Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Tuesday, September 29th. 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: 4-Game Main | Lock Time: 2:00 pm ET, Tuesday, September 29th, 2026

Vegas Totals: CWS/HOU (highest-projected game total), CHC/SD (second-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Chris Sale 7.5 O/U (+105), Cam Schlittler 6.5 O/U (-148), Payton Tolle 5.5 O/U (-145), Michael King 4.5 O/U (-120)

MLB Weather Today, 9/29

Weather should be all clear for the opening day of the MLB Playoffs. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Chris Sale (ATL)

Analysis: Sale is aging like a fine wine, turning in yet another elite campaign in his age-37 season. His average fastball velocity is higher than it's been at any point in his career, and he posted a strikeout rate above 30% for the third straight season. The Phillies posted a measly 93 wRC+ against lefties this year and will be without deadline acquisition Luis Arraez for this series. 

Cam Schlittler (NYY) 

Analysis: Schlittler is in line to take home the AL Cy Young Award in his first full MLB season after posting a 1.95 ERA in 193.2 innings. His 31.4% strikeout rate and 6.4% walk rate are also elite marks that fully support his remarkable season. Boston has been solid against righties in the second half of the season, but they will be without Mickey Gasper, who has posted a ridiculous 195 wRC+ since the All-Star break. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Payton Tolle (BOS)

Analysis: Tolle has had an excellent rookie season for the Red Sox, posting a 3.03 ERA across 148.2 innings. His 28.4% strikeout rate and 6.6% walk rate also border on elite. The matchup against the Yankees is not perfect, as they posted a 104 wRC+ against lefties this season, but they also struck out at the seventh-highest rate against southpaws. Tolle gets a boost if Aaron Judge is unable to suit up in Game 1. 

Michael King (SD)

Analysis: King was a steady presence at the front of San Diego's rotation all season, posting a 3.21 ERA across 185 innings. However, his peripheral stats left something to be desired, as his strikeout rate fell to just 21% and his walk rate rose to 9.2%. He did improve his groundball rate to 44.6%, which helped him limit home runs. He draws a brutal matchup against a Cubs team that tied for the MLB lead with a 112 wRC+ against righties. 

Matthew Boyd (CHC)

Analysis: Boyd dealt with an up-and-down season that included a knee injury suffered away from the mound. He did close the season strong, with a 3.64 ERA over the final month, but he also experienced a significant drop in strikeouts this year. The Padres posted just a 98 wRC+ against lefties this season, but they were also one of the best offenses in baseball over the second half. 

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:

Cam Schlittler: 31.4% K% (11.1 K/9)

Chris Sale: 30.9% K% (11.1 K/9)

Payton Tolle: 28.4% K% (10.4 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

Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)

Analysis: Alvarez flirted with a triple crown this year and should be in line for the AL MVP Award. He's also been incredible in lefty-lefty matchups in his career, which sets him up well against opener Hagen Smith. After Smith, the matchup gets even better, as Erick Fedde is projected to handle the bulk innings behind him. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF, CHC) 

Analysis: PCA draws a tougher matchup against King and an elite San Diego bullpen, but no hitter has more upside on the slate. He tied for the MLB lead with 45 home runs, added 41 stolen bases, and will almost certainly capture the NL MVP Award. His multiple paths to fantasy production make him a worthy spend-up. 

Fernando Tatis (2B/OF, SD)  

Analysis: Tatis dealt with a power outage in the first half of the season, but he righted the ship and finished with a wRC+ above 130 for the third straight year. He was outstanding against lefties, posting a .273 ISO and .421 wOBA, which makes him a strong candidate to do damage against Cubs starter Boyd. Tatis' eligibility at a weak 2B position makes him even more valuable. 

Munetaka Murakami (1B, CWS)

Analysis: Murakami fell off a bit after an incredible first half in which he posted a 151 wRC+. Despite the dropoff, he still posted a 110 wRC+ in the second half with 15 homers, and he draws perhaps the best matchup on the slate. Blubaugh will start as the opener, and he has allowed a 10.7% barrel rate to lefties this season. Imai is projected to follow in bulk relief, and he has allowed a 11.2% barrel rate to lefties. 

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Sam Antonacci (2B/OF, CWS), Kyle Teel (C, CWS), & Tristan Peters (OF, CWS)  

Analysis: Antonacci and Teel should hit at the top of the lineup for the White Sox. Antonacci posted a .359 wOBA against righties this year and stole 20 bases. Teel missed a huge chunk of the season, but he posted a .198 ISO against righties when he was in the lineup. Peters will hit further down the lineup, but he was a pleasant surprise for the White Sox and represented them in the All-Star game. They all hit from the left side of the plate, which sets them up for a great matchup. 

Ty France (1B, SD) & Austin Hays (OF, SD)  

Analysis: A pair of value plays expected to hit in the top half of the San Diego lineup who also hit lefties well this season. France turned in a strong .195 ISO against southpaws, while Hays caught fire after arriving in San Diego. Hays finished with a .405 wOBA against lefties for the season. 

Paul Goldschmidt (1B, NYY) & Heliot Ramos (OF, NYY) 

Analysis: Goldschmidt should leadoff as he has done for most of the season against lefties, and he's still insanely productive in that split. He turned in a .274 ISO and .411 wOBA against southpaws this season. Ramos has one of the cheapest price tags on the slate and should draw a prime lineup spot if Judge remains out. He posted a .228 ISO and .387 wOBA against lefties this season. 

Edmundo Sosa (3B/OF, PHI) 

Analysis: Sale is the top pitcher of the day, but I don't mind using a punt option against him in the same lineup to make the salary work on a short slate. Sosa has crushed lefties his entire career, including a .202 ISO and .360 wOBA this season. 

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Houston Astros vs Hagen Smith/Erick Fedde (CWS LHP/RHP)

Targets: Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pena, Isaac Paredes, Jose Altuve, Christian Walker 

Primary Stack: Chicago White Sox vs AJ Blubaugh/Tatsuya Imai (HOU RHP)

Targets: Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, Sam Antonacci, Kyle Teel, Tristan Peters 

Primary Stack: San Diego Padres vs Matthew Boyd (CHC LHP)

Targets: Fernando Tatis, Manny Machado, Ty France, Jackson Merrill, Austin Hays 

“Contrarian” Stack: Atlanta Braves vs Jesus Luzardo/Andrew Painter (PHI LHP/RHP)

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

“Contrarian” Stack: Chicago Cubs vs Michael King (SD RHP)

Targets: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, Ian Happ 

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. Chris Sale (SP1)
  2. Payton Tolle (SP2)
  3. Yordan Alvarez (Core Bat)
  4. Fernando Tatis (Core Bat)
  5. Munetaka Murakami (Core Bat) 
  6. Kyle Teel (Core Value Bat)
  7. Austin Hays (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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