Alert Glossary
Plain-English definitions for every fantasy alert, including exact thresholds and what each signal does — and does not — mean.
These are form signals, not identity labels.
Every alert in this system is based on what a player has done in the last 7–14 days, not who they are as a player. Francisco Lindor is always fast — but he only fires Speed Threat during the specific windows where he has stolen 2+ bases in the past 14 days. A slow player who steals 2 bases in a hot stretch will trigger the same alert.
Think of each alert as answering the question: "Is this player doing this specific thing at an elevated rate right now?" — not "Is this player the type of player who does this?"
Batter Alerts
(6 signals)Power Surge
BatterThis batter has hit 2 or more home runs in the last 7 games.
The player is in an elevated power phase right now. Batters in this window hit home runs at a 35% higher rate than their baseline and average +0.95 DraftKings points above their season norm. This is the strongest single batter signal in the system.
It does not mean the player is a power hitter by nature. A contact hitter who happens to have 2 HR this week will trigger it just as readily as a 40-HR slugger. The signal is about current form, not identity.
Francisco Lindor is primarily a contact/speed player. If he hits 2 HR in a 7-day stretch, he fires Power Surge — not because he is suddenly a power threat, but because something about his swing or the matchups this week is producing elevated power output.
Hot + Power
BatterThis batter has 4+ hits in the last 5 games AND at least 1 HR in the last 7.
The player is hitting for both average and power simultaneously — the most complete hot streak signal. Batters in this window average +0.73 DK pts above baseline. This is the recommended primary alert for daily lineup construction because it combines two independent momentum signals.
A player can be on a pure hit streak without this alert (they need the HR component too). A player can also have a HR without this alert (they need the hit volume too). Both conditions must be active at the same time.
A shortstop going 8-for-20 over 5 games with a HR in that stretch fires this alert. The same shortstop going 8-for-20 with no HR does not.
Multi-Hit Momentum
BatterThis batter has recorded 2+ hits in a single game at least twice in the last 5 games.
The player is making consistent hard contact and getting on base repeatedly. Multi-hit games are the clearest indicator of a batter seeing the ball well. Players in this window hit .233 vs. .203 baseline and average +0.68 DK pts above norm.
This is not about hit streaks (consecutive games with a hit). A player can have a 10-game hit streak with single hits each game and not trigger this. The signal specifically requires multi-hit performances — quality of contact, not just presence.
A player who goes 2-for-4, 1-for-3, 3-for-4, 1-for-4, 2-for-3 over 5 games fires this alert (2 multi-hit games). A player who goes 1-for-4 five times in a row does not, even though he has a 5-game hit streak.
Speed Threat
BatterThis batter has stolen 2 or more bases in the last 14 games.
The player is actively running and succeeding on the bases right now. This is a form signal, not a career label. Players in this window average +0.66 DK pts above baseline and have a meaningfully elevated stolen base rate for the current period.
This does not mean the player is fast or a base-stealing specialist. Francisco Lindor is always fast — but he only fires Speed Threat when he has actually stolen 2+ bases in the past two weeks. A slow player who happens to swipe 2 bags in a hot stretch will also trigger it. The alert is about recent execution, not athleticism.
Lindor steals 30+ bases a season, but he only fires Speed Threat during the specific 14-day windows where he has 2+ steals. Outside those windows, the alert is off — even though his speed hasn't changed. The signal is: he is running aggressively and successfully right now.
Hot Streak
BatterThis batter has recorded 5 or more hits across his last 5 games.
The player is getting on base consistently — at least one hit per game over a 5-game stretch, totaling 5+ hits. This is the broadest momentum signal. Players in this window average +0.57 DK pts above baseline and hit .230 vs. .203 baseline.
This is the weakest of the six batter alerts (+0.57 pts). It fires frequently — roughly 20% of qualifying appearances — so it is best used as a supporting signal alongside stronger alerts rather than as a standalone trigger.
A player going 1-1-1-1-1 (one hit each game) over 5 games fires Hot Streak. A player going 3-0-0-0-0 (3 hits in game 1, none after) does not, even though he has 3 hits in 5 games.
LH Platoon Edge
BatterThis left-handed batter is facing a right-handed starting pitcher today.
Left-handed batters have a structural advantage against right-handed pitchers due to the angle of pitch release and the direction of breaking balls. This is a persistent background signal — it is always 'on' for LH batters facing RH starters. It produces a modest +0.25 DK pts advantage.
Unlike the other five batter alerts, this is not a form signal — it does not reflect anything the player has done recently. It is a structural matchup condition. Think of it as a background multiplier rather than a hot-hand indicator. It is most valuable when it stacks with a form-based alert.
A left-handed batter facing a right-handed starter always carries this label. If he also has a Hot Streak active, both alerts appear together — the combination is more meaningful than either alone.
Pitcher Alerts
(7 signals)Composite Ace
PitcherThis pitcher meets all three elite criteria simultaneously: high strikeout rate, low walk rate, and a strong quality start history.
This is the rarest and most powerful signal in the entire system — a +8.75 DK pts advantage over baseline. Pitchers in this window average 23.94 DK pts per start with a 63.5% quality start rate. It fires on fewer than 1% of all starts, so when it appears, it is the lead story for that game.
Not every elite pitcher fires this alert every start. A top pitcher who has had a rough stretch and let his QS rate drop below 50% will not trigger it. Conversely, a mid-tier pitcher who is currently in a dominant run could trigger it if all three thresholds are met.
A pitcher with a 10.2 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, and 58% QS rate fires Composite Ace. The same pitcher after a rough month where his QS rate drops to 45% does not — even though his raw stuff hasn't changed.
K Surge
PitcherThis pitcher has averaged 7 or more strikeouts per start over his last 3 outings.
The pitcher is in a dominant strikeout phase right now. This is the most actionable rolling pitcher signal — a +4.53 DK pts advantage. Pitchers in this window average 6.01 K/start and a 47.5% quality start rate. It captures pitchers who are 'locked in' with their stuff.
A pitcher who averages 7 K/game over a full season but had a quiet last 3 starts (say, 5-5-6 K) will not fire this alert. The signal is specifically about recent form, not season-long ability.
A pitcher posts 8, 9, and 7 K in his last three starts (avg 8.0) — K Surge fires. The same pitcher follows up with starts of 5, 4, and 6 K (avg 5.0) — the alert turns off, even though he is the same pitcher.
High K/9
PitcherThis pitcher's season strikeout rate exceeds 9.0 per 9 innings.
This is a season-level ability signal — the pitcher has elite strikeout stuff over a full sample. Pitchers in this tier average +3.34 DK pts above baseline and 5.93 K/start. Unlike K Surge (which is a rolling form signal), this reflects sustained dominance.
A pitcher who had a 10 K/9 last season but is at 8.5 this year does not fire this alert. It is based on current-season K/9, not career numbers.
A starter sitting at 9.8 K/9 for the current season fires High K/9 every start, regardless of recent form. It is a persistent background signal for elite strikeout pitchers.
Deep Game
PitcherThis pitcher has averaged 6 or more innings per start over his last 3 outings.
The pitcher is going deep into games consistently, which produces more counting stats (K, outs) and a higher floor for DFS scoring. Pitchers in this window average +2.93 DK pts above baseline with a 48.5% quality start rate.
This is not about strikeout rate or ERA — a contact pitcher who consistently works 7-inning outings can fire this alert even without elite stuff. It is purely about innings pitched.
A ground-ball pitcher who goes 7, 6.1, and 6.2 innings in his last three starts (avg 6.5 IP) fires Deep Game. A power pitcher who goes 5, 5.1, and 5.2 innings (avg 5.2 IP) does not, even if he struck out 10 in each.
QS Streak
PitcherThis pitcher has recorded a quality start (6+ IP, 3 or fewer ER) in at least 2 of his last 3 outings.
The pitcher is consistently delivering reliable outings — the definition of a 'safe' DFS play. Pitchers in this window average +2.52 DK pts above baseline with a 47.8% QS rate. This is the consistency signal.
A pitcher can have a great ERA but still not fire this alert if he is pitching shorter outings (e.g., 5 IP, 1 ER — good ERA, not a quality start). The threshold is specifically 6+ IP with 3 or fewer ER.
A pitcher goes QS, non-QS (4 IP, 4 ER), QS in his last three starts — 2 of 3 are quality starts, so the alert fires. A pitcher goes QS, QS, non-QS — also fires (2 of 3). A pitcher goes non-QS, non-QS, QS — does not fire (only 1 of 3).
Command
PitcherThis pitcher's season walk rate is below 2.5 per 9 innings.
The pitcher throws strikes consistently and rarely gives away free baserunners. Low walk rate is a strong predictor of pitching success because it limits traffic on the bases. Pitchers in this tier average +2.15 DK pts above baseline.
This is a season-level signal, not a rolling form signal. A pitcher who is normally wild but has had 3 clean outings recently will not fire this — his season BB/9 is still elevated. Conversely, a command pitcher who has a few rough outings recently still fires this as long as his season rate stays below 2.5.
A pitcher with a 2.1 BB/9 for the season fires Command every start. If he walks 5 batters in one bad outing and his season rate climbs to 2.6, the alert turns off until he works it back down.
Home Advantage
PitcherThis pitcher is starting at home today.
Home starters have a structural advantage — familiar mound, no travel fatigue, and crowd support. This produces a modest +1.66 DK pts advantage. Like the LH Platoon Edge for batters, this is a persistent background condition rather than a form signal.
This is the weakest pitcher signal (+1.66 pts) and fires on roughly half of all starts. It is best used as a background multiplier that amplifies other alerts rather than a standalone reason to roster a pitcher.
Any home starter carries this label. Its value is in stacking — a home pitcher who also fires Composite Ace and K Surge has three simultaneous signals pointing in the same direction.
About "vs. opp." stats: The batting average and HR count shown on player cards are career numbers against that specific opposing pitcher — pulled from 61,751 career batter-pitcher split records. They are not the player's overall career statistics.
Alert stacking: When multiple alerts fire simultaneously, the effects are additive. A batter with Power Surge + Hot Streak + LH Platoon Edge active at the same time is meaningfully more elevated than any single alert alone.