Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Thursday, September 11th! 

Let’s start the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have a 6-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, 9/11

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

Jesus Luzardo, Philadelphia Phillies

The Mets offense can be really good, obviously, but so can Jesus Luzardo. Luzardo has a massive ceiling and the Mets do too. Luzardo's going to get ownership because of the talent and lack of talent on the rest of the pitching slate.

Gavin Williams, Cleveland Guardians

Over the last month, the Kansas City Royals are just OK offensively. They still don't strike out at all, but Gavin Williams could potentially pitch deep into the night against this just OK offense. They're 14th in wRC+ over that span. Just OK. Since the All-Star break, Williams has a 2.19 ERA while holding opponents to .192 BAA, and a 23.8% K-rate. 

Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees

This is a pretty good bounce back spot for Cam Schlittler to get back on track after a brutal start against the Blue Jays. The Tigers have been a mediocre offense against right-handed pitching over the last month as the team ranks 19th or 20th in OPS, ISO, wOBA, and wRC+. They've also struck out over 25% of the time over that span. Schlittler is a big-time strikeout arm notching a 26.4% K-rate at the major league level this season.

Stephen Kolek, Kansas City Royals

Stephen Kolek returned to the major league level and has looked GOOD. He's allowed just 3 ER across 13 innings and although the strikeouts are low, he's pitching deep into games and draws a good matchup against a bad Guardians team. Since the All-Star break, the Guardians rank 29th in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ against right-handed hurlers.

Bryce Miller, Seattle Mariners

Look, I've been vocal about Bryce Miller and his struggles. This has not been the same pitcher as he's been in years past and in years past he's had his home ballpark to fall back on..not in 2025. He's been awful at home and the road. The thing that's going to draw everyone towards him is the price and the matchup. The Angels have struck out 28% of the time against righties since the All-Star break and are bottom-five in basically every category on the board.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

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

Core MLB DFS Hitters

If the Yankees Homer..You Win (per usual)

Look, this is as straight forward as it's going to get. They win people a lot of money when they hit home runs. They lose people all their money when they don't.

Righties have given Sawyer Gipson-Long massive issues, and he's expected to work as the bulk reliever. That obviously puts Aaron Judge & Giancarlo Stanton at the forefront of our minds.

Jazz Chisholm, Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, and Austin Wells are all good plays to finish the stack.

Padres Breakout against Rockies

The Padres are my favorite stack of the day by a fairly wide margin.  They face McCade Brown who has not pitched well at the major league level at all.

vs. RH - .348 ISO, .280 xISO, .476 wOBA, .428 xwOBA

vs. LH - .111 ISO, .115 xISO, .459 wOBA, .409 xwOBA

Right away, my mind goes right to the Padres big boppers in Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado, both of who rake against righties. Ramon Laureano actually has the best numbers of the three of them against righties. Freddie Fermin's a nice catcher punt, too.

If you're adding in some lefties, Jackson Merrill, Ryan O'Hearn, Gavin Sheets, and Jake Cronenworth all round out the stack.

Angels Against Grain

Playing the Angels just to stick to the man is the reason why you're rostering them. There hasn't been a lot to like about their offense, but that's how bad Bryce Miller has been and the whole field is still playing him. Despite the bad numbers since the break, they still hit bombs.

The top-five projected hitters in the Angels lineup all have a .200+ ISO against right-handed pitchers. (Mike Trout, Yoan Moncada, Zach Neto, Taylor Ward & Jo Adell)

Miller's struggled more with lefties than righties so you can also look towards Luis Rengifo as a value play.

Guardians Lefties

Although I like Stephen Kolek today, I also kind of like the Guardians lefties. He's struggled with them over the course of the entire season. He's obviously been better over the last two starts because he's limited the damage overall.

vs. LH - .169 ISO, .205 xISO, .323 wOBA, .369 xwOBA

ANY Guardians stack starts with Jose Ramirez. After him, Kyle Manzardo has a .230 ISO and .233 xISO against righties. Daniel Schneemann has a .176 ISO, .217 xISO, and .337 xwOBA. Steven Kwan has six multi-hit games in September. That's my favorite idea of a four-stack. If you want a full stack, Nolan Jones, CJ Kayfus or Bo Naylor round out your stack.

Top One-Offs / Mini Stacks

Player Pool

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Stacks

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