MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: August 24, 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 8/24 ⚾️💪

Chase Burns at SFG 3.3 runs: This has been an excellent season for the budding ace, who gets a dreamy matchup in San Francisco against the Giants who have scored the fewest runs in the league since the trade deadline with 2.94 per game. There should be 4-5 high-strikeout candidates (HKCs) in the San Fran lineup tonight.

Parker Messick at LAA 3.5 runs: The Halos have scored the fifth-fewest runs (3.54rpg) since the trade deadline. The projected lineup has a whopping 7 HKCs with a collective 26.3 K% against southpaws this season for the expected hometown nine. Messick has wicked 25.7 K% for the season, which is a 29.0% for the last month. Giggity!

Zack Wheeler at SEA 3.4 runs: Continuing the trend of picking on poor offenses, Seattle has scored the fewest runs in the league this season, while ranking third (3.27rpg) since the deadline. Wheeler has been merely mediocre for the last month, though he still is getting his strikeouts, they are just taking more pitches and it is a little worrisome to see 10 BBs in his last 15.1 IP. Pitching in T-Mobile Park will be helpful tonight and he should be able to flirt with a quality start.

FanDuel is including the three games in the 6 o'clock hour, which brings RHP Cade Cavalli at home against COL to the forefront, rounding out the blue site core four.

DraftKings has discount dandies in RHP Jose Urquidy at home against TEX with the Rangers barely above the Giants for runs scored over the last three-plus weeks. RHP Carson Whisenhunt is at the $5.0k minimum on DK, which makes him a tournament dart throw with hopes he reached double-digit fantasy points.

Top Stacks 8/24 ⚾️🎇

Loading up on both sides of MIN@ATH in Sutter Health Park to attack RHP Zebby Matthews and LHP Jeffrey Springs is a savvy strategy. The Nationals are also intriguing in our nation's capital against RHP Ryan Feltner.

CHC at RHP Merrill Kelly 5.2 runs: The end is nigh for Kelly, who has allowed a ridiculous .225 ISO to lefties since the start of last year and that has jumped to .249 this season. Same-handed batsmen have also been profitable against the soon-to-be 38-year-old, putting the first five Cubs as priority clicks, along with discount dandy Michael Conforto from the back of the lineup, with backup catcher Miguel Amaya holding appeal on the five-game late-slate.

CHW vs RHP Kumar Rocker 4.4 runs: Lefties have put a hurting on Rocker all season, which is problematic as the ChiSox should put at least 6-7 in the lineup tonight. Focus on the power hitters first with Munetaka Murakami, Andrew Benintendi and slumping Colson Montgomery, with leadoff man Sam Antonacci and young switch-hitter Braden Montgomery rounding out full-stacks.

ARZ vs RHP Kevin Gausman 4.3 runs: Looking for duos and trios against Gausman is the best path, considering how many other tantalizing stacks are available tonight. The 35-year-old has not closed out the fifth inning in either of his last two starts, ceding 9 ERs in these 9 IP, though he at least has 11 Ks in these matchups @WAS and vs CHW. He at least will have unfamiliarity on his side, with most of the starting lineup having five or fewer plate appearances against him for their careers.

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