Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Monday, May 25th. 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 6-game main slate has multiple different directions to go with some elite pitching arms such as Jacob Misiorowski and Nolan McLean. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 6-Game Main  |  Lock Time: 1:35 PM ET, Monday May 25, 2026

Vegas Totals: NYY/KC (highest-projected game), MIN/CWS (second-highest), CHC/PIT (third-highest)

Highest K-Projections: Jacob Misiorowski 8.5 O/U (-105), Nolan McLean 7.5 O/U (+115), Kyle Bradish 5.5 O/U (-126) 

MLB Weather Today, 5/25

TB vs BAL - There is rain in the forecast that could cause an issue, but it's not likely that it causes a postponement.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Jacob Misiorowski (MIL)

Analysis: He nearly has a 40% K-rate and is minus money to go over 8.5 strikeouts. This is something we've never really seen and he's very hard to fade. On a smaller slate, if he goes for 30+ DKP like he has in each of his last four starts, you're cooked like a Christmas ham.

Nolan McLean (NYM)

Analysis: The Reds really rate out poorly against right-handed pitching and thus, we have Nolan McLean under 9K on DK. McLean is basically second best in every metric to Misiorowski on this slate as he's 2nd in K projection, K rate, and to notch a win. The Reds are 20th or worse in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ against right-handers and they're on the road here.

Shane McClanahan (TB)

Analysis: I do not for one second doubt the pitcher or the matchup here. I doubt the pitchers team and there desire to let him pitch deep into games. Coming off multiple injuries, the Rays have seemingly hard capped McClanahan at six innings and we've seen him lifted as low as 69 pitches this season to boot. That said, he notched four straight 20+ FP outings before his last one and faces an Orioles offense striking out over 25% of the time versus southpaws. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Zebby Matthews (MIN)

Analysis: For as good as the White Sox are against left-handed pitching, they're just a middling offense against righties. They rank 18th in OPS and wOBA and are 16th in wRC+. Where Matthews could thrive is in the strikeout department. The White Sox strike out 24.4% of the time against righties and Matthews has been able to miss bats throughout his career.

Will Warren (NYY)

Analysis: The Royals are just so mid. They're middle of the pack or lower than that in basically every offensive category. It's funny nobody's playing this pitcher considering he has actually flashed higher upside than the two pitchers directly ahead of him in price. The Royals are 17th or worse in OPS, wOBA, ISO, and wRC+ vs. RHP.

Top Options For Strikeouts

The three top strikeout targets in today's MLB DFS projections each carry a K/9 above 10.9 and favorable opponent strikeout splits. 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 nine-game slate.

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

Jacob Misiorowski: 39.3% K% (13.9 K/9)

Nolan McLean: 29.5% K% (10.7 K/9) 

Will Warren: 28.2% K% (10.6 K/9)

Ben Brown: 26% K% (9.3 K/9)

Shane McClanahan: 25.8% K% (9.5 K/9)

Kyle Bradish: 25.3% K% (10 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 carry K-prop lines worth noting alongside their DFS value at reduced ownership relative to the top tier.

• Jacob Misiorowski -109
• Nolan McLean +143
• Will Warren +162

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Aaron Judge (OF, NYY)

Analysis: Judge is smashing right-handed pitching this year posting a .303 ISO, .353 xISO, .392 wOBA, and .411 xwOBA. Righties have given Michael Wacha fits this year allowing a .239 ISO and .337 wOBA.

Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)

Analysis: Righties are killing Anthony Kay this season so here's the one guy, Byron Buxton. He's quite good. In 15 games in May, he's already belted eight bombs, .719 SLG%, .438 ISO, and .447 wOBA. Righties have a .201 ISO, .218 xISO, .403 wOBA, and a and .418 xwOBA. Righties also have a .313 AVG against him. All the underlying numbers look awful too.

Junior Caminero (3B, TB)

Analysis: This is a really good correlation play. Kyle Bradish has struggled against right-handed hitters and right-handed pitchers have been dominated by Caminero. Righties have a .197 ISO, .234 xISO, .414 wOBA, and .362 xwOBA against Bradish and Caminero has a .245 ISO, .223 xISO, .370 wOBA, and .354 xwOBA against righties.

Jackson Chourio (OF, MIL)

Analysis: Both splits crush Matthew Liberatore and Chourio had a big year against lefties a year ago. This years sample is hard to judge because it's 19 PAs and last year, in 149 ABs, Chourio had a .241 ISO and .411 wOBA. Liberatore has allowed a .113 ISO, .179 xISO, .327 wOBA, and .352 xwOBA.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Andrew Vaughn (1B, MIL)

Analysis: You look through all of the Andrew Vaughn data and he's a great hitter against lefties and has been his whole career. He had an .859 OPS last year against lefties and has a 1.200 OPS this year in a limited sample.

Mark Vientos (1B, NYM)

Analysis: Another year of Mark Vientos posting a .200 ISO, .225 xISO, .369 wOBA, and .371 xwOBA. He's had a .200 ISO or better in each of his three seasons in the bigs. Nick Lodolo has looked horrible this year allowing a .378 ISO, .290 xISO, .416 wOBA, and .398 xwOBA against right-handed hitters thus far.

Ryan Kreidler (SS/OF, MIN)

Analysis: The Twins have some good value pieces today and Ryan Kreidler is one of them. It's a small sample, but Kreidler has raked against southpaws this year and it's a struggling lefty. Kreidler has a .294 ISO and .453 wOBA vs. LHP this year.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Milwaukee Brewers vs Matthew Liberatore (STL LHP)

Why: The Brewers have ended up being the chalkiest team on the board and it makes a whole lot of sense. Matthew Liberatore has struggled against both splits as lefties have killed him in the power department. The Brewers have elite hitters everywhere you turn as Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Brice Turang, Christian Yelich, Andrew Vaughn, and Luis Rengifo.

Primary Stack: New York Yankees vs Michael Wacha (KC RHP)

Why: The Yankees have the highest implied total on the board and have some of the chalkiest players on the board. Righties have given Michael Wacha fits this year. It's 80 degrees in Kansas City and warm weather in KC bodes really well for increase of offense. Despite recent struggles, the Yankees are fifth or better in every offensive category vs. RHP this year.

"Contrarian" Stack: Minnesota Twins vs Anthony Kay (CWS LHP)

Why: It's the righties we want. Anthony Kay has been demolished by right-handed bats this year as they've slashed .313/.407/.515 with a .404 wOBA, .201 ISO, and .218 xISO. The Twins are so affordable across the board and have some really good value pieces. Byron Buxton, Austin Martin, and Luke Keaschall are the only 4K players on DK while Gabriel Gonzalez, Orlando Arcia, Ryan Kreidler, and Josh Bell stand out in the value department.

"Contrarian" Stack: New York Mets vs Nick Lodolo (CIN LHP)

Why: I mean, the Reds lefty just can't get people out and isn't throwing strikes either. Both lefties and the righties have a .333 ISO or better against Lodolo and both splits are posting a .415 wOBA or better against him. The Mets offense is improving as Bo Bichette and Mark Vientos are coming alive, Juan Soto is hitting everything in sight, and Brett Baty and A.J. Ewing stand out against lefties too.

"Contrarian" Stack: Chicago Cubs (lefties) vs Carmen Mlodzinski (PIT RHP)

Why: We want lefties against Carmen Mlodzinski as they've crushed him and righties have done zero, zilch, nada. Lefties have a .327 AVG, .482 SLG%, and .386 wOBA against him. The Cubs have a boatload of lefites to throw at him with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Michael Busch, Michael Conforto, Pedro Ramirez, and Moises Ballesteros all in the lineup. 

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

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

1. Jacob Misiorowski (SP1)
2. Nolan McLean (SP2)
3. Aaron Judge (Core Bat)
4. Jackson Chourio (Core Bat)
5. Byron Buxton (Core Bat)
6. Gabriel Gonzalez (Core Value Bat)
7. Andrew Vaughn (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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