FREE 06/05 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

We’ve got a small 5-game slate on tap tonight, and a couple of matchups immediately stand out. The Cubs-Nationals game in Washington carries the highest total at 9.5 runs, making it a potential source of offensive production, while the Rangers-Rays matchup isn’t far behind at 9.0. The pitching landscape is fairly concentrated with Max Fried offering the most strikeout upside against Cleveland.

However, weather is definitely a factor we need to monitor. The Astros-Pirates and Rangers-Rays games both carry a significant risk of delay or even a rainout, so we’ll need to stay updated on those situations. Otherwise, we’ve got a bit of wind blowing in in Washington, and some slight breezes in St. Louis and New York, but nothing too impactful at first glance.

Top Stacks

NYY 5-Man ($25,200)

Trent Grisham, Ben Rice, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr.

This Yankees stack, headlined by Judge and Bellinger, presents intriguing value at 1.93 points per $1000. While the projected 19% ownership is moderately high, the 16.9% optimal rate suggests they are frequently anchoring winning lineups. With an 8.5 game total and wind blowing out to left field, the conditions are ripe for offensive fireworks, and the stack’s power potential justifies the ownership, making them a strong tournament option despite the popularity.

HOU 5-Man ($19,900)

Jeremy Pena, Isaac Paredes, Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, Yainer Diaz

The Houston stack immediately stands out given its 1.97 value, signaling strong potential return for the price. While the 10.5% average ownership suggests it’s not completely off the radar, the 12.8% optimal rate indicates it’s still under-owned relative to its win equity. Factoring in the 7.5 game total and the wind blowing out in Pittsburgh, we have a recipe for offensive upside that this lineup is poised to exploit, making them a high-leverage play in tournaments despite the slight rain risk.

WSH 5-Man ($21,800)

CJ Abrams, Amed Rosario, James Wood, Nathaniel Lowe, Keibert Ruiz

The Nationals stack presents intriguing value at 1.90 points per thousand, especially when considering the leverage. With an average ownership of just under 12% and an optimal rate slightly higher, this stack is under-owned relative to its potential. The implied game total of 9.5 suggests scoring opportunities, and while the weather isn’t dramatically impactful, the slight breeze blowing in could suppress HR totals slightly. Given the moderate ownership, this stack is positioned to deliver significant ROI if they capitalize on the run-scoring environment.

SP Plays

Top Play: Framber Valdez ($9,300)

Framber Valdez is coming off a dominant outing where he threw a complete game, allowing only 1 earned run and striking out 9 against the Rays. He’s consistently pitched deep into games, going at least 6 innings in each of his last five starts and allowing no more than 3 earned runs in any of them. This control and efficiency provides a solid floor for DFS production.

Tonight, Valdez faces the Pirates, a team that struggles against left-handed pitching. Pittsburgh’s lineup presents a favorable matchup for Valdez to continue his success, and he offers significant upside given his demonstrated ability to rack up strikeouts and pitch deep into games. At a $9300 salary, he’s projected to appear in a high percentage of optimal lineups, reflecting his strong potential for exceeding value.

Honorable Mentions

• Max Fried ($10,000)
• Cole Ragans ($9,000)

C Plays

Top Play: Yainer Diaz ($3,400)

Yainer Diaz provides excellent value at $3400, especially considering his spot in the heart of the Astros’ lineup. He’s projected to hit 5th today against the Pirates, putting him in a prime position to drive in runs. Diaz appears in nearly 17% of optimal lineups, suggesting his potential for a high fantasy score significantly outweighs his moderate 13% projected ownership.

Diaz already delivered 6 DK points yesterday, and his power bat always carries the potential for a big game. His recent 17-point performance against Tampa Bay, fueled by a home run, demonstrates his upside. Given his strong value at 2.2x and placement in a potent Houston offense, Diaz presents a compelling option at catcher.

Honorable Mentions

• Salvador Perez ($3,200)
• Danny Jansen ($2,700)

1B Plays

Top Play: Nathaniel Lowe ($3,800)

Nathaniel Lowe bats cleanup today, providing a premium run-producing opportunity at a reasonable $3800 salary. He offers significant value at 2.0x and projects to be in 14.3% of optimal lineups. Despite recent struggles, Lowe is a proven hitter, and this price point is too low for his potential output in the middle of the order.

Lowe faces a favorable matchup against the Cubs, and his moderate 9.3% ownership makes him an excellent GPP play. As a left-handed batter, he should have the platoon advantage, and a breakout performance is likely to be underowned relative to his potential.

Honorable Mentions

• Josh Bell ($3,100)
• Ben Rice ($4,800)

2B Plays

Top Play: Amed Rosario ($3,500)

Amed Rosario is swinging a hot bat, highlighted by his clutch homer yesterday against the Cubs. He’s hitting .366 with a .610 slugging percentage in May, demonstrating real power upside at a value price of only $3500. Hitting second in the Nationals’ lineup puts him in a prime position to score runs, and his 2.25x value makes him a strong play at 2B/3B.

Rosario faces a Cubs pitching staff that can be vulnerable, and his right-handed bat gives him the platoon advantage. He’s projected for nearly 16% optimal lineup appearance, signaling significant upside for tournaments. Even with moderate ownership, Rosario’s recent production and favorable matchup make him a top GPP target.

Honorable Mentions

• Jonathan India ($3,200)
• Jose Altuve ($4,100)

3B Plays

Top Play: Josh Jung ($3,600)

Josh Jung bats cleanup for Texas tonight, putting him in a prime RBI spot. He’s priced affordably at $3600, offering excellent value with a 2.0x return, and projects for a solid 14% optimal lineup appearance. His moderate 11.5% ownership keeps him from being too chalky in GPPs.

Jung faces Tampa Bay, where he has already had a few at-bats this series. Despite a couple of quiet games, he’s shown the ability to produce, as evidenced by his 15 DK point performance on May 30th. His position in the heart of the order gives him ample opportunities to drive in runs and capitalize on the Rangers’ offensive potential.

Honorable Mentions

• Jazz Chisholm Jr. ($5,000)
• Junior Caminero ($4,200)

SS Plays

Top Play: Bobby Witt Jr. ($5,500)

Bobby Witt Jr. is locked in, demonstrated by his monster performance yesterday, going 2-4 with a homer, 2 runs, and 4 RBI. He bats second in the Royals’ lineup, maximizing his plate appearances, and his power/speed combo always provides a high ceiling. He’s simply a DFS stud in a great spot to produce.

Witt Jr. faces a vulnerable Cardinals pitching staff in a hitter-friendly environment, making him an ideal tournament play. His $5500 salary is a fair price to pay for his potential, and he’s projected to be in nearly 19% of optimal lineups. Despite the high ownership projection, his upside is too significant to ignore.

Honorable Mentions

• Corey Seager ($4,500)
• Taylor Walls ($2,900)

OF Plays

Top Play: Trent Grisham ($4,400)

Trent Grisham leads off for the Yankees, offering immediate run-scoring potential in a potent lineup. He faces a right-handed pitcher today, and his left-handed bat provides a favorable matchup against a pitcher he can exploit. At $4400, his salary allows roster flexibility, and his projected 2.1x value makes him a top play.

Grisham’s optimal lineup appearance rate sits at 22.3%, significantly higher than his 17.2% projected ownership. This suggests he’s undervalued relative to his potential production. His placement atop the Yankees’ lineup maximizes his plate appearances, increasing his chances to score runs and generate fantasy points.

Honorable Mentions

• Aaron Judge ($6,500)
• Cody Bellinger ($4,500)

Good luck today! 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!