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

Today's slates have multiple directions to go, with elite pitchers Cam Schlittler, Chris Sale, and Joe Ryan all taking the mound. Additionally, Sutter Health Park and Great American Ball Park offer plus hitting environments. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 8-Game DK Main, 7-Game FD Main | Lock Time: 7:10 pm ET, Wednesday, July 29th, 2026

Vegas Totals: BOS/ATH (highest-projected game), HOU/LAA - SEA/LAD (second-highest game total), CLE/CIN - KC/MIN (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Chris Sale 7.5 O/U (+102), Cam Schlittler 7.5 O/U (+115), Joe Ryan 5.5 O/U (-180), Joey Cantillo 5.5 O/U (-160), Christian Scott 5.5 O/U (+106)

MLB Weather Today, 7/29

No weather issues on today's main slates. 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Cam Schlittler (NYY)

Analysis: Schlittler boasts the highest strikeout rate on the slate and draws a strong matchup against the White Sox. Chicago is slightly above average against right-handed pitching, but they also strike out at the 7th-highest rate in the league, which adds to Schlittler's immense upside. 

Chris Sale (ATL) (DK only)

Analysis: The Mets have already been one of the more disappointing teams in baseball this season, and now they are down their best hitter for a significant amount of time. Sale has had another dominant season for Atlanta, and he's coming off a double-digit strikeout performance in his last start. 

Joe Ryan (MIN)

Analysis: Ryan was shelled for eight runs, including six home runs, in just four innings his last time out. Sometimes pitchers don't have it, and Ryan clearly didn't last start. He will look to get back on track against a below-average Royals offense. The rough outing last time likely leads to him being the lowest owned of the elite trio of arms. 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Joey Cantillo (CLE)

Analysis: Cantillo has been knocked around a bit in his last two starts, but he has missed a ton of bats since he introduced a cutter and started using his curveball more often. Over his last nine starts since the pitch mix change, Cantillo has posted a 28.7% strikeout rate and an elite 15.7% swinging-strike rate. He has incredible upside against a Reds offense that has struck out at a 24.3% rate against left-handed pitching this season.  

Matthew Boyd (CHC)

Analysis: Boyd has been incredible since returning from a lengthy injury absence last month. Over his last six starts, he has gone 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA, allowing more than one run in just two of those starts. The strikeouts have lagged behind, which does present upside concerns against a high-contact St. Louis offense, but it is hard to argue with the surface-level results.  

Christian Scott (NYM) (DK only) 

Analysis: Scott has put together a very strong campaign after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has posted a 3.13 ERA in 14 starts, with strong peripheral stats including a 28.8% strikeout rate. He draws a tough matchup against Atlanta, but he could potentially face a watered-down version of the lineup given it is the second game of a doubleheader. 

Brady Singer (CIN)

Analysis: Singer was having a pretty awful season until something clicked last month. He has now rattled off four straight quality starts, and his strikeouts have been on the rise. Over his last nine starts, his strikeout rate sits at a healthy 24.1%. Singer draws a plus matchup against a Guardians offense that has struggled to a 95 wRC+ against righties this season.  

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 8-game slate.

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

Cam Schlittler: 30.5% K% (10.8 K/9)

Chris Sale: 29.7% K% (10.9 K/9)

Joe Ryan: 27.8% K% (10.3 K/9) 

Christian Scott: 28.8% 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

Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)

Analysis: Alvarez is flirting with a triple-crown this season, and he owns a ridiculous 194 wRC+. There isn't really an argument for who the best hitter on the planet is right now (it's Alvarez). He gets a dream matchup against a righty with a massive lefty problem. Rodriguez has managed to strike out just 11.2% of lefties while surrendering a .267 ISO. 

Willson Contreras (1B, BOS) & Ceddanne Rafaela (OF, BOS)

Analysis: Boston is in the best hitting environment of the day at Sutter Health Park. They draw a matchup with a lefty who owns a 6.12 ERA and a 16.2% strikeout rate against right-handed batters. Contreras has crushed lefty pitching for a .307 ISO/.423 wOBA while Rafaela is at .250 ISO/.375 wOBA. 

Kody Clemens (2B/OF, MIN) & Brooks Lee (3B, MIN)

Analysis: Dobnak has put together some quality outings this season, but there has been a lot of luck involved. He owns a .254 BABIP, and he has stranded 99% of baserunners. Buxton left last night's game with a hip injury, so we'll need to monitor his status, but there are plenty of other options if he isn't in there. Lee has posted a .207 ISO against righties this year, and Clemens is all the way up at a .249 ISO. 

Julio Rodriguez (OF, SEA) & Cal Raleigh (C, SEA)

Analysis: The Mariners have struggled against lefty pitchers this season, posting just a 92 wRC+. Rodriguez has not been a root cause of the problem, as he owns a .245 ISO and .362 wOBA against southpaws. Raleigh, on the other hand, has struggled against them, but he did destroy lefties for a .400 ISO just last season. I'm willing to trust him against Lauer, who has allowed a .230 ISO to righties this season.  

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Jahmai Jones (OF, BOS), Caleb Durbin (3B, BOS) & Romy Gonzalez (1B/2B, BOS)

Analysis: Boston is the top stack of the day because they are incredibly affordable in an elite matchup at Sutter Health. Jones could leadoff again and is still near minimum salary. Gonzalez is also cheap, should hit near the top of the order, and he owns a 133 wRC+ against lefties in his career. Dubrin hasn't stopped hitting since overhauling his swing last month. 

Jonah Heim (1B/C, ATH)

Analysis: Heim has been excellent against lefties this season, with a .302 ISO and .369 wOBA. Sandoval is a reverse-splits lefty, but the cheap price tag and likely premium lineup spot outweigh that small downfall. 

Chase DeLauter (OF, CLE) & Brayan Rocchio (SS, CLE)

Analysis: Singer has been better lately, but he has had a lefty problem for years now. The Guardians will enjoy a ballpark upgrade for offense today, and they have some solid value options in the middle of the order. DeLauter has been awesome, with a 149 wRC+ in July. Rocchio owns an above-average 113 wRC+ against righties this season and has eligibility at a weak SS position.  

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Boston Red Sox vs Jacob Lopez (ATH LHP)

Targets: Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jahmai Jones, Romy Gonzalez, Wilyer Abreu, Caleb Durbin 

Primary Stack: Minnesota Twins vs Randy Dobnak (KC RHP)

Targets: Kody Clemens, Trevor Larnach, Brooks Lee, Josh Bell, Royce Lewis

Primary Stack: Cleveland Guardians vs Brady Singer (CIN RHP)

Targets: Jose Ramirez, Travis Bazzana, Kyle Manzardo, Chase DeLauter, Brayan Rocchio, Steven Kwan 

“Contrarian” Stack: Seattle Mariners vs Eric Lauer (LAD LHP)

Targets: Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, Josh Naylor, Rob Refsnyder 

"Contrarian" Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Emerson Hancock (SEA RHP)

Targets: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Kyle Tucker, Dalton Rushing

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Cantillo (SP, chalk)Singer (SP, lower owned)Cantillo has missed a ton of bats lately, but Singer has been much improved himself. He should come in at a fraction of the ownership of Cantillo.
Guardians (Chalk)Dodgers (pivot stack)The Guardians face Singer, who has turned his season around. The Dodgers face Hancock, who has some concerning numbers under the hood against lefties, including a .208 xISO. 
Pena + Altuve (chalk)Clemens + Lewis (lower owned)Alvarez is maybe my favorite hitter on the entire slate, but some of his teammates may be over-owned. The Twins look better than HOU as an alt stack, and they project for slightly less ownership. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Cam Schlittler (SP1)
  2. Joey Cantillo (SP2)
  3. Yordan Alvarez (Core Bat)
  4. Willson Contreras (Core Bat)
  5. Ceddanne Rafaela (Core Bat) 
  6. Jahmai Jones (Core Value Bat)
  7. Romy Gonzalez (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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