Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Friday, June 20th! 

Let’s end the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have a 13-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:05 PM ET. Today, we have plenty of talent on the diamond and many different ways to build your lineup. Our expert analysis is here to guide you through the top pitchers, value plays, and stackable offenses to target.

Whether chasing big GPP prizes or grinding cash games, we’ve got you covered with insights tailored to today’s matchups. Let’s jump right into the key plays and strategies to dominate the slate!

 

 

 

This season's MLB DFS picks and playbook will consist of a pitcher and hitter core players section with written analysis, player pool grid and core stacks section.

The core player section should be used as a starting point for all lineups, you may not be able to use all players in the same lineup, but those players should be the building blocks for you on a given night.

The player pool grid will feature both players from the core player section along with additional plays to help you build a complete lineup. The grid will be broken into top priced players, mid-priced players and value tier players.

The stacks section will bring you are favorite lineups stacks for the day and which players we would look to include in those stacks based on matchups and pricing.

Check out the MLB DFS Show to get an initial outlook on the day's MLB DFS slate to give you a good base for the start of your research each day! 

Make sure you subscribe to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel so you never miss a show! Also, join the Fantasy Alarm Discord to get your DFS lineup questions answered by our MLB DFS team! Plus, as always, be sure to check in with our MLB DFS Tools, with the Daily MLB Projections, MLB DFS Rostership Projections, and our MLB DFS Lineup Generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting.

 

 

 

MLB DFS Picks & MLB Playbook

MLB Weather: Friday, 6/20

Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees

Rain around gametime could cause a late start. Should  be able to play fine after a brief delay if that is the case. 

Detroit Tigers @ Tampa Bay Rays

Pop-up showers could cause an interruption if one lands over the ballpark. More of a delay threat than a PPD threat. 

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado Rockies

Temperatures are expected to be in the 90s in the best hitting environment in MLB. 

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

Let's get into today's core pitching plays for our DFS lineups

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

Hunter Brown has has an elite strikeout rate and gets the best possible strikeout matchup. The Angels do pose some power risk, as they own a .172 ISO against righties. But Brown has done a great job of keeping the ball in the park, with a ground ball rate of nearly 47% and just 0.73 HR/9 allowed. He deserves to be the highest priced pitcher on the slate. 

Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

Wheeler has an argument for the most talented pitcher on the slate, with elite strikeouts and elite control. However, has has by far the toughest matchup amongst the elite trio of pitching at the top of the salary range. The Mets rank top six in ISO, wOBA and wRC+ against right-handed pitching, which leaves Wheeler behind Brown and Fried for me today. I still want exposure to Wheeler as he can dominate any matchup. In his start against the Mets earlier this season, Wheeler allowed two runs over six innings with nine strikeouts.  

Max Fried, New York Yankees

Max Fried does not possess the elite strikeout ability of the other two pitchers, but he is just as good of a pitcher with elite control and elite ground ball ability. He gets to face the Orioles, who have been the worst offense in baseball against left-handed pitching. No, really, they rank dead last in ISO and wOBA against lefties this season. On DK, the price for Fried is enough of a discount from Brown that they are virtually tied for the top option on the slate. On FD where they are separated by just $200, Brown has the higher ceiling and Fried has the higher floor.  

Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians

Bibee has seen his strikeouts fall below 20% this season, which is not ideal for DFS upside. He also faces a massive ballpark downgrade in Sacramento, where the wind is blowing out today. Add in the fact the Athletics have been a top 10 offense against righties and there is plenty of risk for Bibee today. Despite the negative context, this is still an above average pitcher who is priced at just $7,000 on DK today. He is tougher to justify on FD, but he is among the top options if you need to save salary at SP2 on DK. 

Jeffrey Springs, Athletics 

Springs has had his share of troubles at home this season. with a 5.51 home ERA and 1.93 HR/9 allowed. The good news for Springs is he faces a Guardians team that ranks third-worst in ISO against left-handed pitching and strikes out and above average 24.7% clip. Springs has been better in his last two home starts, lasting at least six innings and racking up at least six strikeouts in each. The ballpark and weather do him no favors, but the plus matchup is intriguing. 

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

Let's check out today's core plays to build our lineups around.

Arizona Diamondbacks in Coors Field

The D-backs are an easy choice for the top offense of the day with an implied team total of nearly seven runs. They head to Coors field in ideal hitting conditions to face off against a low-strikeout lefty in Austin Gomber. The Rockies southpaw has made just one MLB start so far this season as a shoulder injury delayed his debut, but he has allowed over 1.6 HR/9 his last two seasons. Ketel Marte has struggled against lefties this season, but he has a long track record of success against them in his career. Last season, he posted a .337 ISO against lefties. Lourdes Gurriel, Eugenio Suarez and Randall Grichuk lead the D-backs in ISO against lefties this season. The Rockies bullpen owns a lofty 4.62 ERA, so we don't need to be too concerned about matchups here.  

The Struggling New York Yankees 

Yes, I am aware the Yankees have been on the struggle bus over the past month or so. Their .145 ISO and .305 wOBA in June are both below average, but there are far too many great hitters in this lineup for it to continue. It remains to be seen if today is the day the breakout, but I am interested against the low strikeouts of Tomoyuki Sugano. The hitting conditions should be excellent, with temperatures in the 80s and winds blowing out to centerfield around 10mph. 

Toronto Blue Jays vs. White Sox Bullpen 

Davis Martin was placed on the IL earlier today and will no longer make the start for the White Sox today. The Chicago bullpen owns a 4.34 ERA and league-worst 4.67 xFIP. Toronto is a slightly above average offense this season. Addison Barger actually leads the team with a .240 ISO and .365 wOBA. Vladimir Guerrero is also at .365 wOBA, but his power numbers still trail his elite Statcast data thanks to too many groundballs. Bo Bichette has rebounded nicely from a down season a year ago, and George Springer remains productive in the latter stages of his career. I am always good using a catcher in my stacks, and Alajandro Kirk has a solid .331 wOBA. 

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Blade Tidwell 

The Phillies get a matchup against a rookie right-hander who owns a 4.76 ERA in Triple-A this season. Blade Tidwell got shelled for nine hits and six runs in his MLB debut against the Cardinals back in May., which is the only MLB appearance in his career. Kyle Schwarber is one of the top options on the entire slate, and Trea Truner brings plenty of upside with his speed. Next, I would look to Nick Castellanos and Max Kepler for their above average power. 

Colorado Rockies in Elite Hitting Conditions 

Zac Gallen has had control issues and a lefty problem this season. Now, he must go into Coors Field and deal with an elite hitting environment. Ryan McMahon is the top option for the Rockies as a lefty with a .210 ISO against righties this season. Michael Toglia and Mickey Moniak are the other lefties expected to be in the lineup, and they each have above average power. Hunter Goodman would be the top option from the right side, and he looks great in a stack today given Gallen's control problems. 

Player Pool

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Stacks

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