MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: July 9, 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 7/9 ⚾️🎇

CLE at RHP Baily Ober 4.8 runs: After landing on the IL at the end of May with elbow inflammation, Ober logged 57 and 76 pitches in a pair of rehab starts. In his three starts preceding the diagnosis, he was gobsmacked for 7 HRs and 15 runs across 14.2 innings. The lefties in the top half of the order, along with Rhys Hoskins provide coverage at a variety of positions at a reasonable cost, making the Guardians a helpful secondary stack.

ATL at RHP Mitch Keller 5.1 runs: In his last five starts, Keller has had a pair of mult-HR games, with two other efforts resulting in 4 BBs. Add in a lack of Ks and no plus pitches and we can see why the Braves are popping in the tools. Focus on the top four, with Mauricio Dubon, Dom Smith and Austin Riley differentiation pieces from the back half of the order.

KCR at LHP Sean Manaea 4.5 runs: Despite averaging 94.8 pitches in his last four games, the 34-year-old has completed just 19 innings, while allowing 15 runs, though 5 were unearned. Similar to the Guardians, we should look to the top-five for utility, with Bobby Witt Jr. being one of the top five hitting plays on the board.

FanDuel is including the CHC@BAL game which was moved forward to miss afternoon storms. The Cubbies swinging the stick from the right-side of the plate are appealing against LHP Trevor Rogers, while the usual suspects for the O's are viable against struggling LHP David Peterson, who is coming off a dreadful 10-run effort in his Mets debut last Friday.

EARLY Pitchers 7/9 ⚾️ 🏖️

Drew Rasmussen vs NYY 3.7 runs: This has been a strong season for Rasmussen, who has increased his K-rate from 21.6% last year to 25.4% while maintaining efficiency. His two worst outing have been a pair of 5-run efforts, bookending five June starts that saw him give up just 3 ERs in 33 frames. Since June 18th, the Yankees have scored the fewest runs in the league with 2.8 per tilt, despite doing their best to manufacture offense with the third-most steals (22) in this timeframe. The projected lineup has four high strikeout candidates (HKCs) which gives Rasmussen upside potential.

Gavin Williams at MIN 4.1 runs: The injuries to Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers takes two of the better bats out of the mix for the Twins. Sadly, this is nothing new for the franchise, which always seems to be working through adversity. Williams is having a solid season, though walks are a weakness. He has upped his strikeout rate, which helps him pitch out of jams. On the flip side, he is not afraid to challenge hitters, leading to a trio of multi-HR games in the last half dozen appearances for the 26-year-old.

After this dynamic duo, there is not much consensus for a third option. Willson Contreras and Anthony Seigler each left last night's game for Boston, while Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story are already on the IL. This helps LHP Anthony Kay, though he has not advanced beyond the 4th-inning in 4 of his last 6 starts.

Top Stacks 7/9 ⚾️🎇

SDP vs RHP Merrill Kelly 4.5 runs: The clock is winding down on Kelly, who has had some painful results over the last month with 25 ERs in 33.1 IP with just 20 Ks, but a hefty 13 BBs and nine, yes NINE home runs. Jake Cronenworth remains a strong value option at $2.4k, with Gavin Sheets and the rest of the usual suspects all in play this evening.

ARZ at RHP Griffin Canning 4.3 runs: This has been a dismal stretch for Canning, who has even had an "opener" in three of his last five appearances. In these 18.1 IP he has 15 ERs, 13 BBs and 11 XBHs, though only two were round trippers. Look to the LHBs first, with cleanup hitter Gabriel Moreno also in the mix.

PHI at RHP Brady Singer 5.4 runs: This is a rough matchup for Singer, in the Great American SMALLpark, against a team with plenty of lefty-power. Leadoff man Trea Turner has been in a massive slump, though he has boosted his average from .226 to 241 over the last fortnight. That is still dreadful considering he won the NL batting title last year, giving him two of the last five.

SEA at RHP Janson Junk 4.6 runs: Junk does his best to survive by limiting power with ground balls. He does not get many strikeouts, so when this strategy is not working, things get dicy quickly. The top six Seattle bats are in play, though this crew is best employed as duos and trios this evening.

Pitchers 7/9 ⚾️ 🚀

Nathan Eovaldi vs LAA 3.3 runs: The Halos popped off against LHP MacKenzie Gore, who has been very hit or miss for the last three seasons. Eovaldi is on the backside of a long career, but he still holds his own, with above average strikeouts. The projected LAA lineup has six high strikeout candidates with a 25% or higher K-rate against RHPs this season. Even the return of Mike Trout cannot paper over that weakness.

Reid Detmers at TEX 3.8 runs: Detmers has been a pleasant surprise since rejoining the rotation this season, though his last trio of tilts have resulted in 10 BBs, with his 17 Ks in these 16.2 IP not enough to contain the damage of 12 ERs. The banged up Rangers present a chance for a get right spot this evening.

Bryce Miller at MIA 3.8 runs: Miller has a five-figure salary on both sites tonight, with the Marlins doing a good job of limiting strikeouts to RHPs this season with only three HKCs in the projected lineup. Make no mistake, Miller is a foundational play, particularly for DK "cash games" though this matchup will make it tougher for him to "return a profit" on his hefty cap hit.

Jesus Luzardo at CIN 4.3 runs: 45 Ks in his last 30 IP are very desirable and even though 4 of his 10 runs allowed in this stretch were unearned, he still has a wicked 1.98 xERA and 2.39 xFIP supporting a 1.78 ERA. It is a tough venue, but there is tournament upside on his five figure salary, just more risk than what we see with Miller.

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