Welcome to Fantasy Alarm's MLB DFS picks and daily fantasy playbook for Thursday, October 15th. 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. 

This MLB DFS playbook covers every key position on DraftKings and FanDuel with our best MLB DFS picks for today.

Slate: 2-Game Main | Lock Time: 1:00 pm ET, Thursday, October 15th, 2026

Vegas Totals: LAD/MIL (highest-projected game total) & CLE/TB (second-highest projected game total)

Highest K-Projections: Gavin Williams 6.5 O/U (+106), Tyler Glasnow 5.5 O/U (-142), Griffin Jax 3.5 O/U (-118)

MLB Weather Today, 10/15

Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Guardians - It's chilly with wind blowing across the stadium.

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 10-game slate.

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

Tyler Glasnow: 34% K% (11.9 K/9)

Gavin Williams: 33.2% K% (12.1 K/9)

Griffin Jax: 25.3% K% (9.3 K/9)

Dustin May: 23.2% 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.

Tampa Bay Rays Breakdown

The Rays send Griffin Jax to the mound to start the game but make no mistake about it, the first scent of trouble and someone will be up in the bullpen for the Rays. Jax threw two innings during the ALDS and has only thrown more than 70 pitches once since August 2nd.

The Rays offense is in a tricky spot too because they face Gavin Williams today. The ONE thing and the only thing you can is homer off of him. He has allowed a .179 ISO to righties and .173 xISO to lefties too. The biggest power threats to Williams and in general are obviously Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, and Liam Hicks. Let's not sleep on Victor Mesa's .269 ISO vs. RHP this season either.

If I'm punting any Rays, Richie Palacios and Chandler Simpson are the two options under $3,000 I'd consider.

Cleveland Guardians Breakdown

The “Big Rig” Gavin Williams takes the bump and man he's been impressive this year and this postseason. Williams has made two starts and has 11+ strikeouts in each and 25+ DKP. The Rays are a tough offense to strike out, but Williams had the highest K-rate in the American League outside of Dylan Cease.

The Guardians offense doesn't pop, but Chase DeLauter and Jose Ramirez are the two top options with Nathaniel Lowe and Travis Bazzana right behind them as they've both hit right-handed pitching well all year long. To round out a full stack, Steven Kwan or Partick Bailey fit perfectly.

Milwaukee Brewers Breakdown

The Brewers are up 3-0 on the two-time defending champions in the NLCS. Yes, that is correct. It's 3-0 Brewers. There's nothing official on who's pitching for Milwaukee, but as of now we're projecting Dustin May. May will not be in there for long, but we saw Robert Gasser pitch well and get through five innings last night, so the Brewers, with a 3-0 cushion, can afford to be a little more lenient with May.

The Brewers offense has been relentless this postseason and I can't put anything past them. Lefty power over the last 30 days has given Glasnow the most problems as he's allowed a .200 ISO. That puts Jake Bauers, Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell, and Christian Yelich at the forefront.

It's hard to ignore what Jackson Chourio and William Contreras' ceilings are and just not include them in these discussions. If David Hamilton plays today – has a bad back – he's definitely an option because if he's on base, his stolen base upside is through the roof.

Los Angeles Dodgers Breakdown

Can the Dodgers stave off elimination here as they're down 3-0 in the series? Tyler Glasnow is going to try and he's a pitcher with a big-time ceiling. Glasnow's leash will be as short as any other pitcher on this slate despite the fact he has as high of a ceiling as anyone else because the Dodgers are in fact facing elimination. There is no room for error.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Dodgers are a mess as a whole. That said, if Dustin May is taking the mound there's a lot of underlying metrics to dislike. Or like if you're looking to play Dodgers. Anyone from Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez, and Kyle Tucker are in play. It's VERY risky to play Shohei Ohtani at his price across the industry.