Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Tuesday, August 25th. 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. 

This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 12-Game Main | Lock Time: 7:05 pm ET, Tuesday, August 25th, 2026

Vegas Totals: MIN/ATH (highest-projected game total), HOU/NYY – KC/TOR– LAD/ATL (tied for second-highest game total) 

Highest K-Projections: Gavin Williams 7.5 O/U (-148), Jacob deGrom 6.5 O/U (-108), Tyler Glasnow 5.5 O/U (-152), Paul Skenes 5.5 O/U (-150), Aaron Nola 5.5 O/U (-120), Kyle Harrison 5.5 O/U (-113), Taj Bradley 5.5 O/U (-105)  

MLB Weather Today, 8/25

Weather is all clear across the league today. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Gavin Williams (CLE)

Analysis: Williams comes with massive strikeout upside in one of the best possible matchups for upside. His strikeout rate is above 32% for the season, and he has struck out 10 or more batters in six of his last eight starts. 

Kyle Harrison (MIL)

Analysis: Harrison has had two excellent starts and one bad start since returning from the IL. He struck out 18 batters in just 10 innings in the two good starts, which shows he has the upside to be a primary tournament pivot. 

Jacob deGrom (TEX)

Analysis: deGrom has had a similar run to Harrison in that he's been excellent in two of his last three starts. He struck out 19 batters in 11 innings in his two good starts. Tonight's matchup against the White Sox further adds to his upside, as they have struck out at the fourth-highest rate in baseball against right-handed pitching. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Brady Singer (CIN)

Analysis: Singer is a low-owned option who gets a massive ballpark upgrade going from Cincinatti to San Francisco. The Giants have been one of the worst offenses in baseball this month, posting just an 80 wRC+ while striking out at the eighth-highest rate. Additionally, the Giants will also be without one of their top hitters (Bryce Eldridge) for this series. 

Aaron Nola (PHI)

Analysis: Nola has dealt back-to-back gems in his last two starts, allowing just two runs in 12 innings while striking out 17. Tonight, he gets an extremely pitcher-friendly environment in Seattle. It is a high-upside matchup against the Mariners, who strike out at the seventh-highest clip in the league against righties. 

Matthew Liberatore (STL)

Analysis: Liberatore has been in excellent form recently. He has struck out at least six batters in three of his last four starts, and he allowed just 5 runs in 17.1 innings in those three outings. Tonight, he gets an elite matchup against an Orioles team that strikes out at the second-highest rate in baseball against lefties. 

Adrian Houser (SF)

Analysis: Let's toss in one more pitcher who has been impressive in his last two starts, as Houser has not allowed a run across his last 11 innings while adding eight strikeouts. He draws the best possible matchup against a Reds team that has managed just an 87 wRC+ against right-handed pitching while striking out at the highest rate in the league. 

Top Options For Strikeouts

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 9-game slate.

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

Gavin Williams: 32.4% K% (11.7 K/9)

Kyle Harrison: 30.3% K% (11.2 K/9)

Jacob deGrom: 30.3% K% (11.2 K/9)

Tyler Glasnow: 33.1% K% (11.1 K/9)

Paul Skenes: 29.8% K% (11.1 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 carries K-prop lines worth noting alongside their DFS value at reduced ownership relative to the top tier.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Byron Buxton (OF, MIN), Kody Clemens (2B, MIN), & Ryan Jeffers (C, MIN) 

Analysis: The Twins lived up to the hype as chalk yesterday, and they get a similar spot tonight. Jump has struggled mightily in Sutter Health Park, posting a 6.02 ERA. Buxtonn broke out of an extended slump with three hits and a walk last night, scoring all four times he reached base. Jeffers was on base three times, while Clemens added a pair of hits and two RBIs. 

Shohei Ohtani (1B/OF, LAD) & Max Muncy (3B, LAD) 

Analysis: The Dodgers check-in with the second-highest team total in a matchup with Braves righty Bryce Elder. Ohtani and Muncy have both smashed right-handed pitching this season. Ohtani is up at .247 ISO and .398 wOBA against righties, while Muncy is at .254 ISO and .374 wOBA. 

JJ Wetherholt (2B/SS, STL) & Alec Burleson (1B, STL)

Analysis: These two Cardinals lefties are in a great spot against Bassitt, who has struggled with lefties his whole career. This season, he's allowed a .190 ISO and .403 wOBA to lefty batters. Wetherholt will hit leadoff and brings 17 home runs and 14 stolen bases to the table, demonstrating his multiple paths to fantasy production. Burleson owns a robust .247 ISO and .418 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. 

Bobby Witt (SS, KC) & Jac Caglianone (1B/OF, KC) 

Analysis: Witt looks as healthy as he has all season. Since returning from the IL earlier this month, he's posted a 159 wRC+ with three home runs and five stolen bases. It's a rare power/speed ccombination that makes him one of the top fantasy players in the league. Caglianone has been baseball's best hitter in the month of August, posting a league-leading 209 wRC+. 

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Kaelen Culpepper (SS, MIN) 

Analysis: Culpepper paid off in big way yesterday, with four hits in five trips to the plate. He gets another great spot tonight against a lefty that strugglies in his home park. The rookie owns an impressive 143 wRC+ since being called up to the big leagues. 

Jeff McNeil (1B/2B, ATH)

Analysis: McNeil has stepped in a big way with the A's missing several of their top hitters. The lefty has posted an outstanding 141 wRC+ in the month of August. Bradley has struggled with lefty power, allowing a .176 ISO this season. 

Brett Bateman (OF, TOR) 

Analysis: Bateman has quickly found his way to the leadoff spot for the Jays offense after being acquired as part of the return for Gausman at the trade deadline. He's responded with an above-average 107 wRC+, and he's simply too cheap for his role at the moment. 

George Lombard (SS, NYY)

Analysis: The Yankees phenom has already flashed some of the skills that make him one of the most exciting prospects in the game. In his limited time in the big leagues, he's posted an above-average 114 wRC+ and both of his homers have come off righties. 

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Minnesota Twins vs Gage Jump (ATH LHP)

Targets: Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers, Royce Lewis, Kody Clemens, Kaelen Culpepper, Josh Bell 

Primary Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Bryce Elder (ATL RHP)

Targets: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker 

Primary Stack: Athletics vs Taj Bradley (MIN RHP)

Targets: Jeff McNeil, Lawrence Butler, Zack Gelof, Carlos Cortes, Donnie Walton  

“Contrarian” Stack: New York Yankees vs Ethan Pecko (HOU RHP)

Targets: Ben Rice, Luis Garcia, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, George Lombard 

“Contrarian” Stack: Kansas City Royals vs Max Scherzer (HOU RHP)

Targets:  Bobby Witt, Jac Caglianone, Vinnie Pasquantino, Carter Jensen, Michael Massey 

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
deGrom (SP, chalk)Nola (SP, cheaper & lower owned)Save some salary at SP2 with Nola and load up on a few extra high-upside bats. Nola has flashed elite upside in his last two starts. 
Twins (Chalk)Royals (pivot stack)The Twins are in a great spot again, but there are plenty of options to outscore them. The Royals draw the declining skills of the once-elite Scherzer. 
Ohtani + Muncy (chalk)Witt + Caglianone (lower owned)Pivot from the elite Dodgers sluggers to the lower-owned Royals. Cags has been the best hitter in baseball in August, while Witt has five stolen bases in the month and elite upside. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Gavin Williams (SP1)
  2. Aaron Nola (SP2)
  3. Byron Buxton (Core Bat)
  4. Ryan Jeffers (Core Bat)
  5. JJ Wetherholt (Core Bat) 
  6. Kaelen Culpepper (Core Value Bat)
  7. Brett Bateman (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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