Top MLB DFS Plays & Props 7/22 | Preparing for the Midweek Mayhem! ⚾

Wednesday, July 22nd ⚾️ DFS Plays & Props for Today's MLB Action

Author

Ryan Humphries
July 22, 2026

Penned By: @Ryan_Humphries on Twitter/X and LineStar Chat.

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Main Slate Rundown 🏟

Depending on your preferred DFS site, you'll be looking at either a nine-game (DraftKings) or seven-game (FanDuel) main slate this evening. There are a pair of doubleheaders on tap between the Yankees and Pirates and the Orioles and Red Sox. DraftKings will include both second games, while FanDuel will exclude them from its main slate. Pitching is fairly thin on appealing options today, so expect to make some difficult decisions at SP, but that also opens the door for plenty of viable stack options. Weather shouldn't create many issues either, outside of one or two spots carrying some low-end delay risk. Let's get to it! Best of luck!

Main slate match-ups with implied run totals and moneyline odds:

💣7/22 Dinger Report💣

Main Slate Weather Outlook 💨🌦️☁️

Check LineStar's MLB Daily Dashboard to see an overview of the most up-to-date game forecasts. Note: I’m not a meteorologist so don’t treat these forecast previews as gospel! It’s always best to run a pre-game weather check for any at-risk games.

Weather Key: 🟡 Chance for delay | 🟠 Elevated delay / PPD risk | 🔴 High PPD risk
🔵 Favorable for pitchers (cold/wind in) | 🟢 Favorable for hitters (warm/wind out)

  • PIT at NYY (7:05 ET, 9.0 O/U): DK main slate only. Warm temps and winds around 10 mph blowing OUT to right/center.

  • BAL at BOS (7:10 ET, 9.0 O/U): DK main slate only. A few downpours could still be lingering around first pitch for the second game of this doubleheader. The expectation is that they clear out in time, but if not, the most likely outcome would be a brief delayed start followed by no further issues.

  • SD at ATL (7:15 ET, 8.5 O/U): Scattered showers will be around the area throughout the evening. Most look light enough to play through, though there is a low-end chance that a heavier shower could briefly delay the game if it rolls over the ballpark. Nothing that appears overly concerning. Temps in the mid-80s with light winds IN from right.

  • DET at CHC (8:10 ET, 8.0 O/U): Winds around 10 mph will be blowing IN from center, potentially giving pitchers a slight boost.

Pitchers to Consider ⚾

Peter Lambert (RHP), HOU | DK: $9k, FD: $9.9k | vs. MIA

As noted in the intro, pitching is pretty thin on this slate, which has led to Peter Lambert checking in as the highest-priced arm on DraftKings and the second-most expensive on FanDuel. Those aren't price tags we're accustomed to seeing attached to Lambert, but he's certainly earned them with the way he's pitched lately. Across his three July starts (17.2 IP), Lambert has posted a 1.02 ERA, 3.26 xFIP, 0.79 WHIP, .145 BAA, .426 opp OPS, 33.3% kRate, and 7.2% BB% while averaging 26.7 DKFP and 45.3 FDFP. That sample size is relatively small, but it's also large enough to suggest that Lambert is locked in a nice groove.

The matchup is intriguing as well. The Marlins have been one of baseball's better offenses against right-handed pitching over the last month, ranking third with a 131 wRC+, but they've stumbled out of the All-Star Break. Across 115 PAs against righties since the break, Miami owns just a .190 AVG, .632 OPS, .283 wOBA, 72 wRC+, and a massive 33.0% kRate. The projected lineup is expected to feature six left-handed hitters, but that may actually work in Lambert's favor. He has posted positive reverse splits this season, holding lefties to a 1.79 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, .143 BAA, .249 opp wOBA, .074 opp ISO, and 25.2% kRate – all notable improvements compared to his splits versus RHBs. Given both Lambert's recent form and Miami's early second-half struggles, this shapes up as a solid spot to roster him, even at these elevated salaries.

Griffin Jax (RHP), TB | DK: $8.4k, FD: $8.5k | at TOR

Jax stumbled in his first start after the All-Star Break, but he also had the misfortune of drawing a Red Sox lineup that just extended their winning streak to 15 games in the first leg of today’s doubleheader. Prior to that outing, he had been in outstanding form. Across his previous seven starts (before the Red Sox game), Jax posted a 2.25 ERA, 3.01 xFIP, 1.00 WHIP, .211 BAA, .641 opp OPS, 27.9% kRate, and 6.4% BB%. Tampa Bay typically doesn't let him work especially deep into games, as he's averaged just 78.8 pitches over his last five starts. Still, his combination of efficiency and strikeout upside makes him one of the more appealing mid-range options on a slate where quality pitching is in short supply.

The matchup also works in his favor. While Toronto isn't a particularly strikeout-prone lineup, their 20.4% kRate against right-handed pitching over the last month is only a tick below league average. More importantly, the Blue Jays rank 27th or worse in AVG (.198), OPS (.589), wOBA (.261), ISO (.113), and wRC+ (64) in those same splits. With a pretty fresh Rays bullpen behind him, Jax is likely to remain more of a "five-and-dive" starter than a workhorse. Even so, if he can navigate five solid innings, pile up a handful of strikeouts, and put himself in position for the win bonus, that should be more than enough to justify his salary on this slate.

Eric Lauer (LHP), LAD | DK: $6k, FD: $7.6k | at PHI

Taking some shots on cheaper pitchers to free up salary for premium bats and stacks isn't the worst strategy on this slate, and Lauer fits that mold. He's not going to overpower hitters, ranking in the bottom sixth percentile in fastball velocity (90.9 mph), kRate (14.5%), and Whiff% (18.4%). What he has done lately, however, is consistently work deep into games while limiting damage. Across his last seven outings (40.1 IP), Lauer has cleared six innings five times while posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, .226 BAA, .670 opp OPS, and 6.7% BB%, all while stranding 88.4% of baserunners. There are still some red flags beneath the surface, though. He owns a 5.48 xFIP and just a 12.9% kRate during that stretch, suggesting regression could arrive at any point with little strikeout upside to offset it.

Fortunately, the matchup isn't overly intimidating. Against left-handed pitching over the last month, the Phillies rank 20th with an 89 wRC+ while also posting the fourth-highest kRate at 29.7%. Lauer isn't exactly the type of pitcher who routinely capitalizes on swing-and-miss lineups, but this is one of the few matchups where his strikeout total could come in a bit above expectations. If he can pair four-to-six punchouts with another quality start (6.0+ IP, ≤ 3 ER), he'd have a strong chance of paying off these price tags. It's also worth noting that, albeit over a largely older sample, Lauer owns a respectable 25.0% kRate across 68 career plate appearances against the current Phillies roster.

Other Pitchers to Consider

Sandy Alcantara (RHP), MIA | DK: $8.5k, FD: $10k | at HOU

Keider Montero (RHP), DET | DK: $8.2k, FD: $7.9k | at CHC

Michael King (RHP), SD | DK: $7.9k, FD: $9k | at ATL

Colin Rea (RHP), CHC | DK: $6.4k, FD: $7.3k | vs. DET

DraftKings Main Slate Only

Kyle Bradish (RHP), BAL | $9,000 | at BOS

Note: LHP Ranger Suarez ($8,700) would also be intriguing if he’s announced as the game two starter and isn’t set to face many limitations following a stint on the 15-day IL.

Team Stacks to Target 🎯

Disclaimer: Stacking in MLB DFS is not a requirement but it is a very common strategy used to take down GPPs. This strategy is covered in more detail in the MLB DFS strategy guide linked in the header at the top of this newsletter. Check out the MLB StackFinder on LineStar.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Aaron Nola (RHP), PHI

The Dodgers haven't been anywhere close to their usual standards against right-handed pitching lately, ranking 20th with a .700 OPS and 93 wRC+ over the last month. Even so, they're still the top road offense in baseball, averaging 5.92 runs per game away from Dodger Stadium, and Citizens Bank Park has played as the sixth-most hitter-friendly venue this season. They'll also get a favorable matchup against Aaron Nola, whose 2026 campaign has been a struggle. Across 20 starts, Nola owns a slate-worst 5.68 ERA to go along with a 1.45 WHIP, 2.01 HR/9, -18 Pitching Run Value (2nd percentile), and a 10.1% Barrel% (15th percentile). He's also surrendered 10 barrels over the last month alone (bottom 5th percentile) while allowing a hefty 27.3% line-drive rate. Left-handed Dodgers bats receive an added boost, as Nola has shown traditional platoon splits by allowing a .270 AVG, .366 wOBA, .228 ISO, 1.71 WHIP, and 2.12 HR/9 to lefties. The Phillies' bullpen hasn't offered much relief either, owning the sixth-worst ERA (5.87), WHIP (1.53), and HR/9 (1.72) over the last month.

Favorite LAD Bats: Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, Tommy Edman, Mookie Betts

Bargain Bat: Dalton Rushing

Texas Rangers vs. Anthony Kay (LHP), CWS

There’s a good chance this stack comes in with relatively modest ownership, but it stands out as one of the more intriguing spots on the slate regardless. Anthony Kay has strung together a few respectable outings lately, though he’s still been prone to the routine blow-up start. Since the beginning of June, Kay has posted a 5.00 ERA and 4.68 xFIP and, on the season, he ranks in the bottom 20th percentile in xERA (5.35), xBA (.267), kRate (18.0%), and Pitching Run Value (-7).

The bigger draw, however, is how well Texas has handled left-handed pitching. Over the last month against southpaws (298 PAs), the Rangers lead MLB in AVG (.327), OPS (.903), wOBA (.391), and wRC+ (154) while ranking fifth in ISO (.193) and sixth in HR/FB Rate (15.6%). The White Sox bullpen has actually been one of the better units in baseball lately, posting a 2.67 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, .205 BAA, and 27.3% kRate over the last month. Even so, if the Rangers can get to Kay early, there's a decent chance Chicago opts to preserve some of those higher-leverage relievers. Most of Texas' lineup is also very affordable, making this an attractive stack if you're looking to fit in premium bats elsewhere or simply maximize roster flexibility.

Favorite TEX Bats: Wyatt Langford, Brandon Nimmo, Justin Foscue

Bargain Bats: Jake Burger, Ezequiel Duran, Nicky Lopez

Low-Owned Stack That Just Might Work Out 🤔

Cleveland Guardians vs. Bailey Ober (RHP), MIN

With the exception of José Ramírez (16% projected ownership), every other hitter in the Guardians lineup checks in at 5% pOwn% or lower. Ramírez returns to the lineup for the first time since June 13th, providing a major boost to an offense that has already been swinging the bats well. Across 420 PAs against right-handed pitching this month, Cleveland ranks fifth in AVG (.272), sixth in OPS (.798), seventh in wOBA (.345), eighth in ISO (.199), and fourth in wRC+ (122). The Guardians have struck out at a relatively high 25.2% clip (fourth-highest) during that stretch, but that's a bit less concerning against Bailey Ober.

Ober enters with a pair of solid starts in his last two outings, including five innings of one-run ball against these same Guardians just before the All-Star Break. Even so, he's been a fairly average pitcher for much of the season, posting a 4.32 ERA, 4.76 xFIP, 18.1% kRate, and 87 Pitching+. His road splits have also been concerning, as he owns a 6.90 ERA, .303 BAA, .389 opp wOBA, 2.40 HR/9, and 15.2% kRate away from home. He'll also be backed by a Twins bullpen that ranks third worst in xFIP (4.85) while carrying a lofty 1.53 WHIP over the last month. With Ramírez back in the middle of the order and several other Guardians swinging some hot bats, Cleveland profiles as one of the more appealing leverage stacks on the slate.

Favorite CLE Bats: José Ramírez, Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana

Bargain Bats: Steven Kwan, Brayan Rocchio, Petey Halpin

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