Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Wednesday, June 18th! 

Let’s start the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have an 11-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:05 PM ET. Today, we have plenty of talent on the diamond and many different ways to build your lineup. Our expert analysis is here to guide you through the top pitchers, value plays, and stackable offenses to target.

Whether chasing big GPP prizes or grinding cash games, we’ve got you covered with insights tailored to today’s matchups. Let’s jump right into the key plays and strategies to dominate the slate!

 

This season's MLB DFS picks and playbook will consist of a pitcher and hitter core players section with written analysis, player pool grid and core stacks section.

The core player section should be used as a starting point for all lineups, you may not be able to use all players in the same lineup, but those players should be the building blocks for you on a given night.

The player pool grid will feature both players from the core player section along with additional plays to help you build a complete lineup. The grid will be broken into top priced players, mid-priced players and value tier players.

The stacks section will bring you are favorite lineups stacks for the day and which players we would look to include in those stacks based on matchups and pricing.

Check out the MLB DFS Show to get an initial outlook on the day's MLB DFS slate to give you a good base for the start of your research each day! 

 

Make sure you subscribe to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel so you never miss a show! Also, join the Fantasy Alarm Discord to get your DFS lineup questions answered by our MLB DFS team! Plus, as always, be sure to check in with our MLB DFS Tools, with the Daily MLB Projections, MLB DFS Rostership Projections, and our MLB DFS Lineup Generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting.

 

MLB DFS Picks & MLB Playbook

MLB Weather: Wednesday, 6/18

Los Angeles Angels @ New York Yankees

There's rain in the forecast. The rain is hard enough to potentially cause a delay or even a late start.

Minnesota Twins @ Cincinnati Reds

There is definite risk here because the rain is going to be going on for a WHILE. They could also just simply start late tonight.

St. Louis Cardinals @ Chicago White Sox

UPDATE - PPD.

Milwaukee Brewers @ Chicago Cubs

UPDATE - PPD.

Houston Astros @ Athletics

It's going to be nearly 100 degrees at game time. In a minor league ballpark. Offense, offense, offense.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

Let's get into today's core pitching plays for our DFS lineups

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

Over Chris Sale's last 10 starts, he's notched a 1.61 ERA, while striking out 83 batters over 61.2 IP. He's averaged 25.5 DKP/game over that span and has arguably been the best pitcher in the league over that span. The Mets are good, but I have no issue using a pitcher against a good lineup when he's THIS good.

Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals

You know who's been really bad against left-handed pitching? Texas. They rank 28th in OPS, 27th in wOBA, 25th in ISO, 26th in wRC+, and have a 26% K-rate. Bubic, outside of his last start against the Yankees, has been one of the best pitchers in the league this year. Bubic himself has a near 26% K-rate and 15% SwStr rate too. He's my favorite pitcher of the day.

Patrick Corbin, Texas Rangers

The Royals have struggled against left-handed pitching this year and do actually have some strikeout in their lineup when it comes to lefty pitchers. KC is 26th in OPS, 27th in wRC+, 25th in wOBA, and 30th in ISO. Corbin has been solid of late and has really just been solid as a pitcher this year. He could be a solid SP2 if you don't have money to spend up on other pitchers.

Ryan Yarbrough, New York Yankees

Outside of his first start against the Red Sox, Ryan Yarbrough has been quite good as a starter. He has a fantastic matchup against an Angels offense that strikes out a LOT. The Angels are 25th in wOBA, 29th in wOBA, and have the leagues highest K-rate at 28.8% against left-handed pitching. The strikeouts have actually been surprising for Yarbrough and at 6.5K, it's not a bad play if he can keep the ball in the yard.

ADDING - Framber Valdez. A's lineup looks bad.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

Let's check out today's core plays to build our lineups around.

Core MLB DFS Hitters

ASTROS! LOTS OF EM!

I don't hate Luis Severino, but when this game starts, it's going to be nearly 100 degrees in Sacramento. Sutter Health doesn't need any help, especially weather related help. Severino has pitched horribly at home this year pitching to a 7.10 ERA, 2.91 ERA, .356 wOBA, and a 40% HH rate.

All 6 HR Sevvy's allowed have come in Sac and righties are hitting .308 against him at home, which the Astros have a LOT of.

The Astros look good over their last 30 at-bats against RHP, as FIVE players projected in their lineup have an OPS of at least .815. Only Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Pena have at least an .800 OPS for the entire season against righties.

The five of .844 OPS or better L30 days vs. RHP: Isaac Paredes - Jose Altuve - Yainer Diaz - Christian Walker - Cam Smith

I'd have no issue playing anyone who is in the lineup including Jake Meyers, Victor Caratini & Cooper Hummel.

Blue Jays Look Good Against ERod

There's a lot of stuff that looks good under the hood for Eduardo Rodriguez, but surface level numbers look awful. Both righties and lefties are hitting over .300. He has elevated flyball rates to both splits and allows a bunch of homers.

The Blue Jays have been a top-10 offense against left-handed pitching this year. They have some good numbers against lefties;

Reds go Ober Their Implied Runs Total

UPDATE - This game is incredibly risky and could very well rain out. PPD risk is very high.

Bailey Ober was a really good pitcher a year ago and has not been that good for any stretch of this season. In fact, his numbers under the hood look worse than his surface level stuff. His FB rate is awfull high and although he's been decent against lefties, they have 1.77 HR/9 and he has a 5.08 FIP and 5.26 xFIP. NOW, he has to navigate Great American Ballpark.

There's a lot to like about the Reds against righties.

Over the last 30 days vs. RHP: Matt McLain has posted a .938 OPS & .230 ISO. Tyler Stephenson similarly has been good posting a .936 OPS & .179 ISO.

Jose Caballero, Junior Caminero & Yandy Diaz

The Rays are not great against left-handed pitching. That's first. We can just admit it. They're not, but they do have multiple good looking bats against southpaws. The interest is led by Yandy Diaz, Junior Caminero, and Jose Caballero. Diaz and Caballero both have .200 ISO or higher while Caminero sits at .178.

Trevor Rogers takes the mound for the Orioles and he's been bad at Triple-A and in the minors in general this year. On the year, righties have hit .282 against him and he's allowed three of his four bombs to RHH. Rogers, at the major league level last year, allowed a .182 ISO and .345 wOBA to righties.

Yankees Break Out of Slump?

This spot against Jack Kochanowicz, like Kyle Hendricks yesterday, is a good one in theory. They haven't scored in 29 innings, but Kochanowicz can't get lefties out. Lefties have a .509 SLG%, .377 xwOBA, .227 ISO, and just a 16% K-rate.

Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm, Ben Rice & Jasson Dominguez are all over a .789 OPS against righties. All of those players outside of Dominguez have a .200+ ISO against right-handed pitching.

Obviously playing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in a Yankees stack works, too.

Stephen Kolek Can't Dodge(rs) LA Lefties

Although Kolek has a massive groundball rate, he really struggles against lefties and he's been unable to keep the ball out of the stands because of it. Lefties have a .286/.392/.488 with 5 HR, .384 wOBA, 2.2 HR/9, 43.8% HH, and 26.3% HR/FB.

The Dodgers have elite lefties in Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy. They have other lefties in Michael Conforto (who's been very unlucky this year) and Tommy Edman / Hyeseong Kim.

Player Pool

Stacks

Blue Jays Alejandro KirkGeorge SpringerErnie ClementVladimir Guerrero
DraftKings 3700430035004500
Fanduel 2700310027003000
Astros Jose AltuveJake MeyersJeremy PeñaChristian WalkerCam SmithYainer DiazIsaac Paredes
DraftKings 4200400048003800240036004300
Fanduel 3200270033002900220029003400
Dodgers Tommy EdmanShohei OhtaniHyeseong KimMax MuncyFreddie Freeman
DraftKings 37006500430041005300
Fanduel 30004700270031003900
Blue Jays Alejandro KirkGeorge SpringerErnie ClementVladimir Guerrero
DraftKings 3700430035004500
Fanduel 2700310027003000
Astros Jose AltuveJake MeyersJeremy PeñaChristian WalkerCam SmithYainer DiazIsaac Paredes
DraftKings 4200400048003800240036004300
Fanduel 3200270033002900220029003400
Dodgers Tommy EdmanShohei OhtaniHyeseong KimMax MuncyFreddie Freeman
DraftKings 37006500430041005300
Fanduel 30004700270031003900
Diamondbacks Ketel MarteLourdes GurrielEugenio SuárezRandal Grichuk
DraftKings 5700360046002800
Fanduel 3800270033002300
Yankees Trent GrishamJazz ChisholmAaron JudgeGiancarlo StantonJasson Domínguez
DraftKings 40005100660038003700
Fanduel 31003500510029003000