Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Wednesday, July 5th. 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 elite pitchers in Paul Skenes, Sonny Gray, Reid Detmers, and Bryan Woo 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: 7-Games on DK, 11-Games on FD | Lock Time: 7:05 pm ET on DK, 6:35 pm ET on FD, Wednesday, July 5th, 2026

Vegas Totals: ATH/CIN & WAS/PHI (tied for highest-projected game), SD/ARI (second-highest game total), STL/NYY, MIA/ATL, MIN/KC & CWS/BOS (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Reid Detmers 7.5 O/U (+111), Paul Skenes 6.5 O/U (-143), Kyle Harrison 6.5 O/U (+127), Bryan Woo 6.5 O/U (+109)

MLB Weather Today, 8/5

Angels vs Phillies - There's enough rain in the forecast to cause a delay, but all nine innings should be played with little to no delay.

Marlins vs Braves - Rain could be heavy enough to cause a delayed start, but the game will play in full either way.

Twins vs Royals - There could be some heavy storms late in this one or the game could play in full. Check back later because we want nine full innings of baseball.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Paul Skenes (PIT)

Analysis: On the surface, Paul Skenes is struggling, but a lot of the numbers under the hood still look really good. He has a 3.9 ERA but 2.94 xERA, 3.12 xFIP, 3.03 SIERA, and a 30.5% K-rate. All of these numbers are eerily similar to his career numbers. Skenes is the best pitcher on the slate.

Sean Burke (CWS)

Analysis: This is obviously scary because the Red Sox are an absolute wagon that seemingly cannot be stopped. That being said, Burke has been dominant and is missing a ton of bats. He has 10+ Ks in two straight, three times in five games, and eight or more in five of six. Boston still ranks 27th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching this year.

Reid Detmers (LAA) (FanDuel)

Analysis: Nobody on the slate has a higher strikeout over/under than Reid Detmers. Nobody. That's because Detmers misses a lot of bats and the Orioles strike out a lot against lefties. The Orioles strike out 25.6% of the time against lefties, which is the second-highest mark in the league, and they have a 99 wRC+ to boot. I think Detmers pitch count won't be watched as much now that the trade deadline happened.

Bryan Woo (SEA)

Analysis: Bryan Woo has been quite good in Seattle this year, which is one of the best pitching environments around the league. He has a 2.20 ERA and 6.71 ERA on the road and has averaged 25.1 DKP/game at home compared to 9.2 DKP/game on the road. Woo is drawing a ton of ownership despite the spot being a little on the tougher side.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Eury Perez (SEA)

Analysis: Since returning from the injured list on June 24th, Perez has a 1.71 ERA and has held his opponents to a .169 BAA (7 starts) along with a 25.3% K-rate. The Braves have been a plus offense this year against righties, but Perez's ceiling at this price is where the appeal really lies.

Trevor Rogers (BAL) (FanDuel)

Analysis: The only team that strikes out more than the Orioles against left-handed pitching is the team Rogers and the O's are facing; the Angels. Rogers has pitched extremely well after a rocky start to the season and it's a great spot. The Angels have a .712 OPS and 98 wRC+ against lefties this year.

Noah Cameron (KC)

Analysis: The Minnesota Twins hit right-handed pitchers well but they do not hit lefties. The Twins are 27th in OPS, 21st in wRC+, and 25th in wOBA. Cameron has pitched way better of late posting 19+ DKP in four of five starts and has actually missed many more bats (7+ Ks in those four). Cameron has generated 12% SwStr or higher in those four starts and in the game he had one K, he still was at 9%. He's getting more whiffs and you love that.

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:

Paul Skenes: 30.5% K% (11.3 K/9)

Kyle Harrison: 29.6% K% (10.9 K/9)

Reid Detmers: 28.3% K% (10.4 K/9) (FanDuel)

Sean Burke: 27.7% K% (10.1 K/9)

Eury Perez: 26.5% K% (9.6K/9) (FanDuel)

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.

• Bryan Woo +138
• Trevor Rogers +170
• Christian Scott +174
• Rhett Lowder +178
• Sonny Gray +180

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Stacks & Hitters

MLB DFS Top Hitters

Kyle Schwarber (OF, PHI) & Bryce Harper (1B, PHI) (FanDuel)

Analysis: Jake Irvin has been a very subpar pitcher at the major league level year in, year out, and the under-the-hood numbers against lefties are BAD. Schwarber has a .287 ISO and Harper has a .327 ISO vs. RHP this season.

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

Analysis: Everything Dean Kremer has thrown this year is hit super hard and in the air and that's why he's allowing 3 HR/9 this year. Lefties have a robust .341 ISO and righties have a .293 ISO against him this year. Both Cags and Witt have incredibly high ceilings.

Sal Stewart (3B, CIN) (FanDuel)

Analysis: It's not ideal for flyball pitchers to head into Great American Ballpark and we need to take advantage of that fact. Stewart has mashed against left-handed hurlers this year posting a .232 ISO, .260 xISO, .393 wOBA, and .380 xwOBA.

Fernando Tatis (OF, SD) & Manny Machado (3B, SD)

Analysis: Mitch Bratt is walking more batters than he's striking out and all the underlying metrics look quite bad. His FB-rate is nearly 50% and that's awfully horrifying if you plan on keeping the ball in the yard. Both Machado and Tatis have ISOs north of .200 against LHP this year.

Tyler Soderstrom (1B/OF, ATH) (FanDuel)

Analysis: Lefties have been Rhett Lowder's bugaboo all year long and the A's best lefty (healthy) is Tyler Soderstrom. Soderstrom has a .225 ISO and .363 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Royce Lewis (1B/2B, MIN)

Analysis: There are good things going on here for Royce Lewis. He's scorching hot at the dish and rakes against left-handed pitching. Lewis has a .233 ISO, .261 xISO, .340 wOBA, and .389 xwOBA against southpaws.

Salvador Perez (C/1B, KC)

Analysis: Since the All-Star break, Salvador Perez has a .571 SLG%, .905 OPS, .317 ISO, and .378 wOBA and has really turned his season around. The ballpark is elite to hit in and the matchup is a dream for players looking to drive the ball out of the park.

George Lombard (SS, NYY)

Analysis: MLB debuts don't get much better than homering in your second career at-bat, but that's what George Lombard did. Lombard has a lot of skill and is still free across the industry.

Dane Myers (OF, CIN) (FanDuel)

Analysis: The Reds are running Dane Myers out in the three-hole tonight and Myers has good numbers against left-handed pitching. Myers has a .164 ISO, .206 xISO, .343 wOBA, and .348 xwOBA against southpaws this year.

Brandon Marsh (OF, PHI) (FanDuel)

Analysis: The Phillies look really good and Marsh, because of his struggles, has seen his price really dip, but this is a great spot. Marsh has a .182 ISO, .175 xISO, .350 wOBA, and .337 xwOBA against right-handed pitchers. Marsh is a good play.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Philadelphia Phillies vs Jake Irvin (WAS RHP) (FanDuel)

Why: The matchup against Jake Irvin is elite and to follow Irvin is one of the worst bullpen's in the league. It's an all around elite spot for both splits as lefties have a .161 ISO, .258 xISO, .312 wOBA, and .377 xwOBA while righties are at .188 ISO, .172 xISO, .348 wOBA, and .325 xwOBA.

Targets: Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, Luis Arraez, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner

Primary Stack: Cincinnati Reds vs Jacob Lopez (CIN LHP) (FanDuel)

Why: The right-handers in the Reds lineup really stand out here as it's really their good split. They face a flyballer in Jacob Lopez in a small ballpark. Lopez has allowed a .209 ISO and .386 wOBA to RHH this year.

Targets: Sal Stewart, Elly De La Cruz, Dane Myers, Noelvi Marte, Eugenio Suarez

Primary Stack: San Diego Padres vs Mitch Bratt (ARI LHP)

Why: Mitch Bratt has been unable to miss bats at the major league level and the Padres offense is really heating up. Both splits have hit him hard and the Padres have one of the best team totals of the day.

Targets: Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis, Ty France, Luis Rengifo, Luis Campusano, Jackson Merrill

“Contrarian” Stack: Kansas City Royals vs Dean Kremer (MIN RHP)

Why: It's surprising to see the little ownership on the Royals considering the matchup and ballpark they have here. Dean Kremer has allowed 3 HR/9 this year and a massive flyball rate to boot. Kaufmann Stadium ranks within the top-five per baseball savant in park factor.

Targets: Jac Caglianone, Bobby Witt, Salvador Perez, Carter Jensen, Michael Massey

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. Paul Skenes (SP1)
2. Noah Cameron (SP2)
3. Bobby Witt (Core Bat)
4. Sal Stewart (Core Bat) (FanDuel)
5. Manny Machado (Core Bat) 
6. Salvador Perez (Core Value Bat)
7. Dane Myers (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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