Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Thursday, July 27th. 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 slates have multiple different directions with some ELITE pitchers in Jacob Misiorowski, Gerrit Cole, Chris Sale, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto 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: 5-Games | Lock Time: 7:05 pm ET, Thursday, July 27th, 2026

Vegas Totals: HOU/NYY, KC/TOR & ARI/SF (tied for highest-projected game), MIL/NYM (second-highest game total), LAD/ATL (third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Jacob Misiorowski 8.5 O/U (-118), Chris Sale 7.5 O/U (+111), Yoshinobu Yamamoto 6.5 O/U (+119), Gerrit Cole 5.5 O/U (-125), Sean Manaea 5.5 O/U (+128)

MLB Weather Today, 8/27

Astros vs Yankees - There's rain in the area, but it looks as if it's clearing up as we approach first pitch.

Brewers vs Mets - See forecast above.

Dodgers vs Braves - There's a chance that this game is delayed tonight.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) 

Analysis: The best pitcher on the planet gets a favorable matchup and in this matchup, you need 30+ DKP for it to pay off at this price point. There's so much great pitching that it's possible a pivot elsewhere could be the rout, but it's also a five-game slate and if Misiorowski strikes out 13 batters and you're not playing him at mega ownership you're cooked.

Chris Sale (ATL) 

Analysis: Since the All-Star break, the Dodgers have only had a 98 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. 100 is league average and they've also lost Andy Pages since then as well. Sale has the second-highest K-rate amongst all pitchers on the slate and is projected 7.5 strikeouts tonight.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)

Analysis: The Braves offense has been in a big rut and now have to face one of the league's best players. The Braves have a 96 wRC+, which ranks 20th in baseball, against righties. The 23.4% K-rate over that span is the ninth-highest amongst baseball.

Gerrit Cole (NYY)

Analysis: Cole has made five starts in a row in which he's allowed 2 ER or fewer and has 20+ DKP in six of his last seven games and the only he didn't he had 17.3 DKP. He's had at least seven strikeouts in five of his last seven starts and has had 5+ in 12 straight outings.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Noah Cameron (KC) 

Analysis: Since the All-Star break, the Toronto Blue Jays have a 75 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. They're 26th in OPS with a .625 mark and have actually struck out 21.5% of the time. Since the All-Star break has a 2.27 ERA. He's allowed 0 ER in four of his last six starts, 1 ER in five of six.

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:

Jacob Misiorowski: 39.3% K% (13.4 K/9)

Chris Sale: 30.6% K% (11.1 K/9)

Gerrit Cole: 26.6% K% (9.7 K/9)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 24.9% K% (8.6 K/9)

Sean Manaea: 23.1% K% (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

Bobby Witt (SS, KC), Jac Caglianone (1B/OF, KC) & Vinnie Pasquantino (1B, KC)

Analysis: Lefties are what have given Spencer Arrighetti massive issues this year. Arrighetti has allowed 7.2 BB/9, 1.6 HR/9, 5.60 xFIP, and 42% FB. That's where Caglianone and Pasquantino come in. Witt fits perfectly into a Royals stack, too.

Ben Rice (C/1B, NYY), Luis Garcia Jr. (1B, NYY) & Jazz Chisholm (2B, NYY)

Analysis: The Yankees are going to throw a TON of lefties at Hayden Wesneski here and that's a good thing. Wesneski allows a LOT of flyballs, hard contact, and .166 xISO to lefties. Rice and Garcia both have .297 ISOs or higher against righties and Chisholm Jr. is rollin' at the plate lately.

Jackson Chourio (OF, MIL) & William Contreras (C, MIL)

Analysis: Over his last 10 games, William Contreras has a .390 AVG and has a 1.008 OPS. He's hit lefties well too. Chourio's ISO is nearly .200 against southpaws and will hit leadoff to boot.

Rafael Devers (1B, SF)

Analysis: Devers has homered in three straight games and is on a tear in general belting seven bombs for a third straight month. He has an .893 OPS in August and faces a pitcher in Jose Cabrera that isn't very good. In 153 pitches vs. LHH this year, Cabrera's allowed a .195 ISO, .228 xISO, .328 wOBA, and .376 xwOBA.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Andrew Vaughn (1B/3B, MIL)

Analysis: Vaughn is a plus-plus hitter against lefties and has 3B elg which is easily the worst position on the board. He's hitting .360 with a 1.041 OPS, .225 ISO, and .447 wOBA against southpaws this season.

Spencer Jones (OF, NYY)

Analysis: It's been a really good fantasy month for Spencer Jones. He's hit three home runs, has scored 13 runs, driven in 11 more, and has stolen five bags to boot. He has a .159 ISO and a .229 xISO vs. RHP too.

Drew Gilbert (OF, SF)

Analysis: We should see Gilbert lead off here and he's really hit right-handed pitching well all year long. He has a .164 ISO and .350 wOBA against righties

Josh Rave (OF, KC)

Analysis: Rave's been a surprisingly good fantasy scorer lately and has a good matchup against a right-handed that struggles vs. LHH. Rave's a solid punt if stacking Royals.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: New York Yankees vs Hayden Wesneski (HOU RHP)

Targets: Luis Garcia Jr., Jazz Chisholm, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Spencer Jones

Primary Stack: Milwaukee Brewers vs Sean Manaea (NYM LHP)

Targets: Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn, William Contreras, Joey Ortiz, Luis Lara, Gary Sanchez

Primary Stack: San Francisco Giants vs Jose Cabrera (ARI RHP)

Targets: Rafael Devers, Drew Gilbert, Jung Hoo Lee, Bryce Eldridge,

“Contrarian” Stack: Kansas City Royals vs Spencer Arrighetti (TOR RHP) 

Targets: Jac Caglianone, Vinnie Pasquantino, Bobby Witt, Carter Jensen, Kyle Isbel

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Misiorowski (SP, chalk value)Cole (SP, lower owned)Half the ownership on a small slate but if Miz doesn't put up 30+ DKP, you have the advantage.
Blue Jays (Chalk)Yankees (pivot stack)The Yankees LHH are in an elite spot & getting 0 ownership with highest implied total on board.
McAdoo + Okamoto (chalk)Garcia Jr. + Jones (lower owned)The Yankees LHH are in an elite spot & getting 0 ownership with highest implied total on 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. Jacob Misiorowski (SP1)
  2. Noah Cameron (SP2)
  3. Luis Garcia Jr. (Core Bat)
  4. Jazz Chisholm (Core Bat)
  5. Jackson Chourio (Core Bat) 
  6. Andrew Vaughn (Core Value Bat)
  7. Spencer Jones (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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