Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Thursday, May 22nd! 

Let’s start the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have an 5-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 6:40 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: Thursday, 5/22

Baltimore Orioles @ Boston Red Sox

This game has been PPD.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

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

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

AJ Smith-Shawver, Atlanta Braves

The Nationals best hitters come from the left side and Smith-Shawver has absolutely owned lefty bats this year. He's struck out lefties at a 30% clip and they have posted a .103 ISO and .214 wOBA. Since being recalled, Smith-Shawver has held his opponents to a .141 while posting a 24% K-rate and 40% GB rate. He's looked great and that should continue today.

Jack Flaherty, Detroit Tigers

A lot of Jack Flaherty's 2025 numbers look like his 2024 numbers and ‘24 was a dominant season for the Tigers righty. The one thing specifically is different is the home runs. He’s almost at 2 HR/9 and the FB rate is 43% compared to 37% last year. All of that said, he has a 29% K rate, 3.24 SIERA, and a 3.33 xFIP. The Guardians offense is 22nd in OPS and wOBA, 21st in wRC+, and 14th in ISO. It's a great spot. 

Aaron Civale or Carlos Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers

UPDATE - Aaron Civale has been announced as the starter for the Brewers tonight. 75-85 pitches.

We don't know who's pitching for Milwaukee today, but I'd play both of them. Either of them. Whoever the chosen one is. Civale was scratched from his rehab start last night as he returns from a hamstring injury. He threw 60 pitches in his last rehab outing. Rodriguez has 9.7 K/9 at Triple-A this year with a Sub-2 ERA. The Pirates are 29th or 30th in every offensive category against right-handed hurlers.

Mike Burrows, Pittsburgh Pirates

Mike Burrows? Mike Burrows! He has looked great at Triple-A this year and has missed a ton of bats. He has a 31.5% K-rate while pitching to a 2.51 ERA. The Brewers are 26th in OPS and wRC+, 25th in wOBA, and 27th in ISO against right-handed pitchers this year.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

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

Core MLB DFS Hitters

Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

I like Jack Flaherty quite a bit today, but really like Jose Ramirez too. Flaherty has struggled against lefties allowing a .297 ISO and a .349 wOBA. The fastball and slider have been awful for him against lefties and Ramirez has hit those two pitches well this year.

The Tiger Kings: Kerry Carpenter & Riley Greene Part II

It has not been a great year for Tanner Bibee and Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene stand out here. Against righties, Carpenter has a .230 ISO and a .302 xISO along with a .379 wOBA and .391 xwOBA. Greene's ISO sits at .318 with an xISO of .329 and .444 wOBA. Bibee has allowed lefties a .278 ISO and .352 wOBA.

Braves Lefties? Braves Lefties!

Trevor Williams has absolutely zero answers for left-handed hitters this year. Lefties are slashing .383/.425/.589 with 1.93 HR/9 and .206 ISO.

The Braves top lefties are Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, Michael Harris, Alex Verdugo, and Ozzie Albies. I'd stack all four & I'd also mix some of their elite righties in such as Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley.

Mariners Make McCullers Meet his Maker

It's not really a surprise to see a pitcher that hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2022 struggle, but Lance McCullers has NOT been good. He has a 6.01 SIERA, 6.78 xFIP, 41% HH, and 7.88 ERA.

I'd legit play all of the Mariners.

Cal Raleigh - Jorge Polanco - Julio Rodriguez - Rowdy Tellez - Randy Arozarena - Leody Taveras

Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros

There has been no stopping Isaac Paredes lately. He hit two bombs on Wednesday and has six over his last 10 overall. He's hit well against righties this year posting a .220 ISO and .396 wOBA. George Kirby struggled most against lefties last year, but this is his debut and he struggled on his rehab.

Player Pool

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Stacks

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