MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: July 1, 2026

Eric MacPherson is back with his daily card, breaking down the hitting stacks and starting pitchers he's targeting on this slate. Take his picks into the Stokastic MLB Sims and build by win probability across thousands of simulated contests.

EARLY Top Stacks 7/1 ⚾️🎇

It is once again hot at Wrigley Field, with a 12-16mph breeze to left-center. RHP Walker Buehler has mostly managed to survive this season, though there is a mound meltdown in play with the weather conditions. On the other side RHP Collin Rea survives by avoiding power via luck, though there is no margin for error as pretty much any fly ball is a potential home run this afternoon,.

Things are very flat for the remaining teams, putting half a dozen squarely in the mix, while granting differentiation from the field. Next up are the ChiSox and O's in Camden Yards, where temperatures will be pushing towards the upper-90s and there is a breeze to left. Colson Montgomery has been sublime, while Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi and Braden Montgomery (no relation) all profile well against RHP Dean Kremer on the power front.

The Batters of Birdland will be facing top prospect LHP Noah Schultz, who is making his 9th start, though he is susceptible to walks with 22 in 38.2 IP, along with four more self-created baserunners via HBPs. The latter half of the projected Baltimore lineup has struggled against southpaws, though Tyler O'Neill and Blaze Alexander have a better track record than they have showed. Fire up the O's across a variety of positions and salary levels.

It should be no surprise that it is also hot in New York, with RHP Will Warren facing a lefty-heavy lineup and the Bronx Bombers will are live to create a mound meltdown for young RHP Troy Melton (it is right there in his name!).

EARLY Pitchers 7/1 ⚾️ 🏖️

MacKenzie Gore at CLE 4.1 runs: This season has been a rollercoaster with Gore, which is turning into the baseline expectation. He has allowed more than four runes only twice, though he has posted more than 5 Ks in just 8 of 17 outings. This afternoon he will be facing a Guardians squad missing Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez with the rest of the projected lineup below replacement level against southpaws this season, with five high-strikeout candidates (HKCs). Nothing is a given with the mercurial Gore, though this looks like a good spot to employ him.

Joey Cantillo vs TEX 4.1 runs: Keep in mind that Cantillo spent the first half of last year as a multi-inning reliever, before moving into the rotation in July. Tonight will be his 31st start since then and he has been in a two-steps forward, one-step back mode as he hones his craft. In his three most recent appearances, the 26yo has 22 Ks in 19 IP with just 3 ERs and 3 BBs. Wyatt Langford is back on the IL and Corey Seager left early last night with a back issue, leaving the Rangers once again missing key bats.

Paxton Tolle vs WAS 4.8 runs: There are no safe pitchers on the early slate, though the rookie southpaw has intrigue vs the top scoring offense this season, the team is second with a 114 wRC+ against lefties. That is of note, since most of their best bats are LHBs. The .332 BABIP indicates regression and half of the projected lineup is at or well below replacement level against lefties.

Top Stacks 7/1 ⚾️🎇

The fun continues tonight, with warm weather priming most of the offensive friendly venues already having favorable breezes blowing out.

Shohei Ohtani had his start pushed back to Friday, so it remains to be seen if LAD will go with a bullpen game or call up a MiLB arm against the Athletics. RHP J.T. Ginn does a nice job leaning into his ground ball ability, though the Dodgers are still popping off the page. The A's are missing four key hitters, but there are still enough other hitters, as well as discounted options, that they are likely to be a desirable stack, depending on the LAD pitching strategy.

The Coors Field Extravaganza has LHP Kyle Freeland taking on a Marlins lineup that thins out towards the latter portion, though the Denver area native can still be picked on with the top half of the order. It is tougher to be excited about the hometown nine, with RHP Max Meyer a promising pitcher, though that is no guarantee he avoids a mound meltdown tonight, it just isn't as likely.

Once more it was hot, humid and with a stiff breeze to left at Kauffman Stadium, with the top-six showing promise for the Rays, with Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz and a discounted Victor Mesa the core four building blocks against RHP Seth Lugo.

The LHBs for Arizona look good against RHP Trevor McDonald, even with the Chase Field roof close, while the top six Giants also look good against RHP Zac Gallen who has been making extra-base hit dreams come true for opposing hitters of either handedness.

Pitchers 7/1 ⚾️ 🚀

Tatsuya Imai vs MIN 4.2 runs: The combination of salary relief and K-upsdie has Imai popping for featured slate builds. The "rookie" has gone through adjustments in moving to a new country and of course plying his trade at the highest level in the land. There have been several hiccups, though 21 Ks in his last 12 IP is sensational, with only one walk and one home run. The Twins do a good job of limiting strikeouts against RHPs, though that is already factored into the cap hit.

Taj Bradley at HOU 4.5 runs: The 'Stros did put up six runs against RHP Joe Ryan last night and Bradley is not in the same class as his teammate. However, that does not mean he is resigned to the same fate. Bradley has 39 Ks in his 36.2 IP since returning from a short IL stay with an inflamed right pectoral muscle. There are four projected high-strikeout candidates (HKCs) in the Houston lineup, so if Bradley can hold his own against the top-four, he should find some DFS "profit" at his reasonable salary.

FD is including the 6:40pm game, which adds RHPs Zack Wheeler and Paul Skenes to the shortlist of SP candidates. Shohei Ohtani has had his start pushed back to Friday, which leaves us facing a more chaotic cast of characters on DK where two SPs are required.

Check out Stokastic's MLB Live Before Lock at 5:40pm ET for all the DFS analysis.

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