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
Philadelphia Phillies
I definitely have interest here because of the offense involved as well as the matchup: Max Scherzer isn’t the dominant version of himself anymore, but he’s still capable of putting together quality outings when everything is working. The Phillies, though, are one of the deepest lineups in baseball and have shown all season that they can score against good pitching. I don’t think they’ll be as popular as some of the other offenses on the slate (which I discuss below), and that only makes them more appealing to me as a tournament stack.
Sep 26, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) hits a walk-off RBI double during the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Milwaukee Brewers
Again, a great spot this whole series for the Brewers as the environment alone puts Milwaukee firmly on my radar. Jack Perkins has plenty of talent, but he’s still a young pitcher trying to establish himself against major league hitters, and that’s usually a profile I’m willing to attack with a deep offense. The Brewers continue to be one of the more dangerous teams in baseball when they get traffic on the bases because they can beat opponents with both power and speed. I like them quite a bit as a tournament stack.
Athletics
Just like last night, both teams are in play here, and this is yet another strong tournament spot for the A’s. Brandon Sproat has flashed some upside, but the consistency hasn’t been there, and young pitchers can get into trouble quickly when command starts slipping. The Athletics are always one of my favorite GPP offenses because of the power they bring throughout the lineup, and their home park has played much friendlier to hitters than many people expected. I like the upside quite a bit if they can get Sproat into stressful innings early.
Mar 15, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) celebrates with first baseman Michael Busch (29) after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Chicago Cubs
This is one of my favorite spots on the slate. Michael Lorenzen has had a rough season, carrying a 8.01 ERA and 1.99 WHIP, and those are exactly the types of numbers I’m looking to attack in tournaments. The Cubs have cooled off a bit from some of their hotter stretches this season, but the offense still has plenty of power throughout the lineup and doesn’t need much help to put together a big inning. If Lorenzen continues having issues keeping runners off base, Chicago has the upside to be one of the highest-scoring teams on the slate.
Houston Astros
I’m happy to keep targeting Reid Detmers. He’s shown flashes over the years, but the volatility remains, and that’s always appealing when looking for tournament stacks. Detmers enters with a 4.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP this season, and when he’s not locating consistently, the home run issues can show up quickly. Houston’s offense has looked much better lately, and this feels like a spot where they can continue that momentum. Strong tournament option with plenty of upside.
For other popular plays, our revamped MLB Research Station has every stat you need to send your research to the next level!
May 30, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) hits a solo home run in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
FOUR MLB BvP Matchups
Jose Altuve vs. Reid Detmers:7-21 with two HR, five RBI, and two BB
Yordan Alvarez vs. Reid Detmers: 5-16 with three 2B, an RBI, and two BB
Ian Happ vs. Michael Lorenzen: 3-10 with a 2B, two HR, five RBI, and three BB
Bryson Stott vs. Max Scherzer: 8-13 with a 2B and two RBI
THREE MLB Value Plays
Jonah Heim ($2800 DK / $2700 FD): 1.297 OPS in his last seven games
Jhonny Pereda ($2400 FD): seven-game hitting streak (.943 OPS during)
Brandon Valenzuela ($2900 DK / $2700 FD): 1.232 OPS in his last seven games