Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Thursday, June 26th! 

Let’s start the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have an 8-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 1:10 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: Thursday, 6/26

Seattle Mariners @ Minnesota Twins

This game looks UGLY. There is a legit chance that we see a PPD. There's also a chance we see a VERY lengthy delay. This is something I'm staying away from unless playing MME (mass multi entry) and you don't mind potentially throwing away a couple of lineups.

Athletics @ Detroit Tigers

This game will play, but there is a chance that there is a delay and/or a late start. Not a whole lot of worry here, however.

Tampa Bay Rays @ Kansas City Royals

It's really hot, there's a lot of humidity, and there are winds blowing out. Check mate. Offense o'plenty. There could be some rain, too, which could cause a slight delay, but not overly concerning.

Chicago Cubs @ St. Louis Cardinals

Whatever was just said about the weather in Kansas City can be said about the weather in St. Louis.

 

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

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

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

Hunter Brown is clearly the top arm of the slate. It's not an easy spot, but Brown has been dominant against everyone this year. For what it's worth, Philly only has a .734 OPS ad has a robust 44% GB rate as an offense against righties, which plays into Brown's hand because that's what he does.

Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays

There's a lot to like under the hood for Kevin Gausman. He hasn't pitched too well when you look at 4.6 ERA, but he has a 3.9 xERA, 3.79 xFIP, and 3.73 SIERA. He faces a Guardians offense that ranks 25th in OPS and wOBA and 15th in ISO against righties. Over the last month, the Guardians K-rate is on the rise, too, punching out over 23% of the time.

Shane Baz, Tampa Bay Rays

The Royals offense has been quite bad. The weather looks good for bats, but they have to hit the ball and make good contact, things the Royals don't do great. They're 27th in OPS and wOBA and 28th in ISO. They don't strike out a ton but they have been striking out in this series, so many that can continue here. Baz has pitched better lately and has been SIGNIFICANTLY better away from Tampa Bay, pitching to a 3.57 ERA compared to 5.7 at home.

Hayden Birdsong, San Francisco Giants

Miami's offense has hit a really big cold spell as they rank 24th or worse in OPS, wOBA, and ISO against right-handed pitching. Birdsong does have a lefty issue and the Marlins do have some good lefties in their lineup, so that's a little bit of a concern. He has a great ballpark behind him as well as a bunch of win equity.

Janson Junk, Miami Marlins

Man, this stuff looks real. Janson Junk looks real as a starter. His pitch count got up to 79 last time out and is missing bats at a pretty solid clip. His 2.6 ERA is paired with a 2.79 xFIP and 2.81 SIERA. He gets a lot of groundballs, too, and his stuff will play in this ballpark. Also, the Giants offense is struggling. They're 20th or worse against RHP this year in OPS and wOBA and strike out around 22% of the time.

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

The matchup for Clayton Kershaw today is quite good, but it comes with risk being that the game plays in Coors. That said, the Rockies are 25th in OPS and wOBA and are striking out over 27.4% of the time against left-handed hurlers. The 37-year-old Kershaw has been fairly good of late, posting at least 15 FP in three straight games and at 7K, would be solid. He obviously has as much win equity as anyone on the slate.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

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

Core MLB DFS Hitters

Dodgers. Gomber. Coors. Yeah.

There's a LOT to like here. The Dodgers have two players in their lineup (Will Smith & Teoscar Hernandez) with an OPS of nearly 1.200. Not to mention Shohei Ohtani sitting at .924. In fact, every single player in their projected lineup today as an ISO of at LEAST .151 this year.

SIX players in their projected lineup have a .200 ISO or better over their last 60 plate appearances;

Tigers Sprung Into Action

Why are the masses flocking to Jeffrey Springs? He's the highest rostered pitcher of the day and I love the Tigers, so I'm against the field with this one. The Tigers have SIX players in their lineup today that have an OPS of at LEAST .900.

One of the three that don't is their best offensive player in Riley Greene.

Some numbers against lefties for Detroit;

Righties have hit 12 HR against Springs this year, along with 1.5 HR/9, 4.59 xFIP, 47.6% FB, and 32.2% HH rate.

Michael Lorenzen Stung by Rays

For a pitcher that has struggled against righties for most of his career, he's now struggling against both splits;

vs. LHH - .174 ISO, .171 xISO, .327 wOBA, .326 xwOBA, 40.5% FB

vs. RHH - .213 ISO, .208 xISO, .349 wOBA, .337 xwOBA, 1.7 HR/9, 48% FB

The Rays have a lot of REALLY good numbers against right-handed pitching this year.

Jonathan Aranda & Junior Caminero both have .900 OPS or better. Brandon Lowe & Yandy Diaz are at .830 or better, too. Caminero hits a home run today, book it. I'd love rounding a Rays stack with Chandler Simpson, Jake Mangum, or Christopher Morel.

Brent Rooker & Jacob Wilson Two-Man Weave

They're so good against lefties I'd probably stop the exposure after them. Brent Rooker has a .338 ISO and .458 wOBA against southpaws this year while Wilson has a .161 ISO and .427 wOBA. Dietrich Enns is 34-years old and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021. He's had a good minor league season, but his career has played out the way it has for a reason.

Cards Take Flight against Shota

Shota Imanaga is coming off the IL and even though that's exciting, he hasn't been great this year, especially against righties. Righties have a .190 ISO and .283 xSO, .308 wOBA, and .377 xwOBA.

The three-man stack of Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and Mason Winn looks good. You can round it out with Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan with how good the weather is.

Cubs..Dodgers Pivot

We have the expensive Dodgers pivot here in 100 degree weather. It's HOT and have as much power as anyone else around the league.

Cubs have SEVEN guys with at least a .170 ISO against righties and five of them (Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Kyle Tucker) are all over .225. Ian Happ has been GREAT, too.

Player Pool

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Stacks

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