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

Today's 8-game main slate on DraftKings and 9-games on FanDuel have multiple different directions with some elite pitchers in Nathan Eovaldi, Paul Skenes, and Hunter Brown all taking the mound. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 8 Games on DK - 9 games on FD | Lock Time: 1:35 pm ET, Sunday, July 19th, 2026

Vegas Totals: CIN/COL (highest-projected game), SD/KC (second-highest game total), TEX/ATL (third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Paul Skenes 7.5 O/U (+119), Hunter Brown 7.5 O/U (+117), Eury Perez 6.5 O/U (+113), Nolan McLean 6.5 O/U (+112), Joey Cantillo 5.5 O/U (-162)

MLB Weather Today, 7/19

Padres vs Royals - There are some storms in the area that could cause a delay, but this game should play in full.

Rangers vs Braves - There's a world where this game ends up in a delay. Not overly concerning however.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Paul Skenes (PIT)

Analysis: This is an elite spot for Skenes. The Guardians are 26th in OPS and have a 94 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this year. Skenes has a 7.5 O/U projection today and has NO business being just 9.5K on DK. Click and move on.

Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)

Analysis: Since June 10th (when Ronald Acuna went down), the Braves are 23rd in wRC+ and 22nd in OPS against right-handed pitching. Eovaldi has put up 21+ DKP in five straight starts and has been an absolute dog every time out on the mound.

Hunter Brown (HOU)

Analysis: Las Vegas loves Hunter Brown today as they've set his strikeout O/U at 7.5. His price has dipped to a season-low because he hasn't pitched all to well since recovering since his shoulder injury. Baltimore is slightly above league average against righties, but they have a near 24% K-rate.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Nolan McLean (NYM)

Analysis: Philly continues to rate out as a subpar offense against right-handed pitching as they take a 94 wRC+ into this matchup against McLean. They also have a 23.2% K-rate, which McLean could rack the Ks up. He's been pitching really well lately putting up four QS over his last five outings.

Eury Perez (MIA)

Analysis: Perez has been REALLY good since coming off the IL, especially lately. He's allowed just 3 ER and has 22 strikeouts over his last three starts. Perez has the third-highest projected K over/under on the slate.

Joey Cantillo (CLE)

Analysis: This is a ceiling-type strikeout spot. The Pirates have a 25.6% K-rate this year against lefties and just a 95 wRC+ as an offense. Cantillo has missed a boatload of bats lately, striking out at least seven batters in four of his last five outings and has struck out nine batters three times over that span. Changes of pitch mix matters…a lot. Look at Cantillo since going curveball heavy six starts ago.

Shota Imanaga (CHC)

Analysis: Imanaga has found some consistency and has a really high ceiling as well. The Twins .684 OPS and 94 wRC+ are a bottom-10 ranking against lefties this year. It's not great hitting weather either. Advantage Imanaga.

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:

Paul Skenes: 29.5% K% (10.8 K/9)

Nolan McLean: 27.9% K% (10.5 K.9)

Eury Perez: 27.2% K% (10 K/9) 

Nathan Eovaldi: 25.9% K% (9.7 K/9)

Hunter Brown: 25.5% K% (9.9 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

Elly De La Cruz (SS, CIN) & JJ Bleday (OF, CIN) (FanDuel)

Analysis: Reds in Coors Field. They've absolutely crushed one of the two games and they have a big-time ceiling with elite weather. Both lefties and righties have a .200 ISO or higher against Ryan Feltner.

Juan Soto (OF, NYM)

Analysis: It's a great spot for the Mets and I think Soto is my top spend up of the day. Rangel has control issues and lefties have a .186 ISO against him.

Jac Caglianone (1B/OF, KC)

Analysis: Lefties do have a .284 ISO against German Marquez and Jac Cags is a big strong lefty. He has a .202 ISO and .237 xISO against right-handed pitching this season.

Manny Machado (3B, SD)

Analysis: Manny Machado has raked against left-handed pitching this year, posting a .247 ISO and .330 wOBA. Noah Cameron has allowed a .174 ISO, .185 xISO, .333 wOBA, and .340 xwOBA against righties.

Michael Busch (1B, CHC)

Analysis: Zebby Matthews has always had a little bit of a power issue and this years no different as lefties have a .197 ISO and .219 xISO. Busch has a .175 xISO and .336 xwOBA against righties this year.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Heriberto Hernandez (OF, MIA)

Analysis: Heriberto Hernandez has mammoth numbers against lefties. He has a .338 ISO, .302 xISO, .391 wOBA, and .420 xwOBA. Gasser has allowed a .236 ISO to righty bats.

A.J. Ewing & Carson Benge (OF, NYM)

Analysis: Both Mets hitting in the top-five of their lineup have good numbers against right-handed pitching and are cheap under 4K on DK. The Mets have 5.0 implied runs and their ownership is lower than some teams such as the Reds and Royals, and Padres.

Joc Pederson & Brandon Nimmo (OF, TEX)

Analysis: Lefty power has been the thing that has given Grant Holmes the biggest issues this year and it could even be worse than what it's been. He has allowed a .179 ISO and .203 xISO to LHH and Pederson has a .216 ISO while Brandon Nimmo has a .162 ISO but a .261 xISO.

Ty France (1B, SD)

Analysis: Ty France has absolutely decimated left-handed pitching this year and is free on both platforms while hitting fourth for the Padres today. France has a .230 ISO and .415 wOBA against LHP.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Cincinnati Reds vs Ryan Feltner (COL RHP) (FanDuel)

Targets: Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suarez, Sal Stewart, Noelvi Marte, Spencer Steer

Primary Stack: New York Mets vs Alan Rangel (PHI RHP)

Targets: Juan Soto, A.J. Ewing, Carson Benge, Bo Bichette, Francisco Lindor

Primary Stack: Kansas City Royals vs German Marquez (SD RHP)

Targets: Carter Jensen, Jac Caglianone, Salvador Perez, Nick Loftin, Lane Thomas

“Contrarian” Stack: Texas Rangers vs Grant Holmes (ATL RHP)

Targets: Joc Pederson, Brandon Nimmo, Wyatt Langford, Josh Jung, Jake Burger

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Imanaga (SP, chalk)Cantillo (SP, lower owned)Elite K upside with little ownership behind him.
Royals (Chalk)Mets (pivot stack)Lower owned Mets stack with 5 implied runs. Royals not having Witt changes their offense.
Turang + Jensen (chalk)Nimmo + Pederson (lower owned)Low-owned Rangers power hitters atop the Rangers lineup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Paul Skenes (SP1)
  2. Nolan McLean (SP2)
  3. Juan Soto (Core Bat)
  4. Elly De La Cruz (Core Bat) (FD)
  5. Manny Machado (Core Bat) 
  6. A.J. Ewing (Core Value Bat)
  7. Brandon Nimmo (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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