Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Monday, July 24th. 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, Logan Gilbert, Braxton Ashcraft, and Parker Messick 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: 7-Games on DraftKings, 10-Games on FanDuel | Lock Time: 6:40 pm ET, Monday, July 24th, 2026

Vegas Totals: MIN/ATH (highest-projected game), CHC/ARI (second-highest game total), COL/WAS, TEX/CWS (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Zack Wheeler 7.5 O/U (+119), Parker Messick 6.5 O/U (-160), Chase Burns 6.5 O/U (-111), Cade Cavalli 6.5 O/U (-101)

MLB Weather Today, 8/24

Twins vs Athletics - It's really warm and there are slight winds blowing out, which is a really nice boost to offense in Sutter Health Park.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Chase Burns (CIN) 

Analysis: Things are trending back upwards for Chase Burns as his velocity is back on the rise. For the first three times this year, his fastball velocity was below 97 MPH and that's been up over 97 in the last two starts. Twice over his last four starts he's put up 30+ DKP and that's the upside he has against the Giants anemic offense.

Cade Cavalli (WAS) (FanDuel)

Analysis: There have been no pitchers on the planet better than Cade Cavalli over the past month. He's been on an insane run. He's struck out 8+ in three straight games and has logged eight straight quality starts. The Rockies have a 95 wRC+ against righties this year.

Parker Messick (CLE)

Analysis: Arguably the best pitcher of the slate. Messick has the best odds to pick up a win and second in strikeout odds as well. The Angels are 20th in OPS and have the third-highest K-rate in baseball against left-handed pitching this season. Messick has put up 20+ DKP in four of his last six starts.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Robbie Ray (SD)

Analysis: Ray hasn't pitched particularly well in San Diego yet but has the chance to twirl a gem here. The Pirates have an 87 wRC+ against lefties along with the highest K-rate in the league at 25.9%.

Ranger Suarez (BOS) (FanDuel)

Analysis: Suarez hasn't pitched particularly well since coming off the IL but this is a great spot against the Marlins. The Marlins have a .704 OPS against lefties this year along with a subpar 94 wRC+. They strike out 23.2% of the time against southpaws as well.

George Klassen (LAA)

Analysis: There's been two things true with George Klassen; he walks a lot of people and generates a ton of whiffs. Klassen has had a 12% SwStr or higher in four of five starts he's made at the major league level. He's also walked three-plus batters in four of five as well. He's very underowned compared to some other pitchers at his price point.

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: 30.4% K% (10.8 K/9)

Chase Burns: 29% K% (10.5 K/9)

Cade Cavalli: 27% K% (10.2 K/9)

Braxton Ashcraft: 26.4% K% (9.6 K/9)

Logan Gilbert: 26.4% K% (9.4 K/9)

Drew Rasmussen: 26.1% K% (9.3 K/9)

Parker Messick: 25.7% 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

Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF, CHC)

Analysis: What do we even say about PCA at this point? He's the MVP? That's where things are going. PCA has a .298 ISO and .391 wOBA while belting 24 home runs against righties this year. Oh and by the way, Merrill Kelly struggles against lefties.

Byron Buxton (OF, MIN), Kody Clemens (2B, MIN) & Royce Lewis (1B, MIN)

Analysis: Byron Buxton is really struggling but gets a pitcher in a ballpark where the ball flies like none other. Jeffrey Springs struggles with lefties and Clemens also hits lefties with power (.208 ISO, .212 xISO). Royce Lewis has plus numbers against left-handed pitching too (.198 ISO, .232 xISO, .332 wOBA, .371 xwOBA).

Zack Gelof (3B/OF, ATH) & Lawrence Butler (OF, ATH)

Analysis: Both righties and lefties have hit for power against Zebby Matthews and we have one of each here. Gelof has a .945 OPS at home and a .950 OPS at home vs. RHP. It's been a great second-half for Butler as he's posted a .487 SLG%, .833 OPS, .217 ISO, and .361 wOBA.

Jackson Merrill (OF, SD)

Analysis: Merrill has been elite since the All-Star break hitting 11 HR in 35 games along with a .296 AVG with a .919 OPS, .388 wOBA, and 150 wRC+. He has a .242 xISO and .349 xwOBA against righties this year and Ashcraft has been susceptible to LHH allowing a .192 ISO and .321 wOBA.

Colson Montgomery (3B/SS, CWS)

Analysis: There are two things at play. Power from the left side and there is power allowed by the pitcher on the other side. Montgomery has a .204 ISO against righties and Kumar Rocker has allowed a .203 ISO to lefties.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Pedro Ramirez (2B/3B, CHC)

Analysis: Ramirez has been tremendous at the major league level and is getting everyday reps with Dansby Swanson out. He puts everything in play and has reached base at a .343 clip. He has a little power and is a stolen base threat as well.

Kaelen Culpepper (SS, MIN)

Analysis: Lots of talent and lots of power for a player that doesn't cost a lot. Culpepper has a .211 ISO through his first 22 plate apperances against southpaws. Elite ballpark upgrade too.

Daylen Lile (OF, WAS) & Abimelec Ortiz (1B, WAS) (FanDuel)

Analysis: It's likely that we're going to see Lile and Ortiz atop the Nats lineup, especially if CJ Abrams remains out. Both guys have hit righties hard and are really cheap to boot. Lile has a .192 ISO and Ortiz has a .298 ISO vs. RHP this year.

Matt McLain (2B/SS, CIN) & Dane Myers (OF, CIN)

Analysis: This isn't a good ballpark to hit in, but the Reds are a good offense against lefties. Myers continues to hit third vs. LHP and has good numbers against them (.182 ISO, .200 xISO, .367 wOBA, .351 xwOBA) and McLain has looked good vs. LHP posting a .167 ISO, .153 xISO, .339 wOBA, and .356 xwOBA.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Minnesota Twins vs Jeffrey Springs (ATH LHP)

Targets: Byron Buxton, Kody Clemens, Luke Keaschall, Royce Lewis, Ryan Jeffers, Kaelen Culpepper

Primary Stack: Chicago Cubs vs Merrill Kelly (CHC RHP)

Targets: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Pedro Ramirez, Ian Happ, Michael Busch

Primary Stack: Washington Nationals vs Ryan Feltner (COL RHP) (FanDuel)

Targets: CJ Abrams, Daylen Lile, Abimelec Ortiz, Dylan Crews, Brady House

“Contrarian” Stack: Athletics vs Zebby Matthews (MIN RHP)

Targets: Zack Gelof, Lawrence Butler, Henry Bolte, Jeff McNeil, Max Muncy

“Contrarian” Stack: Cincinnati Reds vs Carson Whisenhunt (SFG LHP)

Targets: Elly De La Cruz, Dane Myers, Matt McLain, Sal Stewart, Tyler Stephenson, Eugenio Suarez

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Urquidy (SP, chalk value)Klassen (SP, lower owned)Klassen undervalued considering he's the best strikeout arm in this range. Strikeouts win GPPs.
Twins (Chalk)Cubs (pivot stack)Cubs have second-highest implied total & no ownership today.
Kwan + Ramirez (chalk)Crow-Armstrong + Ramirez (lower owned)We've done this Guardians thing before. They're not good and Klassen is underrated. Cubs look great w/ no ownership.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Cade Cavalli (SP1) (FanDuel)
  2. Parker Messick (SP2)
  3. Pete Crow-Armstrong (Core Bat)
  4. Royce Lewis (Core Bat)
  5. Kody Clemens (Core Bat) 
  6. Daylen Lile (Core Value Bat) (FanDuel)
  7. Kaelen Culpepper (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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