MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: August 26, 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 8/26 ⚾️ 🏖️

Jesus Luzardo at SEA 3.3 runs: The M's are doing just enough to somehow save front office jobs, even though they are battling six teams within three games of the final wild card berth and 2.5 behind HOU for the AL West. The main knock on this team all season has been a lack of hitting against southpaws and now they are facing Luzardo, who has been a steady frontline starter all season. There should be five high-strikeout candidates (HKCs) in the lineup, plus the added bonus of T-Mobile Park being the most pitching friendly venue in the league. Luzardo has a career best 29.9 K% and he is the clear priority click.

Bryan Woo vs PHI 3.7 runs: After a pair of 5-run mound meltdowns, Woo has ceded only two "Ernies" in his last trio of tilts spanning 18IP, both on solo shots in his last start @HOU. He will have a tall task of taking on the top-heavy Phillies lineup, but he gets just enough strikeouts to be interesting with his improved current form.

Joey Cantillo at LAA 4.1 runs: Over his last 20.2 IP, the young southpaw has 28 Ks and while the 10 BBs are worrisome, he has survived with just two round-trippers in this timeframe. He should see 7-8 RHBs, though he has a 27.8 K% against opposite-handed batsmen and there are 6 HKCs in the expected Angels lineup.

EARLY Top Stacks 8/26 ⚾️🎇

CLE at RHP Grayson Rodriguez 4.8 runs: Over his last five outings, Rodriguez has allowed 13 runs in 27 IP, though three were unearned and he has a solid 31 Ks. The lefties are appealing, though the last month has been bleak for Travis Bazzana and Jose Ramirez who have a combined .070 ISO and .245 wOBA against righties. We do not need to eschew this duo, it is just important to have context. The rest of the LHBs have been solid and of course righty Jo Adell is very familiar with hitting in Angels Stadium.

CHC at LHP Eduardo Rodriguez 4.6 runs: The veteran lefty continues to outperform his peripherals, with his 2.61 ERA in no way supported by his 4.60 xERA, while also enjoying a career low .268 BABIP and career high 82.4 LOB%. The Cubbies have a lengthy lineup and the core four of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Susukie, Alex Bregman and Michael Busch have been firing on all cylinders this month.

PIT at RHP Randy Vásquez 4.2 runs: After a strong start to the season with a new pitch mix, the league quickly solved the puzzle and the strikeouts evaporated, with Vásquez eventually being relegated to being a multi-inning reliever and spot starter. In his last 43.2 IP, eh has just 16 Ks and while he usually does just enough to survive a full mound meltdown, the Pirates have plenty of lefties who will enjoy the platoon-advantage this afternoon, which should give the visitors the upper-hand, until the bullpen gets involved.

Top Stacks 8/26 ⚾️🎇

MIN at RHP J.T. Ginn 5.9 runs: Though he is a decent pitcher who leans into his ground ball proclivity with nearly a 50% rate over the last two seasons, that is not enough to overcome hitting friendly Sutter Health Park, where he has a 5.02 ERA compared to 3.44 on the road since the start of last year. This is a reminder that if he has luck and good defense behind him, he could mitigate the Twins. Savvy gamers will still accept this risk and move forward.

ATH vs LHP Connor Prielipp 5.0 runs: The rookie is nearly 30 IP beyond his prior career high and his last two starts have been particularly rough with 14 ERs in 11 IP. He does have 13 Ks in this stretch and just two round-trippers, though 22 total baserunners are hard to ignore. Focus on the righties, with an honorable mention to Lawrence Butler who has been locked in against fellow lefties over the last month.

MIL at RHP Robert Stock 4.8 runs: Stock washed out of the league, spending 2022 through 2024 playing in Korea, Mexico and the Independent League. He is definitely pitching like there is no tomorrow, which there probably is not and that is going to catch up to him against good times sooner rather than later. Although the Brew Crew has the fewest home runs in the league, they have the fifth most runs and even looking at just the last 30 days (to remove the ridiculous Las Vegas series against the A's) they have been in the top-10. Look to the LHBs in the top six, along with catcher Wilson Contreras and budding star Jackson Chourio swinging the stick from the right side of the plate.

Pitchers 8/26 ⚾️ 🚀

Sean Burke vs TEX 3.9 runs: The last two games for Burke have been a little rough, though he also has been unlucky with a 57.4 LOB%, resulting in 8 of 15 baserunners crossing home plate, with a scant half dozen Ks in these 10.1 IP. This has still been an excellent season for Burke and he should see 4-5 high strikeout candidates (HKCs) in the Texas lineup.

MacKenzie Gore at CHW 4.2 runs: After a midsummer swoon, Gore has collected 39 Ks in his last 35 IP across half a dozen appearances, with a 2.57 ERA, 3.26 xERA and 3.48 xFIP. The ChiSox are betters suited to face RHPs, though they will reconfigure there lineup for maximum effect with Chase Meidroth likely leading off and reserve Randal Grichuk in the top four. There will still be six HKCs, which should provide Gore DFS upside, or at least the possibility of covering up any mistakes.

Dustin May at NYM 3.8 runs: The Mariners put up 7 ERs against May in his last start, though the fiery redhead had allowed only four runs in his preceding four appearances, with 22 Ks in those 24 IP. The #LOLMets will be putting out as many lefties as possible looking to overwhelm May with the platoon-advantage, though there should still be 4-5 HKCs in the lineup and while a "baseball being baseball" moment could always occur, the Mets have plated more than four runs in just two of the last 12 games.

FanDuel is including the three early-evening games, which brings RHP Sonny Gray @MIA into the mix on the blue site.

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