MLB DFS Top Stacks & Top Pitchers: September 18, 2026

EMac's top stack today: MIL at LHP Cade Povich, 4.7 implied runs. This will be the fifth time this season that Povich has been recalled from the minors, where he has a 6.03 ERA.

Pitchers 9/18 ⚾️💪

Tyler Glasnow vs SFG · 3.3 runs

In his four starts since missing well over three months, Glasnow has logged 89, 85, 96 and 91 pitches. The only concern has been 7 BBs in his last two starts, though he also has 15 Ks in these 10 IP. The matchup is pristine as the Giants are dealing with dwindling offensive options, leaving only Bryce Eldridge and Drew Gilbert to stem the tide.

Dylan Cease at TEX · 3.7 runs

Cease trails only Jacob Misiorowski for Ks and K/9, ranking fourth with a 2.47 ERA and a top-10 1.064 WHIP. Despite previously finishing 2nd and 4th in the Cy Young Award voting, he was a first-time All-Star this season. The Rangers will likely have only 3-4 high-strikeout candidates in their lineup tonight, though only Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford have had any consistent production against right-handed hurlers over the last month.

Joey Cantillo vs ATH · 3.8 runs

There will be an opener for Cantillo, which of course takes him off the FD priority list since he cannot qualify for the quality start bonus. On DK ($7.5k) he is an excellent SP2 salary saver. He is at a career-high workload and this role change was not a demotion, so much as it is strategy to maximize his innings and effectiveness. This will be his 32nd appearance of the season and in his first outing under this tweak on Saturday, he struck out eight, allowing two baserunners and no runs across four frames.

Cade Cavalli at STL, Ian Seymour vs BOS, Connor Prielipp at LAA and Nick Pivetta vs MIA are other tournament options at different salary levels for flexibility.

Top Stacks 9/18 ⚾️🎇

MIL at LHP Cade Povich · 4.7 runs

This will be the fifth time this season that Povich has been recalled from the minors, where he has a 6.03 ERA. This is an easy recommendation with any Brew Crew right-handed batsmen in play, along with lefty Jake Bauers, who has tattooed fellow southpaws all season.

SDP vs RHP Tyler Phillips · 4.5 runs

Across his last five appearances, Phillips has 11 BB in 20.1 IP, with 4 HRs, though a solid 21 Ks. The Friars are all locked in at the moment, with the top-6 in play. Because there is not much tournament rostership from San Diego and the Marlins bullpen has been adequate over the last month, rolling with a mini-stack is the best approach for this excellent differentiation spot.

CHW vs LHP Andrew Sears · 4.5 runs

Though he is a solid prospect, Sears had just 9.2 Triple-A innings before being called up to The Show. Randal Grichuk has been on a tear against southpaws and he is a steal on DK ($3.4k) as the discount dandy du jour. Tommy Pham is at the flat minimum, though we need to remember that Chicago is his fifth stop this season (PIT, NYM, BAL, PHI) and this is his age-38 season. Still with the bucks-deluxe pitchers, plus SEA and LAD being spendy stacks, this duo is likely to be more popular that projected. The rest of the top-6 are solid clicks as well and a full-stack or two of the ChiSox is more than warranted for those crafting a dozen-plus lineups tonight.

The Coors Field Extravaganza has Seattle popping as the Mariners will enjoy the biggest ballpark upgrade for their offense all weekend.

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