Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Wednesday, July 12th. 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 different directions with some quality pitchers in Ranger Suarez, Framber Valdez, and Jose Soriano all taking the mound. This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 6-Games on DK, 9-Games on FD | Lock Time: 7:05 pm ET on DK & 6:40 pm ET on FD, Wednesday, August 12th, 2026

Vegas Totals: CHC/WAS (highest-projected game), CIN/CWS & KC/LAD (tied for second-highest game total), SEA/NYY, NYM/ATL & TEX/LAA (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Luis Castillo 5.5 O/U (-117), Bryce Miller 5.5 O/U (-106), Jose Soriano 5.5 O/U (+117), Tyler Mahle 5.5 O/U (+129) 

MLB Weather Today, 8/12

Guardians vs Tigers - There's a chance we see a delay in this game. Nothing overly concerning.

Cubs vs Nationals - A small chance that a storm heads over the stadium and causes a slight pause in play.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Ranger Suarez (BOS)

Analysis: The Blue Jays are the worst offense in the league against left-handed pitching and Ranger Suarez has a big-time ceiling. Suarez hasn't looked good since his return from the IL, but this is a get right spot for sure.

Framber Valdez (DET) (FanDuel)

Analysis: It's been an incredibly inconsistent season for Framber Valdez but things are turning in the right direction as of late. He hasn't allowed more than 2 ER in any of his last three starts and has 43+ FDP in two straight. Five times over his last nine starts he's put up 40+ FDP.

Bryce Miller (SEA)

Analysis: Since June 1st, the first game without Aaron Judge, The Yankees have a 90 wRC+ against right-handed pitching and are striking out 26% of the time, the second-highest mark in the league. Miller has a very high ceiling and has had some elite performances this season.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Will Warren (NYY)

Analysis: Since June 1st, the Seattle Mariners offense is tied for the league's lowest wRC+ at 85 as a team against right-handed pitching. Warren needs to avoid the lefties and that's been his issue throughout his young career. Warren's been great at home this year.

Tyler Mahle (ATL)

Analysis: Mahle's Braves debut went as good as it could've gone allowing just 3 ER in six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. He's pitched better of late in general putting up 16+ DKP in three straight and four of five. Mahle's 4.83 ERA is matched with 4.02 xERA, 4.02 xFIP, and 4.14 SIERA.

Luis Castillo (CWS)

Analysis: This is a good spot for Luis Castillo to get back on track. He's drawing a fantastic matchup against the Reds who have been the worst offense in baseball against right-handed pitching from pillar to post. They have the highest K-rate and lowest wRC+ against righties this year.

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:

Bryce Miller: 25.8% K% (9.00 K/9)

Ranger Suarez: 25.5% K% (9.4 K/9)

Jose Soriano: 24.5% K% (9.2 K/9)

Will Warren: 23.0% K% (9.00 K/9)

Tyler Mahle: 23.0% K% (8.8 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.

• Eric Lauer +107
• David Peterson +127
• Tyler Mahle +164
• Framber Valdez +168

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Shohei Ohtani (1B/OF, LAD) & Freddie Freeman (1B, LAD)

Analysis: The Royals are rolling Daniel Lynch out there as their starter and Mason Black as their expected long man. That's a good thing for the Dodgers today and both Ohtani and Freeman dominate both splits, especially righties.

Bobby Witt (SS, KC) & Jac Caglianone (1B/OF, KC)

Analysis: Both splits against Eric Lauer hit for power as both splits have .210+ ISOs and lefties are up at .280. Both Witt and Cags are hitting left-handers at a plus level as Witt has a .251 xISO and .421 xwOBA and Caglianone has a .198 ISO.

Munetaka Murakami (1B, BAL) & Colson Montgomery (3B/SS, CWS)

Analysis: Lefties have given Rhett Lowder issues this year. They have a .209 ISO, .250 xISO, .365 wOBA, and .383 xwOBA against lefty bats. Murakami has a .350 ISO and .415 wOBA vs. RHP and Montgomery has a .220 ISO and has 18 HR vs. RHP.

Corey Seager (SS, TEX)

Analysis: Despite bad numbers on the surface, Corey Seager has plus numbers against righties and the underlying numbers are great too. He has a .205 ISO, .241 xISO, .308 wOBA, and .350 xwOBA against righty hurlers.

Pete Crow-Armstrong & Seiya Suzuki (OF, CHC) (FanDuel)

Analysis: The Cubs are facing off against a rookie left-hander making his major league debut and they some elite hitters against lefties. PCA has a .939 OPS, .210 ISO, and .411 wOBA and Suzuki has a 1.007 OPS, .270 ISO, and .421 wOBA against southpaws.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Brandon Nimmo (OF, TEX) & Joc Pederson (1B/OF, TEX)

Analysis: Brandon Nimmo has really good underlying metrics against right-handed hurlers and hits in the middle of Texas' order. He has a .226 xISO and .378 xwOBA this year against righties. Pederson just keeps homering against righties as he's posted a .247 ISO and has 20 HR.

Teoscar Hernandez (OF, LAD) & Mookie Betts (SS, LAD)

Analysis: The dodgers are arguably the best stack of the day and Teoscar Hernandez is a really cheap piece to the puzzle. He gets a lefty to start and a right-hander that hasn't gotten many people out this year. Betts had a big game on Tuesday and is showing signs of life at the plate.

Griffin Conine (1B/OF, MIA) (FanDuel)

Analysis: The power is off the charts for Conine against righties as he's posted a .339 ISO and .412 wOBA against them. Carmen Mlodzinski has a .157 ISO allowed but .180 xISO, .339 wOBA, and .363 xwOBA against lefties this season.

Alex Bregman (3B, CHC) (FanDuel)

Analysis: Bregman has been a completely different player since the All-Star break posting a .292 AVG, .500 SLG%, .858 OPS, and .308 ISO. Bregman has been a good player against left-handed pitching to begin with, but he's been especially good against both splits lately.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Chicago Cubs vs Jackson Kent (WAS LHP) (FanDuel)

Targets: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Alex Bregman, Carson Kelly, Dansby Swanson, Michael Busch

Primary Stack: Texas Rangers vs George Klassen (LAA RHP)

Targets: Corey Seager, Joc Pederson, Brandon Nimmo, Wyatt Langford, Jake Burger

Primary Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Daniel Lynch (KC LHP)

Targets: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Max Muncy, Andy Pages

“Contrarian” Stack: Chicago White Sox vs Rhett Lowder (CIN RHP)

Targets: Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery, Sam Antonacci, Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi

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. Framber Valdez (SP1)
2. Luis Castillo (SP2)
3. Shohei Ohtani(Core Bat)
4. Munetaka Murakami (Core Bat)
5. Corey Seager (Core Bat) 
6. Alex Bregman (Core Value Bat)
7. Brandon Nimmo (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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