FREE 05/05 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 8-game slate features a few solid pitching matchups with moderate run totals across the board. The highest totals are in New York (7.5) and Arizona (9.5), though the Yankees game could see delays or a rainout with an 84% chance of rain and wind blowing in, which might limit offense if the game happens. The Mets-Diamondbacks game is indoors, removing weather concerns and making it one of the better spots for run-scoring potential.

Other games to note include San Francisco at Chicago and Pittsburgh at St. Louis, both with low chances of rain but cooler temperatures and winds blowing in, which could suppress power numbers slightly. The rest of the slate offers clear skies and favorable conditions, including Atlanta and Oakland, where the weather should support hitters. Keep an eye on those park factors and pitching matchups when building lineups tonight.

Top Stacks

CIN 5-Man ($21,700)

TJ Friedl, Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Gavin Lux, Spencer Steer

The 5-man CIN stack offers solid value at 2.02 points per $1000 on a $21,700 salary, fitting well within budget constraints for DFS builds. With an average ownership of 11.2% and an optimal lineup rate of 11.1%, this stack presents moderate leverage potential, balancing popularity with differentiation. The inclusion of middle infielders McLain and De La Cruz alongside outfielders Friedl and Lux plus first baseman Steer maximizes lineup correlation through multiple offensive positions, enhancing multi-runner scoring upside. The game total sits at a reasonable 8.5 runs against Atlanta’s pitching staff, which supports run-scoring opportunities without extreme volatility. Weather conditions are ideal—clear skies, mild 70°F temperature, and light 7 MPH crosswind—minimizing environmental risk factors that could suppress offense. Overall, this CIN stack is a strategically balanced option offering efficient scoring potential with manageable ownership in a favorable hitting environment.

KC 5-Man ($19,600)

Jonathan India, Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia

The 5-man Kansas City stack offers solid value at 2.09 pts per $1000 with a total salary of $19,600, fitting well within budget constraints. Despite a modest game total of 7.5, the clear weather conditions—72°F with light 6 MPH wind blowing in—favor consistent offensive production without weather-related disruption. The stack’s average ownership is moderate at 13.9%, while its optimal lineup rate sits lower at 9.5%, indicating potential leverage for DFS players seeking differentiation. Including multi-position eligible players like Jonathan India (3B/OF) and Salvador Perez (1B/C) enhances lineup flexibility and correlation, maximizing exposure to Kansas City’s offensive upside. This stack’s balanced combination of reasonable ownership and strong pts/$1000 value makes it an efficient option for tournaments where lineup synergy and differentiation are key.

NYM 5-Man ($23,900)

Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Mark Vientos

The NYM 5-man stack featuring Lindor, Soto, Alonso, Nimmo, and Vientos offers solid value at 1.82 points per $1000 on a $23,900 total salary. With an average ownership of 9.2% and an optimal lineup rate of 8.4%, this stack presents a moderately leveraged play in DFS pools. The game’s total sits at a moderate 9.5 runs, indicating balanced scoring potential without extreme volatility. The dome setting eliminates weather variability, ensuring consistent ball flight and reducing risk factors tied to wind or rain. This combination of premium hitters across key positions (SS, OF, 1B, OF, 3B) maximizes lineup correlation for run-scoring opportunities through sequencing and RBI potential against a presumably favorable pitching matchup implied by the stack’s construction and pricing. Overall, this NYM stack is efficient for its cost with controlled ownership exposure, making it suitable for both GPP leverage and cash game stability in MLB DFS lineups.

SP Plays

Top Play: Cole Ragans ($10,300)

Cole Ragans draws a solid matchup against the White Sox, a lineup that ranks middle of the pack in strikeout rate against lefties. Despite allowing nine runs over his last two starts, Ragans showed strong strikeout upside earlier this season with 34 Ks and just 4 walks across his first four outings. The Royals’ home park is neutral for pitchers, which limits extreme run-scoring environments but should allow Ragans to focus on missing bats. His ability to generate swings and misses remains his key fantasy asset, especially in a game where Kansas City’s implied total sits around league average.

At $10,300, Ragans offers good value at 2.08x salary multiplier and appears in about one-third of optimal lineups while drawing nearly 50% ownership. This chalk seems justified given his high strikeout potential and steady floor when healthy. While recent run allowance is a concern, he’s still one of the top SP options on the slate with upside from punchouts and innings pitched. Ragans’ combination of floor and ceiling makes him a safe anchor for GPP builds despite the elevated ownership share.

Honorable Mentions

• Matthew Boyd ($8,300)
• Tobias Myers ($5,700)

C Plays

Top Play: Salvador Perez ($4,000)

Salvador Perez draws attention at $4,000 as a strong value play in the cleanup spot for Kansas City. Batting fourth maximizes his plate appearances in a lineup that’s expected to generate runs against Chicago’s pitching staff, which has struggled at times this season. Perez’s right-handed power fits well against the White Sox’s right-handed pitchers, who have allowed a higher slugging percentage to righties. His 1.91x value and presence in over 14% of optimal lineups reflect his upside at this price point.

Ownership sits just below 10%, which seems reasonable given his role and matchup. While he’s not the flashiest option, Perez offers steady production potential in a solid run environment without commanding a high salary. His recent return to the lineup after missing time suggests he’s ready to contribute consistently again, making him worth considering for tournaments where balanced upside and salary relief are key.

Honorable Mentions

• Gabriel Moreno ($2,800)
• Yainer Diaz ($3,300)

1B Plays

Top Play: Alec Burleson ($2,800)

Alec Burleson offers strong DFS value at just $2,800 while hitting second in the Cardinals’ lineup against Pittsburgh. He’s a left-handed batter facing a right-handed pitcher, which suits him well given his recent consistent starts versus RHP. Though his overall slash line (.255/.305/.316) is modest so far, he carries underlying power upside from last season’s 21 homers. The implied team total and park factors are neutral, but Burleson’s lineup spot ensures plenty of plate appearances in a decent run environment.

His 11.5% ownership is slightly above the field average but justified given his role and price point. Burleson ranks first among tournament options for value at 2.38x and appears in nearly 10% of optimal lineups, indicating solid DFS appeal as a salary saver with multi-category contributions including some speed. While he hasn’t delivered consistent multi-hit games recently, his ability to contribute runs and RBIs alongside occasional power gives him upside as a low-cost leverage option in GPPs.

Honorable Mentions

• Vinnie Pasquantino ($3,100)
• Rowdy Tellez ($2,400)

2B Plays

Top Play: Matt McLain ($4,400)

Matt McLain slots in second for Cincinnati against a right-handed pitcher in Atlanta’s pitcher-friendly park. While his recent strikeout rate sits high at 31%, he brings speed upside with six steals on the season, adding value beyond just hits. The Reds have a modest implied total, so McLain’s opportunity to reach base and create runs from the two-spot is key for his DFS ceiling.

At $4,400, McLain offers strong value with a 2.06x salary multiplier and ranks as the top tournament option at second base. His 13.7% ownership reflects recognition of that value without being overwhelmingly chalky given the field average is much lower. Considering his lineup position and multi-category contributions, this ownership level seems justified if you’re comfortable with some strikeout risk.

Honorable Mentions

• Nolan Gorman ($3,400)
• Michael Massey ($2,300)

3B Plays

Top Play: Jonathan India ($2,900)

Jonathan India offers strong value at just $2,900 while batting leadoff for the Royals in a matchup against the White Sox. His recent power surge, highlighted by his first homer of the season, adds upside to his profile despite a slow overall start. Facing a right-handed pitching staff that has shown some vulnerability to righties, India’s position atop the lineup should maximize plate appearances in what could be a moderately favorable run environment.

At 17.5% ownership—well above the field average—India is clearly on many radars, which makes sense given his value and spot in the lineup. While he hasn’t been consistent this season, his ability to get on base and occasional power gives him enough ceiling to justify that chalk status in tournaments. He won’t carry your lineup alone but fits well as an affordable piece with upside against a middling pitching matchup.

Honorable Mentions

• Nolan Gorman ($3,400)
• Jorge Polanco ($4,400)

SS Plays

Top Play: Elly De La Cruz ($6,000)

Elly De La Cruz offers strong value at $6,000 with a 1.87x value mark and sits third in the Reds’ lineup, maximizing his plate appearances. He’s riding a 14-game hit streak and leads MLB with 13 steals, giving him both power and speed upside. Facing Atlanta on the road, he’ll see a pitching staff that has struggled to contain lefties, which fits well with his left-handed swing and .281/.348/.438 slash line this season.

Though ownership is elevated at 21%, it’s justified given his consistent production and multi-category contributions. The Reds’ implied total isn’t elite, but De La Cruz’s combination of contact ability, speed threat, and RBI opportunities in the three-hole makes him a reliable core play in tournaments where you want solid floor with upside. His presence in nearly 16% of optimal lineups confirms he’s considered one of the top values tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Bobby Witt Jr. ($5,800)
• Jorge Polanco ($4,400)

OF Plays

Top Play: Juan Soto ($5,000)

Juan Soto slots into the Mets’ No. 2 spot tonight, a prime lineup position that should maximize his plate appearances against Arizona’s right-handed pitching. At $5,000, he’s offering strong value with a 1.91x return on salary and appears in over 13% of optimal lineups. Soto’s left-handed bat pairs well against the Diamondbacks’ staff, which has struggled to contain lefty power this season. His recent two-homer game shows his ability to deliver power upside even at a mid-tier price.

Ownership is elevated at 16.3%, reflecting confidence in his matchup and consistent production (.379 OBP). Given the Mets’ implied run total near league average and Soto’s role near the top of the order, this chalk looks justified as a core piece for tournament builds. While not a contrarian play, his combination of floor through on-base skills and ceiling via pop makes him a reliable option in this slate’s middle salary range.

Honorable Mentions

• Marcell Ozuna ($4,400)
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ($3,300)

Good luck tonight! Make sure to check the Lineup Optimizer for latest updates before lock. Visit DFS Hero for our full suite of DFS tools including the Lineup Optimizer, Contest Simulator, Player Projections, and Ownership Projections. Use code HEROPLAY15 to get 15% off your first month!