MLB Underdog Player Predictions for Friday (4/17)

Friday, April 17, 2026: Below are three of the best picks for today’s MLB slate on Underdog according to our projections team. Using factors like Statcast data, advanced sabermetrics, weather impacts, and environmental factors, every single pick is going to be based on what our projections say is a meaningful edge. Get access to all of these picks, including much more, by subscribing to the RotoGrinders Props & Pick’em package.
Don’t forget to check out our MLB weather page 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.
Below, I’ll detail how I’m approaching things on Underdog for this Friday slate.
First… Sign Up to Make MLB Underdog Picks
If you want to play along but haven’t signed up yet, grab a special offer with our Underdog promo code to unlock a generous bonus. Underdog – 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.
When making your MLB Underdog picks today, let RotoGrinders do the heavy lifting for you!
Underdog Top MLB Picks for April 17, 2026
Now that you’re signed up, here are some of our top MLB DFS picks on Underdog for Friday:
- Bubba Chandler lower than 4.5 Pitcher Strikeouts
- JJ Wetherholt higher than 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
- Janson Junk lower than 3.5 Pitcher Strikeouts
Rays vs. Pirates MLB Underdog Predictions
Bubba Chandler lower than 4.5 Pitcher Strikeouts
The pitcher strikeouts projection for Bubba Chandler looks like a strong pick based on the current data. The Underdog projection of 4.5 compares favorably based on our MLB simulations. This pick projects to hit 61.0% of the time based on the assumptions, and that represents a 3.2% edge.
Cardinals vs. Astros MLB Underdog Predictions
JJ Wetherholt higher than 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
The hits + runs + RBIs projection for JJ Wetherholt looks like a strong pick based on the current data. The Underdog projection of 1.5 compares favorably based on our MLB simulations. This pick projects to hit 59.1% of the time based on the assumptions, and that represents a 1.3% edge.
Brewers vs. Marlins MLB Underdog Predictions
Janson Junk lower than 3.5 Pitcher Strikeouts
The strikeouts projection for Janson Junk looks like a strong pick based on the current data. The Underdog projection of 3.5 compares favorably based on our MLB simulations. This pick projects to hit 54.0% of the time based on the assumptions, and that represents a 1.0% edge.
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Image Credit: Imagn
