Detroit-born Hunter Brown delivered a performance that felt tailor-made for fantasy managers chasing upside: six scoreless innings against Tarik Skubal in a marquee showdown at Comerica Park, with Detroit finally breaking through in the 10th on a bases-loaded walk. The result was a 1-0 win for the Tigers, but Brown’s run of dominance underscored his ascent and the immense ceiling he carries as he threads together elite velocity with a versatile, shaping repertoire.

The narrative centered on Brown’s ability to repeat a high-motored outing in a ballpark thick with atmosphere, and his place beside the league’s top arms. He sat at 101 pitches, leaving with a 2.36 ERA on the season after yet another six-inning, zero-run start, while Skubal carried an AL-best ERA into the matchup and punched out ten as he matched Brown blow for blow. Houston’s offense, meanwhile, couldn’t capitalize, keeping Brown from a win in a game Detroit still controlled with every frame in the game’s closing moments. A finale looming with Framber Valdez leaves the door open for a potential rematch and a chance for Brown to keep building the fantasy profile he’s earned through consistency, stamina, and a hometown narrative that resonates with every start.

Brown’s trajectory is a talking point for fantasy managers: the combination of durability (six starts with at least six scoreless innings), elite velocity (peaks near 98 mph), and a developing mix that includes curveballs and changeups to pair with a typically strong four-seam. Skubal’s counterpunch—10 strikeouts, a heavy whiff rate, and a slider that showed plus velocity—also reinforces the parity at the top of Detroit’s rotation. With Brown operating in a run-suppressive environment and delivering legitimate strikeout upside, the fantasy ceiling is clear, and the real-world stakes only heighten the intrigue as Detroit solidifies its place among the league’s best and the series with Houston pushes toward a decisive conclusion.

Brandon Young flirted with a no-hitter into the eighth, only to have Ramón Urías break it up with an infield hit that turned into a throwing error, ending the bid and leaving Houston silent at Daikin Park as Baltimore rolled to a 7-0 win.

Young, in his 11th big-league start, rode a fastball up to 95 mph and a cutter, mixing in a curve, splitter and change to navigate a righty-heavy Houston lineup. He exited after eight innings with 93 pitches, six punch-outs and a 83.7 mph average exit velocity against 19 balls in play. Offensively, the Orioles rewarded him with 14 first-half balls in play that yielded timely hits, including Coby Mayo’s two-out homer in the fourth. The Astros’ bats were quiet, with minimal hard contact through six innings, and Valdez yielded four runs, keeping the door open briefly but Baltimore closed it late. Lance McCullers Jr. showed progress on a Sugar Land rehab, signaling depth moves for Houston as the series opened with a notable pitching duel turned one-sided in the Orioles’ favor.

Friday's MLB slate is packed with offense, and two matchups stand out for sharp fantasy bets. In Baltimore at Houston, the spotlight is on Framber Valdez against Brandon Young, a pairing that skews heavy toward Houston. The wager book leans toward an Astros win and a core Pena prop, banking on Pena reaching base and driving in runs as he thrives at home and against righties. Pena owns an elite contact profile and a robust at-home line, making the Over on 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI appealing while Valdez's home run suppression helps anchor the Under on outs in a likely six-inning outing.

In the NL West, Arizona visits Colorado with Coors Field's run-friendly backdrop. Tanner Gordon carries a rough 8.37 ERA and is targeted by Arizona's offense, notably Gurriel Jr., who crushes right-handed pitching and has produced big nights at Coors. A mixed bag SGP targets the D-Backs for five or more runs and Gurriel to reach 2+ total bases, complemented by Doyle to notch a hit in a weathered Coors contest. The playbook blends Alt totals with First-Five angles to maximize upside in a high-scoring environment.

Across both games, the themes are clear: leverage strong leadoff profiles, exploit favorable park factors, and lean into multi-hit/run-based props that capture the offense-first nature of the slate. If you want one clean throughline, it's Astros moneyline with Pena Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI and Diamondbacks Over Alt Total 4.5 with Gurriel 2+ Total Bases, plus Doyle to Record a Hit.

Friday’s 12-game DFS slate centers on carefully balancing pitcher payups with value arms and stacking the right offenses in a game environment that leans offensive in several matchups. Framber Valdez is the marquee payup at 9,900 but recent road work tempers enthusiasm, especially with Baltimore’s deep lefty-susceptible lineup. Noah Cameron offers a safer, cash-friendly floor at 9,200, while Hurston Waldrep is a budget-longshot with upside in a Cleveland club that struggles against righties. Target Rockies–Diamondbacks and Athletics–Angels for run-heavy stacks, and don’t overlook Red Sox’s trio against Alcantara in a potential salary relief scenario. The Padres–Dodgers weekend set features Machado and Tatis thriving against Clayton Kershaw, while Ronald Acuña Jr. is slated to return and injects a burst of upside for Braves stacks. Weather looks calm overall, with a hint of wind in Kansas City, keeping most offenses in play. Build around a mix of high-leverage arms and eclectic stacks to maximize leverage and ownership gaps.

Key high-leverage offenses to monitor include the Astros, Dodgers, Padres, and Braves, each carrying multiple affordable or mispriced pieces. Red Sox exposure vs Alcantara gives Boston simple pricing discipline with Bregman, Duran, and Roman Anthony as the core trio, while Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. headline a strong Diamondbacks contingent that can punch back against a Rockies pitching plan. Rockies’ Hunter Goodman, Mickey Moniak, and Brenton Doyle present solid mid-price stacking options against Corbin Burnes’ or Pfaadt-influenced rotations. In pitching, value spikes come from mid-tier arms in favorable matchups, coordinating with offense-heavy lineups to secure tournament upside or steady cash gains.

12-game MLB slate primes a Diamondbacks-heavy weekend with Coors Field hosting Arizona power. Framber Valdez anchors cash-game consideration, while Framber Valdez and Charlie Morton stand out for run prevention and strikeouts. Midrange upside comes from Jacob deGrom, Yusei Kikuchi, and Luis Gil. Ketel Marte, Corey Seager, and Corbin Carroll headline a high-upside Arizona stack, with Warming Bernabel and Geraldo Perdomo providing cheap access. In the outfield, Carroll, Brent Rooker, Roman Anthony, and other value plays populate lineups. Stacks focus on Arizona at Coors, Boston against Alcantara, and Colorado against Brandon Pfaadt, capped by a balanced mix of stars and value.

The slate emphasizes chasing the Coors backdrop for Dbacks, Boston's leverage against Alcantara, and Rockies' upside against Pfaadt. The article groups pitchers by reliability, midrange upside, and salary relief, then blends in a handful of hitters who are locked in or trending hot. The recommended approach blends elite arms with dual-threat bats and a few cost-efficient infielders/outfielders to optimize DK and FD rosters for Friday’s late games, while keeping an eye on weather and starting-lineup updates.

Overall, the piece positions Arizona as the core pivot, with Carroll as the crown jewel, Marte fueling stacks, and Perdomo/Del Castillo offering cheap exposure. The recommended paths balance risk and reward—Valdez for cash, deGrom/Kikuchi/Gil for upside, and a Diamondbacks-heavy approach in Coors with supportive cores from Boston and Colorado stacks.