Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Saturday, August 8th. 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: 9-Game Main | Lock Time: 7:10 pm ET, Saturday, August 8th, 2026

Vegas Totals: CHC/KC (highest-projected game), COL/STL – LAD/ARI (tied for second-highest game total), MIN/MIL – DET/SF – HOU/SD (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Gavin Williams 7.5 O/U (-135), Jacob deGrom 7.5 O/U (+113), Taj Bradley 5.5 O/U (-160), Ypshinobu Yamamoto 5.5 O/U (-104), Kyle Bradish 5.5 O/U (+102), Groffon Jax 5.5 O/U (+107)

MLB Weather Today, 8/8

Weather is all clear for the main slate. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)

Analysis: The strikeouts are only slightly above average for Yamamoto this season, and now he draws a high-contact Arizona team. That would normally leave upside concerns for the most expensive pitcher on the slate, but I don't think that's the case today. Yamamoto has an elite leash, regularly working for more than 100 pitches. And while the D-backs don't strike out a ton, they also rank dead last with an 87 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season. 

Gavin Williams (CLE)

Analysis: Williams has been on an absolute heater recently, striking out 10+ in each of his last five starts. His strikeout rate is up to 32.3% on the season, and he has posted a career-best 7.1% walk rate. The White Sox are a slightly above-average offense against righties, but they have also struck out at the fourth-highest rate in baseball. The upside is off the charts for Williams in this matchup.  

Jacob deGrom (TEX)

Analysis: deGrom has dealt with some inconsistency to begin the second half. The White Sox knocked him around in his first start out of the break, and he issued an uncharacteristic five walks in his last start. He will look to get back on track against a Baltimore offense that grades out slightly above average against righties. On the plus side, they do strike out at the fifth-highest rate in the league.  

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Taj Bradley (MIN)

Analysis:  Bradley is flying under the radar today thanks to a tough matchup with an elite Milwaukee offense. He is a pitcher who always comes with upside, even if there is plenty of inconsistency baked in. It may not seem like it on the surface, but tonight's matchup provides plenty of upside. The Brewers are expected to roll out six lefties with a strikeout rate above 20% against righties. Notably, Bradley strikes out lefties at a higher clip than righties. Of course, he also allows significantly more damage to lefty batters, which further adds to the volatility of the matchup. There is plenty of risk here, but the upside at low ownership makes Bradley an elite tournament option.  

Griffin Jax (TB)

Analysis: Jax has been on a roll out of the All-Star break, posting three straight starts with just one run allowed. He's also been racking up the strikeouts at an elite clip, registering 23 punchouts across 16.2 innings in those outings. Now, he heads out to one of the most pitcher-friendly environments in baseball to take on a strikeout-prone Seattle offense. The upside per dollar is as good as anyone on the slate. 

Kyle Bradish (BAL)

Analysis: Bradish was knocked around two starts ago, and then had his rebound effort cut short by a rain delay in his last start. The result is a pretty friendly price tag for a perfectly average matchup against Texas. 

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:

Gavin Williams: 32.3% K% (11.5 K/9)

Jacob deGrom: 28.8% K% (10.7 K/9)

Taj Bradley: 26.5% K% (10.0 K/9)

Griffin Jax: 26.4% K% (9.8 K/9)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 23.8% K% (8.2 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.

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto -123
• Gavin Williams +123
• Clay Holmes +142
• George Kirby +148
• Matthew Liberatore +150
• Jacob deGrom +156

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Shohei Ohtani (1B/OF, LAD) & Max Muncy (3B, LAD)

Analysis: Pfaadt has struggled with lefty power his entire career, and now he must face the elite lefties of baseball's best offense. Ohtani and Muncy are both above a .235 ISO against righties this season. You can throw Freddie Freeman in the mix as well, as he owns a .197 ISO and an elite .403 wOBA against righties. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF, CHC) & Alex Bregman (3B, CHC)

Analysis: The Cubs are chalk, but it's pretty easy to see why. They have great hitting conditions at Kauffman Stadium against a horrendous Royals pitching staff. PCA has been the best player in baseball since the middle of May. He owns an absurd 199 wRC+ since moving to the leadoff spot on May 23rd, and he has so many ways to contribute to his fantasy score with his elite power/speed combination. After struggling to begin the season, Bregman owns a .220 ISO and 122 wRC+ since July 1st. He hits from the better split against Lugo. 

Jose Ramirez (3B, CLE)

Analysis: Ramirez is up to his old tricks, crushing lefties this season for a .239 ISO and .382 wOBA. He's also still stealing bases at an elite clip. Kay has allowed a .182 ISO and .366 wOBA to right-handed batters this season. 

Jordan Walker (OF, STL)

Analysis: Walker has cooled off a bit from his torrid start to the season, but he's back on track after struggling in June. The gigantic righty is finally capitalizing on the raw tools that once made him one of the game's elite prospects. Walker has been brutal on lefties in his career, and he's posting a .224 ISO and .394 wOBA against them this season. 

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Jo Adell (OF, CLE)

Analysis: Adell is sporting a .266 ISO against lefties this season, and Kay has allowed a .182 ISO to righties. This matchup has a strong chance to end in a longball for Adell. He is underpriced hitting in the middle of the Guardians order. 

Nico Hoerner (2B, CHC) & Dansby Swanson (SS, CHC) 

Analysis: Lugo has pretty wide reverse splits, which should provide a nice boost for Hoerner and Swanson. You can include Pedro Ramirez and whoever catches in this group as well. The Cubs have the highest implied team total on the slate, and the bottom half of their lineup is virtually free. Lugo has allowed .202 ISO to righties, and the bullpen behind him is a disaster. 

Masyn Winn (SS, STL), Jose Fermin (3B/OF, STL), & Blaze Jordan (3B, STL)

Analysis: If you're not into the chalky Cubs' value infielders, the Cardinals have plenty of pivot options that are also in a great spot. Freeland has allowed a .272 ISO and .394 wOBA to right-handed batters this season. Winn and Fermin lack power but each sports a wOBA above .325 against righties. Jordan brings the power at the cheapest price tag of the trio, posting a .196 ISO and .336 wOBA against righties this year. 

Michael Massey (2B, KC)

Analysis: Holmes has been dominant this season, but he is returning from a long injury layoff and may have some rust to knock off. It is a great hitting environment for Massey, and he holds the platoon advantage against Holmes, who has allowed virtually nothing to righties. 

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Brandon Pfaadt (ARI RHP)

Targets: Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez, Freddie Freeman, Ben Rortvedt/Hunter Feduccia, Kyle Tucker

Primary Stack: Chicago Cubs vs Seth Lugo (KC RHP)

Targets: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson

Primary Stack: Cleveland Guardians vs Anthony Kay (CWS LHP)

Targets: Jose Ramirez, Jo Adell, Chase DeLauter, Rhys Hoskins 

“Contrarian” Stack: St. Louis Cardinals vs Kyle Freeland (COL LHP)

Targets: Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, Masyn Winn, Jose Fermin, Blaze Jordan 

“Contrarian” Stack: Milwaukee Brewers vs Taj Bradley (MIN RHP)

Targets: Jake Bauers, Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, Luis Lara 

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. Gavin Williams (SP1)
2. Griffin Jax (SP2)
3. Pete Crow-Armstrong (Core Bat)
4. Max Muncy (Core Bat)
5. Jordan Walker (Core Bat) 
6. Jo Adell (Core Value Bat)
7. Nico Hoerner (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]}}-