Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Friday, September 12th! 

We have an 11-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:07 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, 9/12

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Minnesota Twins 

Rain should be clearing by first pitch. Maybe a late start is necessary, but should be good to go after that. 

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

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

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

Tarik Skubal is the best pitcher on the planet in an elite matchup. He is absolutely deserving of the huge price tags the DFS sites have placed on him today. With that said, there is enough upside at cheaper price tags on this slate that Skubal is not a must play, or even the top point-per-dollar option on the slate. However, there is no question he has elite upside and it is possible he puts up a massive score that you need in your lineup to take down a tournament. Roster him accordingly. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers 

Yamamoto is coming off a near no-hitter in which he threw 112 pitches across 8.2 innings. I do think that lowers his ceiling a bit in this spot, as the Dodgers would probably prefer a an outing around 90 pitches for their best pitcher this season as the playoffs approach. Yamamoto has been excellent this season and gets a park upgrade going into San Francisco, but the Giants have also been a solid offense in the second half of the season. Since the All-Star break, their 113 wRC+ ranks 6th-best in baseball. 

Yamamoto owns a 28.8% strikeout rate this season and is capable of dominating any matchup. He comes at a nice discount from Skubal on DK, and represents a solid pivot there. On FD, they are similarly priced and I would prefer Skubal in the majority lineups. 

Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres

Padres righty Dylan Cease has had an inconsistent season in which his underlying numbers far outpace his surface-level results. His strikeout rate is elite at 30%, but he has walked a few too many batters (10%). He has also posted the lowest strand rate of his career (67.8%) and the highest BABIP (.319) since his rookie season. 

Today, he gets a matchup against the Rockies away from Coors Field, which has been one of the best possible spots for pitchers all season long. The Rockies own the highest strikeout rate and the lowest wOBA in baseball when away from their home park. Given the elite matchup, Cease has massive upside at his mid-level price tag. 

Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners 

The Mariners are red-hot, coming off consecutive walk-off wins, and are now tied for the AL West lead. Today, they matchup against the highest strikeout team in baseball. Bryce Miller racked up 11 strikeouts in the first game of the series, and the Mariners now hand the ball to Luis Castillo. The veteran is no longer the elite pitcher he once was, but the matchup gives him plenty of upside for his price. When factoring in the Mariners position in the standings with the season drawing to a close, Castillo should be locked in a post a good start. Last time out he tossed six solid innings with one run allowed and six strikeouts. 

Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins 

Well, here we are…cover-boy Sandy Alcantara in the year 2025. This outcome did not seem possible even a month ago, but over his past five starts Alcantara owns a 2.45 ERA and sparkling peripherals to back up his 180-degree turn in results. The strikeout rate in that time is all the way up at 25.6%, with an elite 4.7% walk rate and strong 46.6% groundball rate. Alcantara has lasted at least six innings in each of those starts, topped 100 pitches in four of them, and allowed more than two runs in just one outing. That is vintage, Cy Young-caliber Sandy Alcantara right there.  

The matchup against the Tigers is nothing to fear, especially in pitcher-friendly LoanDepot Park. Since the All-Star break, Detroit owns just a 102 wRC+ and has struck out at the 6th-highest rate in baseball. Alcantara was once an elite pitcher, and his recent performance suggests that pitcher still exists. If that is indeed the case, he is far too cheap and the top play on the slate. 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

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

Core MLB DFS Hitters

San Diego Padres vs. Tanner Gordon 

The Padres get another crack at a very bad Rockies pitching staff after disappointing last night. Tanner Gordon will make the start for the Rockies, and he was just shelled for six runs against the Padres in his last outing, including three home runs allowed in just 3.2 innings. For the season, he owns just a 16.9% strikeout rate and has surrendered a .200 ISO. 

Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado are elite options, with Ramon Laureano following closely behind. Jackson Merrill homered last night and has been heating up lately. Ryan O'Hearn hasn't hit much with the Padres, but this is an ideal matchup for him. Beyond Tatis and Machado, this is a very affordable stack. 

Athletics vs. Brady Singer  

Singer has pitched well of late, but he gets a tough assignment in Sutter Health Park today. Lefties have done the majority of damage against this season, which makes Nick Kurtz one of the top bats on the slate. Tyler Soderstrom is a nice option as a powerful lefty as well, with Lawrence Butler checking-in just behind him. Shea Langeliers and Brent Rooker are always playable with their elite power giving them upside in any matchup, especially at home. 

Seattle Mariners vs. Yusei Kikuchi 

The Mariners are in the heat of a tight division race and face a fly-ball lefty in Yusei Kikuchi that has allowed at least one home run in each of his last three starts. They are loaded with right-handed power that matches up well against the lefty. 

Cal Raleigh is one of the top option on the slate with his massive power. Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, and Eugenio Suarez all have elite power numbers against lefties also. Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver are above average choices to round out a full stack. 

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Andre Pallante 

The Brewers need just two more wins to officially clinch a playoff spot in what has been a magical season. They get a great matchup against Andre Pallante today, who has registered just a 15.8% strikeout rate this season. Lefties have done the majority of the damage with Pallante allowing a .178 ISO.

Christian Yelich is really the only lefty power threat, but Brice Turang is also above average and add some stolen base upside as well. From the right side, Jackson Chourio and William Contreras are fine additions to a stack, and Rhys Hoskins' fly-ball profile lines up well with Pallante's ground-ball ability. 

New York Yankees vs. Lucas Giolito 

The Yankees get a matchup with Lucas Giolito who has allowed a .180 ISO to lefties this season. New York happens to be loaded with lefty power that could really give him fits today. 

Of course, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are elite righties that could anchor a roster. Trent Grisham and Jazz Chisholm are both above .250 ISO against righties this season, while Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice and Austin Wells round out the lefty sluggers with each having an ISO of at least .215 against righties.  

Player Pool

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Stacks

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