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
Minnesota Twins
The Twins are quietly one of my favorite tournament spots on the slate. Michael Lorenzen’s season has been a disaster, as he’s carrying a 7.11 ERA and 1.83 WHIP, and those are exactly the kinds of numbers I’m looking to attack in GPPs. Minnesota can disappear offensively for stretches, but they can also put up eight runs before you know what happened when things start clicking. I don’t think they’ll be one of the chalkier offenses on the slate, which only makes them more appealing as a tournament stack.
Mar 24, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman against the New York Yankees during spring training at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Chicago Cubs
This feels like one of those spots where the matchup is better than it looks at first glance. Kyle Harrison has been excellent this year, pitching to a 2.50 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, and most people are going to see those numbers and move on. The thing is, we’ve watched this Cubs offense explode against quality pitching multiple times this season, and they have enough power throughout the lineup to make one bad inning hurt. I don’t think this is a spot to go all-in, but as a tournament stack with leverage attached, I definitely have some interest.
Athletics
The A’s are going to keep showing up in these writeups because the ceiling just never goes away. Reid Detmers has actually pitched solidly enough this season, carrying a 3.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts, so this isn’t exactly a matchup the field is going to run toward. but that’s exactly why I’m interested. Sacramento has played like one of the best hitters’ parks in baseball, and we’ve seen this Athletics lineup put up crooked numbers against good pitching all year. It’s definitely risky, but on a slate like this, I’m happy to chase the upside at what should be modest ownership.
Jul 18, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) rounds third base en route to a triple during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Los Ángeles Dodgers
It’s hard not to like the Dodgers here. Randy Vásquez has had his moments, but he’s also shown plenty of volatility, and that’s not exactly the profile you want facing one of the deepest lineups in baseball. Los Angeles has cooled off from their absurd early-season pace, which honestly might help keep ownership from getting completely out of hand, but the ceiling remains obvious. If Vásquez starts putting extra runners on base, this could get ugly in a hurry.
San Francisco Giants
Even in San Francisco, I think the Giants deserve a look. Bryce Elder has had enough inconsistency throughout his career that I’m generally willing to take shots against him, and the Giants’ offense has shown a lot more life over the past month than people may realize. Oracle Park obviously suppresses some of the upside, but that’s also going to keep ownership in check. This isn’t a spot I’m building around, but I can absolutely see mixing in some Giants exposure in MME builds.
For other popular plays, our revamped MLB Research Station has every stat you need to send your research to the next level!
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
FOUR MLB BvP Matchups
Willy Adames vs. Bryce Elder: 5-16 with two 2B, two HR, and five RBI
Josh Bell vs. Michael Lorenzen: 9-31 with a 2B, two HR, six RBI, and five BB
Xander Bogaerts vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 7-16 with two 2B, a HR, and three RBI
Michael Harris II vs. Logan Webb: 7-14 with a 3B, two HR, and three RBI
THREE MLB Value Plays
Miguel Andujar ($2800 DK / $2500 FD): 3-6 with a 2B, HR, and two RBI vs. Yamamoto
Owen Caissie ($2900 DK / $2700 FD): 1.310 OPS in his last seven games
Ty France ($2600 DK / $2400 FD): 1.339 OPS in his last seven games