Jose Ramirez Underdog MLB Picks Today, 4/17: Baseball Projections + More
It’s Thursday at Fantasy Alarm and we have your Underdog Fantasy MLB Picks for April 17th.
With the baseball season in full swing, we’re highlighting two players poised to make an impact in today’s matchups. Leading off, we have Cardinals leadoff man Lars Nootbar against the Griffin Canning and the New York Mets along with Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians in a great matchup against the Orioles.
Here’s why these two could be difference-makers for your fantasy roster tonight!
MLB Underdog Picks: Thursday, 4/17; MLB Projections
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Lars Nootbar Underdog MLB Pick: More Than 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI
The Cardinals leadoff hitter is off to a great start to his 2025 season, showing both power and speed. Today he faces a pitcher in Griffin Canning who pitches to contact, walks nearly 5.0 BB/9 and has a 15% HR/FB rate this year for a pitcher that has a 50% groundball rate.
I'm looking for those numbers to call crash down on Canning today and the lefty Nootbar to be centered around the production for the Cardinals lineup here this evening.
Jose Ramirez Underdog MLB Pick: Higher Than 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI
The Guardians offense goes as Ramirez goes and today he has a great matchup against the Baltimore Orioles and Tomoyuki Sugano who may have a 3.86 ERA on the season but is matched by a 5.83 xERA and a 5.52 xFIP. Sugano has just a 3.2 K/9 to go along with a 3.2 BB/9.
Ramirez is an elite hitter, has home run upside and can also steal a bag when he gets on first.
All of these a solid reasons for why we should love Ramirez going higher than 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI today.
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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.