Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Monday, July 27th. 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 elite pitchers in Chase Burns, Zack Wheeler, Max Fried, and Payton Tolle all taking the mound. It's also a Sutter Health Field and Great American Ballpark slate. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 7-Games on DK, 11-Games on FD | Lock Time: 7:10 pm ET on DK, 6:40 pm ET on FD, Monday, July 27th, 2026

Vegas Totals: TOR/WAS (highest-projected game), ARI/PIT, BOS/ATH, CHC/STL (tied for second-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Zack Wheeler 7.5 O/U (+109), Chase Burns 6.5 O/U (+116), Tatsuya Imai 5.5 O/U (-160), Payton Tolle 5.5 O/U (-124), Kyle Bradish 5.5 O/U (-101)

MLB Weather Today, 7/27

Orioles vs Tigers - This game is one of the riskier games on the board. It could be a late start and possibly a PPD candidate too.

Guardians vs Reds - There's real risk in this one, but we need to see how the storms shape up closer to first pitch.

Yankees vs White Sox - Late start possibility here. Should be good after that.

Cubs vs Cardinals - There could be a delay here, but nothing concerning.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Zack Wheeler (PHI) (FD)

Analysis: The primary argument for anchoring your DFS builds with Wheeler begins with his slate-topping strikeout rate. Boasting a K-rate over 30% and an elite strikeout-to-walk ratio,  That elite skill set collides with an ideal environment against a Miami offense mired in a disastrous 12-game losing streak. Shifting the venue to loanDepot Park in Miami only enhances Wheeler's outlook, as the pitcher-friendly park factors help suppress hard contact and neutralize home run risks. Wheeler sits as a -115 favorite to earn the win, offering significant win-probability equity to go along with his high baseline points projection. Top pitcher on FanDuel.

Chase Burns (CIN)

Analysis: The primary case for anchoring your pitching with Burns rests on his matchup against a struggling Cleveland offense that has consistently faltered against right-handed pitching. Entering this game, the Guardians rank near the bottom of the league at 26th in OPS and 21st in wRC+ against righties. Burns has a K/9 over 10.3 and a pristine 2.42 ERA on the year. While his baseline projection and matchup metrics make him a prime option across all DFS formats, managers must also factor in a potential weather risk, as rain is currently in the forecast for this matchup. A delayed start or mid-game weather interruption could threaten a starter's pitch count or lead to an early exit and that makes thing a little riskier. We need to know more about the weather later today.

Payton Tolle (BOS)

Analysis: The core argument for rostering Tolle centers on his ability to capitalize on Oakland’s strikeout vulnerability. While the Athletics have posted respectable overall production against lefties – ranking in the top 11 in both OPS and wRC+ – their aggressive approach comes with a double-edged sword: a 24.2% strikeout rate against southpaws. DFS scoring heavily rewards put-away capability and Tolle has the fourth-highest K-rate on the main slate. The primary risk factor to monitor in this matchup is the venue, as playing at Sutter Health Field presents clear launching-pad concerns for any starting pitcher. 

Max Fried (NYY)

Analysis: Can Max Fried once again be perfect? Fried threw 57 pitches in his return and held the Pirates to one hit over five innings while striking out seven. If he's not that perfect again, he just won't pay off his price point. He's a very good, efficient pitcher and it's on the table that he can do it again, but it's a risky proposition. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Kyle Bradish (BAL) (FD)

Analysis: Bradish has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in six consecutive outings, racking up five quality starts. That's great for FanDuel where QS matter. That current momentum collides with a Detroit offense that presents a ideal matchup for right-handed pitching. Facing righties, the Tigers' offense ranks in the bottom half of the league, sitting 18th in wRC+ (101), 16th in OPS, and 17th in wOBA. Detroit strikes out at a 23% rate against right-handers too.

Brandon Sproat (MIL)

Analysis: These next two pitchers in Sproat and Imai and GPP plays only. They have ceilings and bottomless floors. Sproat is the clear pivot at the range away from Imai as he's half the ownership of Iami.

Tatsuya Imai (HOU)

Analysis: These next two pitchers in Sproat and Imai and GPP plays only. They have ceilings and bottomless floors. Imai is one of the chalkiest pitchers of the slate.

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:

Zack Wheeler: 30.8% K% (10.5 K/9)

Chase Burns: 28.6% K% (10.4 K.9)

Tatsuya Imai: 27.5% K% (11.2 K/9) 

Payton Tolle: 26.2% K% (9.6 K/9)

Kyle Bradish: 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.

• Zack Wheeler -115
• Payton Tolle +135
• Chase Burns +153
• Brandon Sproat +175

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

James Wood (OF, WAS) & CJ Abrams (SS, WAS) (FD)

Analysis: There has been nothing good to say about Max Scherzer's season to this point and has to return against one of the league's best offenses. Lefties have a .339 ISO against Scherzer and last I checked James Wood and CJ Abrams hit from the left side. Wood has a .300 ISO and Abrams sits at .296 vs. RHP.

Willson Contreras (1B, BOS) & Curtis Mead (3B, BOS)

Analysis: Righties have had more success against Jack Perkins and these two are the best two bats the Red Sox can offer. Contreras has a .244 ISO and .394 wOBA vs. RHP while Mead's at a .242 ISO and .356 wOBA. Put those numbers in Sutter Health and Boston's offense might go off.

Brandon Lowe (2B, PIT) & Ryan O'Hearn (1B/OF, PIT) (FD)

Analysis: We've talked about Merrill Kelly's issues all season long – left-handed bats. The Pirates have a LOT of them but Lowe and O'Hearn are two that stand out. Lowe has a .270 ISO vs. RHP while O'Hearn's at .202 with a .375 wOBA.

Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC) & Dansby Swanson (SS, CHC)

Analysis: The only team better in baseball against left-handed pitching than the Cubs are the Washington Nationals. They have a great matchup against Matthew Liberatore, too, Suzuki has a .217 and .399 wOBA against lefties and Swanson's ceiling against lefties is elite as he's posted a .200 ISO vs. LHP.

Ketel Marte (2B, ARI) & Corbin Carroll (OF, ARI) (FD)

Analysis: Mitch Keller has consistently had a lefty problem and he runs into two elite lefties here in Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll. Carroll's been much better at the dish lately and has a .233 ISO against righties while Marte's numbers are down against righties and yet still has a .163 ISO, .170 xISO, and .341 xwOBA against them.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Jarren Duran (OF, BOS) & Caleb Durbin (2B/3B, BOS)

Analysis: For an offense in Sutter Health Park, Duran and Durbin are really cheap. Durbin has been awesome outside of the first month of the year and Duran has shown some signs of life.

JJ Bleday (OF, CIN) & Nathaniel Lowe (1B, CIN)

Analysis: I don't love the Reds being chalk because they're flat out the worst offense in baseball against righties but their home ballpark is such a good place to hit in. They have a couple of lefties in Bleday and Lowe that both have .240 ISOs or better versus righties this year.

Pedro Ramirez (3B, CHC)

Analysis: Ramirez was raking at Triple-A before his call-up and he's doing it again at the major league level. He has a hit in seven straight games and has four multi-hit efforts over that span. He's hit incredibly well from both sides of the plate and hasn't dipped at all as a righty bat.

Cooper Pratt (SS, MIL)

Analysis: Righties have really good numbers against Tyler Mahle and Cooper Pratt is HITTIN' right about now. He's nearly at .300 for the year and has a .153 ISO and .380 wOBA against right-handed hurlers. This is an elite ballpark for speedsters if they put one in the gap and every time Pratt's on first he's running.

Paul Goldschmidt (1B, NYY)

Analysis: I like Noah Schultz the prospect, but he's had a real serious issue against both splits this year. The righty power has bit him one too many times as RHH are up at a .218 ISO and Goldy is the perfect pairing. He should leadoff here and righties have a .324 ISO and .452 wOBA against southpaws this year.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Washington Nationals vs Max Scherzer (TOR RHP) (FD)

Why: Can 42-year old Max Scherzer get outs at the major league level here? That's what we're going to find out. This Nationals offense is one of the league's best offenses littered with lefties. Both splits have had success against Scherzer and while lefties stand out a little more (.339 ISO, .447 wOBA) righties aren't far behind (.300 ISO, .384 wOBA).

Targets: James Wood, CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Daylen Lile, Luis Garcia Jr., Brady House

Primary Stack: Boston Red Sox vs Jack Perkins (ATH RHP)

Why: The Red Sox draw Jack Perkins in his home ballpark. Check and mate. Perkins has a 7.67 ERA as a starter and is allowing a .535 SLG% and .379 wOBA. At home, he's pitched to a 7.41 ERA and a .460 SLG% and .358 wOBA. What is there not to like about the red hot Red Sox coming into Sutter Health Park?

Targets: Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, Curtis Mead, Caleb Durbin, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu

Primary Stack: Chicago Cubs vs Matthew Liberatore (STL LHP)

Why: The Cubs have the second best wRC+ against left-handed pitching this year. That's first. Second is that Matthew Liberatore has not been a good pitcher this year. Liberatore has been bad against both splits but lefties have mauled him to a .313/.368/.542 slash. Righties hitting .281 with a .455 SLG% and .350 wOBA isn't bad either.

Targets: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, Pedro Ramirez, Carson Kelly

“Contrarian” Stack: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Mitch Keller (PIT RHP) (FD)

Why: It's been really rough sledding for the the Diamondbacks against righties this year but this is a get-right spot as Mitch Keller – outside of his start against the Yankees – has pitched really poorly for some time now. Lefties have a .204 ISO and .356 wOBA off of him this year. That's up to a .288 ISO and .392 wOBA over the last 30 days.

Targets: Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, Max Kepler, Gabriel Moreno, Adrian Del Castillo

"Contrarian" Stack: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Merrill Kelly (ARI RHP) (FD)

Why: Only the Los Angeles Dodgers have a higher wRC+ against right-handed pitching than the Pirates and are a very lefty heavy lineup. Merrill Kelly has a lefty problem, too. Lefties have a .266 ISO, .300 xISO, .378 wOBA, and .422 wOBA against him this year.

Targets: Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, Bryan Reynolds, Jake Mangum, Jacob Gonzalez, Esmerlyn Valdez

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. Zack Wheeler (SP1) (FD)
2. Brandon Sproat (SP2)
3. Willson Contreras (Core Bat)
4. CJ Abrams (Core Bat) (FD)
5. Seiya Suzuki (Core Bat) 
6. Luis Garcia Jr. (Core Value Bat) (FD)
7. Caleb Durbin (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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