MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: August 13, 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 Pitchers 8/13 ⚾️ 🏖️

Logan Gilbert at NYY 4.2 runs: The Bronx Bombers have six hitters in the projected lineup with elite power, including 5 LHBs looking to take advantage of the short porch. On the flip side, there should be 6-7 high strikeout candidates (HKCs), which should provide Gilbert the opportunity to offset a couple of earned runs. Across his last 10 starts, the M's ace has averaged just over a strikeout per inning, while also closing out the 6th frame in nine of these contests with 7 QS.

Max Fried vs SEA 4.2 runs: The M's are the lowest scoring offense in the league now and the back half of the order has been beyond dreadful against southpaws, including Cal Raleigh. There are three HKCs at the back of the order with a 33+ K%, giving Fried a solid foundation as well as GPP upside.

Payton Tolle at TOR 3.6 runs: Today the rookie has an interesting opportunity against the Blue Jays, who have just two hitters with above replacement level power against lefties, along with a trio of HKCs. Tolle has a 32.7 K% agains right-handers this season, which is putting biscuit wheels on this potential DFS gravy train.

Parker Messick at DET 4.0 runs: This has been a rough month for the Motor City Kitties against southpaws, with the projected lineup bereft of XBH upside from the usual suspects and there should be several "Who are these guys?!" names populating the lineup card this afternoon.

EARLY Top Stacks 8/13 ⚾️🎇

CHC at RHP Cade Cavalli 4.9runs: Cavalli is not a bad pitcher and he likely would be a back of the rotation starter on all but the most packed staffs. The 128.2 IP are a career high and that could be why he has ceded half a dozen round-trippers in the last trio of tilts. Look to the lefties first, but keep in mind the overworked Nationals bullpen could also get extended action, making a "fade" a risky proposition, though it is a clear path towards differentiation this afternoon.

CIN at RHP Davis Martin 4.2 runs: Keep in mind that Martin logged just one inning before a lengthy rain delay in his last start as the Guardians pulled some shenanigans to take out Joey Cantillo as they are locked with their division rivals for a postseason ticket. Still, in his last six outings, Martin has suffered 25 runs and just 18 Ks in 26.2 IP. Look to the first five from the Reds for components that will create a differentiation stack, mini-stack or one-offs.

CLE at RHP Keider Montero 4.5 runs: Montero is another solid young pitcher, though two of his three worst performances this season have come in the last three games, resulting in 11 combined runs as he too is at a career-high workload. He has done a nice job of lowering his LHB power from a .170 ISO last year to .139 this season. We still want to focus on the opposite-handed hitters, with newcomer Jo Adell an honorable mention.

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