Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Wednesday, July 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. 

Today's main slate has multiple different directions with no elite ballpark in play, just a bunch of major leaguers playing ball. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 9-Games on DK & 7-games on FD | Lock Time: 6:40 pm ET, Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026

Vegas Totals: LAD/PHI (highest-projected game), BAL/BOS (second-highest game total), SD/ATL & CWS/TEX (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Peter Lambert 5.5 O/U (+119), Aaron Nola 5.5 O/U (+123), Griffin Jax 4.5 O/U (-120), Michael King 4.5 O/U (-101)

MLB Weather Today, 7/22

Tigers vs Cubs - Winds are blowing in at 10 MPH. Bump to pitching.

Padres vs Braves - There could be a brief delay here, but it's nothing overly concerning.

Orioles vs Red Sox - This game could be delayed at the start, but should be played in full afterwards.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Peter Lambert (HOU)

Analysis: Lambert's primary issue is righties this year and the Marlins are primarily going to throw lefties at him. He's put up 26+ DKP in three straight games and the strikeouts have gone way up. he's had 10% SwStr or higher in four of his last five games.

Kyle Bradish (BAL)

Analysis: Despite the fact that the Red Sox have won 14 straight, they're still bad against RHP overall. They rank 28th in OPS and wRC+ against them. Bradish and his shiny new contract has pitched to a 3.13 ERA over his last 10 games and has averaged 17.4 DKP/game over that span.

Sandy Alcantara (MIA)

Analysis: Avoid Yordan Alvarez and win a prize. Sandy Alcantara has struggled mightily against lefties and the Astros really don't have much to offer from that side outside of Alvarez. Alcantara has been dominant for some time now and he's back to getting deep into basically every start.

Griffin Jax (TB)

Analysis: Jax is coming off a poor start, but that ultimately doesn't matter, this is a new matchup. The Blue Jays just have not been a good team for most of the year. The Blue Jays, against right-handed pitching, rank 25th in wRC+ and OPS this season. Jax can miss a bunch of bats, which is where the appeal is.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Bailey Ober (MIN)

Analysis: There hasn't been much change in the pitch mix for Bailey Ober, but he's pitched well since returning from the injured list. Cleveland ranks 22nd in OPS and wOBA and 19th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching this year. They're striking out nearly 22.1% of the time to boot.

Colin Rea (CHC)

Analysis: The Tigers have been a subpar-offense against right-handed pitching posting a 99 wRC+, which ranks 18th in baseball. Detroit also has the 7th-highest K-rate (23.4%) against righties. It's good pitching weather with winds blowing in, keeping the ball in the ballpark against a flyball pitcher.

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:

Ranger Suarez: 25.8% K% (9.6 K/9)

Griffin Jax: 24.7% K% (9.2 K/9)

Peter Lambert: 24% K% (8.9 K/9)

Aaron Nola: 23.9% K% (9.4 K/9)

Kyle Bradish: 23.3% K% (8.9 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

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

Analysis: Aaron Nola has had a power problem this year allowing a .224 ISO to lefties and we have two elite power-hitting lefties here in Ohtani and Muncy. Ohtani has a .233 ISO and .272 xISO while Muncy's at .228 ISO and .244 xISO.

Ben Rice (1B, NYY) & Jazz Chisholm (2B, NYY)

Analysis: The thing that Bubba Chandler has struggled with the most outside of control is lefty power. Lefties have a .204 ISO and .185 xISO against Chandler this year and these two Yankees are powerful. Rice has a .346 ISO and Chisholm Jr. has a .208 ISO against righties this year.

Munetaka Murakami (1B, CWS) & Miguel Vargas (1B/3B, CWS)

Analysis: There is a LOT to like about the White Sox today. The Rangers are using a lefty opener and both Murakami and Vargas smash lefties. Check. They're using Cal Quantrill as the bulk reliever and he doesn't get ANYONE out, but especially against lefties. The White Sox are my favorite alt stack of the day.

Manny Machado (3B, SD) 

Analysis: Machado just keeps homering. It's basically all he's done for like two months. He's hit six in July thus far and against left-handed pitching this year, he's posted a .241 ISO.

Wyatt Langford (OF, TEX) 

Analysis: Wyatt Langford is absolutely raking right now and has hit lefties extremely well to boot. Langford has a .236 ISO and .335 wOBA this year against southpaws and Anthony Kay has been hit hard versus righty bats.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Dalton Rushing (C, LAD)

Analysis: Rushing has a .230 ISO against right-handed pitching and is one of the Dodgers only players under 4K which matters because they're so expensive in an elite spot against Aaron Nola.

Jake Burger (1B, TEX) & Justin Foscue (2B, TEX)

Analysis: The top half of the Rangers lineup just looks great today. Foscue and Burger are both really affordable and have elite numbers against southpaws. Burger has a .247 ISO and .347 wOBA and Foscue is up at .356 ISO and .458 wOBA.

Alec Bohm (3B, PHI)

Analysis: Eric Lauer is not shy about giving up a home run or two and at this point, that's really all Alec Bohm does against lefties. He homers. He has five bombs and a .188 ISO against them. He's a really cheap option that could homer.

Trevor Larnach (OF, MIN) & Royce Lewis (1B, MIN)

Analysis: Although Cecconi has been reverse splits this year, Larnach has been so good offensively and will lead off, correlating perfecetly with Byron Buxton. Lewis is the right split and is a big power guy to boot.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Aaron Nola (PHI RHP)

Why: Both sides of the dish have given Aaron Nola fits this year and the Dodgers are arguably the best offense in the game. Both sides have a .200+ ISO, 2 HR/9 and at least a .358 wOBA against Nola.

Targets: Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, Dalton Rushing, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Andy Pages

Primary Stack: Texas Rangers vs Anthony Kay (CWS LHP)

Why: The Rangers rank third in wRC+ against left-handed pitching today and get a guy in Anthony Kay who struggles against right-handed pitching. Righties have a .186 ISO, .178 xISO, .367 wOBA, and .379 xwOBA against Kay this year. We want the righties for the most part.

Targets: Wyatt Langford, Jake Burger, Justin Foscue, Elias Diaz, Ezequiel Duran, Brandon Nimmo

Primary Stack: New York Yankees vs Bubba Chandler (PIT RHP)

Why: Lefty heavy lineup against a pitcher who struggles against lefties. Small ballpark that is great for power and lefty power specifically. No matter the result of the first game, this is a good spot for the Yankees.

Targets: Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm, Trent Grisham, Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones

“Contrarian” Stack: Chicago White Sox vs Cal Quantrill (TEX RHP)

Why: I like the lefties more here and the White Sox have some really good ones. Cal Quantill has awful, awful numbers against left-handed hitters this year. It could be worse, too, considering the .210 ISO, .268 xISO, .389 wOBA, and .391 xwOBA.

Targets: Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, Sam Antonacci, Braden Montgomery, Tristan Peters

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Fried (SP, chalk)Bradish (SP, lower owned)The chalky pitcher is on a pitch limit and the guy slightly more expensive is half the ownership.
Yankees (Chalk)White Sox (pivot stack)Yankees struggling & popular while White Sox in elite power spot.
Chisholm + Grisham (chalk)Murakami + Vargas (lower owned)I can't get over the upside of the White Sox power hitters in this spot. All under 10%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Sandy Alcantara (SP1)
  2. Kyle Bradish (SP2)
  3. Shohei Ohtani (Core Bat)
  4. Munetaka Murakami (Core Bat)
  5. Wyatt Langford (Core Bat) 
  6. Dalton Rushing (Core Value Bat)
  7. Justin Foscue (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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