Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Tuesday, May 19th. Our MLB DFS projections combine advanced pitching metrics, platoon splits, strikeout prop data, and ownership positioning to identify the sharpest plays on every slate. Whether you are targeting DFS projections, running lineups through our DFS optimizer, tracking ownership trends, or checking confirmed lineups, Fantasy Alarm has the tools to sharpen your edge. Today's 10-game main slate has multiple different directions to go because we have a Coors Field slate and some elite pitching arms such as Jacob Misiorowski and Dylan Cease. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 10-Game Main  |  Lock Time: 7:05 PM ET, Tuesday May 19, 2026

Vegas Totals: TEX/COL (highest-projected game), ATH/LAA (second-highest), HOU/MIN - SF/AZ - LAD/SD (tied for third-highest)

Highest K-Projections: Jacob Misiorowski 7.5 O/U (+102), Dylan Cease 7.5 O/U (+111), Reid Detmers 6.5 O/U (-118) 

MLB Weather Today, 5/19

TOR vs. NYY - 90 degrees and winds blowing out of a smaller ballpark. Elite hitting weather.

PIT vs. STL - Small chance of a delay, but most likely it plays all the way through.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Jacob Misiorowski (MIL)

Analysis: There doesn't need to be a lot said here. This is the pitcher who has the highest strikeout rate in baseball, not just the slate. He's an insane strikeout artist that can miss any lineups bats.

Dylan Cease (TOR)

Analysis: Dylan Cease has been REALLY good this year, but it is elite hitting weather with winds blowing out. The Yankees do strike out at a 23.3% rate against righties this year, which is where Cease thrives; missing bats.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Emmet Sheehan (LAD)

Analysis: The one thing Emmet Sheehan does well is miss bats. He misses bats at an ELITE clip posting a 28% K-rate and a 15.8% SwStr rate. The Padres, for what it's worth, do strike out at a 23% clip, which is the ninth-highest mark in baseball. Sheehan's groundball rate is way up, the flyballs are down, and his ERA of 4.54 is matched by a 3.73 xERA, 3.12 xFIP, and 3.16 SIERA.

Ranger Suarez (BOS)

Analysis: Suarez has really been elite for the Red Sox this year and hasn't allowed any earned runs in three starts and has thrown scoreless outings in five of his last six. The Royals are a bottom-10 offense in OPS, ISO, wOBA, and wRC+ against left-handed pitching this season.

Reid Detmers (LAA)

Analysis: There is SO much to like about Reid Detmers today. He has the third-highest K projection on the board and is only behind Misiorowski and Cease. He's also -118 to go OVER 6.5 punch outs. The Athletics strike out 25.3% of the time against lefties and are 20th or worse in OPS, wOBA, ISO, and wRC+. Detmers might be my favorite pitcher of the day.

Top Options For Strikeouts

The three top strikeout targets in today's MLB DFS projections each carry a K/9 above 10.9 and favorable opponent strikeout splits. K-prop lines and value ratings are incorporated below for DFS and prop context. These are the arms building the highest strikeout ceilings on the nine-game slate.

Our model identifies these arms as the highest-ceiling plays for Alt-K lines today:

Jacob Misiorowski: 39.6% K% (14.1 K/9)

Dylan Cease: 34.6% K% (12.9 K/9) 

Will Warren: 29.8% K% (11.2 K/9)

Landen Roupp: 28.9% K% (10.6 K/9)

Emmet Sheehan: 28% K% (10.6 K/9)

Best Odds For A Win

The following MLB DFS picks offer a combination of favorable win odds, sustainable ERA and xFIP metrics, and soft opponent matchups. Each carry K-prop lines worth noting alongside their DFS value at reduced ownership relative to the top tier.

• Emmet Sheehan +106
• Ranger Suarez +133
• Will Warren +140

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Shohei Ohtani (1B/OF, LAD)

Analysis: The start of the 2026 campaign has been a nightmare for Griffin Canning and Shohei Ohtani is getting hot at the dish. Over the last seven days he's hitting .500 and over the last two weeks he's at .341 with a .962 OPS.

Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)

Analysis: Zebby Matthews had a really strong debut his last time out. That doesn't mean we don't have TWO years of data suggesting lefty power is his Achilles heal. Zebby, meet Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez has a .310 ISO, .388 xISO, .454 wOBA, and .489 xwOBA against righties this year.

Julio Rodriguez & Randy Arozarena (OF, SEA)

Analysis: Righties have absolutely decimated Anthony Kay this year and we have two lefty killers here in Rodriguez and Arozarena. JRod has a .391 ISO, .403 xISO, .443 wOBA and xwOBA and Arozarena has a .227 ISO and .369 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season. Righties have a .223 ISO, .238 xISO, .429 wOBA, and .434 xwOBA against Kay.

Brandon Nimmo (OF, TEX)

Analysis: Lefties have killed Tanner Gordon. .459 ISO, .339 xISO, .485 wOBA, and .353 wOBA against him. It's Coors Field, too, so Nimmo and the Rangers really stand out.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Jake Burger (1B, TEX)

Analysis: Burger has done all of his damage against right-handed pitching this year posting a .194 ISO and has blasted 7 HR. Elite ballpark.

Vaughn Grissom (2B/3B, LAA)

Analysis: The Angels have ran Vaughn Grissom out there as the teams leadoff hitter against lefties lately. The lefty he's facing, Jacob Lopez, has not gotten righties out. They have a .250 ISO and .386 wOBA off of him.

TJ Rumfield (1B, COL)

Analysis: The Rangers are going with a lefty opener, but Kumar Rocker is going to throw bulk innings. Lefties have killed Kumar Rocker each of the last two seasons and the underlying numbers look even worse.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Texas Rangers vs Sammy Peralta/Tanner Gordon (COL LHP/RHP)

Why: The 5.4 implied runs the Rangers have is the highest on the board and Tanner Gordon has a lefty problem. The Rangers have multiple solid lefties in their lineup in Brandon Nimmo, Evan Carter, and Joc Pederson. Ezequiel Duran, Jake Burger, and Justin Foscue rounds out the stack.

Primary Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Griffin Canning (SD RHP)

Why: The Dodger slook really good today against Griffin CasCanning who's struggling to throw strikes. Canning has 7.3 BB/9m 10.6 ERA, and both splits have a .362 wOBA or better against him. They're not overly owned and Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker, Will Smith, and Max Muncy all look great.

"Contrarian" Stack: Seattle Mariners vs Anthony Kay (CWS LHP)

Why: It's probably a ballpark thing, but the Mariners are unowned today. Anthony Kay has struggled mightily against righties having allowed a .223 ISO, .238 xISO, .429 wOBA, and .434 xwOBA. Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, Rob Refsynder, and Mitch Garver look great from the right side. I think Josh Naylor and Colt Emerson look good from the left side to round out our stack.

"Contrarian" Stack: Colorado Rockies vs Tyler Alexander/Kumar Rocker (TEX LHP/RHP)

Why: The Rockies are running six lefties out at Kumar Rocker and Tyler Alexander today. Rocker has struggled mightily against since last year;

2025: .203 ISO, .219 xISO, .388 wOBA, .391 xwOBA

2026: .145 ISO, .202 xISO, .363 wOBA, .394 xwOBA

You can also play Hunter Goodman from the right side, but Mickey Moniak, TJ Rumfield, Willi Castro, Troy Johnston, and Jake McCarthy look great from the left side.

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The foundation for every MLB DFS lineup you build today. These are the core MLB DFS picks by position across DraftKings and FanDuel.

1. Jacob Misiorowski (SP1)
2. Reid Detmers (SP2)
3. Shohei Ohtani (Core Bat)
4. Josh Jung (Core Bat)
5. Julio Rodriguez (Core Bat)
6. Jake Burger (Core Value Bat)
7. Vaughn Grissom (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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