Blake Snell Underdog MLB Picks Today, 8/17: Baseball Projections + More

Monday's top two Underdog plays both come from left-handers, one a two-time Cy Young winner rounding into form and the other taking advantage of an opponent that has been striking out at a torrid rate lately. Both offer real paths to clearing their numbers tonight, for Underdog Fantasy. Before you lock in your Higher or Lower calls, cross-check the numbers with our MLB Player Prop Tool and track how our staff is doing on the board with the MLB Expert Picks Tracker.

Blake Snell MLB Underdog Fantasy Pick: Higher than 6.5 Strikeouts

Snell struck out 10 batters over six strong innings in his return from the injured list, a dominant showing that suggested his stuff is fully back after a lengthy layoff. Colorado's strikeout rate against left-handed pitching sits at 24.9 percent, a favorable number for a pitcher of Snell's caliber even in a park not typically known for suppressing offense. His fastball velocity was up in that return start compared to where he was throwing before the injury, a positive marker for his overall health and stuff. Given his recent dominance and a strikeout-prone opponent tonight, this number looks very reachable.

Framber Valdez MLB Underdog Fantasy Pick: Higher than 5.5 Strikeouts

Valdez had a rough finish to his last outing against Cleveland, walking five and striking out just three, snapping a stretch of back-to-back seven-inning quality starts. Pittsburgh has been striking out at a 29 percent clip against left-handed pitching over the last two weeks, one of the most extreme recent matchup numbers on the board. Even though Valdez is not typically a huge strikeout arm, the sheer volume of whiffs the Pirates have produced lately against lefties gives him a legitimate path to clearing this modest number. His history against divisional-caliber opponents this season suggests he tends to respond well after a shaky start.

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