Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Tuesday, September 22nd. 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: 10-Game DK Main, 9-Game FD Main | Lock Time: 7:05 pm ET on DK / 7:15 pm ET on FD, Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026

Vegas Totals: ARI/COL (highest-projected game total), CIN/ATL– LAA/ATH (second-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Taj Bradley 6.5 O/U (+126), Logan Gilbert 5.5 O/U (-159), Shota Imanaga 5.5 O/U (-130), Yusei Kikuchi 5.5 O/U (+110)

MLB Weather Today, 9/22

CIN @ ATL – Storms in the area could cause a late start or in-game delay. 

MIA @ CHC – Temperatures in the 60s and wind blowing in at 15+ mph. Excellent pitching weather. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Taj Bradley (MIN)

Analysis: Bradley has massive upside, given his slate-leading strikeout rate and an elite matchup in San Francisco. Since the All-Star break, the Giants own just a 92 wRC+ with the seventh-highest strikeout rate in baseball, and now they are missing their two best hitters. 

Drew Rasmussen (TB) – DK Only

Analysis: Rasmussen has put together another excellent season, with a 2.27 ERA. The Yankees are again without Judge, and they own the fourth-highest strikeout rate in baseball in the second half. 

Logan Gilbert (SEA)

Analysis: Gilbert has actually pitched better away from his pitcher-friendly home park this season, although he has posted double-digit strikeouts in each of his last two home starts. The Astros are mostly a neutral matchup, but they have struck out at the 10th-highest rate against righties.   

Shota Imanaga (CHC) 

Analysis: Imanaga has been lights out over his last three starts, and he gets a boost from the weather today. Winds are expected to be blowing in at 15+ mph at Wrigley today, which should help the lefty keep the ball in the yard. The Marlins own just a 90 wRC+ against southpaws this year. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Michael Soroka (ARI)

Analysis: Value options at pitcher are extremely thin on this slate, so there's going to be some risk involved if looking to save salary. Soroka was very good his last time out, with six strikeouts in five innings of one-run ball. He was also excellent in his lone Coors Field start this season, allowing just two runs in 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts back in May. 

Cristian Javier (HOU)

Analysis: Javier has pitched well in the second half, posting a 3.74 ERA across 45.2 innings. He gets a ballpark boost for pitchers in Seattle today, where his extreme fly-ball tendencies should play well. The Mariners are also prone to strikeouts, which further adds to Javier's upside. 

Yusei Kikuchi (LAA)

Analysis: Like Soroka, Kikuchi will need to navigate a tough ballpark to succeed today. The A's have struggled against lefties this season, with a 93 wRC+ and a 24.4% strikeout rate.  

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 10-game slate.

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

Taj Bradley: 27.5% K% (10.4 K/9)

Logan Gilbert: 27.2% K% (9.8 K/9)

Drew Rasmussen: 25.3% K% (8.9 K/9)

Max Fried: 24.6% K% (8.5 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.

• Shota Imanaga +119 
• Logan Gilbert +139 
• Taj Bradley +151 
• Michael Soroka +174 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Corbin Carroll (OF, ARI), Ketel Marte (2B, ARI), & Nolan Arenado (3B, ARI)

Analysis: The D-backs get an elite matchup today against a lefty with a 6.38 ERA and 18% strikeout rate. These three hitters have all crushed left-handed pitching this season, with each of them posting at least a .244 ISO and .373 wOBA. 

Miguel Vargas (1B/3B, CWS) 

Analysis: Vargas has enjoyed a true breakout season, and he's been particularly dominant against lefties with a .274 ISO and .399 wOBA. Lynch has been knocked around since moving to the rotation, posting a 5.28 ERA and 13.2% strikeout rate. 

Zach Neto (SS, LAA) & Mike Trout (OF, LAA) 

Analysis: In his career against lefties, Neto owns an elite 142 wRC+ and .232 ISO, and he's right in line with those numbers this season. Trout has posted a .157 ISO against lefties this season, but his xISO is all the way up at .221. Basso has managed to strike out just 15.2% of right-handed batters. 

Ronald Acuna (OF, ATL)

Analysis: Acuna has posted an absurd 191 wRC+ and .356 ISO in September. Williamson has walked nearly as many batters as he has struck out this season, and he's allowed more than 1.6 HR/9. 

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Ildemaro Vargas (1B/2B, ARI) & Jordan Lawlar (OF, ARI) 

Analysis: Vargas should lead off in Coors, and he owns a 128 wRC+ against lefties in his career. Lawlar has bounced back nicely from a subpar August, and he owns a stellar .245 ISO against lefties this year. 

Chase Meidroth (2B, CWS), Randal Grichuk (OF, CWS), & Tommy Pham (OF, CWS)

Analysis: Meidroth and Grichuk have both been awesome against lefties, with each posting over a .400 wOBA. Pham doesn't have much of a big-league sample this season, but he's extremely cheap and has been hitting near the top of the lineup against lefties. 

Ozzie Albies (2B, ATL) & Michael Harris (OF, ATL)

Analysis: Albies has been abysmal in the second half, but at least he will hit from his stronger split. The salary has dipped drastically, and he does have four hits in his last five games. Harris has been solid against lefties this season, and Williamson has allowed a .250 ISO to lefties. 

Jose Siri (OF, LAA) & Denzer Guzman (3B, LAA) 

Analysis: Siri and Guzman have each posted an ISO above .210 against lefties this season. Basso has struck out just 15% of righties while allowing a .181 ISO. 

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Kyle Freeland (COL LHP)

Targets: Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, Gabriel Moreno, Nolan Arenado, Ildemaro Vargas, Jordan Lawlar 

Primary Stack: Los Angeles Angels vs Brady Basso (ATH LHP)

Targets: Mike Trout, Zach Neto, Vaughn Grissom, Jose Siri, Denzer Guzman, Christian Moore

Primary Stack: Atlanta Braves vs Brandon Williamson (CIN LHP)

Targets: Ronald Acuna, Matt Olson, Michael Harris, Drake Baldwin, Ozzie Albies 

“Contrarian” Stack: Chicago White Sox vs Daniel Lynch (KC LHP)

Targets: Miguel Vargas, Randal Grichuk, Chase Meidroth, Tommy Pham, Munetaka Murakami 

“Contrarian” Stack: Athletics vs Yusei Kikuchi (LAA LHP)

Targets: Zack Gelof, Shea Langeliers, Henry Bolte, Max Muncy, Jonah Heim 

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. Taj Bradley (SP1)
2. Shota Imanaga (SP2)
3. Ketel Marte (Core Bat)
4. Zach Neto (Core Bat)
5. Nolan Arenado (Core Bat) 
6. Jordan Lawlar (Core Value Bat)
7. Randal Grichuk (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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