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
Houston Astros
The BvP numbers are doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. Houston is hitting .283 with an .889 OPS across 218 plate appearances against Nathan Eovaldi, which is a pretty substantial sample against a pitcher they’ve seen plenty of. Eovaldi is still capable of putting together a strong outing, so this isn’t a spot where I’m expecting the Astros to be ignored completely, but that history is tough to overlook. Houston has enough power throughout the lineup to make one mistake hurt, and if Eovaldi isn’t sharp, this offense has a very real chance to put up a big number. I like them quite a bit.
August 1, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) runs after hitting a double against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers
Ranger Suárez has been perfectly fine this season, carrying a 3.02 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, so this isn’t just a case of blindly attacking a struggling pitcher. The Dodgers have handled him extremely well, though, posting a .909 OPS in 108 plate appearances, and that gets my attention. Add in the fact that this is still one of the most dangerous offenses in baseball, and I don’t need much more of a reason to have exposure. Suárez could absolutely pitch well and still give up a few runs, but if the Dodgers get to him early, the ceiling is massive. This feels like a fun leverage spot against a pitcher whose season-long numbers may keep some people away.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies at home are almost always worth at least considering, and I’m not going to overthink this one. Michael Wacha has been solid, so this isn’t some obvious attack spot, but Coors Field changes the equation. Colorado is a completely different offense at altitude, and the upside can show up fast when the ball starts carrying. They may not be one of my highest-exposure stacks, but I want some shares because there is always value in having exposure to the Rockies at home — especially when the field may be hesitant because the opposing pitcher has been pitching well.
Jun 30, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Diego Padres second baseman Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) hits a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
San Diego Padres
I’m pretty interested in San Diego here. Carson Whisenhunt has a 4.60 ERA, and while he has some ability, this Padres lineup has enough legitimate thump to make him pay for mistakes. A few of these hitters can change the entire slate with one swing, and Whisenhunt isn’t the type of pitcher who scares me away from that upside. I don’t know that the Padres will be one of the chalkier stacks with some bigger names on the slate, which only makes them more appealing in tournaments. This is a nice GPP option with plenty of paths to a big night.
Seattle Mariners
This is probably more of a deep tournament play than something I’m prioritizing, but I don’t mind taking a few shots. Zebby Matthews has a 5.21 ERA, and while Seattle’s offense can be frustratingly inconsistent, the power upside is always there. The Mariners don’t need to string together 10 hits to break a slate — a couple of walks and two or three long balls can get the job done pretty quickly. I wouldn’t go overboard, but they’re interesting as an MME sprinkle if ownership stays low.
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Apr 6, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) doubles in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
FOUR MLB BvP Matchups
CJ Abrams vs. Bryce Elder: 6-19 with a 2B and two BB
Jose Altuve vs. Nathan Eovaldi: 19-58 with two 2B, seven HR, and three BB
Yordan Alvarez vs. Nathan Eovaldi: 12-25 with three 2B, two HR, six RBI, and six BB
Christian Walker vs. Nathan Eovaldi: 6-16 with a 2B, two HR, three RBI, and three BB
THREE MLB Value Plays
Nick Fortes ($2600 DK / $2400 FD): 1.364 OPS in his last seven games (including hitting 11-22 with two HR and seven RBI)
James McCann ($2500 DK / $2500 FD): seven-game hitting streak (1.438 OPS during, including three HR and 10 RBI)
Eduardo Valencia ($3400 DK / $2500 FD): 1.136 OPS in his last seven games