Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Friday, September 11th. 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 Chris Sale, Blake Snell, Parker Messick, and Nolan McLean 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 11th, 2026

Vegas Totals: SEA/ATH (highest-projected game), TEX/ARI (second-highest game total), SD/SF, CWS/STL, KC/BOS, CIN/MIL, HOU/TB & BAL/TOR (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Blake Snell 7.5 O/U (-114), Chris Sale 7.5 O/U (+107), Nolan McLean 6.5 O/U (+118)

MLB Weather Today, 9/11

Mariners vs Athletics - Warm with some winds blowing out around 5 MPH. That's definitely a bonus in Sutter Health Park for offense.

Guardians vs Twins - Chance that there is a delay here but it's nothing overly concerning.

Phillies vs Braves - There could be a late start or an early game delay, but the storm could miss the stadium entirely.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Blake Snell (LAD)

Analysis: Only the Giants have a lower wRC+ since the All-Star game than the Marlins at 78 against left-handed pitching. The Marlins have a .640 OPS and a .112 ISO while walking only 8.3% of the time, which has been Snell's issue throughout his career.

Chris Sale (ATL)

Analysis: Philly's been the second best offense in baseball against lefties since the break with a 120 wRC+ and don't really strike out but a pitcher like Chris Sale is matchup proof. Just did it against the Phillies last time he took the mound.

Parker Messick (CLE) 

Analysis: Parker Messick has been awesome lately. So awesome. He has 10+ Ks in two of his last four outings and has 21+ DKP in all four. He hasn't had a start with less than 15+ DKP for the entire second half of the season. The Twins have a 92 wRC+ with a 22.2% K-rate against lefties since the break.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Carlos Rodon (NYY)

Analysis: The Mets have struck out a bunch against lefties and that's where Rodon could thrive. They've struck out 25.3% of the time, which is the sixth-highest mark in baseball, and they have a 93 wRC+. Rodon has thrown 88 and 89 pitches in his last two starts and should be deep into 90s here.

Aaron Nola (PHI)

Analysis: The Braves just really haven't been good against righties since the All-Star break posting a 97 wRC+ and a 23% K-rate. Nola hasn't allowed more than 3 ER in any start since July 22nd, a span of eight starts. He's pitched to a 2.31 ERA while striking out 26.6% of opponents.

Dustin May (MIL)

Analysis: Dustin May hasn't necessarily pitched well lately, but the spot is tremendous. The Reds, since the All-Star break, has a 26.6% K-rate, which is the second-highest mark in the league and they have a 93 wRC+, but please don't pitch to Elly De La Cruz.

Merrill Kelly (ARI)

Analysis: The value play everyone is gravitating to right now is Max Scherzer and I prefer Merrill Kelly if you're down in this range. The Rangers are bad, like the Orioles who Scherzer gets, ranking 24th in wRC+ while striking out at a 24.7% clip. Kelly put up a 30 DKP two games ago but he has back-to-back QS.

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: 32.6% K% (12.1 K/9)

Chris Sale: 30.6% K% (11 K/9)

Taj Bradley: 27.3% K% (10.4 K/9)

Nolan McLean: 26.7% K% (10 K/9)

Carlos Rodon: 26.2% K% (9.8 K/9)

Parker Messick: 26.1% K% (9.3 K/9)

Drew Rasmussen: 26.1% K% (9.2 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

Jackson Chourio (OF, MIL)

Analysis: Jackson Chourio is ELITE. He's dominating every opposing pitcher right now and he's now up to a .213 ISO and .382 wOBA against left-handed hurlers. Righties have hit Andrew Abbott as he's allowed a .166 ISO and .358 xwOBA.

Elly De La Cruz (SS, CIN)

Analysis: Will Elly De La Cruz homer for a sixth straight game? Even if he doesn't he has a massive ceiling. De La Cruz is playing his best baseball of his career as he's put up a 1.562 OPS in September so far. De La Cruz has a .196 ISO and .346 wOBA vs. RHP but his underlying numbers are even better (.219 xISO and .373 xwOBA).

Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez (OF, SEA) & Cal Raleigh (C, SEA)

Analysis: Seattle has six implied runs today as they head into Sutter Health Park, which is the top offensive park in the game per Baseball Savant. Jeffrey Springs has allowed a boatload of home runs this year and he hasn't pitched well at his home ballpark. Righties have a .242 ISO and .362 wOBA against Springs this year. All three of these righties have a big-time ceiling.

Miguel Vargas (3B, CWS)

Analysis: It's been a super elite season for Miguel Vargas as a whole but he's been dominant against lefties posting a .298 ISO, .299 xISO, .405 wOBA, and .424 xwOBA. As the season has gone on, Liberatore has struggled against righties posting a .181 ISO, .185 xISO, and .349 wOBA.

Max Muncy (3B, LAD) & Teoscar Hernandez (OF, LAD)

Analysis: Righties have had more success against Ryan Gusto as they're hitting nearly .300 and Teoscar Hernandez is amongst the hottest hitters in the league right now. Muncy LOVES facing right-handed hurlers at a .245 ISO and .365 wOBA with 21 bombs.

Corey Seager (SS, TEX)

Analysis: Seager has been awesome since the second half started belting seven home runs while posting a .291 AVG, .872 OPS, and .373 wOBA since it kicked off. Seager has a .667 SLG% in September alone. He faces Merrill Kelly who has allowed a .228 ISO, .256 xISO, .373 wOBA, and .413 xwOBA to lefties.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Mickey Gasper (C/1B, BOS)

Analysis: Gasper has been quite good against right-handed pitching this year posting a .248 ISO and .409 wOBA. Gasper has a good matchup against a struggling Seth Lugo.

Kyle Tucker & Josue De Paula (OF, LAD)

Analysis: Tucker is really cheap and in a great spot. He fits a stack perfectly and maybe his homer in Wednesday's game. The Dodgers have called up their top prospect Josue De Paula and he's an elite hitting talent and is REALLY cheap on this slate.

Taylor Ward (OF, SEA) & Michael Arroyo (2B/SS, SEA)

Analysis: Taylor Ward hasn't been good by any stretch lately, but he does have pretty solid underlying numbers against left-handed pitching. He's posted a .168 xISO and .358 xwOBA vs. LHP. At the minor league level this year, Michael Arroyo has a .285 AVG and .831 OPS.

Chase Meidroth (2B, CWS) & Randal Grichuk (OF, CWS)

Analysis: The middle of the White Sox lineup is really cheap in this spot and each should be multiple at-bats against lefty Matthew Liberatore. They're both super elite against southpaws as Grichuk has a 1.047 OPS and Meidroth is sitting at a .912 OPS.

Joc Pederson (1B, TEX)

Analysis: Joc Pederson just keeps raking against right-handed pitching this year and just keeps homering. Pederson has a .253 ISO, .359 wOBA, and 25 HR vs. RHP. We've already talked about how much Merrill Kelly has struggled vs. LHH.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Seattle Mariners vs Jeffrey Springs (ATH LHP)

Targets: Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, Taylor Ward, Michael Arroyo, Dominic Canzone

Primary Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Ryan Gusto (MIA RHP)

Targets: Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez, Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, Josue De Paula, Freddie Freeman

Primary Stack: Boston Red Sox vs Seth Lugo (KC RHP)

Targets: Mickey Gasper, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Nick Sogard, Caleb Durbin

“Contrarian” Stack: Chicago White Sox vs Matthew Liberatore (STL LHP)

Targets: Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth, Randal Grichuk, Brenton Doyle, Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery

“Contrarian” Stack: Milwaukee Brewers vs Andrew Abbott (CIN LHP)

Targets: Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Andrew Vaughn, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, Brice Turang

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

Dustin May (SP, chalk)Carlos Rodon (SP, lower owned)
Mariners (Chalk)White Sox (pivot stack)
Naylor + Raleigh (chalk)Meidroth + Vargas (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. Dustin May (SP2)
  3. Randy Arozarena (Core Bat)
  4. Elly De La Cruz (Core Bat)
  5. Teoscar Hernandez (Core Bat) 
  6. Chase Meidroth (Core Value Bat)
  7. Michael Arroyo (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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