Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Monday, August 18th! 

Let’s start the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have a 8-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:10 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: Monday, 8/18

Chicago White Sox vs. Atlanta Braves

There is rain in the forecast, but it's nothing that should cause any issues here.

Texas Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals

It's really hot in Kansas City and although there's a small chance that it rains, but it's nothing that we should be concerned about.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs

Update - This game is getting worse by the second. There's going to be a storm showing up during the game that could potentially be bad enough to cause a postponement. 

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Colorado Rockies

There are winds blowing out in Coors tonight. They're up to 10 MPH winds, too. Good luck, pitchers.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

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

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves

This one is simple. If the White Sox continue to hit home runs than Strider is in trouble. If he's avoiding the home run ball, he has a very high ceiling. If you look at some of the batted ball stuff that Strider has suffered through lately, he's clearly been unlucky. That's what puts him in consideration for me.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers

It's always scary using a starter in Coors Field but we're talking about one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Rockies have been better lately as they're league average against righties but they strike out almost 24% of the time. There's a big ceiling for a pitcher that has regularly been over 10K on DK.

Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles

I'm not afraid to go to Trevor Skubal..I mean Rogers. Trevor Rogers. Since the All-Star break, Boston has not been great against lefties ranking 17th in OPS, 16th in wOBA, and 19th in wRC+. They also have a 22.2% K-rate over that span. Rogers is due for a little regression, but it might not be in this spot. Rogers is generating a LOT of groundballs and his K:BB ratio is ELITE.

Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds

The second half of the season has been much like the first half for the Los Angeles Angels. They have a high ceiling but they strike out a LOT. Since the break, they have a 27.7% K-rate against right-handed pitching. They're 23rd in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ over that same timeframe. The splits are weird and he has not pitched well on the road, but the strikeouts have been WAY up lately. It's definitely something that we have to consider.

Dustin May, Boston Red Sox

Looking back at Dustin May's previous start..it was real. At least it looks it. He had 12 swings and misses on top of the eight punch-out's he had. It's actually been back-to-back starts in which he's been able to generate a 12% SwStr rate and those happen to be his first two starts with Boston. His seasonal average is at 8.5%. Since the All-Star break, Baltimore is 18th or worse in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ against right-handed pitching. They also strike out 22.6% of the time. 

Nestor Cortes, San Diego Padres

There is no better matchups for left-handed pitchers than the San Francisco Giants. They're last in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ and 29th in ISO. Cortes missed a bunch of bats last time out and he should have his pitches rise up above 80. He's the best value on the board.

 

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

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

Core MLB DFS Hitters

Dodgers in Coors

This one doesn't need much thinking here. It's Coors and there is wind blowing out. Kyle Freeland has been hit by righties and lefties.

vs. RH - .276 AVG, .184 ISO, .210 xISO, .365 wOBA, .376 xwOBA

vs. LH - .309 AVG, .122 ISO, .156 xISO, .309 wOBA, .330 xwOBA

Here are the Dodgers numbers against lefties;

Braves Stack Looks Great

Regardless of what happened with Yoendrys Gomez's last start, this spot for the Braves is ELITE. Gomez has a 5.56 ERA, 6.67 xERA, 5.87 xFIP, and 5.06 SIERA. He's allowed a 49% FB rate, 19% K but a 13% BB-rate.

Some of the expected numbers in this small sample against Gomez are insane this year;

vs. LH - .178 ISO, .285 xISO, .331 wOBA, .413 xwOBA, .235 BABIP

vs. RH - .095 ISO, .264 xISO, .330 wOBA, .383 xwOBA

Let's switch things around and look at the Braves offense. They've been really good in August;

Ronald Acuna will not be this cheap for much longer, if ever again. Matt Olson is hitting .316 over his last 10 games and has an OPS 100 points higher at home than on the road.

Brewers if Weather Holds Up

This will be the second game of their double-header but the matchup against Jameson Taillon is fantastic if the weather holds up. We'll have to check back on what that weather will be, because if it's good we're firing up the Brew Crew.

Taillon allows a bunch of home runs and that's how you win tournaments. Righties have a .266 ISO against him while lefties have a .207 ISO.

A Brewers stack should include Christian Yelich and William Contreras. We should see Isaac Collins back in the Brewers lineup as he's been re-instated from the paternity list. Getting to Sal Frelick and Brice Turang are options as well.

Taillon has given up a LOT of power to righties and Andrew Vaughn is the perfect play for that. You could also get to Caleb Durbin and Joey Ortiz if you want.

Orioles in August..Against May

I like Dustin May in this spot but I could absolutely see why someone would stack against him as well. Lefties have a .207 ISO against May and righties have a .177 xISO to boot. He had one good start and while that could continue, he could also revert back to the starter he's been all year long (and that's not a good pitcher.)

Outside of Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg, they are SO cheap. Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers are both basically free, with Beavers checking in at minimum salary. Ryan Mountcastle has been good since returning from injury and rounding out your stack with Jackson Holliday or Colten Cowser makes a ton of sense too.

Guardians Score a Gallen of Runs

I think the Guardians look pretty good here as they face Zac Gallen in this spot. They have a lot of hitters in their lineup that hit right-handed pitching well;

You could play Bo Naylor and CJ Kayfus too.

Gallen's been worse against lefties from an average standpoint but righties have hit more runs against him.

Top One Offs

Player Pool

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Stacks

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