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
Chicago Cubs
This is one of the easier spots for me to get behind. Miles Mikolas has been awful, carrying a 5.89 ERA, and now he gets a Cubs offense that can put up runs in a hurry when everything clicks. Chicago is obviously volatile, but that’s not something I’m worried about in tournaments. The ceiling is too high, especially against a pitcher who’s been this hittable. I’m going to have plenty of Cubs here.
May 20, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) hits a home run during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Boston Red Sox
Jose Soriano has gotten back to pitching pretty well after that ridiculous start to the season. Maybe he’s not quite at that early-season level anymore, but he’s still been good enough lately that this isn’t a slam dunk matchup. That said, Boston is one of the strongest offenses in baseball, and that’s exactly why I like the tournament upside. If Soriano is even a little off, this lineup can make him pay quickly. I don’t need Boston to be sneaky here — I just want some exposure to the ceiling.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves can be incredibly frustrating, but the ceiling is still there almost every night. Zac Thornton is the kind of pitcher I’m willing to attack with a lineup this talented, and Atlanta has enough power that a couple of mistakes can turn into a huge inning. I’m not expecting them to suddenly become the chalkiest stack on the slate, and that’s fine. I’ll take some shares and hope we get one of those nights where the offense finally puts everything together.
Mar 31, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) runs to first on a single against the Athletics in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
New York Mets
I actually like the Mets as perhaps a lower-owned option. They’ve underachieved for most of the season, which should keep people from wanting to click them, but there’s still plenty of pop scattered throughout this lineup. Tyler Mahle is a matchup I can get behind, too, and I don’t think the Mets need to be an elite offense for this to work. If a few of their better bats happen to click on the same night, this could be one of those stacks that suddenly shows up near the top of the leaderboard. Definitely worth some tournament shares.
Chicago White Sox
I’m actually pretty interested in this one. Luis Castillo has allowed 19 earned runs over his last five starts, including 10 over his last two, and that’s a pretty ugly trend heading into a matchup with a White Sox team that continues to surprise people. Chicago has been pushing toward a playoff berth, and the offense has done enough lately to make me take them seriously. This is still the White Sox, so I’m not pretending there’s a huge floor here, but the combination of Castillo’s recent struggles and Chicago’s momentum makes this a really fun tournament spot.
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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
FOUR MLB BvP Matchups
Pete Crow-Armstrong vs. Miles Mikolas: 8-12 with a 2B, five HR, and six RBI
Jarren Duran vs. Jose Soriano: 2-3 with a HR and BB
Freddie Freeman vs. Daniel Lynch: 2-6 with a HR and two RBI
Jose Ramirez vs. Framber Valdez : 6-15 with two 2B, a HR, and two RBI
THREE MLB Value Plays
Steven Kwan ($2700 FD): 10-game hitting streak (1.058 OPS during)
Brandon Nimmo ($3800 DK / $3000 FD): 1.186 OPS in his last seven games
Tyrone Taylor ($2600 FD): 4-12 with a 2B, 3B, HR, and three RBI against Miles Mikolas