP), NYY | DK: $7.2k, FD: $9.4k | at COL (Better DK value)

DraftKings Main Slate Only

Lucas Giolito (RHP), BOS | DK: $6.5k, FD: N/A | vs. BAL (Monitor weather)

Team Stacks to Target 🎯

Disclaimer: Stacking in MLB DFS is not a requirement but it is a very common strategy used to take down GPPs. This strategy is covered in more detail in the MLB DFS strategy guide linked in the header at the top of this newsletter. Check out the MLB StackFinder on LineStar.

Obligatory Coors Field Stacks

New York Yankees vs. Tanner Gordon (RHP), COL

Colorado Rockies vs. Clarke Schmidt (RHP), NYY

Non-Coors Stacks

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Jeffrey Springs (LHP), ATH

The Phillies are a distance second to the Yankees in implied run total today but are in a strong spot in yet another hitter-friendly ballpark. You always have to worry about the dreaded “Coors Field hangover” with a team coming off of a series in Colorado, but Sutter Health Park has ranked as the #2 most hitter-friendly ballpark this season and hitting conditions will be great there again tonight with mid-70s temps to start and 10-15 mph winds blowing out to left. The Phillies will face off with the lefty Jeffrey Springs tonight and they have been annihilating LHPs as of late. Over the L2Weeks vs. LHPs (170 plate appearances), the Phillies are hitting .356 (ranks 1st) with a .993 OPS (1st), .430 wOBA (1st), .208 ISO (3rd), 176 wRC+ (1st), and 14.1% kRate (lowest in MLB).

Jeffrey Springs can put together the occasional good performance, and he is coming off a pair of quality outings against the Giants and Dodgers. That said, he is performing above expectations as his 3.91 ERA is backed up by a poor 4.87 xFIP. He’s not a big strikeout guy (18.5% kRate) and he gives up plenty of flyballs (47.9% FB%). Combine those factors with the fact that he has ranked bottom 5th percentile L30Days in average batted ball distance (208.1 feet), bottom 15th percentile in barreled balls allowed (8), and he has averaged 60.5% less FPPG at home, and you could see how he may be due for a blowup performance. The A’s bullpen has also been an unmitigated disaster lately. Over the last two weeks, the A’s bullpen has posted a 10.10 ERA, 5.60 xFIP, 2.10 WHIP, .319 opp AVG, and 2.57 HR/9 Rate -- each of those metrics rank dead last in MLB, most by a wide margin.

Favorite PHI Bats: Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber

Bargain Bat: Edmundo Sosa

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Miles Mikolas (RHP), STL

Unless the D-Backs are going up against a top-flight pitcher, they’re virtually always in play from a stack standpoint. They’ve been a top-five offense throughout the season and, over the last two weeks versus RHPs, they’ve turned it up even further, mashing for an .859 OPS (ranks 2nd), .372 wOBA (2nd), .237 ISO (1st), and 136 wRC+ (2nd).

Miles Mikolas is a bit of an enigma in that he could pitch six clean innings just as easily as he could get completely shelled. He’s put together more quality outings lately than bad ones, but he has also drawn a pretty favorable schedule, having faced the Royals, Nats, Pirates, and Reds over his last four starts. On the season, Mikolas owns a 3.77 ERA, which is backed up by an ugly 5.07 xFIP (3rd worst on the slate), a low 14.2% kRate, and a slate-low 6.4% SwStr%. Mikolas has thrown either the four-seamer or slider on over 55% of his pitches. Against that pitch mix (from RHPs), the D-Backs rank 1st in MLB with a .378 wOBA. If we also add Mikolas’ third most-used pitch, his curveball, into the mix, the D-Backs remain 1st with a .367 wOBA. The Cardinals’ bullpen has been very solid of late, but that’s nothing the D-Backs’ bats can’t handle.

Favorite ARI Bats: Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo

Bargain Bat: Alek Thomas

Low-Owned Stack That Just Might Work Out 🤔

Los Angeles Angels vs. Sandy Alcantara (RHP), MIA

Every hitter in the projected Angels lineup has a ≤10% pOwn%. Aside from being a very strikeout-prone team, the Angels have legitimately been one of the best offenses in baseball lately. They’re riding a seven-game win streak with back-to-back sweeps over the Dodgers and A’s. In that seven-game span, they’re hitting .300 as a team while leading the MLB in OPS (.946), wOBA (.405), ISO (.276), and wRC+ (164).

After missing all of last season following Tommy John surgery, Sandy Alcantara has really struggled to find his past form that earned him a Cy Young in 2022. Over his last seven starts, Alcantara has pitched to a 9.28 ERA, 5.19 xFIP, 1.81 WHIP, .382 opp wOBA, 1.70 HR/9 Rate, and his 15.0% kRate is nearly even with his 12.4% Walk Rate. It’s always tough to see a former ace fall from grace as hard as Alcantara has. He may regain his past form at some point, but he does not look particularly close to achieving that at the moment. Behind Alcantara will be a Marlins’ bullpen that has pretty consistently been a bottom-10 group of relievers this season. Opponents are batting an MLB-high .340 against the Miami bullpen over the last week. Most of these Angels bats are pretty affordable so it may not be a bad stack to pair with a Coors Field offense (the Yankees, specifically) or another high-end offense.

Favorite LAA Bats: Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward

Bargain Bat: Nolan Schanuel

One-Off Bats ☝️

A maximum of one hitter per team will be listed below. Feel free to use these players as one-off options, one-half of a two-man mini-stack, or a core piece to a full team stack.

OF Aaron Judge, NYY vs. Tanner Gordon (RHP), COL

1B/OF Shohei Ohtani, LAD vs. Griffin Canning (RHP), NYM

1B Bryce Harper, PHI vs. Jeffrey Springs (LHP), ATH

SS Bobby Witt Jr., KC vs. Pablo Lopez (RHP), MIN

OF Jackson Merrill, SD vs. Chris Sale (LHP), ATL

2B Ketel Marte, ARI vs. Miles Mikolas (RHP), STL

OF Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL vs. Nick Pivetta (RHP), SD (He’s back!)

3B Jose Ramirez, CLE vs. Jackson Jobe (RHP), DET

SS Francisco Lindor, NYM vs. Clayton Kershaw (LHP), LAD

C Cal Raleigh, SEA vs. Ryan Gusto (RHP), HOU

OF Wyatt Langford, TEX vs. Sean Burker (RHP), CWS

C Ivan Herrera, STL vs. Zac Gallen (RHP), ARI

SS Zach Neto, LAA vs. Sandy Alcantara (RHP), MIA

OF Brent Rooker, ATH vs. Zack Wheeler (RHP), PHI

OF Daulton Varsho, TOR vs. Drew Rasmussen (RHP), TB

1B/3B Yandy Diaz, TB vs. Eric Lauer (LHP), TOR

1B Spencer Torkelson, DET vs. Slade Cecconi (RHP), CLE

SS Ezequiel Tovar, COL vs. Clarke Schmidt (RHP), NYY

DraftKings Main Slate Only

3B Rafael Devers, BOS vs. Trevor Rogers (LHP), BAL

SS Gunnar Henderson, BAL vs. Lucas Giolito (RHP), BOS

Bargain Bats 💸

Note: Additional hitting value may open up once all official starting lineups are released. For now, here are some cheap hitters who are already confirmed or currently expected to be on the field tonight and find themselves in a good spot to pay off their modest DFS salaries.

3B Isaac Paredes, HOU vs. Emerson Hancock (RHP), SEA

3B Alec Bohm, PHI vs. Jeffrey Springs (LHP), ATH

C Logan O’Hoppe, LAA vs. Sandy Alcantara (RHP), MIA

SS Jeremy Pena, HOU vs. Emerson Hancock (RHP), SEA

OF Taylor Ward, LAA vs. Sandy Alcantara (RHP), MIA

SS Masyn Winn, STL vs. Zac Gallen (RHP), ARI

1B/2B DJ LeMahieu, NYY vs. Tanner Gordon (RHP), COL

1B Nolan Schanuel, LAA vs. Sandy Alcantara (RHP), MIA

3B Royce Lewis, MIN vs. Noah Cameron (LHP), KC

1B Jake Burger, TEX vs. Sean Burke (RHP), CWS

1B Rowdy Tellez, SEA vs. Ryan Gusto (RHP), HOU

2B/OF Angel Martinez, CLE vs. Jackson Jobe (RHP), DET

3B Addison Barger, TOR vs. Drew Rasmussen (RHP), TB

DraftKings Main Slate Only

2B Jackson Holliday, BAL vs. Lucas Giolito (RHP), BOS

C Carlos Narvaez, BOS vs. Trevor Rogers (LHP), BAL

OF Ramon Laureano, BAL vs. Lucas Giolito (RHP), BOS

Home Run Calls of the Day 💣

Make sure you’re following @LineStarApp on Twitter/X. Retweet the Home Run Calls of the Day tweet for your chance to win prizes!

Ryan’s PrizePicks Power Play of the Day

Here is a two-pick “Power Play” I’m liking for today's MLB action over on PrizePicks! Nothing is ever a guarantee to hit but I put my own money on these picks so I don't just lightly throw them out there without believing they'll cash!

No picks from me today but Tyler has some great recommendations in the props video posted at the top of this newsletter!

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we are introducing Props AI for MLB! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks and UnderDog Fantasy!

Speaking of props, put the Props AI tool to use by signing-up for UnderDog Fantasy for a month of LineStar Premium (Promo code: LINESTAR). Plus deposit match for new customers.

Best of luck out there today, everyone!