MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: July 12, 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.

Late Slate Pitchers 7/12 ⚾️ 🚀

Kevin Gausman at SDP 4.0 runs: Over the last 30 days, Manny Machado has been stellar in same-handed matchups with a .415 wOBA and .352 ISO across 86 PAs, while much maligned Fernando Tatis Jr. has been passable with a .342 wOBA and .158 ISO. Gavin Sheets is always in play with the platoon-advantage and there is a chance that recently returned Jake Cronenworth knocks the rust off as well. There are not many easy Ks for the Friars, though Gausman still profiles as the "safest" DFS option on the three-game late-slate.

Emmet Sheehan vs ARZ 4.0 runs: The 26-year-old had a major mound meltdown three starts ago against Baltimore, ceding 6 ERs in 3.1 innings. To his credit, he suffered only 11 ERs in the other six most recent games, against a variety of opponent skill-levels. Walks are an issue and strikeouts inconsistent, but the backing of a juggernaut offense does put the win bonus in play, if Sheehan can manage to close out the 5th inning (something he has done only five times in the last 11 games, though three of those were six-inning efforts).

Trevor McDonald vs COL 4.3 runs: McDonald melted down in his last start, giving up 8 ERs to the Blue Jays. Prior to that he shut out the D'Backs for six innings in Arizona, so the truth is somewhere in between. The options run thin compared to the featured-slate, much like McDonald's strikeout totals. The main appeal this afternoon is that he has a favorable home park and the Rockies are the Rockies.

Late Slate Top Stacks 7/12 ⚾️🎇

TOR at RHP German Marquez 4.5 runs: Injuries have limited Marquez to just 188 IP over the last three-plus seasons, though at least he is no longer saddled with Coors Field as a home park. That is about the extent of positive comments this season as the 31-year-old has just 24 Ks in his 37.2 frames with a woeful 18 walks and 15 XBHs, including 8 HRs. Kazuma Okamoto has been the most effective Toronto bat against RHPs this season, which is a major indictment against Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who somehow made the All-Star squad (aka fan voting) with a putrid .297 wOBA and .080 ISO against RHPs (16 XBHa in 298 PAs). George Springer and Nathan Lukes have each been effective over the last month against RHPs, with Dalton Varsho an honorable mention for power upside.

SFG vs RHP Michael Lorenzen 4.7 runs: It has been a nice run for Lorenzen, who flirted with an OF role back in his Cincinnati days. Now in his 12th season, he leads the league in hits and losses. His road stats are not much of a reprieve from Coors Field, with six unearned runs not appearing in his 5.36 ERA. Even with Matt Chapman and Harrison Bader on the IL and a third-string backstop behind the dish, the Giants are still in play. Bryce Eldridge has been a nice surprise, Casey Schmitt continues his breakout, Rafael Devers is heating up, plus Heliot Ramos, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee are all available at the same time. Add in three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and the Giants have a lengthy lineup of tough outs.

Yes, play the Dodgers!

Top Stacks 7/12 ⚾️🎇

WAS vs RHP Will Warren 4.7 runs: Oddly the Nationals are well down the stack rankings this afternoon. Warren has failed to close out the 5th-inning in 3 of his last 6 starts, with just 24 Ks, but 12 BBs in these 29 IP with a 6.21 ERA and 6.30 xERA. Fire up the top-6, with an emphasis on the LHBs.

ATH at LHP Noah Schultz 4.5 runs: Not having Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker and Zack Gelof hurts, but there are viable options among Tyler Soderstrom, Shea Langeliers, Jonah Heim, Jacob Wilson, Henry Bolte and Colby Thomas at reasonable cap hits and a variety of positions, giving us a malleable secondary mini-stack.

CHC at LHP Andrew Abbott 5.2 runs: The tools love the Cubbies against Abbott, who struggles against opposite-handed batsmen, who have been joined by lefties as well over the last month. Carson Kelly is a tremendous catcher option, with Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, struggling Alex Bregman and leadoff man Pete Crow-Armstrong also strong selections.

BAL vs RHP Seth Lugo 5.0 runs: After a Cinderella 2024 season that saw Lugo make his only All-Star squad as a 34-year-old, he has turned back into a pumpkin the last two seasons, giving up power to both sides of the plate and being in survival mode pretty much from the jump in each appearance. The Batters of Birdland are much better against RHPs, so the focus should be on the lefties, with Pete Alonso, Blaze Alexander and Taylor Ward acceptable clicks for full-stacks.

Pitchers 7/12 ⚾️ 🏖️

Tarik Skubal vs PHI 3.9 runs: Though he has allowed 8 HRs in his five starts since returning from the IL, Skubal also has 39 Ks in these 27.1 innings and a tick over 90 pitches on average in the last four games. Philly has plated four or fewer runners in 7 of 9 tilts.

Zack Wheeler at DET 3.8 runs: Wheeler was angry that he was not named to the All-Star squad and he took his frustrations out on the Reds with 14 Ks. He was asked to join the Midsummer Classic, though declined as he was insulted at being the "5th alternate" so expect more fireworks from him this afternoon. The projected lineup for Detroit has five high-strikeout candidates (HKCs). Enjoy!

Ian Seymour vs SEA 3.6 runs: The M's are lacking RHBs, particularly with Julio Rodriguez (concussion) still out. In his last four outings, the southpaw has averaged 87 pitches with 31 Ks and two walks in 23 frames. Seattle has 6 HKCs in the projected lineup, giving Seymour access to DFS upside.

Joey Cantillo at MIA 4.0 runs: Over his last four starts, Cantillo has lowered his ERA by nearly a full run, with a 10.2 K/9 rate in these 29 IP with a 1.55 ERA, 2.95 xERA and 3.33 xFIP, providing some differentiation from the top three today.

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