Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Saturday, August 1st. 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: 10-Game Main | Lock Time: 7:05 pm ET, Saturday, August 1st, 2026

Vegas Totals: KC/COL (highest-projected game), DET/ATH (second-highest game total), WAS/ATL (third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Cristopher Sanchez 6.5 O/U (-160), Jacob deGrom 6.5 O/U (-102), Yoshinobu Yamamoto 6.5 O/U (-102), Jose Soriano 5.5 O/U (-105), Shane Baz 5.5 O/U (+110), Ronel Blanco 5.5 O/U (+123), Payton Tolle 5.5 O/U (+125)

MLB Weather Today, 8/1

ARI @ CLE – They will likely see rain at some point. Maybe they can play through it, or maybe it causes a delay. 

NYY @ CHC – Rain in the area could cause a delay. Winds whipping in from center field at 20-30 mph. Elite pitching conditions. 

WAS @ ATL – Rain in the area could cause a delay. 

DET @ ATH – Temperatures in the mid-90s. Elite hitting conditions. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Cristopher Sanchez (PHI)

Analysis: Sanchez appears to be headed for another top-3 NL Cy Young finish. The strikeouts are up this season, and he continues to generate ground balls at an elite level. Matchup doesn't really matter for him, but he draws a high-upside spot against an Orioles offense that strikes out at the fourth-highest clip against lefties.  

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)

Analysis: Yamamoto has been brilliant in two second-half starts, allowing just three runs in 15 innings. Tonight, he draws a plus matchup at home against a Red Sox offense that owns just an 88 wRC+ against right-handed pitching while striking out at a top-10 rate. 

Jacob deGrom (TEX)

Analysis: deGrom has the highest strikeout rate on the slate, which gives him significant upside. He draws a tough matchup against an Astros team that boasts a 108 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, but he is still a great tournament option thanks to that strikeout ability. 

Max Fried (NYY)

Analysis: Fried may have the safest floor on the entire slate, despite a brutal matchup with a Cubs team that ranks first in wRC+ against lefties. Fried rarely allows home runs thanks to his elite groundball rate, and now he will have 20-30 mph winds helping him out in Wrigley. He is still working on getting fully stretched out, but he is also one of the most efficient starters in the game. The salary discount more than makes up for the slightly nerfed pitch count.  

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Robert Gasser (MIL)

Analysis: Gasser missed a ton of bats at the Triple-A level. That hasn't translated perfectly to MLB just yet, but he should get a boost from his matchup today. The Angels strike out at the highest rate in baseball against left-handed pitching. 

Framber Valdez (DET)

Analysis: Valdez draws a tough assignment in Sutter Health, but it may actually be a sneaky good spot. The A's are without their best hitter against lefties (Langeliers), and they also strike out at the 7th-highest rate in baseball against southpaws. 

David Peterson (CHC)

Analysis: The ownership number on DK is disturbing, but it is hard to argue with the recent results at a sub-$6k price tag. Peterson has allowed just three runs in his last 17.1 innings. Additionally, 20-30 mph winds blowing in from center field are going to make it very difficult to hit home runs at Wrigley today. 

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 13-game slate.

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

Jacob deGrom: 29.6% K% (10.8 K/9) 

Cristopher Sanchez: 27.2% K% (10.2 K/9) 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 24.5% K% (8.5 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

Kevin McGonigle (SS, DET) & Dillon Dingler (C, DET)

Analysis: Detroit was failing as chalk for most of the game last night, until they weren't. They exploded for 11 runs in the final two frames, with a grand slam from Dingler representing the biggest blow. Now they get another matchup against a pitcher with a 6.45 ERA. Temps in the mid-90s in this small ballpark again make for elite hitting conditions. 

Carter Jensen (C, KC) & Jac Caglianone (OF, KC) 

Analysis: The Royals managed just one run, a solo homer from Jensen, in their opening game at Coors. They'll get another crack at the Rockies' awful pitching staff tonight, and these two lefties are once again the top options. They both own an ISO above .200 against RHP this season. 

Matt Olson (1B, ATL) & Michael Harris (OF, ATL)

Analysis: The Braves are one of four teams with an implied team total above five runs, but they are easily the least popular. Acuna and Baldwin could also be listed here, but multiple elite plays at the top of the catcher position and the premium price for Acuna make Olson and Harris my top plays. Olson owns an elite .290 ISO against righties, while Harris owns a very healthy .211 ISO. Mikolas has allowed a .193 ISO/.204 xISO to lefties this year.  

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Spencer Torkelson (1B, DET) & Max Clark (OF, DET) 

Analysis: Clark dazzled in his MLB debut with three hits, a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI. He is far too cheap for his talent level, and draws another elite matchup. Torkelson is also underpriced as his power (.230 ISO) will play well in Sutter Health, and Perkins has shown reverse splits.   

Kyle Karros (3B, COL)

Analysis: Karros was back in the lineup yesterday after an injury scare and promptly responded with two hits. He is up to a .187 ISO/.346 wOBA against righties this season despite his woeful start. He draws a matchup with a reverse-splits righty who has allowed a .191 ISO to RH batters this season. 

Lane Thomas (OF, KC) & Salvador Perez (1B, KC) 

Analysis: A pair of value options hitting in the middle of the order in Coors Field. They also draw an elite matchup against Feltner, who has allowed a .250 ISO to righties this season.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Detroit Tigers vs Jack Perkins (ATH RHP)

Targets: Dillon Dingler, Kevin McGonigle, Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres, Spencer Torkleson, Max Clark

Primary Stack: Kansas City Royals vs Ryan Feltner (COL RHP)

Targets: Carter Jensen, Jac Caglianone, Michael Massey, Salvador Perez, Lane Thomas

Primary Stack: Colorado Rockies vs Luinder Avila (KC RHP)

Targets: Hunter Goodman, Mickey Moniak, Jake McCarthy, Cole Carrigg, TJ Rumfied, Kyle Karros 

“Contrarian” Stack: Atlanta Braves vs Miles Mikolas (WAS RHP)

Targets: Ronald Acuna, Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies

"Contrarian" Stack: Cleveland Guardians vs Kohl Drake (ARI LHP)

Targets: Jose Ramirez, Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, Angel Martinez, Brayan Rocchio, Rhys Hoskins 

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Fried (SP, chalk)Gasser or Valdez (SP, lower owned)Fried is far more talented than his price tag and gets pitcher-friendly winds in Wrigley, but the Cubs have been the best offense in baseball against LHP. Valdez and Gasser are in far tougher environments, but both have high-upside, strikeout-friendly matchups. 
Rockies (Chalk)Braves (pivot stack)The Rockies have the highest implied team total on the slate, but Atlanta is also implied for well above 5 runs and is drawing far less ownership. 
Rumfield + McCarthy (chalk)Olson + Harris (lower owned)Rumfield (.208 ISO) and McCarthy (.198 ISO) have impressive numbers, but Avila actually does a decent job of limiting damage from lefties. Olson (.290 ISO) and Harris (.211) have even better numbers at similar price points and lower 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. Cristopher Sanchez (SP1)
  2. Max Fried (SP2)
  3. Kevin McGonigle (Core Bat)
  4. Jac Caglianone (Core Bat) 
  5. Carter Jensen (Core Bat)
  6. Max Clark (Core Value Bat)
  7. Spencer Torkelson (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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