MLB Underdog Fantasy Player Predictions for Thursday (4/17)

Sanchez of the Phillies

I’m here to give you a (free!) peek behind the curtain regarding some of the awesome things our MLB DFS projections team is cooking up by giving you my top picks for today’s MLB slate on Underdog Fantasy.

Every single pick you will find below is going to be based on what our projections say is a meaningful edge.

Don’t forget to check out our MLB weather page, which is curated by our Chief Meteorologist, Kevin Roth, to see how that may impact these picks as the day progresses. And you can always stay up to date on exactly what a team’s lineup is by heading to our MLB starting lineups page.

We have 10 games on the MLB schedule for 4/17. Below, I’ll detail how I’m approaching things on Underdog for this Thursday slate.

First… Sign Up to Make MLB Underdog Fantasy Picks

If you want to play along but haven’t signed up yet, grab a special offer with our Underdog promo code “GRINDERS” to unlock up to $1,000 Bonus Cash courtesy of a generous deposit match. Underdog Fantasy – one of the most popular DFS pick’em sites – provides player projections for MLB matchups each day. It is then up to the user to decide whether a player will ultimately exceed or fall short of those projections in the games. With a huge roster of players available from which to choose, we just need to make a minimum of two picks to build an entry.

I’ll be leaning heavily on our projections and our fantasy pick’em tool for making these Underdog picks today. Be sure to check out the tool to look for even more edges.

Underdog Fantasy Top MLB Picks for 4/17

Now that you’re signed up, here are some of our top MLB picks on Underdog for 4/17 at a glance:

Giants vs. Phillies MLB Underdog Fantasy Predictions

Here are the Giants vs. Phillies MLB Underdog Fantasy predictions for tonight:

Cristopher Sanchez Lower Than 5.5 Pitcher Strikeouts

Our simulations highlight a 6.4% edge and a 61.5% chance of success in this spot. These numbers suggest that picking Sanchez for lower than 5.5 strikeouts is likely a long-term +EV move.

Jordan Hicks Higher Than 4.5 Hits Allowed

Hicks is projected by us to allow 5.3 hits, which is comfortably higher than the 4.5 mark. With our simulations indicating a 2.7% edge, this selection boasts a 60.5% chance of success.

These figures suggest that choosing higher than 4.5 for Hicks tonight is a solid pick.

Mariners vs. Reds MLB Underdog Fantasy Predictions

Here are the Mariners vs. Reds MLB Underdog Fantasy predictions for tonight:

Elly De La Cruz Lower Than 0.5 Walks

De La Cruz is projected by us to record 0.44 walks, which is lower than the 0.5 threshold. With our simulations highlighting a 2.5% edge, this selection has a 60.3% likelihood of success.

Given these projections, opting for lower than 0.5 walks for De La Cruz tonight appears promising. That said, any time you target something at 0.5, there can be quite a bit of day-to-day variance. Our projections believe this is +EV over the long run.

Editor’s Note: Looking for more places to play? Check out our PrizePicks promo code and Sleeper promo code.

Image Credit: Imagn

About the Author

Jbails26
Justin Bailey (Jbails26)

Justin Bailey (aka jbails26) is the Lead Editor for RotoGrinders and FantasyLabs. He’s been playing DFS since 2013 and specializes in small-field NFL and PGA contests (but still dabbles in MME). Justin qualified for the DraftKings Fantasy Golf World Championship in 2023. Follow Justin on Twitter – @justinbailey32