Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Thursday, June 25th. 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 six-game main slate has multiple different directions to go considering we have elite pitching options in Cam Schlittler and Cristopher Sanchez and plus matchups at the dish as well.This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 6-Games |  Lock Time: 6:40 pm ET, Thursday, June 25th, 2026

Vegas Totals: ARI/STL - HOU/DET (tied for highest-projected game), PHI/WAS - CHC/NYM (tied for second-highest game), TEX/TOR (third-highest game)

Highest K-Projections: Cam Schlittler 6.5 O/U (-102), Cristopher Sanchez 6.5 O/U (-101), Kevin Gausman 5.5 O/U (-154), Connelly Early 5.5 O/U (-117), Tatsuya Imai 5.5 O/U (+101)

MLB Weather Today, 6/25

Phillies vs Nationals - Winds are blowing out at 10 MPH & it's warm.

Cubs vs Mets - Winds are blowing out at 10-15 MPH & it's warm.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals - There's a lot of rain in the forecast and that could cause a delay and possibly a postponement as well.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Cristopher Sanchez (PHI)

Analysis: Sanchez is one of the three best pitchers in baseball but this is a tougher spot. In fact, the toughest based on Nationals rankings against lefties. They're the BEST team in baseball against lefties in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+. Sanchez is a matchup proof, however.

Cam Schlittler (NYY)

Analysis: The Boston Red Sox are an awful offense against right-handed pitching. Cam Schlittler is an elite right-handed pitcher coming off arguably his best start of the year last time out. He's my top arm of the day.

Kevin Gausman (TOR)

Analysis: Texas is a league average offense against right-handed pitching and it definitely helps that Corey Seager is back for them this evening, but it doesn't take me off Gausman. Gausman only trails Schlittler and Sanchez in strikeout and win odds and they're both really good for a pitcher at this price point.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

MacKenzie Gore (TEX)

Analysis: I know that the Blue Jays don't strike out a lot, but Gore has a fantastic matchup when you look at the totality of things. Toronto's 83 wRC+ against left-handed pitching is tied for 27th in baseball and their .650 OPS as a team is also ranked 28th. Gore has pitched well and is at a season-low price point. He's put up 19+ DKP in two straight and four of six overall.

Tatsuya Imai (HOU)

Analysis: We're chasing a ceiling when it comes to Tatusya Imai and this is a spot I believe he could show that off. Now, he could also get hammered by left-handed hitters because that's been the split he's struggled with. The Tigers have a 98 wRC+ against righties and strike out 23.1% of the time. Imai has had 17+ whiffs in two of three starts.

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:

Matthew Boyd: 31% K% (11.6 K/9) (five start sample)

Cam Schlittler: 29.5% K% (10.3 K/9)

Cristopher Sanchez: 28.5% K% (10.4 K/9)

Tatsuya Imai: 26.5% K% (10.5 K/9) 

MacKenzie Gore: 25.6% K% (9.9 K/9)

Kevin Gausman: 24.3% K% (9.0 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

Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF, CHC) 

Analysis: Lefties have given Freddy Peralta a ton of issues this year and here lies the hardest hitting lefty of 'em all. PCA, the hottest hitter in the game currently, has a .281 ISO and .395 wOBA against right-handed hurlers.

Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)

Analysis: I like Troy Melton, but he hasn't missed many bats at the major league level and has had a lefty power problem. Nothing like having a lefty power problem in a matchup against Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez has a .322 ISO, .393 xISO, .466 wOBA, and .484 xwOBA.

Alec Burleson (1B, STL) & JJ Wetherholt (2B/SS, STL)

Analysis: It would be great if this game played because I would absolutely love to use Cardinals against Zac Gallen. Lefties have especially crushed Gallen and the Cardinals have two elite lefties here. Both lefties have ISOs of .180 or higher and .360 wOBA's or greater.

Paul Goldschmidt (1B, NYY)

Analysis: Death, taxes, Paul Goldschmidt against left-handed pitching. He has a 252 wRC+, .342 ISO, and .517 wOBA against southpaws this year and Connelly Early has had a home run problem this year.

Bo Bichette (3B/SS, NYM)

Analysis: Bo Bichette just keeps raking. He has a .783 OPS on the year against left-handed pitching, but in June against both splits, Bichette has a .349 AVG, .979 OPS, .267 ISO, and .413 wOBA. Righties have good numbers against Boyd this year posting a .171 ISO, .197 xISO, .346 wOBA, and .336 xwOBA.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Kerry Carpenter (OF, DET)

Analysis: I mentioned Tatsuya Imai has a lefty problem and the Tigers have a lot of lefties to throw at him including Kerry Carpenter. Carpenter has a .268 ISO and .345 wOBA against right-handed pitching on the year.

Jasson Dominguez (OF, NYY)

Analysis: The Yankees used Jasson Dominguez in the three-hole against a lefty on Wednesday and it's likely the same case on Thursday. In a short sample, Dominguez is hitting .321 vs. LHP along with a .167 ISO and .359 wOBA. Righties have 10 HR vs. Early this year and it's over 2 HR/9 at home vs. RHH.

Kazuma Okamoto (3B, TOR)

Analysis: Okamoto is just too good and too strong to be a 3.5K player on DK. He's just too good. .212 ISO, .240 xISO, .341 wOBA, and .338 xwOBA versus southpaws on the year.

Blaze Jordan (3B, STL) 

Analysis: Gallen's been awful against both splits and Blaze Jordan has flashed some upside against righties. He has a .179 ISO and .326 wOBA in his short period of time at the major league level.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: St. Louis Cardinals vs Zac Gallen (ARI RHP)

Why: The Diamondbacks haven't gotten anything from Zac Gallen as he's struggled mightily against both splits. Lefties are hitting .345 while righties are at .288. Both splits have a .475 SLG% or higher and .350 wOBA's or higher.

Targets: Alec Burleson, JJ Wetherholt, Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, Blaze Jordan, Jimmy Crooks

Primary Stack: New York Yankees vs Connelly Early (BOS LHP)

Why: The Yankees offense ranks first or second in basically every category against left-handed pitching and are facing off a guy who's allowed a bunch of home runs this year. Connelly Early has been over 2 HR/9 to right-handed bats in Fenway Park.

Targets: Paul Goldschmidt, Jasson Dominguez, Ben Rice, Amed Rosario, Cody Bellinger, Jose Caballero/Anthony Volpe

"Contrarian" Stack: Chicago Cubs vs Freddy Peralta (NYM RHP)

Why: I mean, Freddy Peralta is having a serious issue against left-handed hitters, especially from the power side. Lefties have already belted 11 bombs against him and are averaging 1.76 HR/9. His FB rate is elevated against them too. The Cubs have very powerful lefties and cheap pieces to connect the stack.

Targets: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Michael Busch, Dansby Swanson, Matt Shaw

"Contrarian" Stack: Detroit Tigers vs Tatsuya Imai (DET RHP)

Why: I like Tatsuya Imai but we've also seen him struggle mightily against left-handed heavy lineups and lefty bats in general. Lefties have a .360 wOBA and 1.57 HR/9 against him. The Tigers have six lefties in their lineup including four of the first five batters he'll face.

Targets: Kevin McGonigle, Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Colt Keith, Zach McKinstry, Dillon Dingler

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Gausman (SP, chalk)Gore (SP, lower owned)The Blue Jays are a bottom-three offense vs. LHP and Gore is 1/3 the ownership as Gausman.
Phillies (Chalk)Cardinals (pivot stack)Elite spot for team T2nd in ownership today against a bad pitcher.
Alvarez + Altuve (chalk)Wetherholt + Burleson (lower owned)The Cardinals bats are getting no ownership in arguably the best spot on the board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Cam Schlittler (SP1)
  2. Kevin Gausman (SP2)
  3. Pete Crow-Armstrong (Core Bat)
  4. JJ Wetherholt (Core Bat)
  5. Alec Burleson (Core Bat)
  6. Jasson Dominguez (Core Value Bat)
  7. Kazuma Okamoto (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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