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
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore has been pretty disappointing this season, so I’m definitely not pretending this is some automatic smash. But Steven Matz has a 5.46 ERA, and that’s enough to make me want to take some shots. The Orioles still have plenty of power in the lineup, and this is exactly the type of matchup where I can see the offense finally putting things together for a night. Not a core stack for me, but I like the Orioles as a lower-owned tournament option.
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
Robert Gasser has been pretty solid lately, allowing just seven earned runs over his last four starts after getting tagged for seven against Pittsburgh, and his season ERA sits at 4.57. So this isn’t necessarily a case of attacking a pitcher who’s completely falling apart. But…it’s the Dodgers. I’m always going to want some exposure to this offense, especially when there’s even a little bit of vulnerability on the other side. They have too much talent to completely ignore, and if Gasser has another one of those bad outings, the Dodgers have the ceiling to absolutely bury the slate.
Kansas City Royals
How can you not take some shots against a pitcher with a 7.20 ERA? Grayson Rodriguez has been getting hit all season, and while Kansas City isn’t exactly the first offense I think of when I’m looking for stacks, this is a matchup I don’t want to ignore. The Royals don’t need to suddenly become an elite offense for this to work — if Rodriguez continues pitching like this, they’ll have plenty of opportunities. Definitely a tournament spot for me.
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) hits a solo home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
San Francisco Giants
I don’t really care that this one is in San Francisco. Kyle Freeland’s 6.63 ERA is ugly enough that I’m still interested in the Giants, even in a pitcher-friendly environment. The park can suppress some of the home-run upside, but it doesn’t magically make a struggling pitcher good. San Francisco can put together runs in different ways, and I like the idea of getting exposure here while other people may shy away because of the park. This is a nice GPP spot.
Athletics
The hitters’ park definitely helps, but Kumar Rocker’s 4.46 ERA is enough to make me interested anyway. He’s shown that he can get blown up, allowing six and seven runs in two of his last five starts, and Oakland has enough power to take advantage if the bad version shows up. The A’s are always going to carry some volatility, but that’s exactly what I want in tournaments. If Rocker loses the zone or starts leaving pitches over the plate, this could get out of hand quickly.
For other popular plays, our revamped MLB Research Station has every stat you need to send your research to the next level!
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
Drake Baldwin vs. Brandon Pfaadt: 5-8 with a HR and two RBI
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Gerrit Cole: 12-35 with four 2B, two HR, five RBI, and three BB
Austin Riley vs. Brandon Pfaadt: 4-10 with two 2B and an RBI
Tyler Soderstrom vs. Kumar Rocker: 3-7 with three 2B, an RBI, and three BB
THREE MLB Value Plays
Alejandro Kirk ($3500 DK / $2600 FD): 9-24 with five 2B, a HR, and three RBI against Gerrit Cole
Cam Smith ($3300 DK / $2800 FD): 1.244 OPS in his last seven games
Jacob Young ($3200 DK / $2800 FD): 1.291 OPS in his last seven games