FREE 04/15 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 11-game MLB slate offers a solid mix of pitching and hitting opportunities, with several games standing out for DFS purposes. The highest totals on the board are in Cleveland-Baltimore (9.0) and Boston-Tampa Bay (9.0), both of which feature conditions that could favor hitters. Watch for the wind blowing left to right in Baltimore, which could impact batted balls in the air, while Tampa Bay’s controlled environment removes weather from the equation entirely. On the pitching side, Kevin Gausman (TOR) and Max Fried (NYY) headline a slate with plenty of strikeout upside, though keep an eye on potential rain delays in New York, where precipitation and 20 MPH winds blowing out could create challenges.

Weather is worth monitoring tonight, particularly in Kansas City-New York (35% chance of rain) and Cleveland-Baltimore (17% chance of precipitation). Meanwhile, games like Oakland-Chicago and Colorado-Los Angeles feature winds blowing out at 18 MPH and 8 MPH respectively, providing slight boosts to power hitters. The domed stadium matchups—Atlanta-Toronto, Detroit-Milwaukee, and Los Angeles-Texas—should remain unaffected by weather concerns. With a variety of park factors and game environments to consider, there’s plenty of opportunity to build competitive lineups across this intriguing slate.

Top Stacks

LAD 5-Man ($27,000)

Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Michael Conforto

The LAD 5-man stack featuring Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, and Michael Conforto is projected for 46.8 points with a solid value of 1.73 pts/$1000 on a $27,000 salary. This lineup benefits from strong batting order correlation, as all five hitters are positioned consecutively (1-5), maximizing RBI and run-scoring opportunities. The matchup comes in a favorable offensive environment with an 8.5 game total and wind blowing out at 8 MPH in Los Angeles, where temperatures are mild at 60°F and no precipitation is expected. With an average ownership of 9.4% and an optimal lineup rate of 8.1%, this stack offers moderate leverage relative to its potential upside, though it may not be particularly contrarian. Overall, the combination of elite hitters in prime lineup spots and weather conditions conducive to offense makes this stack appealing for both cash games and tournaments.

BOS 5-Man ($24,200)

Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, Alex Bregman, Wilyer Abreu, Trevor Story

The BOS 5-man stack projects for 41.0 points with a solid value of 1.69 pts/$1000, making it a viable mid-tier option for tournaments. The offensive environment is favorable, with a game total of 9.0 in clear weather (77°F, no precipitation) and minimal wind impact in Tampa, a neutral ballpark for hitters. The stack benefits from excellent lineup correlation, featuring hitters batting consecutively in the top five spots of the order (Duran through Story), maximizing RBI and run-scoring opportunities. With an average ownership of just 3.9% but an optimal lineup rate of 7.7%, this stack offers strong leverage in GPPs, especially given its low popularity relative to its upside. Facing Tampa’s bullpen or back-end starters could further enhance its potential, particularly with power threats like Devers anchoring the middle of the order.

BAL 5-Man ($24,400)

Jordan Westburg, Adley Rutschman, Tyler O’Neill, Gunnar Henderson, Ryan Mountcastle

The BAL 5-man stack projects for 41.6 points at a solid value of 1.71 pts/$1000, making it a viable mid-tier option in MLB DFS. The lineup features strong positional versatility (2B/3B, C, OF, SS, 1B) and excellent lineup correlation with players batting consecutively from the top five spots in the order (1-5), which maximizes run-scoring and RBI potential. Facing an opponent in a game with a 9.0 total and partly cloudy conditions, the offensive environment is neutral to slightly favorable, though the 17 MPH wind blowing left to right could slightly suppress power to one side of the field. With an average ownership of just 7.6% and an optimal rate of 6.6%, this stack offers moderate leverage in tournaments but isn’t exceptionally contrarian. Overall, this stack provides a balanced mix of upside and value with strong lineup synergy but may lack elite differentiation in large-field GPPs without additional low-owned pivots.

SP Plays

Top Play: Charlie Morton ($6,500)

Charlie Morton comes in as a polarizing option on tonight’s slate. At just $6,500, he offers strong value with a 2.44x projection and a slate-best tournament rank of 1. However, his recent struggles are hard to ignore—an 8.78 ERA through three starts and an alarming 1.88 WHIP highlight his lack of control, as evidenced by eight walks in just 13.1 innings. On the bright side, Morton’s matchup against Cleveland provides some appeal; the Guardians rank near the bottom of the league in power metrics and have a modest implied team total. His 10-strikeout outing against Boston earlier this season shows there’s still upside here if he can limit baserunners.

At an expected ownership of 18.4%, Morton is one of the chalkiest pitchers on the slate relative to his salary range, which makes him a risky proposition for tournaments given his volatility. The low price point opens up plenty of flexibility for premium bats, but Morton’s lack of consistency creates significant downside risk if he doesn’t find the strike zone early. If you’re playing him in GPPs, consider pairing him with lower-owned options elsewhere to counterbalance his popularity while capitalizing on his potential ceiling in a favorable matchup.

Honorable Mentions

• Ryan Pepiot ($7,400)
• Jack Flaherty ($9,000)
• Yusei Kikuchi ($7,800)

C Plays

Top Play: Shea Langeliers ($4,300)

Shea Langeliers ($4,300) offers intriguing upside in tournaments tonight as he takes on the White Sox in Chicago. Slotted into the cleanup spot, Langeliers is in a prime position to drive in runs, and his power potential makes him an appealing option at a traditionally weak catcher position. While his recent performance has been inconsistent, he’s shown flashes of upside with an 18-point outing just a few games ago. Facing a White Sox pitching staff that has struggled to contain right-handed bats this season, Langeliers has the opportunity to capitalize in this matchup. His 1.92x value projection and appearance in 10.9% of optimal lineups further solidify his viability as a tournament play.

At 8.3% projected ownership, Langeliers is moderately popular but not overly chalky, making him a solid leverage piece for those looking to differentiate their lineups without taking on unnecessary risk. His ability to draw walks (five over his last five starts) adds some floor to his profile, while his power upside boosts his ceiling in GPPs. Priced at $4,300, he’s not cheap but offers enough value to warrant consideration given the favorable lineup spot and matchup dynamics. If you’re looking for a mid-range catcher with multi-homer potential in tournaments, Langeliers fits the bill nicely tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Gary Sanchez ($2,200)
• Kyle Higashioka ($2,400)
• Danny Jansen ($3,300)

1B Plays

Top Play: Ben Rice ($3,800)

Ben Rice ($3,800) offers intriguing value tonight as he leads off for the Yankees against Kansas City. Hitting out of the leadoff spot maximizes his plate appearances, and he’s been thriving in that role with a .310/.431/.690 slash line and four home runs through 13 games. As a left-handed batter, Rice gets a favorable matchup against KC’s right-handed pitching staff, which has struggled to contain lefty power this season. His combination of power (113.2 mph max exit velocity recently) and ability to get on base makes him an excellent play at this price point, especially given the Yankees’ strong implied run total.

At 6.9% projected ownership, Rice is moderately popular but not overwhelmingly chalky, making him viable in both cash games and tournaments. His 2.36x value projection and appearance in nearly 9% of optimal lineups underscore his potential to exceed expectations in this spot. With recent multi-hit games and home run upside, Rice provides an affordable path to exposure to the Yankees’ lineup without sacrificing ceiling—a great play for those looking to differentiate while staying anchored in a premium hitting environment.

Honorable Mentions

• Shohei Ohtani ($6,500)
• Jake Burger ($3,000)
• Andrew Vaughn ($3,000)

2B Plays

Top Play: Marcus Semien ($3,800)

Marcus Semien ($3,800) is an intriguing option at second base tonight, leading off for the Rangers against the Angels. While his early-season struggles (.132 AVG in April) are notable, his leadoff spot ensures maximum opportunities to produce fantasy points in a solid run-scoring environment. The matchup against a middling Angels pitching staff offers upside, especially considering Semien’s ability to contribute across multiple categories with both power and speed. At 1.91x value and a 9% optimal lineup rate, he’s a strong mid-range play with tournament-winning potential.

Semien’s projected ownership (7.7%) is slightly above the field average but not high enough to be prohibitive in GPPs. His moderate popularity reflects his balanced profile—consistent plate appearances from the top of the order combined with proven upside when he’s locked in. While recent results have been underwhelming, this price point offers an opportunity to buy low on a player who has shown elite production over full seasons. If you’re looking for leverage without taking on excessive risk, Semien fits the bill nicely in this spot.

Honorable Mentions

• Brandon Lowe ($4,800)
• Tommy Edman ($4,600)
• Kyle Farmer ($2,300)

3B Plays

Top Play: Josh Jung ($3,500)

Josh Jung ($3,500) is in a prime spot tonight, batting third for the Rangers against the Angels. His recent production has been stellar, hitting .474 with a homer, triple, and six RBIs across his first five games. While he’s yet to draw a walk this season, his power and run-production upside are clear. Facing left-handed pitching has historically been a strength for Jung as a right-handed hitter, and at this price point, his 2.36x value projection makes him one of the top options at third base. The Rangers’ lineup offers strong run-scoring potential, which should provide him with plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.

At 10% projected ownership, Jung is chalky relative to the field average but still worth considering in tournaments given his optimal lineup percentage (7.04%). His combination of power upside and favorable lineup spot gives him both a solid floor and ceiling for GPPs. While there’s some risk with high ownership on a slate like this, Jung’s price point makes him an efficient play who can fit well into balanced builds. If you’re looking for tournament leverage elsewhere, pairing Jung with lower-owned Rangers could maximize correlation while still taking advantage of his strong matchup.

Honorable Mentions

• Austin Riley ($4,300)
• Rafael Devers ($4,900)
• Justin Turner ($2,900)

SS Plays

Top Play: Mookie Betts ($6,000)

Mookie Betts ($6,000) is in a strong spot tonight as the Dodgers take on the Rockies at home. Batting second in one of baseball’s most potent lineups, Betts offers elite upside with his combination of power and speed. While he recently ended a 10-game homer drought, his .304/.400/.554 slash line on the season shows he’s been contributing consistently even without the long ball. Facing Colorado’s pitching staff, which has struggled to contain right-handed hitters, Betts is primed to deliver value despite his high salary. The Dodgers’ implied team total should also work in his favor, providing plenty of run-scoring and RBI opportunities.

At 15.8% projected ownership, Betts will be one of the more popular plays on this slate, but it’s chalk worth considering. His 9.7% optimal lineup rate aligns closely with his ownership, suggesting he’s neither over- nor under-owned for tournaments. While there are cheaper options at shortstop, few offer Betts’ ceiling in this matchup. If you’re building around the Dodgers or looking for a high-floor anchor in your lineup, Betts is a strong play despite the heavy ownership.

Honorable Mentions

• Bobby Witt Jr. ($5,800)
• Luisangel Acuna ($3,100)
• Francisco Lindor ($5,200)

OF Plays

Top Play: Tyler O’Neill ($4,700)

Tyler O’Neill ($4,700) offers a strong combination of power upside and lineup security as he bats third for Baltimore against Cleveland. While his recent production has been inconsistent, O’Neill’s .954 OPS early this season highlights his potential to deliver in favorable matchups. Facing a Cleveland pitching staff that lacks dominant arms, O’Neill is positioned to capitalize on his right-handed power in a hitter-friendly Camden Yards environment. His 1.91x value and appearance in 12.7% of optimal lineups suggest he’s priced fairly for both cash games and tournaments.

At 10.8% projected ownership, O’Neill is one of the chalkier plays at his position, but that level of popularity feels warranted given his role in the heart of the Orioles’ order and his ability to rack up extra-base hits (as evidenced by a double and triple just last week). If you’re building lineups around balanced exposure, O’Neill is a solid mid-range option who carries both floor and ceiling potential in this spot. However, if you’re looking to differentiate in large-field GPPs, fading him could be viable given the relatively high ownership for an outfielder with some recent volatility.

Honorable Mentions

• Kerry Carpenter ($3,700)
• Shohei Ohtani ($6,500)
• Michael Harris II ($4,000)

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