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
Boston Red Sox
I don’t think there’s much reason to get cute here. Boston is going to be popular…and deservedly so. They’ve been one of the hottest offenses in baseball for over a month now, they’re back at Fenway, and they draw Jack Perkins, who owns a 6.72 ERA. That’s about all I need to see. Sometimes eating the chalk is the right move, and this feels like one of those spots. I’ll have plenty of Red Sox exposure.
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 going right back to the Padres. They’re clearly pushing all-in for October, and this matchup lines up nicely. Ronel Blanco has looked rusty since returning, allowing 12 earned runs in 14.2 innings for a 7.36 ERA through his first three starts. That’s not the version of Blanco I’m worried about facing. San Diego has enough thump throughout the lineup to make those struggles continue, and I think they’re in a great spot to put up another big offensive night.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers against Merrill Kelly is almost always going to get my attention, and the numbers back it up. Kelly has a 5.04 ERA this season, while Los Angeles has posted a .282 batting average and .878 OPS with 10 home runs in 198 at-bats against him. That’s a lot of success over a pretty healthy sample. They’ll probably be one of the more popular stacks on the slate, but it’s hard to argue against it when both the season-long numbers and the matchup history point in the same direction.
Oct 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning during game three of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Chicago Cubs
The Cub offense is always capable of blowing up in tournaments, even if it’s equally capable of scoring one run. That’s exactly why I keep coming back to them. They’re fresh off a sweep of the Dodgers, so they’ll be carrying plenty of confidence into this series, and I’d love to see that momentum continue. Once we know the pitching matchup, I’ll have a better feel for where they rank, but regardless of who’s on the mound, Chicago is going to be firmly on my tournament radar because of the ceiling they bring every single night.
St. Louis Cardinals
This feels like a spot St. Louis needs to capitalize on. They’re just four games back in the Wild Card race, and Ryan Feltner isn’t exactly the guy I’d want to rely on to slow down a playoff push. He’s carrying a 5.75 ERA, and it’s somehow even worse away from Coors with a 6.00 road ERA. The Cardinals have been playing with a little more urgency lately, and I like this offense to take advantage of a pitcher who’s been hittable all season. One of my favorite secondary stacks.
For other popular plays, our revamped MLB Research Station has every stat you need to send your research to the next level!
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
Jose Altuve vs. Robbie Ray: 11-20 with three 2B, a 3B, two HR, four RBI, and three BB
Freddie Freeman vs. Merrill Kelly: 10-32 with five 2B, two HR, three RBI, and five BB
Max Muncy vs. Merrill Kelly: 16-39 with four 2B, a HR, four RBI, and seven BB
Bobby Witt, Jr. vs. Kevin Gausman: 5-15 with a 2B, two HR, and four RBI
THREE MLB Value Plays
James McCann ($2800 DK / $2500 FD): 1.275 OPS in his last seven games
Starling Marte ($2500 DK / $2300): 8-15 with three 2B, a HR, and seven RBI against Kevin Gausman
Wade Meckler ($3000 DK / $2800 FD): 1.232 OPS in his last seven games