Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Thursday, July 23rd. 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 main slates have multiple different directions to go as DraftKings and FanDuel have different slates with only the Rays/Blue Jays overlapping. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 3-games | Lock Time: 12:15 pm ET on DK & 3:07 pm ET on FD, Thursday, July 23rd, 2026

Vegas Totals: TB/TOR (highest-projected game), SD/ATL & KC/DET (tied for second-highest game total), MIN/CLE & ARI/STL (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Chris Sale 7.5 O/U (+115), Gavin Williams 6.5 O/U (-130), Taj Bradley 6.5 O/U (+122), Troy Melton 5.5 O/U (-117)

MLB Weather Today, 7/23

Padres vs Braves - There could be a rain shower because it's summer in Atlanta

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Chris Sale (ATL) (DK)

Analysis: The Padres have struggled all season long against left-handed pitching, sitting in the bottom-10 in team wRC+ and OPS against southpaws. Oddsmakers are backing Atlanta today, listing Sale as a strong -148 moneyline favorite. That built-in win equity gives him a baseline for those win bonuses on FanDuel and DraftKings. His 7.5 Strikeout O/U props highlight his slate-breaking upside. Top play of the slate.

Gavin Williams (CLE) (DK)

Analysis: Williams boasts a massive 29.1% K-rate and a 10.64 K/9 this season. That's the appeal. The Twins are a really good offense against right-handed pitching. It's something you could target on a small slate.

Troy Melton (DET) (FD)

Analysis: If you're hunting for a red-hot pitching option with a pristine matchup today, Troy Melton checks every box for a smash play in MLB DFS. Melton has been an absolute model of consistency, churning out 37+ FanDuel points in five consecutive starts and six of his last seven outings. Kansas City's offense takes a massive hit with superstar Bobby Witt out. Even with a healthy lineup, the Royals have been bad vs. right-handed pitching this season, ranking just 18th in OPS and 20th in wRC+ vs. RHP. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Taj Bradley (MIN) (DK)

Analysis: The Guardians have struggled to consistently generate power ranking 22nd in OPS with a league-average 99 wRC+ vs. RHP. Cleveland's line-up carries a notable 22% strikeout rate against righties. Bradley's has missed a lot of bats lately and has one of the highest K-rates on the main slate.

Michael McGreevy (STL) (FD)

Analysis: The numbers tell me that Michael McGreevy is one of the luckiest pitchers in baseball but the Arizona Diamondbacks are also really bad against righties. Arizona is 29th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season.

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

Junior Caminero (3B, TB) & Yandy Diaz (1B/3B, TB)

Analysis: Both splits are killing Shane Bieber, but each of the last two seasons have been ELITE for right-handed hitters. This year righties have a .313 ISO and last year was .297 for them. Hey, two really good righties here. Arguably the best two on the board.

Matt Olson (1B, ATL), Drake Baldwin (C, ATL) & Michael Harris (OF, ATL) (DK)

Analysis: The Padres are going to start with a lefty opener and then Griffin Canning comes in and Canning cannot get lefties out. Lefties have a .221 ISO, .208 xISO, .405 wOBA, and .368 xwOBA against him. All three guys have .200+ ISOs and .367+ wOBAs against right-handed hurlers.

Corbin Carroll (OF, ARI) (FD)

Analysis: Carroll has homered twice over the last five games and has hits in four of five as he's starting to come back alive offensively. McGreevy has allowed a .157 ISO, .226 xISO, .306 wOBA, and .368 xwOBA to lefties this year.

Spencer Torkelson (1B, DET) & Dillon Dingler (C, DET)

Analysis: Righties have absolutely demolished Randy Dobnak this year as he's allowed a .278 ISO, .209 xISO, .389 wOBA, and .423 xwOBA. Both Torkelson and Dingler have over .220 ISOs against right-hadned pitching this year.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Kazuma Okamoto (3B, TOR) & Ernie Clement (2B/SS, TOR)

Analysis: These two Blue Jays are great against left-handed pitching and Ernie Clement is the easiest click of the slate considering how bad SS is today.

Chase DeLauter (OF, CLE)

Analysis: Anytime Chase DeLauter hasn't had a fractured rib he's been an elite baseball player. He has a .179 ISO, .173 xISO, .332 wOBA, and .351 xwOBA against right-handed hurlers. Taj Bradley has had a lefty power problem this year allowing a .193 ISO and .176 xISO.

Victor Mesa (OF, TB)

Analysis: Mesa Jr. has gone streaking lately with some massive games this week, homering three times and has a stolen base too. He has a .268 ISO and .336 wOBA against righties this year.

Jim Jarvis (SS, ATL)

Analysis: Jarvis keeps hitting. Has he been a little lucky? Sure. A .400 BABIP is what it is, but he has a .179 ISO and .371 wOBA agaisnt righties this year.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Tampa Bay Rays vs Shane Bieber (TOR RHP)

Targets: Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz, Victor Mesa, Cedric Mullins, Chandler Simpson

Primary Stack: Atlanta Braves vs Griffin Canning (SD RHP) (DK)

Targets: Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, Jim Jarvis, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies

Primary Stack: Detroit Tigers vs Randy Dobnak (KC RHP) (FD)

Targets: Dillon Dingler, Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, Kevin McGonigle, Gleyber Torres

“Contrarian” Stack: Minnesota Twins vs Gavin Williams (MIN RHP) (DK)

Targets: Byron Buxton, Brooks Lee, Trevor Larnach, Josh Bell, Kody Clemens

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. Chris Sale (SP1) (DK)
  2. Troy Melton (SP2) (FD)
  3. Junior Caminero (Core Bat)
  4. Matt Olson (Core Bat) (DK)
  5. Chase DeLauter (Core Bat) (DK)
  6. Spencer Torkelson (Core Value Bat) (FD)
  7. Victor Mesa (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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