Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Wednesday, June 4th! 

We have a 10-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:05 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: Wednesday, 6/4

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Atlanta Braves

Rain should be mostly clear by game-time, but there is always the chance for a pop-up storm in the area this time of year. Late start possible but they should be able to get this one in. 

Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays

Similar to yesterday when we saw a brief rain delay. Late start or in-game delay possible. 

Detroit Tigers @ Chicago White Sox

Rain should be clear by game-time with a late start possible if it lingers. 

Kansas City Royals @ St. Louis Cardinals

The riskiest game of the day from a weather perspective. Rain chances linger into the late evening.

UPDATE: Royals-Cardinals has been postponed. 

Minnesota Twins @ Athletics

It is 80 degrees with winds blowing out at 10 MPH. Similar elite hitting weather to the last two days where we have seen a total of 27 runs scored. 

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

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

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Nick Pivetta, San Diego Padres

Nick Pivetta has been an elite pitcher for the Padres this season, posting a 2.74 ERA and 28.9% strikeout rate in 11 starts. Today, he starts in an elite pitcher's park against a below average offense. Against right-handed pitching this season, the Giants have posted a 98 wRC+ and rank 22nd in ISO and 23rd in wOBA. The slate-leading price tag for Pivetta is fully warranted, and he is projected to be less popular than Chris Sale despite pitching in a better park and matchup. 

Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

The reigning NL Cy Young winner is having another outstanding season, posting a 3.06 ERA and 30.1% strikeout rate through 12 starts. The only negative for him today (assuming the weather holds) is a difficult matchup against the D-backs. Sale is completely matchup proof and Arizona has been worse against lefties this season, but he is slightly behind Pivetta for me today. The primary reason is Arizona's league-best 16.4% strikeout rate against left-handed pitching. Again, Sale is matchup proof and double-digit strikeouts wouldn't be a huge surprise, but I don't think it is the most likely outcome today. 

Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees 

Schmidt has posted a respectable 3.95 ERA and 23.5% strikeout rate for the Yankees this season. He is supported by the league's best offense and finds himself as a big favorite for a win today. Cleveland has been an average offense against righties this season with a 101 wRC+, while ranking 14th in ISO and 21st in wOBA. The Guardians have some elite contact hitters at the top of the lineup, but there are plenty of strikeouts littered throughout the bottom half. 

Zebby Matthews, Minnesota Twins

If it weren't for the great hitting weather in a great hitter's park, Matthews might be the top point-per-dollar pitcher on the slate. As it stands, he is still an elite GPP option. The A's have been in a freefall since a strong first month of the season, but they still pose a significant power threat. Don't let the 6.43 ERA from Matthews through three starts scare you off, as his underlying data looks outstanding. The Twins righty has posted an elite 33.9% strikeout rate, and ERA estimators all agree he has deserved far better results. His .412 BABIP and 15.4% HR/FB rate will almost certainly regress towards at least league average. As encouraging as the strikeout upside, Matthews made it through seven innings and reached 94 pitches in his last start against the Mariners. 

Cade Povich, Baltimore Orioles 

Povich has made 10 starts and delivered mixed results for the Orioles this season, but there are some encouraging trends over his recent starts. He has thrown at least 96 pitches in each of his last four starts, and his strikeout rate has exploded to an elite 35.3% over his last three starts. The Mariners have been an above average offense versus left-handed pitching this season, but they also strike out a ton. Six hitters in the M's projected lineup have struck out at least 27% of the time versus lefties this season, and they have collectively struck out at the 8th-highest rate in the league. Povich has also been the victim of some bad luck this season. Estimators xFIP and SIERA both have the Orioles lefty under four runs per nine innings this season, so his bloated 5.29 ERA isn't entirely deserved.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

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

Core MLB DFS Hitters

New York Yankees vs. Luis L. Ortiz

Luis L. Ortiz is a respectable pitcher who has some skills, but he gets the daunting task of facing the elite Yankees offense today. Against right-handed pitching, New York ranks 2nd in wRC+, 2nd in ISO and 3rd in wOBA, and they recently added Jazz Chisolm back to the lineup after a month-plus absence. Aaron Judge is always the top priority, but I am looking to lefties after that. Ortiz has allowed a .204 ISO and 15.4% barrel rate to lefties this season. Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Jazz Chisolm all have at least a .267 ISO and 14.9% barrel rate against righties this season. Austin Wells is not far behind at .225 ISO and 10.7% barrel rate, and then there is Cody Bellinger at .169 ISO and 10.3% barrel rate. Yikes, and good luck Mr. Ortiz. 

Minnesota Twins in Sutter Health Park

The A's have not yet announced a starter for their matchup with the Twins tonight, but I am not sure it matters much. The weather and ballpark make for an elite hitting environment, and the Twins have posted 20 runs combined in the first two games of the series. The Twins have been an average offense this season with a 99 wRC+, ranking 16th in ISO and 18th in wOBA. Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis have missed time this season, but both are expected to be in the lineup tonight. The exact targets in the Twins lineup will be determined by what the A's decide to do with their pitching staff, but I want significant exposure regardless of the situation. 

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Jose Berrios 

Jose Berrios is an above average pitcher, but I strongly prefer the Phillies side of this matchup. Berrios has seen his typically excellent control evade him this season, and he is below average in the strikeout department dating back to last season. The Jays righty has also allowed a robust 41.6% hard-hit rate and 11.7% barrel rate. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are elite options on their own, and I am interested in the full stack considering the decline in control and contact management from Berrios.  

Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox Bullpen

The White Sox bullpen has been terrible for several seasons, and it looks like we will see nine innings of it tonight. The Tigers have been a top-10 offense this season, as they own a 109 wRC+ and rank 9th in ISO and wOBA. Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson are the primary targets, with a full stack firmly in play.  

Seattle Mariners Power vs. Cade Povich

I will have plenty of exposure to Cade Povich due to the strikeout upside, but the Mariners can offer plenty of resistance with some elite power bats. Seattle ranks 9th in ISO against left-handed pitching this season and Povich has allowed a boatload of high-quality contact, including 1.59 HR/9 on a 50.3% hard-hit rate and 13.1% barrel rate. Cal Raleigh leads the majors with 23 home runs and has posted an obscene .380 ISO against lefties this season. Julio Rodriguez (.262 ISO) and Dylan Moore (.326 ISO) have also been elite against lefties. Randy Arozarena doesn't have elite surface numbers against lefties, but he does own an elite 14.3% barrel rate. 

Player Pool

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Stacks

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