Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Thursday, May 21st. 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. It is a travel day for a lot of teams, so we have a smaller slate today with just 4-game main slate, but we still have plenty of good options to build around today. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 4-Game Main  |  Lock Time: 6:40 PM ET, Thursday May 21, 2026

Vegas Totals: COL/ARI (highest-projected game), ATH/LAA (second-highest), TOR/NYY (third-highest)

Highest K-Projections: Jose Soriano 6.5 O/U (+103), Luis Severino 5.5 O/U (-140), Spencer Strider 5.5 O/U (-138), Eduardo Rodriguez 5.5 O/U (+109), Carlos Rodon 5.5 O/U (+116) 

MLB Weather Today, 5/21

Weather looks clear for the games on today's main slate. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Jose Soriano (LAA)

Analysis: Jose Soriano had a bit of a rough time in his last outing against the Dodgers. He was looking totally fine but then totally lost in the 6th putting five straight batters on by either walking or hitting them. I am going to give him a pass and guess that he figured out whatever the problem was and can bounce back against the Athletics today. 

Spencer Strider (ATL)

Analysis: Strider’s stuff has been looking better than it has in a few years. He isn’t fully back but he is certainly looking a lot better, and we are seeing the strikeouts. This is only his 4th start and I think he can just keep building on what he has been doing especially in a start against Miami.  

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Carlos Rodon (NYY)

Analysis: This is only Rodon’s 3rd start of the season, and it hasn’t been great yet but it hasn’t been bad either. A lot will be riding on if he can go a bit deeper today having not made it through 5 innings yet, but if he does, he could be a good value with his price today. 

Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI)

Analysis: Rodriguez is a decent cheap play today not so much because I believe in him but that it is the Rockies on the road. He struck out 6 in his last outing which was in Colorado so hopefully he can get at least that many again (and hopefully more) and avoid giving up as many hits getting to face them in Arizona this time. 

Top Options For Strikeouts

We have some good strikeout pitchers today with Soriano continuing to pile up Ks and Strider’s fastball continuing to look better. Even on a smaller slate we have some great picks to chase strikeouts today. 

Our model identifies these arms as the highest-ceiling plays for Alt-K lines today:

Spencer Strider 31.0 K% (11.1 K/9) 

Jose Soriano: 28.0 K% (10.1 K/9)

Carlos Rodon: 26.3 K% (11.3 K/9)

Best Odds For A Win

The following MLB DFS picks offer the best chance of snagging a win today giving you a chance for them to both go deep into the game, stack up some Ks, as well as get those extra points for that win. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Ben Rice (1B, NYY)

Analysis: Ben Rice just keeps the ridiculous season going looking like the second coming of Lou Gehrig out there. He has power, average, he takes his walks there is just nothing not to love in his profile right now and I have a hard time passing up on him today. 

Zach Neto (SS, LAA)

Analysis: Neto hasn’t been quite as good as we are used to and so it may seem like a stretch to be taking him as the top SS today, but he really has been hitting the ball so much better lately. I worry about Severino’s ability to get outs today; he gave up 10 hits in his last outing and has consistently been getting hit around.  

Mike Trout (OF, LAA)

Analysis: I know, I know Mike Trout is dead cold right now. He showed some life though homering back on Tuesday and I just think this is a good matchup for him, so I am willing to pay this higher price for him today despite the cold streak.  

Corbin Carroll (OF, ARI)

Analysis: Sticking with Corbin Carroll for the second straight day. Nothing has really changed in my opinion of him today and I think this matchup against the Rockies bullpen might be even better than yesterday.  

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Jazz Chisholm (2B, NYY)

Analysis: Jazz has had a super cold start to the season but he is finally turning things around and just had four straight multi-hit games and I think we could see this turnaround continue and his price jump back much higher in the near future. 

Nolan Arenado (3B, ARI)

Analysis: Arenado is crushing the ball lately slashing .303/.442/.576 in his last 10 games and in the heart of a good Diamondbacks lineup that I like stacking today he is a great cheap option at third base today. 

Geraldo Perdomo (SS, ARI)

Analysis: If you can’t pay up for Neto today Perdomo might be just as good of an option at $1,000 less if you are stacking Diamondbacks.  

Jo Adell (OF, LAA)

Analysis: Adell might be cold right now, but he provides great power potential at a very cheap price, and I do like the Angels getting to face Severino today. Adell will get hot again eventually and I don’t mind taking the bet on it today. 

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: New York Yankees vs Spencer Miles (TOR RHP)

Why: The Yankees have a strong lineup and while it can be rough to go against bullpen days sometimes, I don’t really trust the Blue Jays bullpen all that much and don’t mind stacking them on today’s smaller slate.  

Primary Stack: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Zach Agnos (Bullpen day) (COL RHP)

Why: Back on the Diamondbacks today getting to face the Rockies on a bullpen day. Zach Agnos probably won't give them much and the Rockies bullpen is not great so the Diamondbacks could really capitalize today.  

"Contrarian" Stack: Los Angeles Angels vs Luis Severino (ATH RHP)

Why: The Angels aren’t an offense I think a lot of people will be going for right now as a lot of their big bats have been a bit cold, but I think they can get to Severino today and like going after an Angels stack.  

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Strider (SP, chalk)Rodriguez (SP, lower owned)Strider might be the more obvious strikeout guy here, but I think Rodriguez could easily pile up just as many K’s against the Rockies. 
NYY as primary stackLAA as contrarian stacksThe Yankees are good option today but if you want to go more contrarian I think the Angels will do a good job hitting around Severino.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The foundation for every MLB DFS lineup you build today. These are the core MLB DFS picks by position across DraftKings and FanDuel.

  1. Jose Soriano (SP1)
  2. Spencer Strider (SP2)
  3. Ben Rice (Core Bat)
  4. Zach Neto (Core Bat)
  5. Corbin Carroll (Core Bat)
  6. Nolan Arenado (Core Value Bat)
  7. Jo Adell (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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