Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Monday, September 22nd! 

Let’s start the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have a 3-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:15 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, 9/22

Nothing to worry about.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

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

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

Chris Sale is the best pitcher on the slate and it's not all that close. He's made four starts since returning from the IL and he's had 9 Ks in each along with 20+ DKP in three of them. Great spot against the Nats, too.

Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers

This has been one of the league's best pitchers since the All-Star break. He's pitched to a 2.64 ERA, held opponents to a .173 AVG, and his strikeouts are way up, too. He had a 25.9% K-rate in the first half and it's over 32% since the break. It's a tough spot against the Padres, but he's a great pitcher and I'm good to use him here.

Justin Verlander, San Francisco Giants

Since the All-Star break, the Cardinals have been really, really bad against right-handed pitching. They rank 30th in OPS, wOBA, ISO, and wRC+ which, by the way, is last in baseball. Verlander on the other hand, has been really good since the break. He had a 4.70 ERA before the break and a 2.63 since the All-Star game. His strikeouts are up, home runs are down, and now he gets to pitch in his home ballpark, which is a pitcher's haven.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

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

Core MLB DFS Hitters

Braves Offense Draws Gore

Since the All-Star break, MacKenzie Gore can't get right-handed bats out. That's been the issue with him.

Here are some numbers for righty bats since the break;

  • .281/.377/.504 slash
  • 2.0 HR/9
  • 12.9% BB, 21.5% K
  • 41.3% FB, 39% HH

The Braves have some good bats against lefties from the right side: Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies, Jurickson Profar, Ha-Seong Kim, Nacho Alvarez Jr.

I'd play some lefties, too: Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin

Giants Against McGreevy at Home

I don't love the ballpark here, but I kind of like the matchup against Michael McGreevy. I like it especially for the lefties. Lefties are hitting .308/.353/.494 with a .363 wOBA against him.

The Giants can throw a decent amount of lefties against him, too, including Rafael Devers, Drew Gilbert, Jung Hoo Lee, Bryce Eldridge, and Patrick Bailey.

Righties haven't had much success against him, but you can round out your stack with Willy Adames and Matt Chapman.

Can Cards get to Verlander? Bad Bullpen to Follow

Justin Verlander has been quite good in the second half. Really good. In fact, he wants to pitch in 2026 because of it. That being said, righties do have pretty good numbers against him this year.

vs. RH - .133 ISO, .180 xISO, .305 wOBA, .321 xwOBA

vs. LH - .143 ISO, .151 xISO, .319 wOBA, .327 xwOBA

Ivan Herrera is the best righty the Cardinals have. Nolan Arenado & Thomas Saggese are also going to crack the lineup. Brendan Donovan & Alec Burleson are too cheap.

Also, the Giants have the 11th worst bullpen ERA since the start of September at 4.68. That's BAD.

Top One Off's/Mini Stacks

Player Pool

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Stacks

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