MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: August 31, 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 8/31 ⚾️💪

FanDuel is including four more games than DraftKings, which is creating a different set of pitching priorities with Payton Tolle vs SEA and Ian Seymour vs NYM. The Rays used an opener with Seymour on Tuesday, so keep in mind that would make him ineligible for the QS bonus on the blue site, making it tougher to pay off his five-figure salary if that transpires again.

Jacob deGrom vs ATH 3.2 runs: Keep in mind we focused on the A's in Sutter Health Park over the weekend against mediocre BAL pitching. They are now facing a legitimate frontline starter and are still down six of their key bats and three of the younger prospects who had been called up to fill in the gaps. The 38-year-old did suffer 8 ERs @CHW in his last start, though the 5 BBs were the real culprit. He should have DFS upside, particularly on DK ($8.8k).

Gage Jump at TEX 4.4 runs: If the young lefty is racking up Ks (7+ in 5 of the last 9 games), things are grand. If he is handing out free-passes (3+ in 5 of the last 9 games) it is dicy. The Rangers project to have five high-strikeout candidates (HKCs) in the lineup tonight, though six batsmen have a 9+ BB% rate this season. Depending on his tournament representation, this could be a "both-sideser" spot.

RHPs Taj Bradley vs DET and Kyle Bradish @COL: Both pitchers struggle against lefties, though both also have a reasonable strikeout baseline. The Motor City Kitties are likely to have only 2-3 HKCs in the lineup, while the Rockies should have at least five, though the team has ample power upside at home. Let personal preference be your guide through these potentially treacherous waters.

Top Stacks 8/31 ⚾️🎇

On FanDuel, do not lose sight of SDP in Great American SMALLpark against RHP Brady Singer, the Rays top-five at home against RHP Robert Stock and the BoSox LHBs in Fenway against RHP George Kirby as potential Coors Field countermoves.

CHC vs LHP Kyle Harrison 4.9 runs: Harrison is typically someone we roster against weaker teams, though with a light breeze to center in Wrigely and his propensity to cede fly balls to RHBs, this is a dodgy set of circumstances. He does limit walks, so he could avoid too much punishment if he surrenders solo shots, but the Cubbies will have a mostly righty lineup and lefties Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch have more then held their own against same-handed hurlers this season.

MIN vs RHP Jackson Jobe 4.4 runs: Attacking Jobe with the many lefty Twins is a savvy strategy and an intriguing Coors Field pivot on DK.

TEX vs LHP Gage Jump 4.4 runs; Jump has handed out multiple free passes in each of his last 10 starts, with 32 in 48.1 IP. He is a real-life Nuke Laloosh with 57 Ks in this same stretch, though the many righties for the Rangers are appealing, along with lefties Cory Seager and Brandon Nimmo.

HOU vs LHP Anthony Kay 4.6 runs: It seems many have forgotten that the 31-year-old washed out of The Show, spending the last two seasons in Japan. He has been a fun story this season for the surprising ChiSox, but his underlying trends and overall effectiveness have slipped during his summer swoon.

Build it with the Stokastic MLB Sims. Build EMac's stacks and pitchers with the Stokastic MLB Sims. Simulate the slate up to 10,000 times to find the highest-upside lineups, then use code EMAC15 for 15% off Stokastic Sims. Get Stokastic Sims →