Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Saturday, September 5th. 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: 7:05 pm ET, Saturday, September 5th, 2026

Vegas Totals: STL/COL (highest-projected game total), TOR/KC (second-highest game total), ARI/HOU(third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Tyler Glasnow 6.5 O/U (-160), Taj Bradley 6.5 O/U (+116), Drew Rasmussen 5.5 O/U (-111), Cade Cavalli 5.5 O/U (-108), Sonny Gray 5.5 O/U (-105), Jacob deGrom 5.5 O/U (+108), Robbie Ray 5.5 O/U (+110), George Kirby 5.5 O/U (+112)

MLB Weather Today, 9/5

Weather is all clear for the main slate, with excellent hitting weather in Kansas City being the only noteworthy spot. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Tyler Glasnow (LAD)

Analysis: Glasnow was electric last time out in his second start back from injury. He's thrown over 85 pitches in both starts and cruised through seven innings in the most recent one. His elite 32.3% strikeout rate is tops on the slate and gives him tremendous upside any time he takes the mound. 

Jacob deGrom (TEX)

Analysis: The Rangers' righty has been excellent in two of his last three starts, with a horrendous outing in between. That three-game stretch speaks to his inconsistency this season, but also shows his incredible upside. He racked up 18 strikeouts across 13 innings in the two dominant starts. deGrom draws a tough matchup against the Rays tonight, but he's also been lights out at home this season, posting a 2.42 ERA with a 33.8% strikeout rate and 4.9% walk rate. 

Sonny Gray (BOS)

Analysis: Gray has pitched to an excellent 2.82 ERA this season across 25 starts. Tonight, he draws a matchup against a middling Orioles offense that strikes out at the fourth-highest clip against righties. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Cade Cavalli (WAS)

Analysis: This is actually a sneaky-good matchup for Cavalli if Ohtani sits again or hits the IL. Pages remains out, and Smith could be in line for a day off as he is eased back into action. In addition to the Dodgers missing some big bats, Cavalli has been absolutely dominant over the past few months. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start since early June, posting a 2.49 ERA in that time. He also owns an elite 30.9% strikeout rate and 6.4% walk rate in those 15 starts.   

George Kirby (SEA)

Analysis: Kirby has some of the widest home/road splits you will find. He has pitched to a 3.21 ERA at home, compared to a 5.48 ERA on the road. Tonight, he draws an elite matchup at home against a watered-down Athletics' lineup. The A's have just one hitter in the projected lineup with an ISO above .165 against righties, and they are getting a huge ballpark downgrade for offense. 

Carlos Rodon (NYY)

Analysis:  Rodon threw 88 pitches last time out in his third start off the Injured List, meaning any leash concerns can be quashed. The lefty gets a substantial park upgrade going out to San Diego to face an offense that owns just a 93 wRC+ against southpaws this season. The 12.6% walk rate is a bit scary, but Rodon should have the leash to work through control issues now. 

Ethan Pecko (ARI)

Analysis: If you really want to load up on bats, you can consider Pecko as an SP2 option. He earned his first win in his third career big-league start last time out, tossing five innings and registering four strikeouts. Tonight, he draws a plus matchup with an Arizona offense that ranks dead last in wRC+ against right-handed pitching. 

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 12-game slate.

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

Tyler Glasnow: 32.3% K% (10.8 K/9)

Jacob deGrom: 29.8% K% (10.9 K/9)

Cade Cavalli: 27.7% K% (10.4 K/9)

Taj Bradley: 27.2% K% (10.4 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

Alec Burleson (1B, STL) & Jordan Walker (OF, STL)

Analysis: The Cardinals head back to Coors Field for the second game of their weekend set. A young righty making just his third big-league start and a bad bullpen behind him await them. Burleson owns a .226 ISO and .400 wOBA against righties, while Walker is at .204 ISO and .355 wOBA. They are two of the better bats on the slate. 

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

Analysis: Temperatures are again expected to be in the 90s in Kansas City, which makes it one of the top hitting environments on the slate. Scherzer turned back the clock with a vintage performance his last time out, but the larger sample tells us he is a very attackable pitcher at this stage of his career. He has allowed a .196 ISO to lefties this season after allowing a .289 ISO to them last season. Caglianone is coming off a torrid August where he posted a 208 wRC+. He owns a .220 ISO against righties for the season. Jensen struggled in August but closed the month strong. He has already homered three times in four September games. He's at .248 ISO against righties for the season.  

George Springer (OF, TOR)

Analysis: The Jays are the visiting team in Kansas City and just took advantage of the environment last night, posting an easy 9-2 win. Springer ripped a two-RBI double to help the cause, improving his ISO to .171 against righties this season. Lugo has struggled with righty power this year, allowing a .177 ISO and .191 xISO.  

Hunter Goodman (C, COL) & Cole Carrigg (OF/SS, COL) 

Analysis: The Rockies have struggled with lefties this season, but it certainly isn't due to either of these two bats. Goodman owns an elite .243 ISO and Carrigg is up to .191 ISO. Liberatore has actually allowed more power to lefties this year, but his expected isolated power numbers are virtually even. 

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Bryan Torres (OF, STL) & Leonardo Bernal (1B, STL) 

Analysis: Torres has found himself in a leadoff role with Wetherholt on the IL, which makes him an elite value option in Coors today. Bernal has 30 home runs across three levels this season and has hit himself into an everyday role now with the Cardinals. The price tag is too low for this caliber of hitter with elite context tonight.  

Brett Bateman (OF, TOR) & Kazuma Okamoto (3B, TOR) 

Analysis: Bateman has thus far seamlessly translated his elite on-base skills from the minors to the top of the Jays lineup. Okamoto is a cheap power threat with a .196 ISO against righties this season. Lugo has managed just a 17.8% strikeout rate this season while allowing a 43% hard-hit rate. 

Nathan Lukes (OF, TOR) & Jesus Sanchez (OF, TOR)

Analysis: We're not done with cheap Jays yet. Elite context involving the best hitting weather on the slate and a very friendly matchup against a bad Royals pitching staff puts the full stack in play. Lukes and Sanchez are both above a .330 wOBA against righties this year. 

Connor Norby (2B, COL)

Analysis: Norby has taken a step forward since arriving in Colorado, posting a 102 wRC+ thus far. He should hit second in the order and has eligibility at the weak second base position. 

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: St. Louis Cardinals vs Mason Adams (COL RHP)

Targets: Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, Ivan Herrera, Leonardo Bernal, Bryan Torres 

Primary Stack: Toronto Blue Jays vs Seth Lugo (KC RHP)

Targets: George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero, Kazuma Okamoto, Brett Bateman, Alejandro Kirk 

Primary Stack: Kansas City Royals vs Max Scherzer (TOR RHP)

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

“Contrarian” Stack: Colorado Rockies vs Matthew Liberatore (STL LHP)

Targets: Hunter Goodman, Jake McCarthy, Cole Carrigg, Connor Norby, Willi Castro  

“Contrarian” Stack: Seattle Mariners vs Jeffrey Springs (ATH LHP)

Targets:  Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh, Dominic Canzone, Taylor Ward 

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

Kirby (SP, chalk)Cavalli (SP, lower-owned)
Blue Jays (chalk stack)Royals (pivot stack)
Springer + Guerrero (chalk) Caglianone + Pasquantino (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. Tyler Glasnow (SP1)
  2. George Kirby (SP2)
  3. Alec Burleson (Core Bat)
  4. Jac Caglianone (Core Bat)
  5. George Springer (Core Bat) 
  6. Bryan Torres (Core Value Bat)
  7. Kazuma Okamoto (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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