Kumar Rocker PrizePicks MLB Picks Today, 4/17: Free DFS Picks & Projections
Get ready for an exciting PrizePicks Thurday with Fantasy Alarm’s top Pick’em selections, spotlighting players poised for big performances on April 17, 2025!
Kicking off our plays we are focusing on the matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets where Griffin Canning could be in for a long day against this strong Cardinals lineup and then we focus on the Angels as they take on rookie Kumar Rocker whose been shaky to begin his 2025 MLB Season.
PrizePicks MLB DFS Picks Today: Thursday, 4/17; MLB DFS Projections
Sign up for PrizePicks today and use PrizePicks promo code ALARM to start your daily fantasy sports adventure! New users can take advantage of a fantastic offer: receive $50 in bonus funds simply for submitting a lineup, regardless of whether it features MLB DFS stacks, with a minimal entry fee of just $5!
This bonus is yours to keep, no matter how your lineup performs, providing you with an excellent boost in daily fantasy sports. Don’t miss out on this chance to elevate your experience for PrizePicks MLB DFS today. Register now and access your bonus funds right away!
Griffin Canning PrizePicks MLB Pick: More Than 2.5 Earned Runs
Canning has skated by this season with a low strikeout rate, high walk rate and high HR/FB rate due to a 50% ground ball rate. The ability to produce ground balls and get double plays have limited the damage against him as evidenced by his 79% left-on-base percentage and the fact that his xERA is a full run higher than his actual ERA.
I think the law of averages come crashing down on Canning here today with the Cardinals doing damage early and we see three earned runs on the board against Canning within the first few innings here this evening.
Kumar Rocker PrizePicks MLB Pick: More Than 2.5 Earned Runs
Rocker may eventually live up to the hype that made him a first round pick and dominant at the minor league levels but so far his brief stints in the MLB have not featured much success, especially this season where he is 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA while owning a 4.8 K/9 with a 3.2 BB/9.
Rocker does have a 50% GB rate which is consistent with his minor league numbers but the 16.7% HR/FB rate is doing him no favors.
His expected ERA this season is still 6.90 and while we all expected the Angels to do damage last night against Patrick Corbin, I'm going back to that well here today.
Sign Up Using ALARM To Get A $50 PrizePicks Bonus With Just A $5 Play
Check out our selections for PrizePicks MLB DFS today and broaden your choices! When you register using our links, remember to enter the PrizePicks promo code ALARM to improve your experience.
You can create a lineup for only $5 and receive an immediate $50 bonus, no matter how your lineup does! Just click here to use PrizePicks promo code ALARM! This fantastic offer is an excellent chance to boost your daily fantasy sports strategy and explore additional MLB DFS stacks.
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.