Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Thursday, September 3rd. 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 quality pitchers in Tarik Skubal, Logan Henderson, Michael Wacha, and Sandy Alcantara 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: 6-Games | Lock Time: 7:15 pm ET, Thursday, September 3rd, 2026

Vegas Totals: MIA/KC (highest-projected game), BOS/BAL (second-highest game total), STL/LAD, TB/TEX & MIL/CHC (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Tarik Skubal 8.5 O/U (+122), Kade Anderson 5.5 O/U (-136), Logan Henderson 5.5 O/U (-117), Kevin Gausman 5.5 O/U (-110), Michael Wacha 5.5 O/U (+129)

MLB Weather Today, 9/3

Brewers vs Cubs - Winds blowing across the field that aren't overly impactful.

Red Sox vs Orioles - There is definitely PPD risk in this game with how much rain is forecasted in the area.

Marlins vs Royals - Another hot and humid night with winds blowing out to boot. One of the best offensive environments in the league.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Tarik Skubal (LAD)

Analysis: It's been a good stretch for Tarik Skubal who happens to be one of the best pitchers (if not THE best) on the planet. Skubal has an 8.5 O/U on his strikeout number, massive win odds, and plays on one of the best teams in the league. He's so highly rostered compared to everyone else on the slate.

Logan Henderson (MIL)

Analysis: We've now seen Henderson get through 6 IP in five consecutive starts and has allowed 1 ER or fewer in three straight. He's scored 19+ DKP in seven straight and his floor dating back to MAY 16TH is 15 DKP. The problem is, the Cubs are super elite offensively and that's really, really scary.

Michael Wacha (KC) 

Analysis: Wacha is pitching extremely well and possibly is in the midst of his best stretch of the year but the weather is really hot and the wind is blowing out as well. Miami is league average since the ASB at 100 wRC+ and are striking out at a 23.1% clip against righties.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Jake Bennett (BOS)

Analysis: This is an incredibly interesting spot because the Orioles strike out a LOT against left-handed pitching but rank really highly since the break. They have a .204 ISO and 119 wRC+ since the break but have struck out 27% of the time. Bennett is not a home run allower at all and is not nearly as rostered as Kade Anderson.

Kade Anderson (SEA)

Analysis: The second-highest rostered pitcher of the day and this is not surprising, but Anderson's somewhat limited considering the amount of pitches he's typically thrown in all of his Double-A starts and his two major league outings too. The spot is undeniably good though as the Athletics have a 92 wRC+ and a 24.6% K-rate against lefties since the break.

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:

Tarik Skubal: 30.9% K% (10.9 K/9)

Logan Henderson: 30.1% K% (10.1 K/9)

Jack Perkins: 25.2% K% (10.3 K/9)

Kevin Gausman: 23.8% K% (9 K/9)

Shane McClanahan: 22.1% K% (8.2 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.

• Tarik Skubal -142
• Sandy Alcantara +132
• Kade Anderson +141

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Shohei Ohtani (1B/OF, LAD) & Mookie Betts (SS, LAD)

Analysis: I really like the Dodgers a lot again tonight. Quinn Mathews is going to be a good pitcher, but not tonight. Ohtani has a .266 ISO, .283 xISO, .369 wOBA, and .375 xwOBA and Betts has been unlucky against lefties posting a .185 xISO and .354 xwOBA.

Jac Caglianone (OF, KC)

Analysis: Cags is coming off an insane month of August in which he was statistically the BEST hitter in the game with a 208 wRC+ with a .411 AVG and .473 wOBA. The weather is ideal for offense in Kansas City and Cags should be the biggest beneficiary for it.

Jackson Chourio (OF, MIL) & Jake Bauers (1B/OF, MIL)

Analysis: Kevin Gausman has been incredibly inconsistent and does serve up home runs from time to time. Chourio is in the midst of a long heater, basically since the second half started, and Jake Bauers who's crushed righties all year, are elite options and elite home run candidates.

Cal Raleigh (C, SEA)

Analysis: Raleigh has been awesome since PCA transferred him some of his powers hitting seven home runs and posting a 1.300 OPS over his last 12 games (11 starts). Lefties have a .206 ISO against Jack Perkins this year and Raleigh sits at a .203 ISO from the left side.

Kyle Stowers (1B, MIA) & Heriberto Hernandez (1B, MIA)

Analysis: The Marlins are once again popular but it's a weather and ballpark thing. These are arguably their best two hitting options today as Stowers is white-hot and has homered in back-to-back games and Hernandez is in the right split against Wacha, who's been reverse splits this year.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Will Smith (C, LAD), Tommy Edman (2B/OF, LAD) & Teoscar Hernandez (OF, LAD)

Analysis: All three of these sub-4K Dodgers hit lefties extremely well. They should all correlate extremely well together too. Edman's the easiest to get to because of his multi-positional eligibility.

Dominic Canzone & Lazaro Montes (OF, SEA)

Analysis: I love the Mariners today. They have an inconsistent pitcher starting the game and the league's worst bullpen to follow. Montes has MASSIVE power and Canzone has a .237 ISO and .344 wOBA against righties on the year. 

Henry Bolte (OF, ATH)

Analysis: Bolte has loved seeing left-handed pitching this year as he's slugging .484 with an .832 OPS. That's much better than things are versus righties and he's going to leadoff and is a 70-grade speed guy. Bolte, although in a tough spot, is a nice value facing a chalk pitcher that isn't a guarantee to dominate. 

Mickey Gasper (C/1B, BOS)

Analysis: Nothing Mickey Gasper has done has made sense but he's simply been one of the league's best hitters over the past two weeks. In 14 games, Gasper has a .395/.549/1.053 with seven home runs and 14 RBI. This is Gasper's preferred split as he's posted a .258 ISO and .421 wOBA against righties this year.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Quinn Mathews (STL LHP)

Targets: Shohei Ohtani, Tommy Edman, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernandez, Enrique Hernandez

Primary Stack: Miami Marlins vs Michael Wacha (KC RHP)

Targets: Kyle Stowers, Heriberto Hernandez, Javier Sanoja, Griffin Conine, Jared Serna

Primary Stack: Boston Red Sox vs Brandon Young (CWS RHP)

Targets: Mickey Gasper, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Wilyer Abreu, Nick Sogard, Ceddanne Rafaela

“Contrarian” Stack: Seattle Mariners vs Jack Perkins (ATH RHP)

Targets: Cal Raleigh, Dominic Canzone, Lazaro Montas, Randy Arozarena, Josh Naylor, Julio Rodriguez

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. Tarik Skubal (SP1)
2. Jake Bennett (SP2)
3. Shohei Ohtani (Core Bat)
4. Mookie Betts (Core Bat)
5. Kyle Stowers (Core Bat) 
6. Tommy Edman (Core Value Bat)
7. Lazaro Montes (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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