We’ve got a nice-looking slate tonight starting off the weekend with some good matchups not just for watching but also for DFS purposes. Let’s see how we can get some edge! The focus of this article is to sort through the myriad of options on larger slates and find not only some solid foundational plays but also some spots that could go overlooked. We focus on stacks that are solid for small-field and SE as well as overlooked spots for large-field GPPs, and we discuss players that have good past history vs. the pitchers they’re facing. Our Discord strategy rooms are incredibly active. Hop in and join the discussion!
Mar 12, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) is congratulated by left fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) after Judge hit a two run home run during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
FIVE MLB BvP Matchups
Aaron Judge vs. Kevin Gausman: 11-37 with two 2B, five HR, 10 RBI, and eight BB
Ha-seong Kim vs. Austin Gomber: 6-18 with four 2B, four RBI, and four BB
Salvador Perez vs. Tarik Skubal: 8-24 with two 2B, three HR, and eight RBI
Juan Soto vs. Kevin Gausman: 7-13 with a 2B, HR, five RBI, and 11 BB
Giancarlo Stanton vs. Kevin Gausman: 7-19 with a 2B, two HR, four RBI, and two BB
Aug 1, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) hits a home run against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
FOUR MLB Value Plays
Orlando Arcia ($2800 DK / $2600 FD): 12-game hitting streak (1.009 OPS during) and locked into starting role with Albies out
Andrew Benintendi ($2600 DK / $2600 FD): 7-17 with two 2B, a 3B, a HR, and two RBI vs. Ryan
Santiago Espinal ($2600 DK / $2400 FD): 11-game hitting streak (1.482 OPS during)
Ramon Urias ($2400 DK / $2500 FD): 6-19 with a HR and four RBI in L7
Jun 11, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar (10) catches a line drive hit by Oakland Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
THREE DFS MLB Stacks
San Diego Padres (5.20 IRT)
Nice spot for the Padres who have been sneakily one of the better hitting teams over the last couple of weeks (they’re averaging nearly six runs a game in their past 11 while hitting. .291 as a team). Tonight they get a matchup at home against the Rockies who are awful away from Coors, and Colorado’s pitcher Austin Gomber follows suit, pitching to a 1-6 record with a 5.73 ERA and 1.45 WHIP on the road. Start your Padres stacks with Xander Bogaerts and his 10-game hitting streak, and mix in healthy shares of Jurickson Profar (1.226 OPS in L7) and Jackson Merrill (1.141 OPS in L7) as well as Manny Machado, and Ha-seong Kim has a good record against Gomber for cheap. They’re also middle of the pack for ownership, which on a larger slate is something we can take advantage of.
New York Yankees (5.58 IRT)
Like the Yankees in this spot a lot as not only has deadline acquisition Jazz Chisholm been on fire, but also Giancarlo Stanton has come back from his annual IL stint, and both up the Bronx Bombers’ upside a lot. Kevin Gausman, the Jays’ starter, has not had good success against New York, especially the trio of Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Juan Soto, who combined have nine HR and 19 RBI in just 69 at-bats; also, he allowed seven earned runs in just 4.1 innings of work back on June 30. Our MLB Leverage Stacks tool has them as the top leverage stack on the slate on both sites. Mix in the above players in your stacks, and don’t forget Austin Wells (.947 OPS in his last six starts, including six RBI).
Tampa Bay Rays (3.21 IRT)
This is a deep tournament play, but there’s some solid evidence for some shares here. Yusei Kikuchi is making his first start as a Houston Astro tonight, but let’s face it: he hasn’t been good this season, showcasing a 4.75 ERA and 1.34 WHIP for the year and being even worse in July, allowing 20 earned runs in just 27.1 innings of work. To be fair, the Rays’ offense is not good (and they traded away possibly their best player in Randy Arozarena), but they still have some solid pieces: Yandy Diaz hits Kikuchi well, Christopher Morel has been hot since coming over from the Cubs (3-8 with a couple of home runs in his first two games as a Ray); and Brandon Lowe (1.318 OPS in L7) are where I’m starting my stacks here.
For other popular plays, our revamped MLB Research Station has every stat you need to send your research to the next level! Let’s get it!