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!
FIVE DFS MLB Stacks
San Diego Padres
This is one of my favorite spots on the slate. Zach Littell has struggled to keep runs off the board all season, pitching to a 5.23 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, and he’s already allowed 15 home runs in just 46.1 innings. That profile is always dangerous against an offense with as much power as San Diego brings to the table. If the Padres can get traffic on the bases early, this feels like a spot where things can snowball in a hurry. Strong full-stack option with plenty of upside.
May 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) hits a double during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
Washington Nationals
Griffin Canning has been one of the more volatile pitchers in baseball this season, which keeps this matchup interesting from a tournament perspective. The Nationals aren’t an offense I’m usually looking to build around, but they’ve shown enough upside at times to take advantage of pitchers who allow traffic and struggle to put hitters away consistently. I won’t be loading up here, but I can definitely see mixing in some exposure in larger-field tournaments.
Atlanta Braves
This is another spot where the pitching matchup stands out immediately. Nick Lodolo has a 5.57 ERA and 1.38 WHIP this season, and he’s already surrendered five home runs in just 21 innings. Atlanta is exactly the type of offense that can capitalize on those issues, especially when mistakes get left in the zone. The Braves haven’t always been as consistent as we’d like this year, but the ceiling remains among the highest in baseball, and this is a matchup I’m very willing to attack in tournaments.
May 7, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) hits a triple in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Milwaukee Brewers
Tatsuya Imai has had a rough introduction to the majors, posting an 6.17 ERA and 1.50 WHIP through his first six starts. The strikeout ability is there, but so are the walks and big innings, which is a dangerous combination against an offense that can pressure pitchers throughout the lineup. Milwaukee isn’t always the easiest offense to trust, but this is exactly the type of matchup where I want some exposure. Strong secondary stack with plenty of upside if Imai’s command issues continue.
New York Mets
The matchup alone is enough to put the Mets on my radar. Janson Junk has bounced between roles throughout his career and hasn’t shown the type of consistency that makes me shy away from attacking him with a deep lineup. New York’s offense has shown flashes of breaking out in bunches this season, and this feels like one of those spots where they could put together multiple productive innings. I like them as a strong tournament stack.
For other popular plays, our revamped MLB Research Station has every stat you need to send your research to the next level!
Jun 9, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a rbi double during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
FOUR MLB BvP Matchups
CJ Abrams vs. Griffin Canning: 4-8 with two 2B, a HR, and two RBI
Manny Machado vs. Zack Littell: 4-12 with two 2B, a 3B, and five RBI
Salvador Perez vs. Jack Leiter: 3-3 with a 2B, two HR, and four RBI
Eugenio Suarez vs. Spencer Strider: 3-4 with two 2B and two RBI
THREE MLB Value Plays
Isiah Kiner-Falefa ($2100 DK / $2500 FD): 1.175 OPS in his last seven games
Edgar Quero ($2300 DK / $2200 FD): six hits (including a HR and four RBI) in his last 13 AB
Taylor Trammel ($2500 DK / $2600 FD): seven hits in his last 16 AB (1.033 OPS)