FREE 05/31 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Today’s 9-game MLB slate features a few solid pitching matchups and some intriguing run-scoring upside. The highest totals sit around 8.5 runs, with games like CWS at BAL and STL at TEX offering balanced attacking environments. Weather will play a key role in Baltimore and Philadelphia, where rain chances above 50% could delay or even cancel those games, limiting lineup options early on. Meanwhile, the dome games in Texas, Houston, and Miami provide stable conditions without weather concerns.

Outside of those spots, Kansas City looks like a favorable hitter’s park with warm temperatures and wind blowing out, while Cleveland is cool but dry with moderate wind that might influence the ball flight. New York faces a high rain probability as well, which could impact the COL-NYM game’s timing or length. Keep an eye on these factors when building lineups to avoid late scratches or unexpected delays that can disrupt your roster plans.

Top Stacks

NYM 5-Man ($22,800)

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

The NYM stack offers solid value at 1.97 points per $1000 with a total salary of $22,800, which is reasonable given the quality of players like Lindor, Nimmo, Soto, Alonso, and Baty. The average ownership sits at 12.2%, while the optimal lineup rate is slightly higher at 15.6%, indicating moderate popularity but still room for differentiation. The game total of 8.5 suggests a moderately high-scoring environment; however, the weather presents a significant risk with a 74% chance of rain and possible delays or rainouts in Flushing, alongside a 16 MPH wind blowing out, which could benefit power hitters if the game proceeds as scheduled. Overall, this stack balances cost and upside well but carries weather-related uncertainty that may affect actual scoring outcomes.

STL 5-Man ($23,600)

Lars Nootbaar, Masyn Winn, Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras, Ivan Herrera

The STL stack offers solid value at 1.82 points per $1000 with a combined salary of $23,600, making it a cost-effective option given the average ownership of 8.7% and an optimal lineup rate of 9.2%. The game’s total sits at a moderate 8.5 runs, indicating a balanced scoring environment without extreme volatility. Playing in a domed stadium eliminates weather concerns, ensuring consistent hitting conditions. This group, featuring Nootbaar, Winn, Donovan, Contreras, and Herrera, presents a moderately leveraged opportunity with below-double-digit ownership that aligns well with its value output, making it an attractive stack for DFS lineups seeking upside in a controlled scoring context.

SF 5-Man ($21,600)

Heliot Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee, Wilmer Flores, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames

The SF stack offers solid value at 1.88 points per $1000, supported by a combined salary of $21,600. With an average ownership of just 5.3%, this stack presents a low-ownership leverage opportunity, further emphasized by an optimal lineup rate of 8.6%, indicating moderate inclusion among top builds. The game total is set at a modest 7.5 runs, suggesting limited but not negligible scoring upside. Playing in a domed stadium removes weather as a variable, providing consistent conditions for hitters like Heliot Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee, Wilmer Flores, Matt Chapman, and Willy Adames to perform without environmental disruptions. Overall, this stack balances cost efficiency with under-the-radar appeal in DFS contests.

SP Plays

Top Play: Kodai Senga ($8,900)

Kodai Senga remains one of the top pitching options in MLB DFS with a strong 1.46 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 55.2 innings this season. He’s shown solid consistency, never allowing more than three runs in any start, which underpins his floor. Facing the Rockies at home gives him a great matchup; Colorado ranks near the bottom in offensive production, especially against right-handed pitchers like Senga. The Mets’ pitcher has a modest strikeout rate around 7.5 K/9 recently, but the combination of run suppression and a favorable ballpark boosts his overall value.

Senga’s $8,900 salary is justified by his 2.43x value and presence in nearly a third of optimal lineups despite expected ownership near 44%. The high ownership reflects confidence in his safe floor and matchup rather than elite upside—he offers steady points rather than boom-or-bust potential. If you’re looking for reliable SP exposure in tournaments or cash games, Senga fits well given the weak Rockies lineup and Citi Field’s pitcher-friendly reputation. Just be mindful that while he limits runs effectively, his strikeout upside isn’t elite, so pairing him with high-K bats could be wise to balance your roster ceiling.

Honorable Mentions

• Robbie Ray ($9,000)
• Sonny Gray ($8,000)

C Plays

Top Play: Adley Rutschman ($4,200)

Adley Rutschman offers strong value at his $4,200 salary as a catcher batting second for Baltimore against the White Sox. While his recent production has been quiet, the matchup is favorable given Chicago’s below-average bullpen and the Orioles’ implied team total around 4.5 runs. As a left-handed hitter facing a right-handed staff that struggles with strikeouts, Rutschman’s lineup spot should provide ample plate appearances in a game environment that supports run scoring.

Ownership sits at a moderate 11.6%, slightly above field average, reflecting his solid tournament rank (4) and 1.96x value mark. This level of ownership looks appropriate given his price and role, making him a reliable pivot option behind more expensive catchers without sacrificing upside. His presence in nearly 10% of optimal lineups suggests he’s on the radar for balanced builds looking to maximize efficiency at catcher.

Honorable Mentions

• Agustin Ramirez ($4,300)
• William Contreras ($4,800)

1B Plays

Top Play: Pete Alonso ($5,000)

Pete Alonso offers strong value at $5,000 against the Rockies, a favorable matchup for power hitters given Coors Field’s hitter-friendly conditions. He bats cleanup for the Mets, ensuring plenty of plate appearances in a lineup that can generate runs. Alonso has shown signs of regaining form after a tough stretch, hitting .291/.391/.536 overall with 10 homers and 40 RBI this season. His recent performances include multiple games with RBIs and home runs, making him a reliable source of power upside in this contest.

His ownership is elevated at 13.3%, which aligns with his high tournament rank and presence in over a quarter of optimal lineups. Given the combination of his price, lineup spot, and ballpark factors, that chalk seems justified here. Alonso’s ability to deliver both volume and pop makes him an appealing target in tournaments where leverage against field averages around 5% could pay off.

Honorable Mentions

• Willson Contreras ($4,100)
• Colt Keith ($2,800)

2B Plays

Top Play: Jorge Mateo ($2,500)

Jorge Mateo offers intriguing value at just $2,500 against the White Sox, especially in tournaments. While his batting average (.209) and power numbers remain low, his speed makes him a threat on the basepaths with nine steals in 10 attempts this season. Batting ninth limits his plate appearances, but in a Baltimore lineup projected for moderate scoring, he can still chip in fantasy points through stolen bases and occasional run-scoring opportunities.

His ownership sits around 10%, slightly above the field average but aligned with his DFS upside as a speed asset. The matchup against Chicago’s pitching staff doesn’t present significant power upside, but Mateo’s ability to swipe bags keeps him relevant in GPPs where speed is underappreciated. Given his price and role, he’s worth considering as a low-cost diversification piece when rostering more expensive hitters elsewhere.

Honorable Mentions

• Colt Keith ($2,800)
• Brett Baty ($3,100)

3B Plays

Top Play: Ramon Urias ($3,200)

Ramon Urias offers solid value at $3,200 against the White Sox, a team that ranks middle of the pack against right-handed pitching. Batting fifth in the Orioles’ lineup, he’s positioned to get a decent number of plate appearances in a game with an implied total near 4.5 runs. While his recent production has been modest, he’s maintained enough contact and discipline to contribute occasional RBI opportunities, which fits well with his price point and expected role.

His ownership around 8.8% is slightly above field average but aligns with his presence in nearly 10% of optimal lineups, indicating DFS models respect his value here. Urias doesn’t offer high power upside but provides enough floor through contact and situational hitting to serve as a reliable salary saver option in tournaments. Given the balanced matchup and reasonable lineup spot, he’s worth considering for leverage or cash games when rostering more expensive bats isn’t feasible.

Honorable Mentions

• Brett Baty ($3,100)
• Josh Rojas ($2,100)

SS Plays

Top Play: Gunnar Henderson ($4,700)

Gunnar Henderson offers strong value at $4,700 in a favorable matchup against the White Sox. Batting third for Baltimore, he benefits from a steady run environment and consistent plate appearances. While his numbers versus left-handed pitching (.422 OPS) are weak, he has crushed righties with a .981 OPS this season. The White Sox’s right-handed pitching staff ranks below average in limiting runs and strikeouts, which boosts Henderson’s upside in this spot.

His recent performance backs up the value, hitting .303 with four homers and three steals over 89 May at-bats. Despite the 17.3% ownership pushing him into chalk territory, that looks justified given his role and production. The combination of power and speed potential at a low salary makes him a solid tournament play, especially since he appears in nearly 14% of optimal lineups. If you want exposure to Baltimore’s offense without breaking the bank, Henderson is worth consideration.

Honorable Mentions

• Francisco Lindor ($5,600)
• Masyn Winn ($4,200)

OF Plays

Top Play: Brandon Nimmo ($3,800)

Brandon Nimmo is a strong value play at $3,800, especially batting second in the Mets’ lineup against Colorado. His ability to get on base is key here; he’s shown a .420 OBP over his last few games and consistently puts pressure on pitchers with his plate discipline. The Rockies’ bullpen has struggled to contain left-handed hitters this season, making Nimmo’s matchup appealing despite the Coors Field environment that can suppress some counting stats for contact hitters.

Nimmo’s 12.2% ownership is reasonable given his salary and role, and he appears in over 14% of optimal lineups, which suggests balanced leverage. While he lacks home run upside, his high on-base rate combined with multiple plate appearances near the top of the order offers steady scoring opportunities. In tournaments, Nimmo provides a safe floor with upside from runs scored and walks in a game where the Mets have an implied total north of four runs.

Honorable Mentions

• Kerry Carpenter ($4,400)
• Juan Soto ($5,300)

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