Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Saturday, July 18th. 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. 

This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 7-Game Main | Lock Time: 4:05 pm ET, Saturday, July 18th, 2026

Vegas Totals: SD/KC (highest-projected game), TB/BOS (second-highest game total), STL/ARI - BAL/HOU - TEX/ATL (third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Jesus Luzardo 6.5 O/U (-142), Spencer Arrighetti 5.5 O/U (-138), Max Meyer 5.5 O/U (-117)

MLB Weather Today, 7/18

NYM @ PHI - The start time for the game has been moved up to 3:05 pm ET due to inclement weather. Players from this game will no longer be available on the slate. 

SD @ KC - Very low chance for some rain. Hot and humid, good hitting weather. 

TB @ BOS - Chance for an in-game delay and low chance of postponement. Winds are blowing out at nearly 20 mph. 

TEX @ ATL - Low chance a pop-up storm ends up over the ballpark.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Jesus Luzardo (PHI)

Analysis: We need a little clarity on the weather here, but assuming Mother Nature cooperates, Luzardo has the highest upside on the slate. He's been in great form, with 20 strikeouts in his last two starts combined. He had spotty control in his start against the Mets before that, which caused an exit after five innings. The Mets, whom he faces again today, have just a 94 wRC+ against lefties, and Luzardo should be able to work deeper if he's throwing more strikes (and the weather holds). 

UPDATE: The start time for this game has been moved up to 3:05 pm ET, which removes Luzardo from the DK slate. 

Max Meyer (MIA)

Analysis: Meyer skipped his final start before the All-Star break and should be well-rested for this start. He's put together an excellent season, with a 2.58 ERA in 19 starts, but he draws a tough matchup against the Brewers. There is a lack of upside pitching options on the slate, so he remains firmly in play.  

MacKenzie Gore (TEX)

Analysis: Gore has pitched better than his 4.68 ERA would indicate. All of the ERA estimators are aligned and have him more than half a run better than his surface-level results. The lefty draws a great matchup against a Braves offense that has managed just a 92 wRC+ against southpaws this season. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Spencer Arrighetti (HOU)

Analysis: The 12.4% walk rate makes him an uncomfortable player to roster, but there is upside when he can limit the free passes. Baltimore has been an above-average offense against righties, but they have also struck out at a healthy 23.7% clip, which is fourth-highest in baseball.  

Owen Murphy (ATL)

Analysis: Murphy will make his first career start after working four innings out of the bullpen prior to the break. He has missed bats at every level of the minors since being drafted in the 1st round back in 2022. 

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 7-game slate.

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

Jesus Luzardo: 29.4% K% (11.1 K/9)

Ian Seymour: 27.8% K% (10.4 K/9)

MacKenzie Gore: 25.7% K% (9.9 K.9)

Max Meyer: 26.0% K% (9.7 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

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

Analysis: Canning has been smashed by lefties for a .227 ISO. Jensen has cooled off after a scorching month of June, but he owns a .196 ISO against righties this season. Caglianone has also had a slow July after posting a 182 wRC+ in June, but he's at .205 ISO versus righties. It's a great spot for these lefty bats to get their second half rolling. 

Fernando Tatis (OF, SD) & Manny Machado (3B, SD) 

Analysis: This duo doesn't pack the punch it once did, but they are facing a lefty who has thrown fewer than 25 MLB innings since 2022. In his limited big league time since then, he posted an 11.4% strikeout rate and a 10.5% walk rate. 

Junior Caminero (3B, TB)

Analysis: Caminero has the top bat speed on the planet, and it's been translating to massive power since last season. He has posted an absurd .377 ISO in July, and he proved his wrist is just fine after an All-Star Game scare by hitting a home run yesterday. 

JJ Wetherholt (2B, STL) & Alec Burleson (1B, STL)

Analysis: Pfaadt has been crushed by lefties for most of his career, including allowing a .239 ISO to them this season. Wetherholt owns a .341 wOBA against righties and should hit leadoff, while Burleson is all the way up at .244 ISO and .402 wOBA. 

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KC) & Michael Massey (2B, KC)  

Analysis: Canning has carried massive splits this season, with lefties doing nearly all of the damage against him. Elite hitting weather in KC adds to the appeal for these cheap lefties. 

Ryan Vilade (OF, TB)

Analysis: Vilade has crushed lefties for a .222 ISO and .347 wOBA this season. He is facing a lefty who has barely pitched in the big leagues for two years, and he gets a park upgrade going into Fenway. 

Ty France (1B, SD) & Xander Bogaerts (SS, SD)

Analysis: France has been excellent against lefties this season, with a .221 ISO. Elite hitting weather and a matchup with a journeyman lefty make this an elite spot for the Padres. Bogaerts, like many Padres, has struggled this season. However, the elite spot and his premium position make him a viable value option. 

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Kansas City Royals vs Griffin Canning (SD RHP)

Targets: Carter Jensen, Jac Caglianone, Bobby Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey, Lane Thomas

Primary Stack: San Diego Padres vs Randy Dobnak (KC LHP)

Targets: Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis, Ty France, Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill 

Primary Stack: Tampa Bay Rays vs Patrick Sandoval (BOS LHP)

Targets: Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz, Ryan Vilade, Jonathan Aranda, Jonny DeLuca

“Contrarian” Stack: Baltimore Orioles vs Spencer Arrighetti (HOU RHP)

Targets: Gunnar Henderson, Pete Alonso, Adley Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Samuel Basallo 

"Contrarian" Stack: Houston Astros vs Trevor Rogers (BAL LHP)

Targets: Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena, Christian Walker, Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes 

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Luzardo (SP, chalk)Gore (SP, lower owned)Luzardo has weather risk, and the Mets don't strike out a ton. Gore has deserved better results this year and draws a plus matchup. 
Padres (Chalk)Orioles (pivot stack)The Orioles have a 107 wRC+ vs RHP (7th-best). The Padres have an 86 wRC+ vs LHP (5th-worst). 
Tatis + Machado (chalk)Caminero + Vilade (lower owned)Tatis' power is way down this season (.076 ISO vs LHP), and Machado has a wOBA under .300, yet they will be two of the most popular hitters on the entire slate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. MacKenzie Gore (SP1)
  2. Owen Murphy (SP2)
  3. Junior Caminero (Core Bat)
  4. Carter Jensen (Core Bat)
  5. Jac Caglianone (Core Bat) 
  6. Vinnie Pasquantino (Core Value Bat)
  7. Ryan Vilade (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

$ Tier {{pos.alias}}

Stacks

{{stack.team.name}} {{player.name}}
DraftKings {{player.fantasy.price.value[8]}}-
Fanduel {{player.fantasy.price.value[6]}}-