Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Tuesday, June 16th. 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 12-game main slate has multiple different directions to go considering we have the Pirates in Sutter Health Field. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 5-Game Early  |  Lock Time: 12:40 PM ET, Wednesday June 17th, 2026

Vegas Totals: WAS/KC (highest-projected game), NYM/CIN (second-highest game), MIA/PHI (third-highest game)

Highest K-Projections: Nolan McLean 6.5 O/U (+114), Nick Lodolo 5.5 O/U (+113), Peter Lambert 5.5 O/U (+114)

MLB Weather Today, 6/17

Marlins vs Phillies - Warm & winds are blowing out at nearly 10 MPH. There's a chance of a delay because there's rain in the forecast.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Peter Lambert (HOU)

Analysis: This is a really good spot against a lefty-heavy Tigers lineup. He dominates lefties and has some trouble with righties. The Tigers are 20th in OPS, 19th in wRC+ and have a 23.3% K-rate vs. RHP this year. Lambert is a solid option today.

Nolan McLean (CIN)

Analysis: McLean is significantly higher owned than any other pitcher on the slate and I understand it, but that doesn't mean it doesn't come with risk. McLean has the best props and the best stats of any pitching option on the early slate. The Reds strike out a LOT and are a subpar offense, he just needs to avoid the lefties.

Sandy Alcantara (MIA)

Analysis: Alcantara is not a typical fantasy roster because he misses virtually no bats, but his super power is that he pitches deep into games. The Phillies offense is 24th or worse in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season along with a 23.3% K-rate, which is third in baseball. Alcantara could have a big-time outing here at a very fair price.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Kyle Leahy (STL)

Analysis: This is 100% matchup based. The Padres offense looks absolutely lost at the plate right now. They're now 30th in OPS and wOBA while being tied for last in wRC+. They also strike out 23.1% of the time vs. RHP. Leahy has not been great as a starter but he has an elite spot and on a slate without anything comfortable at pitcher, you can take some shots here.

Nick Lodolo (CIN)

Analysis: The Mets offense is slightly better against lefties this year but they're still 23rd in wRC+ and strike out 22.8% of the time. Lodolo is a much better pitcher than he's shown to start the season. Obviously the ballpark is really scary to pitch in.

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:

Nolan McLean: 27.8% K% (10.4 K/9)

Casey Mize: 26.5% K% (9.3 K/9)

Griffin Canning: 23.9% K% (9.3 K/9)

Peter Lambert: 22.3% K% (8.4 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 carry 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

CJ Abrams & James Wood (SS/OF, WAS)

Analysis: Lefties have absolutely killed Luinder Avila this season slashing .314/.395/.543 with a .405 wOBA. Both Wood and Abrams have decimated right-handed pitching this year. Wood has a .303 ISO, .375 xISO, .438 wOBA, and .454 xwOBA while Abrams sits at .253 ISO and .401 wOBA.

Alec Burleson & Jordan Walker (1B/OF, STL)

Analysis: Nobody allows more hard contact than Griffin Canning this year. Nobody. 1st percentile. You take that, the numbers he's allowed and then use Burleson and Walker. Burleson has a .278 ISO, .297 xISO, .433 wOBA, and .415 xwOBA while Walker has a .237 ISO, .209 xISO, .383 wOBA, and .353 xwOBA.

Bobby Witt (SS, KC)

Analysis: Witt is getting more ownership than anyone and it makes sense because SS is a bad position outside of the top options. He's in a fantastic spot against a bad pitcher. He has a .156 ISO but a .196 xISO and a .346 wOBA but a .376 xwOBA.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL)

Analysis: We want all the lefties we can get here. Canning has been horrible against lefties this year allowing a .322 ISO, .266 xISO, .423 wOBA, and .383 xwOBA. Nootbaar has gotten off to a really good start this year with a .172 ISO, .250 xISO, .360 wOBA, and .408 xwOBA.

Jac Caglianone (OF, KC)

Analysis: Facing Zack Littell today and that's a great thing because he struggles most against lefties allowing a .322 ISO, .320 xISO, .396 wOBA, and .428 xwOBA. Caglianone has a .165 ISO and .349 wOBA but his expected numbers are ELITE posting a .214 xISO and .372 xwOBA.

Carter Jensen (C, KC)

Analysis: The Royals are going to hit Jensen right at the top of the lineup and he mashes right-handed pitching. He has a .196 ISO and has belted eight bombs against RHP. He faces Zack Littell today and he struggles most against lefties allowing a .322 ISO, .320 xISO, .396 wOBA, and .428 xwOBA.

Kyle Stowers (1B/OF, MIA)

Analysis: Andrew Painter has been quite bad this year to both splits and Stowers is really cheap and has massive home run upside to boot. Stowers, despite struggling this year, he has a .171 ISO and .191 xISO and has belted all his bombs against right-handed pitching.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Washington Nationals vs Luinder Avila (KC RHP)

Why: The matchup is so elite and the Nationals are not getting much ownership as they should. Luinder Avila has struggled with both splits, but especially lefties and that's where the Nationals best players hit. They have a .229 ISO and .405 wOBA against him this year. Righties also have a .380 wOBA against him this year.

Targets: James Wood, CJ Abrams, Luis Garcia, Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews, Keibert Ruiz, Nasim Nunez

Primary Stack: St. Louis Cardinals vs Griffin Canning (SD RHP)

Why: The Padres are using Bradgley Rodriguez as an opener and Griffin Canning to follow. Lefties are the thing that Griffin Canning has mainly struggled with but that doesn't mean I wouldn't play righties too. Lefties have hit EIGHT homers and have a .299/.382/.621 slash across 23 innings.

Targets: Alec Burleson, JJ Wetherholt, Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, Blaze Jordan, Nathan Church

Primary Stack: Kansas City Royals vs Zack Littell (WAS RHP)

Why: I mean, I don't need to spend much time on how bad Zack Littell has been this year. Lefties have been especially good against him posting a .322 ISO, .320 xISO, .396 wOBA, and .428 xwOBA. Righties have some pretty good peripheral numbers too.

Targets: Jac Caglianone, Carter Jensen, Bobby Witt, Michael Massey, Kameron Misner

"Contrarian" Stack: New York Mets vs Nick Lodolo (CIN LHP)

Why: Look, we like Nick Lodolo but the Mets are interesting in this small ballpark. They're really cheap and their lineup looks really solid. Both righties and lefties have killed Lodolo this year. Lefties have a .458 wOBA and righties have a .262 ISO and a .354 wOBA against him.

Targets: Bo Bichette, Juan Soto, Marcus Semien, Mark Vientos, Francisco Alvarez

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
McLean (SP, chalk)Alcantara (SP, matchup)A struggling pitcher is chalk in a small ballpark. Alcantara is in the midst of his best stretch of the year.
Padres (Chalk)Nationals (contrarian stack)The Nationals ownership is criminal considering they have 5.3 implied runs today, tied for the slate high.
Tatis Jr. + Sheets (chalk)Abrams + Crews (lower owned)The Padres are the worst offense in the league vs. RHP and the Nationals are in an ELITE spot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Nolan McLean (SP1)
  2. Sandy Alcantara (SP2)
  3. CJ Abrams (Core Bat)
  4. Jordan Walker (Core Bat)
  5. Alec Burleson (Core Bat)
  6. Jac Caglianone (Core Value Bat)
  7. Dylan Crews (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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