MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: August 16, 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.

Pitchers 8/16 ⚾️ 🏖️

Dylan Cease vs NYY 3.8 runs: The strikeout artist trails only Jacob Misiorowski (13.6 K/9) among qualified starters with his 13.1 rate, well above the chase group in the 11.1-11.6 range. His career-high 36.0 K% is well above his tremendous 30.0% from last year and the projected lineup for the Yankees has six high-strikeout candidates (HKCs) with a 26%+ K-rate against RHPs for the season. Cease will need to mitigate the power bats for the Bronx Bombers, but he is otherwise the apex ace for Sunday.

Sean Burke at DET 4.0 runs: In a surprise stretch of consistent success, Burke has 24+ DKFP in 8 of his last 10 starts. The Motor City Kitties are usually able to scratch together some runs, though the projected lineup has just 24 ABs against Burke and he should have surprise on his side the first time through the order, having faced Detroit only once this year and once last season.

Eury Perez at CIN 4.5 runs: The venue and favorable hitting weather are likely to have Perez walking a fine line as he corrals Ks and does his best to keep his fly balls in the park. He has 25+ DKFP in 6 of his last 11 outings and a solid 15+ in three of the other five. The back half of the Cinci lineup is loaded with potential DFS goodness, though surviving the first four will be where Perez has his day decided.

Top Stacks 8/16 ⚾️🎇

MIA at LHP Nick Lodolo 5.0 runs: Lodolo (blister) missed a month and upon his return he ceded a trio of taters to the ChiSox. Walks had been a challenge prior to the IL trip and he has a tough row to hoe against a righty-laden Miami lineup. The Marlins have struggled against southpaws over the last month, but that should not dissuade gamers from targeting this matchup.

NYM at RHP Jake Irvin 4.7 runs: Irvin (shoulder) missed two months and he has scuffled along with 12 ERs, 6 BBs, 4 HRs and only 8 Ks in his 13.2 IP, making even the #LOLMets look appealing this afternoon.

PHI at RHP Dean Kremer 5.0 runs: This is an intriguing spot as Kremer has ceded only two runs in two starts with the Twins, though vs BAL and @KC are not exactly daunting matchups. In his final trio of tilts with the O's, he was saddled ceding 16 ERs in 14 IP, with 7 BBs. The top-7 are appealing, though keep in mind Trea Turner fouled a ball off his knee Saturday and may get a day off depending on overnight swelling.

MIN at RHP Andrew Painter 4.8 runs: The learning curve has been rough for Painter who is the gem of the Phillies farm system and a top-25 prospect overall. He performed well after heading back to Triple-A for a five-game confidence building effort on either side of the ASG. He has allowed just 5 ERs in his three starts since returning to The Show, which is light years ahead of his 17 ERs in 11.2 IP preceding the midsummer demotion. The top-6 Twins provide a variety of stacking components across various positions and salary levels.

Late Slate Pitchers 8/16 ⚾️ 🚀

Tarik Skubal vs MIL 3.4 runs: Clearly the bucks-deluxe option with his median fantasy point projection 40%+ higher than the rest of the pitcher pool.

Noah Cameron at LAA 4.6 runs: Though he dropped a deuce in Dodgers Stadium on Monday, he had three straight 28+ DKFP efforts, preceded by a NEGATIVE 8 point disaster vs SDP, ending up in the red for a third time on the season. He gets a mostly right-handed Halos squad, but these are the wide range of outcomes that are desirable for tournaments. This play is not for the faint of heart and clearly stacking the Angeles is a good way to preserve sanity.

Blade Tidwell vs COL 4.1 runs: Tennessee's Mr. Baseball his junior year, he had only one start as a senior due to the pandemic. This has him as a bit of a late-bloomer, though he was a second-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft after two seasons with the University of Tennessee. He has the makeup of a mid-rotation starter and he will benefit from his home park going forward. Back to present day, he is likely to see a handful of starts down the stretch before the Giants ease off as he approaches a career-high workload in a lost season.

Logan Henderson at LAD 4.2 runs: Following Jacob Misiorowski has benefits the first time through the order, even against a team like the Dodgers with few weak links. The other four options on the card are particularly uninspiring, though anything can happen in baseball, just look at the historical no-hitter list,

Late Slate Top Stacks 8/16 ⚾️🎇

TEX at LHP Jacob Lopez 5.9 runs: Things were a little slow last night for Texas, though the production was mostly accounted for by the core clicks. Lopez has allowed a trio of taters across the last three tilts, though he has giving up only six runs in this stretch with a stellar 22 Ks in 17.1 IP. We still want to focus on the regular Rangers, though similar to last night it may not be a smooth path to DFS glory.

KCR at RHP Ryan Johnson 5.0 runs: The 28-year-old allowed a scant two runs in his last pair of performances, though he was lucky with 7 BBs in those 9 IP. In the preceding two games, he was saddled with 13 "Ernies" in 7.2 IP. The Royals are a watered down squad with all their injuries, though the mid-80 temperatures and 9-12mph breeze to right will be helpful for the top half of the order, which is still respectable, assuming no regulars get a day off.

SFG vs RHP Gabriel Hughes 4.3 runs: The Giants dealt two of their better hitters at the trade deadline in three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and well-rounded Heliot Ramos. The top-six are in play against former first rounder Hughes, who has disappointed after his return from Tommy John surgery, looking like an NPC in MLB The Show. Duos and trios are the best way to proceed with San Francisco, aside from the salary saving youngsters as one-offs.

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