Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Saturday, September 19th. 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: 8-Game Main | Lock Time: 7:05 pm ET, Saturday, September 19th, 2026

Vegas Totals: SEA/COL (highest-projected game total), ATL/HOU – WAS/STL (second-highest game total) 

Highest K-Projections: Tarik Skubal 7.5 O/U (+100), Reid Detmers 6.5 O/U (-115), Cam Schlittler 6.5 O/U (+103), Joe Ryan 5.5 O/U (-140)

MLB Weather Today, 9/19

SEA @ COL – Scattered storms should clear before first pitch. A late start is possible, but the game should play fine. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Cam Schlittler (NYY)

Analysis: Schlittler is on his way to the AL Cy Young Award in his first full season in the big leagues. He owns a sparkling 1.95 ERA, a 31.6% strikeout rate, and a 6.1% walk rate. He's allowed one run or fewer in each of his last seven starts, and he's struck out at least eight in six of those outings. 

Tarik Skubal (LAD)

Analysis: Skubal has the highest strikeout prop on the slate, and he is a massive -218 favorite to record a win. He draws an elite matchup against a depleted San Francisco lineup that has managed just an 85 wRC+ against lefties this season. 

Joe Ryan (MIN)

Analysis: Ryan draws an elite strikeout matchup against the Angels. His pitch count was up to 84 pitches in his second start back from the IL, so we should be looking at a full workload tonight. The home run ball has been an issue recently, but Ryan has massive upside if he can keep the ball in the yard. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Reid Detmers (LAA)

Analysis: Detmers has been lights out in the second half of the season, posting a 1.65 ERA, 31% strikeout rate, and 4.5% walk rate in 65.1 innings. He draws a plus matchup against a Twins team that has struggled to a 91 wRC+ against lefties and is without top hitter Byron Buxton. 

Jose Soriano (TOR)

Analysis: Soriano has struggled a bit since coming over to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, posting a 4.27 ERA in 46.1 innings. With his new team, his strikeouts have dipped to 16.4%, but his groundball rate is an elite 56.3%. If he can generate a few more whiffs and have a little better batted-ball luck, the upside is significant. 

Casey Mize (SD)

Analysis: Like Soriano, Mize has also struggled with his new team. Since he arrived in San Diego, he has posted a 5.97 ERA and a putrid 13% strikeout rate. He will look to get back on track in a plus matchup with a Marlins team that has been a below-average offense with a top-10 strikeout rate in the second half. 

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 8-game slate.

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

Cam Schlittler: 31.6% K% (11.1 K/9)

Tarik Skubal: 30.2% K% (10.6 K/9)

Reid Detmers: 28.6% K% (10.3 K/9)

Joe Ryan: 25.9% K% (9.8 K/9)

Eury Perez: 25.7% 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

Randy Arozarena (OF, SEA), Cal Raleigh (C, SEA), & Dominic Canzone (OF, SEA)

Analysis: Arozarena notched three hits in the series opener, and he owns a .253 ISO against lefties this season. He's the top bat on the slate. Raleigh went hitless yesterday, but he's been much better in the second half. He owns a 122 wRC+ and a .250 ISO since the All-Star break. Canzone has strong numbers against lefties this year, with a .206 ISO and .365 wOBA. 

Freddie Freeman (1B, LAD), Max Muncy (3B, LAD), & Kyle Tucker (OF, LAD) 

Analysis: The Dodgers get an elite spot against a pitcher with just 14.2 big-league innings who was called up straight from Double-A. His 2.45 ERA is a complete mirage as it's accompanied by a .190 BABIP and 91% strand rate. The regression begins tonight, and it probably comes hard and fast against the elite Dodgers lineup. 

Cole Carrigg (SS/OF, COL) & Mickey Moniak (OF, COL) 

Analysis: Carrigg has been excellent since his call-up, posting a .211 ISO and .363 wOBA against righties. Moniak continues to mash right-handed pitching, with a .265 ISO and .349 wOBA. Miller has fallen on hard times recently, and he has allowed a .214 ISO to lefties this season. 

James Wood (OF, WAS) & CJ Abrams (2B/SS, WAS)   

Analysis: Wood and Abrams both own elite numbers against righties, and McGreevy has given up over 43% hard contact and a 10.4% barrel rate to lefties. He's allowed a .175 ISO, but his xISO is all the way up at .219. This is an elite matchup for the Nats sluggers. 

MLB DFS Value Hitters

J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA) & Taylor Ward (OF, SEA)

Analysis: The numbers won't blow you away, but the context is elite. Crawford should lead off again and will have elite run producers behind him. Ward is just a season removed from posting a .311 ISO against lefties. 

Josue De Paula (OF, LAD)

Analysis: The Dodgers rookie offers an elite power/speed profile. He hit 27 homers and swiped 31 bags before his call-up from Double-A. He's already flashed glimpses of his tremendous upside in limited big-league time, and now he draws a matchup with a pitcher that is just as inexperienced as him. 

Abimelec Ortiz (1B, WAS)

Analysis: Ortiz has cooled off after a torrid start to his MLB career, but he still has loads of power and an elite matchup. McGreevy has been extremely lucky this year and has been hit especially hard by lefties. 

Jose Fermin (2B/3B, STL)

Analysis: Fermin owns a solid 105 wRC+ against lefties this year, and his eligibility at multiple infield positions makes him a valuable salary saver. 

 MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Seattle Mariners vs Jose Quintana (COL LHP)

Targets: Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, Dominic Canzone, Julio Rodriguez, J.P. Crawford, Josh Naylor

Primary Stack: Colorado Rockies vs Bryce Miller (SEA RHP)

Targets: Cole Carrigg, Hunter Goodman, Mickey Moniak, Jake McCarthy, TJ Rumfield

Primary Stack: Washington Nationals vs Michael McGreevy (STL RHP)

Targets: James Wood, CJ Abrams, Daylen Lile, Abimelec Ortiz, Brady House 

“Contrarian” Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Yunior Marte (SFG RHP)

Targets: Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernandez

“Contrarian” Stack: New York Yankees vs Brandon Pfaadt (ARI RHP)

Targets: Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Luis Garcia, Spencer Jones, Ryan McMahon 

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

Reid Detmers (SP, chalk)Joe Ryan (SP, lower owned)
Mariners (Chalk)Dodgers (pivot stack)
Rodriguez + Naylor (chalk)Freeman + Muncy (lower owned)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Tarik Skubal (SP1)
  2. Reid Detmers (SP2)
  3. Randy Arozarena (Core Bat)
  4. Cal Raleigh (Core Bat)
  5. Dominic Canzone (Core Bat) 
  6. Josue De Paula (Core Value Bat)
  7. Abimelec Ortiz (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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