Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Thursday, July 9th. 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 7-game main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel have multiple different directions with some really good pitchers in Bryce Miller, Nathan Eovaldi, Jesus Luzardo, and Reid Detmers 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 | Lock Time: 6:40 pm ET, Thursday, July 9th, 2026

Vegas Totals: PHI/CIN (highest-projected game), ATH/DET - AZ/SD (tied for second-highest game total), MIL/STL - COL/SF (tied for third-highest game total)

Highest K-Projections: Jesus Luzardo 7.5 O/U (-114), Nathan Eovaldi 7.5 O/U (+118), Reid Detmers 6.5 O/U (+114), Bryce Miller 5.5 O/U (-139), Framber Valdez 5.5 O/U (+116)

MLB Weather Today, 7/9

Brewers vs Cardinals - This is the riskiest game on the main slate. There is a chance that this game is toast due to large storms in the area. We'll check back before the slate locks to see how bad it's going to be.

Athletics vs Tigers - There is a chance that this game ends up with some sort of delay, but nothing that puts the status of the game at risk.

Phillies vs Reds - Small chance of a delay but nothing that we're overly worried about. Playing this game as if there's no rain in the forecast.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

MLB DFS Top Pitchers

Bryce Miller (SEA)

Analysis: Miller has 20+ DKP in six straight games with a 35-FP ceiling to boot. He's been one of the league's best pitchers and there's FOUR pitchers getting more ownership than him on both platforms. Always worth playing elite pitchers at low ownership.

Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)

Analysis: Only Jesus Luzardo is getting more ownership than Eovaldi who faces an Angels offense striking out at the second-highest clip in baseball. Eovaldi has 9 Ks in three straight starts, and 6+ in 10 of 11. Eovaldi has 20+ DKP in three straight.

Jesus Luzardo (PHI)

Analysis: Luzardo's the chalkiest pitcher of the day despite pitching in a band box against an offense that's good against lefties. Cincy is third in OPS and their 109 wRC+ is sixth. They do strike out at 24.4% of the time, but he's third for me in terms of pecking order.

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

Reid Detmers (LAA)

Analysis: Texas is definitely a decent offense against left-handed pitching posting a 105 wRC+ but they do strike out over 25% of the time. Detmers struck out 14 Rangers earlier in the year and has a massive ceiling.

Framber Valdez (DET)

Analysis: Valdez has been incredibly inconsistent this year and this is a tough spot but he does have some pretty good games where he looks as if he's going to turn a corner and decimate lineups. He's REALLY cheap and that's appealing.

Jack Perkins (ATH)

Analysis: Coming in as the bulk reliever, I think Perkins looks pretty good because of his ability to miss bats. The Tigers are a team that strikes out a bunch, ranking 5th in K-rate (23.3%). Perkins has a 27% K-rate himself this year and if the Tigers are without Dingler, it shrinks their lineup. GPPs.

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:

Logan Henderson: 33.3% K% (11.7 K/9) (5 starts)

Bryce Miller: 33.2% K% (10.6 K/9)

Jesus Luzardo: 28.6% K% (10.9 K/9)

Reid Detmers: 27.1% K% (10.1 K/9) 

Nathan Eovaldi: 25.2% K% (9.4 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 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

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

Analysis: Lefties have a .248 ISO against Brady Singer and you have two of the best power hitters in the game in a small ballpark. Schwarber has a .315 ISO and Harper's at .337 against righties.

Ketel Marte (2B, ARI) & Corbin Carroll (OF, ARI)

Analysis: The Griffin Canning experience is bad against lefties and good against righties. Here are two elite lefties, despite Carroll's struggles. Marte has a .190 ISO and Carroll has a .235 ISO against righties.

Kevin McGonigle (3B/SS, ATL) 

Analysis: McGonigle has been a really unlucky hitter, especially against right-handers. He has a .148 ISO and a .204 xISO to go with it while posting a .381 wOBA and .388 xwOBA. Solid option.

Cal Raleigh (C, SEA)

Analysis: I love Seattle's left-handed bats. Jansen Junk has struggled against lefties for two consecutive seasons, this year included. Raleigh, despite his struggles, has a .193 ISO, .235 xISO, and eight bombs.

MLB DFS Value Hitters

Dominic Canzone (OF, SEA)

Analysis: One of the league's best hitters you haven't seen anything about this season, Canzone has dominated right-handed pitching. Canzone has a .271 ISO, .368 wOBA, and 12 HR this season.

Henry Bolte (OF, ATH) & Jonah Heim (C, ATH)

Analysis: One of the league's most inconsistent pitchers is Framber Valdez and he struggles with right-handed bats. Righties have a .162 xISO and .344 xwOBA against Valdez this year. Heim has a .366 ISO and Bolte has a .190 ISO and .364 wOBA against righties this year.

Spencer Torkelson (1B, DET)

Analysis: Tork has had some big, big power against righties this year and Jack Perkins has struggled with righties, so it's the perfect pairing. Torkelson has a .216 ISO and 13 HR vs. RHP.

Gabriel Rincones Jr. (OF, PHI) 

Analysis: Rincones' hasn't been great this year, but he's posted a .167 ISO and has some pop. It's a small ballpark and a plus matchup against Brady Singer.

Jake Cronenworth (2B, SD) 

Analysis: Death, taxes, and lefties against Merrill Kelly. Cronenworth is definitely swinging a hot bat right now too.

MLB DFS Top Stacks

Primary Stack: Philadelphia Phillies vs Brady Singer (CIN RHP)

Targets: Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, Gabriel Rincones Jr., Alec Bohm

Primary Stack: Detroit Tigers vs Jack Perkins (ATH RHP)

Targets: Riley Greene, Kevin McGonigle, Spencer Torkelson, Dillon Dingler, Colt Keith, Kerry Carpenter

Primary Stack: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Griffin Canning (SD RHP)

Targets: Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, Cobin Carroll, Max Kepler, Pavin Smith

“Contrarian” Stack: Seattle Mariners vs Jansen Junk (MIA RHP)

Targets: Dominic Canzone, Luke Raley, Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor, J.P. Crawford

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters & Pitchers

The "Chalk" (Popular)

The "Pivot" (Low

Owned)

The Winning Logic
Luzardo (SP, chalk)Miller (SP, lower owned)One of the best pitchers in baseball is the fifth-highest rostered pitcher.
Brewers (Chalk)Mariners (pivot stack)One game might not play and Jansen Junk struggles with lefties. M's have a bunch.
Conteras + Chourio (chalk)Raleigh + Canzone (lower owned)Mariners facing a guy with a lefty problem. Appealing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  1. Bryce Miller (SP1)
  2. Nathan Eovaldi (SP2)
  3. Kyle Schwarber (Core Bat)
  4. Ketel Marte (Core Bat)
  5. Bryce Harper (Core Bat) 
  6. Gabriel Rincones Jr. (Core Value Bat) 
  7. Dominic Canzone (Core Value Bat)

Player Pool

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Stacks

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