FREE 05/27 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 11-game MLB slate offers several solid pitching matchups and a handful of games with totals around 8 runs, giving DFS players balanced options. The Yankees-Angels game leads the board with a 9-run total in hitter-friendly conditions at Angel Stadium, while the Pirates-Diamondbacks and Twins-Rays matchups also stand out with 9+ run totals. Keep an eye on domed stadium games like Boston-Milwaukee and Toronto-Texas where weather won’t be a factor, allowing pitchers to settle in without interruption.

Weather could impact some contests, particularly in Chicago and Kansas City where there’s a chance of rain and cooler temps with wind blowing in. Tampa’s partly cloudy skies and warm temps come with a modest wind blowing out, which could help the bats against Minnesota’s Joe Ryan. San Diego also looks favorable for hitters with clear skies and wind blowing out at Petco Park. These conditions are worth factoring into lineups when targeting power upside or avoiding potential delays.

Top Stacks

ARI 5-Man ($24,400)

Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez

The ARI stack offers solid value at 1.84 pts/$1000 with a total salary of $24,400, making it an efficient use of salary in MLB DFS. The moderate average ownership of 8.2% and an optimal lineup rate of 8.1% indicate this stack is appropriately leveraged but not overly popular, providing differentiation potential. The game’s 9.0 total suggests a moderately high-scoring environment, and the domed stadium eliminates weather as a variable, ensuring consistent playing conditions. This stack’s core includes high-upside hitters like Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte, who present strong upside against the opposing pitching matchup, reinforcing the stack’s appeal in both cash games and tournaments given its balanced ownership and solid points-per-dollar efficiency.

NYM 5-Man ($22,400)

Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Brett Baty

The NYM stack offers solid value at 1.96 points per $1000 with a total salary of $22,400, featuring key bats like Lindor, Nimmo, Soto, Alonso, and Baty. With an average ownership of 9.4% and an optimal lineup rate of 8.0%, this stack presents a moderately leveraged play that balances upside and differentiation. The game total is set at a moderate 8.0 runs, indicating balanced scoring expectations. Weather conditions are favorable for offense: partly cloudy skies, comfortable 66° temperature, no precipitation, and a mild 9 MPH wind blowing right to left in Flushing—conditions unlikely to suppress run production. This stack’s composition against likely pitching matchups should be monitored for further upside but currently stands as a solid mid-tier option in MLB DFS lineups.

NYY 5-Man ($25,400)

Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe

The NYY stack offers solid value at 1.87 points per $1000 with a total salary of $25,400, making it a cost-efficient option given the projected 9.0 game total. The average ownership sits at a moderate 10.1%, while the optimal lineup rate is slightly lower at 7.6%, indicating some leverage against the field. Weather conditions are ideal with clear skies, 70°F temperature, no precipitation, and an 8 MPH wind blowing out, which supports offensive upside in Anaheim’s hitter-friendly environment. This stack’s combination of strong individual talent—highlighted by power hitters like Judge and Bellinger—and favorable game context enhances its DFS appeal despite modest ownership levels.

SP Plays

Top Play: Tylor Megill ($8,800)

Tylor Megill offers a strong GPP option despite some recent inconsistency in innings pitched. He’s shown solid strikeout ability with 66 Ks over 48 innings and recently tied a season high with 10 punchouts in under five frames. Facing the White Sox, who rank near the bottom in strikeout rate against righties, Megill has upside for Ks even if he’s limited by pitch count or early hooks. The Mets’ implied team total suggests a neutral run environment, so his ceiling depends largely on strikeouts.

At $8,800, Megill provides solid value at just over 2x salary and appears in nearly 20% of optimal lineups, reflecting confidence in his upside. His ownership is elevated at 22%, but that chalk seems warranted given his strikeout profile and matchup. If he can get through five innings with decent control, he offers a reliable floor with strong ceiling potential thanks to K volume. The main risk is the Mets’ tendency to pull him early, but for tournaments, that strikeout upside makes him worth considering.

Honorable Mentions

• Carlos Rodon ($10,500)
• Cade Horton ($8,000)

C Plays

Top Play: Yainer Diaz ($3,400)

Yainer Diaz offers strong value at $3,400, appearing in nearly 10% of optimal lineups thanks to his potential for multi-hit games and walks. He bats sixth for Houston, which could limit plate appearances somewhat but still places him in a position to contribute runs and RBIs in a solid Astros lineup. The matchup against the Athletics isn’t especially favorable or unfavorable, but Diaz’s right-handed bat fits well given the A’s neutral splits vs. righties.

However, Diaz’s recent role has been inconsistent, with spotty starts and benchings that cap his ceiling on any given night. His moderate ownership around 9% reflects this uncertainty but also recognizes his salary efficiency if he gets full playing time. Given the Astros’ offense and Diaz’s ability to get on base, he remains a viable low-cost catcher option in tournaments when paired with higher-priced bats elsewhere. Just be cautious about lineup confirmation before locking him in.

Honorable Mentions

• Mitch Garver ($2,700)
• Travis d’Arnaud ($2,600)

1B Plays

Top Play: Paul Goldschmidt ($4,600)

Paul Goldschmidt offers strong value at $4,600 in a matchup against the Angels, especially batting leadoff for the Yankees. Since May began, he’s slashing .329/.393/.513 with solid speed upside shown by three steals and steady run production. The Angels’ pitching staff has been vulnerable to right-handed hitters lately, which could help Goldschmidt maintain his recent on-base success in a lineup that projects a decent run total.

Ownership is elevated at 11.3%, reflecting his clear upside and affordable salary. This chalk looks reasonable given his consistent contact and ability to reach base multiple times per game. While he may not provide massive power numbers tonight, his combination of plate appearances, speed, and opportunity in the leadoff spot makes him a reliable building block for GPP lineups targeting balanced upside without breaking the bank.

Honorable Mentions

• Jake Burger ($3,600)
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($4,700)

2B Plays

Top Play: Jose Altuve ($3,900)

Jose Altuve offers strong value at $3,900 in a favorable spot against the Athletics. Batting third in the Astros’ lineup ensures plenty of opportunities to produce, especially in a game environment where Houston’s offense is expected to be active. Although his season numbers are modest with a .243 average and .666 OPS, Altuve’s recent power surge and ability to swipe bases add multi-category upside. Facing a right-handed pitcher who hasn’t dominated lefties gives him a chance to capitalize on contact and run-scoring chances.

His 12.5% ownership reflects respect for this combination of price and opportunity, making him a popular GPP target but not overwhelmingly chalky. Altuve’s mix of contact skills, speed, and position flexibility helps differentiate lineups while maintaining solid floor potential. Given his place in the lineup and matchup profile, he’s worth considering as a mid-tier value play with upside from both power and steals.

Honorable Mentions

• Brandon Lowe ($4,100)
• Brooks Lee ($3,100)

3B Plays

Top Play: Brett Baty ($3,000)

Brett Baty offers strong value at just $3,000 against the White Sox, a matchup that sets up well for power from a left-handed bat. He’s slashing .275/.293/.650 over his last 14 games with five homers in that span, showing clear pop and run production while hitting fifth in the Mets’ lineup. The implied team total is solid, and Baty’s consistent ability to drive in runs gives him upside even without elite plate discipline.

Ownership around 7% is reasonable given his profile and price point, especially since he appears in about 6% of optimal lineups. That moderate ownership reflects his combination of power upside and affordable salary, making him a reliable GPP target who can fit into multiple builds. While he doesn’t offer much speed or on-base skills, his recent performance and lineup spot give him enough scoring opportunities to justify consideration tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Eugenio Suarez ($4,500)
• Abraham Toro ($2,700)

SS Plays

Top Play: Jeremy Pena ($4,000)

Jeremy Pena offers strong value at $4,000 as the Astros’ leadoff hitter against the Athletics. He’s batting .321 in May with 13 RBI and seven runs scored, showing steady production despite a recent stretch of quieter games. The leadoff spot guarantees plenty of plate appearances, and Pena’s right-handed bat faces a lefty-heavy Athletics pitching staff that tends to allow decent contact. His speed and ability to drive in runs add to his fantasy appeal in a game environment where Houston is expected to be competitive.

Pena’s ownership at 12.7% is elevated compared to the field but justified given his salary and consistent role atop the lineup. His 2.2x value makes him an easy roster fit for GPPs looking for upside without sacrificing salary elsewhere. While not a high-ceiling power bat, he offers floor through volume and run-scoring opportunities. This combination makes Pena one of the safer value plays on the slate despite the higher ownership rate.

Honorable Mentions

• Francisco Lindor ($5,500)
• Brooks Lee ($3,100)

OF Plays

Top Play: Aaron Judge ($6,600)

Aaron Judge checks in at a strong value price of $6,600 while batting third for the Yankees, which sets him up for plenty of plate appearances. He faces the Angels in a hitter-friendly ballpark, and Judge’s power upside remains elite with 18 home runs leading MLB this season. The matchup is favorable given his right-handed bat against a lefty-heavy Angels staff that has struggled to contain power hitters.

Judge’s ownership sits around 15.3%, making him one of the more popular plays on the slate. Given his consistent production and prime lineup spot, that chalk looks justified. With an optimal lineup percentage near 15%, he fits well into balanced builds targeting run-scoring upside without breaking the bank. Expect solid floor thanks to his ability to get on base and pop multiple homers this year, making him a core option in tournaments tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Brandon Nimmo ($3,600)
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ($3,500)

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