MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: August 21, 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 8/21 ⚾️💪

Sean Burke vs NYM 3.7 runs: Two of his worst DFS performances of the year have occurred in the last three games, though he does have 24+ DKFPs in 8 of the last 11. In this stretch he has 11 Ks per nine, with only 7 HRs and 14 BBs in 66.1 IP. Tonight he is facing the #LOLMets who project to start four high-strikeout candidates (HKCs) with a 25%+ K-rate.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs PIT 3.2 runs: Strikeouts are not his specialty with more than six in just 4 of his last 11 appearances, though he is averaging nearly 7 innings in this stretch. That gives time for the Dodgers bats to put runs on the board for the win bonus and the Bucs should have at least 4 HKCs in the lineup tonight.

Reid Detmers at TEX 4.1 runs: This will be his fourth time facing the Rangers, with one dud, one glorious DFS outing and striking out 26 of the 69 batters faced, helping keep his K% at a stellar 28.8%.

MacKenzie Gore vs LAA 3.5 runs: Hopefully the Halos used up most of their runs last night. Similar to Detmers, this is the fourth time Gore gets the Angels and it will be the third time this duo has squared off. In his last dozen outings, Gore has a 10.2 K/9 rate, with some bad luck as evidenced by his 4.72 ERA versus a 3.32 xERA and 3.43 xFIP. Tonight he should see 5 HKCs.

Cam Schlittler vs TOR 3.0 runs: Lofty salary, though he will be working for his strikeouts with even a watered down Blue Jays squad sending out two HKCs.

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Top Stacks 8/20 ⚾️🎇

CLE at RHP Tanner Gordon 5.9 runs: Keep in mind that the Guardians are not the Dodgers and the team has tallied one or fewer runs in 7 of their last 14 games. Gordon has had an opener in the last five games, averaging just over four innings per appearance. In his last 10 outings, he has allowed 21 runs in five Coors Field efforts, but only five runs on the road. Look to the LHBs first, but this is far from the usual "must play" Coors Field Extravaganza as the Guardians acclimate to altitude.

WAS at RHP Ryan Gusto 3.8 runs: The Nationals of course are not at their apex powers with injuries and trades, but the team still has strong left-handed options at the top of the order in CJ Abrams, Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz (pinch-hit risk). This mini-stack should provide ample differentiation.

BAL vs RHP Freddy Peralta 4.1 runs: This has been a dreadful season for Peralta, who is playing for his next big contract. He has had difficulty with opposite-handed batsmen, which helps the O's since their best hitters fit the bill in Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Samuel Basallo, with an honorable mention to slugger Pete Alonso.

SDP vs LHP Connor Prielipp 4.4 runs: The rookie had a mound meltdown with 8 ERs in his last start as he is at a career-high innings load. This is another spot to focus not eh trio at the top with scorching Fernando Tatis Jr. steady Manny Machado and surprisingly effective Luis Rengifo.

Looking at the Top Stack%, every team after CLE has about the same chance of being a DFS winner which is crazy!

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