Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Friday, September 4th. Our MLB DFS projections combine advanced pitching metrics, platoon splits, strikeout prop data, and ownership positioning to identify the sharpest plays on every slate. Whether you are targeting DFS Projections, running lineups through our DFS Optimizer, tracking ownership trends, or checking confirmed lineups, Fantasy Alarm has the tools to sharpen your edge. 

Today's slates have multiple different directions with some quality pitchers in Blake Snell, Nolan McLean, Logan Gilbert, and Shota Imanaga all taking the mound. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 12-Games | Lock Time: 7:05 pm ET, Friday, September 4th, 2026

Vegas Totals: STL/COL (highest-projected game), TOR/KC (second-highest game total), MIN/CWS & ARI/HOU (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Blake Snell 7.5 O/U (-142), Logan Gilbert 6.5 O/U (-119), Nolan McLean 6.5 O/U (+105), Ranger Suarez 5.5 O/U (-113), Shota Imanaga 5.5 O/U (+111)

MLB Weather Today, 9/4

Blue Jays vs Royals - Plus plus plus hitting weather (hot, humid & winds blowing out)

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Blake Snell (LAD)

Analysis: Blake Snell has been elite since returning as he hasn't allowed more than 1 ER in any of the four outings he's pitched in. He's struck out 10+ batters twice in four starts and 5+ strikeouts in all four. He has put up 22+ DKP in each of those outings and has nearly flashed a 30 FP ceiling to boot.

Nolan McLean (NYM)

Analysis: McLean has hit his stride allowing 1 ER or fewer in four straight games and has back-to-back scoreless outings. McLean has been consistently scoring double-digit fantasy points for months and has 30+ DKP upside in this matchup. San Fran has been a top-10 offense vs. RHP since the All-Star break.

Logan Gilbert (SEA) 

Analysis: Gilbert has actually pitched worse in Seattle than anywhere else. He faces an A's offense that has been a 97 wRC+ since the start of August and has a 20.1% K-rate over that span. He's getting a lot of ownership today.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Ranger Suarez (BOS)

Analysis: Since August 1st, the Orioles have been a good offense against left-handed pitching but they strike out a LOT. They have a 111 wRC+ against southpaws but a 28% K-rate. Suarez hasn't pitched particularly well since returning from his groin injury but he was cruising last start before a highly debated flyball dropped.

Foster Griffin (CLE)

Analysis: Since August 1st, the Tigers offense has greatly struggled against left-handed pitching posting an 86 wRC+ while striking out at a 24.1% K-rate. Griffin's pitched well after his first start with the Guardians allowing 2 ER or fewer in four consecutive starts. Griffin's been an elite pitcher this year and is now just 8.3K.

Merrill Kelly (ARI)

Analysis: Since June 1st, the Astros are struggling against right-handed pitching. They rank 25th in wRC+ at 89 and 22nd in OPS with .678 along with a 21.6% K-rate. Kelly has had an inconsistent season but he's pitched better in the second-half of the year and his strikeouts are rising as well. Decent value.

Matt Wilkinson (SF)

Analysis: This is a risky one for sure, but the Mets, since August 1st, rank 21st in wRC+ against left-handed pitching and are striking out 24.9% of the time. Wilkinson got through six innings for the first time as a major leaguer last time out, so there aren't pitch count limits we need to worry about here. He's an incredibly cheap option.

Top Options For Strikeouts

K-prop lines and value ratings are incorporated below for DFS and prop context. These are the arms building the highest strikeout ceilings on the 9-game slate.

Our model identifies these arms as the highest-ceiling plays for Alt-K lines today:

Blake Snell: 33% K% (12.5 K/9)

Nolan McLean: 26.7% K% (9.9 K/9)

Logan Gilbert: 26% K% (9.3 K/9)

Shota Imanaga: 24% K% (8.9 K/9)

Ranger Suarez: 23.1% K% (8.7 K/9)

Best Odds For A Win

The following MLB DFS picks offer a combination of favorable win odds, sustainable ERA and xFIP metrics, and soft opponent matchups. Each carries K-prop lines worth noting alongside their DFS value at reduced ownership relative to the top tier.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Alec Burleson (1B, STL) & Jordan Walker (OF, STL)

Analysis: Both Burleson and Walker have .200+ ISOs against right-handed pitching and now are getting to hit in Coors Field. Burleson & Walker are two of the better spend up's of the day.

Jac Caglianone (OF, KC), Carter Jensen (C, KC) & Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KC)

Analysis: Nobody serves up the home run ball quite like Jameson Taillon. Taillon allows 2.79 HR/9, which leads the league. He's allowed 26 HR in 17 games and now has to navigate the friendly confines of Kauffman Stadium. Both Jensen and Caglianone have .220+ ISOs vs. RHP and Pasquantino has been really good since returning and has a .176 xISO vs. righties.

Mookie Betts (SS, LAD) & Tommy Edman (2B/OF, LAD)

Analysis: Righties have given Jackson Kent problems thus far at the major league level as they've been on base 40% of the time along with a .350 wOBA. Edman has a .182 ISO and .367 wOBA against southpaws on the year and Betts has a .181 xISO and .350 xwOBA.

Kazuma Okamoto (3B, TOR)

Analysis: Okamoto against left-handed pitching this year has raked post5ing a .258 ISO, .293 xISO, .364 wOBA, and .350 xwOBA. He's in an elite hitting environment in KC, and against Daniel Lynch, it's a fantastic matchup. Over the last 30 days, which he became a starter in, he's allowed a .200 ISO, .220 xISO, .332 wOBA, and .370 xwOBA.

Heriberto Hernandez (OF, MIA)

Analysis: This man continues to rake against southpaws. He's really raking against both splits, but he has a .306 ISO, .285 xISO, .381 wOBA, and .407 xwOBA. Hernandez faces a home run allower in Shota Imanaga.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Teoscar Hernandez (OF, LAD)

Analysis: Hernandez has three multi-hit games over his last four outings and has hit .333 over his last 10 games. He's starting to settle in at the dish and this year, against lefties, Hernandez has a .184 ISO and .361 wOBA. Hernandez should slot into the heart of their lineup again.

Thomas Saggese (SS/OF, STL), Leo Bernal (C, STL) & Nathan Church (OF, STL)

Analysis: The Cardinals have a lot of good value options today. Bernal and Church have the split advantage as Feltner struggles against lefties (.215 ISO, .196 xISO, .374 wOBA, .361 xwOBA) but Saggese is scorching hot right now.

Francisco Lindor (SS, NYM)

Analysis: Lindor has always been better against left-handed pitching throughout his career and this year hasn't been any different. Lindor had a .196 ISO and is raking with Juan Soto protecting behind him. I love the DK price on Lindor.

Trevor Story (SS, BOS)

Analysis: In four games since Story's been back, he's had double-digit fantasy points in three of them and has at least one extra-base hit in all four. Story's really cheap and is in a good spot against a pitcher who struggles more with same split hitters.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: St. Louis Cardinals vs Ryan Feltner (COL RHP)

Targets: Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, Nathan Church, Leo Bernal, Thomas Saggese, Nolan Gorman

Primary Stack: Kansas City Royals vs Jameson Taillon (TOR RHP)

Targets: Jac Caglianone, Vinnie Pasquantino, Carter Jensen, Michael Massey, Bobby Witt, Salvador Perez

Primary Stack: Toronto Blue Jays vs Daniel Lynch (KC LHP)

Targets: Kazuma Okamoto, George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero, Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement

“Contrarian” Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Jackson Kent (WAS LHP)

Targets: Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernandez, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Miguel Rojas

“Contrarian” Stack: Seattle Mariners vs Kade Morris (ATH RHP)

Targets: Dominic Canzone, Cal Raleigh, Lazaro Montes, Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, Cole Young

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

Logan Gilbert (SP, chalk)Foster Griffin (SP, lower owned)
Cardinals (Chalk)Royals (pivot stack)
Fermin + Baez (chalk)Jensen + Pasquantino (lower owned)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The foundation for every MLB DFS lineup you build today. These are the core MLB DFS picks by position across DraftKings and FanDuel.

  1. Blake Snell (SP1)
  2. Foster Griffin (SP2)
  3. Alec Burleson (Core Bat)
  4. Carter Jensen (Core Bat)
  5. Jac Caglianone (Core Bat) 
  6. Teoscar Hernandez (Core Value Bat)
  7. Thomas Saggese (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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