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
Tampa Bay Rays
I really like this spot for Tampa Bay. The Rays have absolutely crushed Kevin Gausman historically, putting up a .859 OPS in 114 plate appearances against him, and he’s carrying a 4.33 ERA this season. That’s a pretty good combination for a tournament stack. Gausman still has the strikeout ability to make this risky, but the matchup history is too good for me to ignore. Tampa Bay isn’t always the first offense people click on, which makes the leverage even more appealing.
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
This is going to be chalk, and I really don’t see any reason to fight it. The Nationals are in Colorado, and Michael Lorenzen has been absolutely brutal this season with a 6.22 ERA and 1.77 WHIP. That’s a pretty difficult combination to overcome, especially at altitude. Washington isn’t normally an offense I’d want to play heavily, but this is one of those spots where the park and matchup are simply too good. I’ll gladly eat the ownership here.
Atlanta Braves
This is another spot where I think the matchup is better than the pitcher’s name suggests. Walker Buehler has a 5.36 ERA and 1.44 WHIP this season, and Atlanta has posted a .811 OPS against him in 92 plate appearances. That’s a meaningful sample, and it’s enough to get my attention before even factoring in the Braves’ overall upside. I don’t think this is the same Buehler we’ve seen at his best, and Atlanta has the kind of lineup that can make him pay if he falls behind.
Jun 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman (15) hits a home run off a pitch from Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mike Paredes (53) in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Arizona Diamondbacks
Jack Perkins has been completely unable to keep runs off the board lately, allowing 16 earned runs over his last 16.2 innings. That’s the kind of recent form I’m more than happy to attack, especially with a Diamondbacks lineup that has enough power to turn one bad inning into a disaster. Arizona has been one of my favorite offenses to target all season, and this is another spot where I can see them putting up a big number. I like them quite a bit here.
Colorado Rockies
This might be the most attractive matchup on the board for Colorado. Miles Mikolas already has a 5.33 ERA, and now he has to pitch at altitude against a Rockies team that is obviously much more dangerous at home than on the road. I know the Rockies are usually a difficult offense to trust, but Coors Field can make even mediocre offenses interesting, and this is a particularly appealing pitcher matchup. I have no problem stacking Colorado here, especially if the ownership stays reasonable.
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Apr 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) hits a three RBI home run during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
FOUR MLB BvP Matchups
Jonathan Aranda vs. Kevin Gausman: 5-10 with a HR and seven RBI
Yandy Diaz vs. Kevin Gausman: 7-18 with a HR, four RBI, and two BB
Brandon Lowe vs. Will Warren: 4-7 with a 2B and three RBI
Austin Riley vs. Walker Buehler: 7-18 with a 2B, HR, and three RBI
THREE MLB Value Plays
Starling Marte ($3100 DK / $2400 FD): 7-15 with three 2B against Tyler Mahle
Andruw Monasterio ($3000 DK / $2500 FD): 1.391 OPS in his last seven games
Jose Trevino ($2800 DK / $2400 FD): 1.269 OPS in his last seven games