MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: July 5, 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.

Top Stacks 7/5 ⚾️🎇

Most venues have plus hitting weather this afternoon, mixed with mediocre to bad starting pitchers. Giggity!

PHI at RHP Luinder Avila 5.5 runs: It appears Avila has the chops to be a mid-rotation starter, though he has just 115 IP at Triple-A or The Show, since beginning with the Royals as a 16yo in 2018. He has limited power, but his 5.8 BB/9 this season is a recipe for disaster against the Phillies bopper-laden lineup.

WAS vs RHP Bubba Chandler 5.1 runs: Hopefully there are some fireworks left in DC after last night's display. Despite being a top-10 MLB prospect, this has been a rough for Chandler, with a dreadful 5 BB/9 rate and he has not had the expected strikeout success for his profile. He is only 23 and to his credit, he has limited home runs. The Nationals now trail the Dodgers by one run for the season which trailing only the Yankees for home runs. Look to the usual LHBs this afternoon, with Keibert Ruiz a cheap catcher on DK ($3.4k).

CIN vs RHP Kyle Bradish 5.1 runs: Lefty power has been an issue for Bradish, who had elbow surgery in early 2024. Prioritize the LHB trio of Elly De La Cruz, Nate Lowe and JJ Bleday in Great American SMALLpark this afternoon.

BAL at LHP Nick Lodolo 5.0 runs: The oft-injured Lodolo has seen his strikeout rate crater to a career-worst 18.0% this season, with RHBs giving him grief on the power front. Aside from Gunnar Henderson, who is very much in play, the rest of the O's should be swinging the stick from the right-side of the plate.

Pitchers 7/5 ⚾️ 🏖️

Keep tabs on the weather in CHC, CIN, CLE and NYY.

Ryan Weathers vs MIN 4.1 runs: There are no "safe" pitchers today and one can argue that none really stand out amongst their peers. Weathers is coming off his worst start of the season, ceding 5 runs to DET, with 19 runs spread across 24.1 innings spanning five June starts. In this timeframe he does have 23 Ks, while averaging well over one per inning for the season. There are not a lot of strikeouts in the projected Twins lineup, though only Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis have above average power versus southpaws.

Joe Ryan at NYY 4.6 runs: This does not feel good, but it should be pointed out that since putting up 22 runs in a pair of mid-June games against CHW, the Yankees have averaged just 2.9 in their last 16 tilts. Ryan has allowed 10 in his last two starts, but he is the most accomplished pitcher in Sunday's player pool.

Cade Cavalli vs PIT 4.6 runs: It is hot and humid, with a light breeze to left this afternoon as Cavalli takes on a frisky Pirates crew. Even with Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz on the IL, the Bucs still have lefty power. There are strikeouts for the taking and Cavalli has shown he has some chops, leaping up from an 18.3 K% last year to a 25.7% this season. He has yet to allow more than four runs this season, though that could change this afternoon, which is not a comforting thought for a recommended pitcher.

Late Slate Top Stacks 7/5 ⚾️🎇

The Coors Field Extravaganza looms large, so you know what to do.

MIL at LHP Eduardo Rodriguez 5.0 runs: The Regression Monster is lurking and at some point Rodriguez is going to have to pay the piper. The .247 BABIP and 86.6 LOB% have helped the 33-year-old to a delightful 2.21 ERA, though his 4.89 xERA and 4.49 xFIP tell a different story. He has a career low 17.1 K% and has lucked out with just 9 HRs and 31 total XBHs in his 102 IP. Prioritize the RHBs with Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn, Gary Sanchez and Blake Perkins forming a discounted stack.

ARZ vs RHP Brandon Sproat 5.1 runs: Sproat is mediocre on his best days and he has a tendency to be exposed by left-handed power, which elevates Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo as the trio to target for one-offs or as a mini-stack.

ATH vs RHP Eury Perez 5.0 runs: Perez is a solid pitcher, though he has occasional command and control challenges, which are a problem with his elevated home run rate. That is the tradeoff for his strikeouts, though against a team like the A's, even missing several key bats, this is a tough mountain to climb. Nick Kurtz and Zack Gelof are strong clicks at the top of the order, with Lawrence Butler, Carlos Cortes, Henry Bolte, Jeff McNeil and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer discount dandies at a variety of positions as they fill in for Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers.

Late Slate Pitchers 7/5 ⚾️ 🚀

Trey Yesavage at SEA 3.9 runs: Temps will be in the low-70s this afternoon, with a 7-10mph breeze in from left. While the M's popped off for 11 runs yesterday, they had just one total in the two preceding games and we know that T-Mobile Park is by far the most pitching friendly venue in the league. Yesavage had a rough start to June, giving up 11 runs in his first two appearances, though he has been lighter out over the last three with just five "Ernies" in 19.2 frames.

Emerson Hancock vs TOR 3.7 runs: Hancock has had three mound meltdowns this season with 5+ runs, though he has not allowed more than three in his 13 other starts. He does an excellent job of limiting walks and he also has a career-best 8.6 Ks/9 this season, though we know that the Blue Jays are stingy on that front.

Gage Jump vs MIA 5.5 runs: If this game were in Oakland, we would all be excited to roster Jump, with his intriguing strikeout upside. He is still very much in play this afternoon, though the risk of ruin is much higher in the West Sacramento Triple-A park. He will have his work cut out for him against Otto Lopez, Xavier Edwards, Heriberto Hernandez and Esteury Ruiz who all have the platoon-advantage. If he can remain neutral against these bats, the latter half of the lineup presents strikeout upside, with four hitters suffering a 27.7+ K% against southpaws this season.

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