FREE 04/07 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 7-game MLB DFS slate offers a mix of intriguing pitching matchups and some challenging weather conditions to navigate. The Mets-Marlins game in Flushing (O/U 7.0) and the Rangers-Cubs matchup at Wrigley (O/U 6.0) both carry significant risk of delay or postponement due to rain, with cold temperatures and wind blowing in further suppressing offensive upside. On the flip side, the Reds-Giants game in San Francisco (O/U 7.0) sees mild winds blowing out, offering a slight boost for hitters in an otherwise pitcher-friendly park.

For pitching, Kodai Senga stands out against a strikeout-prone Marlins lineup—if the weather cooperates—while Logan Webb faces the Reds in a favorable home matchup. On the hitting side, the Orioles-Diamondbacks game (O/U 8.5) in Arizona’s dome could be a prime spot for offense with Zac Gallen and Zach Eflin both showing vulnerability lately. Keep an eye on updates for potential delays, especially in New York and Chicago, as those could shake up your roster construction heading into lock.

Top Stacks

KC 5-Man ($23,000)

Jonathan India, Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, Michael Massey

The KC 5-man stack, featuring Jonathan India, Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, and Michael Massey, offers a solid projected output of 39.0 points with a value of 1.70 pts/$1000. The batting order is highly correlated, covering the top five spots (1-5), which maximizes run-scoring and RBI potential in this lineup. While the game total is moderate at 8.0 runs, the offensive environment is slightly muted by clear but cool conditions (55°F) and a 10 MPH wind blowing in, which could suppress power upside in Kansas City’s ballpark. The stack’s average ownership of 9.5% is manageable relative to its optimal lineup rate of 11.8%, suggesting it offers positive leverage for tournaments.

BAL 5-Man ($23,400)

Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn

The 5-man BAL stack of Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Cedric Mullins, and Ryan O’Hearn projects for 39.2 points at a solid value of 1.67 pts/$1000. With all five hitters positioned consecutively in the batting order (1-5), this stack benefits from strong lineup correlation, maximizing RBI and run-scoring opportunities. The game total of 8.5 indicates a middling offensive environment, though the domed stadium eliminates weather concerns and ensures consistent playing conditions. Ownership sits at an average of 9.1%, making this stack moderately contrarian relative to its optimal lineup rate of 10.3%, offering leverage in tournaments.

SP Plays

Top Play: Hunter Greene ($7,900)

Hunter Greene ($7,900) offers an intriguing mix of upside and value in his matchup against the Giants. He’s coming off two strong starts to open the season, striking out 16 batters across 12 innings while allowing just three earned runs. His ability to generate whiffs (22 in his most recent outing) makes him a high-ceiling option, particularly against a San Francisco lineup that struck out at a 24.2% clip against right-handed pitching last season. The pitcher-friendly Oracle Park should also help suppress any run-scoring opportunities for the Giants, further bolstering Greene’s floor.

At 30.6% projected ownership, Greene will be one of the chalkier plays on the slate, but it’s justified given his combination of strikeout potential and price point. His $7,900 salary provides strong value at 2.4x projection and makes him accessible even in lineups featuring higher-priced bats. With a tournament rank of 2 and appearing in nearly 23% of optimal lineups, he’s clearly a top-tier option for both cash games and GPPs. If you’re comfortable eating the chalk, Greene looks like one of the best mid-range pitching options on tonight’s slate.

Honorable Mentions

• Kodai Senga ($9,000)
• Justin Steele ($7,700)
• Nathan Eovaldi ($8,700)

C Plays

Top Play: Cal Raleigh ($4,200)

Cal Raleigh ($4,200) is an intriguing option at catcher tonight, hitting out of the critical third spot in the Mariners’ lineup. While his .222 batting average to start the season isn’t eye-popping, his underlying numbers suggest a solid floor with some upside. Raleigh has already shown his power early this year with two home runs and a .349 OBP, and he’ll face a Houston pitching staff that doesn’t offer a particularly daunting matchup. His left-handed bat gives him an edge against most right-handed arms, and his 19.3% optimal lineup rate reflects his ability to provide value at this price point.

At 17.6% projected ownership, Raleigh will likely be one of the more popular plays at catcher, but the chalk appears justified given his combination of lineup spot, power potential, and affordability. In tournaments, he offers both stability and upside for a mid-tier salary—perfect for those looking to save at the position without sacrificing production. If you’re comfortable eating some chalk in GPPs or need a reliable cash game option, Raleigh fits nicely into builds with higher-priced bats elsewhere.

Honorable Mentions

• Salvador Perez ($4,300)
• Christian Vazquez ($2,100)
• Gabriel Moreno ($3,400)

1B Plays

Top Play: Salvador Perez ($4,300)

Salvador Perez ($4,300) offers intriguing upside in tournaments tonight, batting cleanup against Minnesota. While his recent production has been inconsistent, he’s posted double-digit DraftKings points in two of his last three games and remains a key power threat in Kansas City’s lineup. Hitting fourth ensures plenty of RBI opportunities, and his career .212 ISO against right-handers highlights his ability to generate extra-base hits. At just 6.1% projected ownership, Perez provides some leverage in a slate where many may gravitate toward other catchers or first basemen at similar price points.

What makes Perez particularly appealing is his optimal lineup rate of 15.3%, which suggests he’s under-owned relative to his potential ceiling. His $4,300 salary represents strong value at 1.65x, especially for a player with proven power and a favorable lineup spot. While the Royals’ offense isn’t the most reliable, Perez stands out as one of their primary run producers. If you’re looking for low-owned tournament differentiation without sacrificing upside, Perez is worth considering in this matchup against a middling Twins pitching staff.

Honorable Mentions

• Gavin Sheets ($2,600)
• Ty France ($2,900)
• Rowdy Tellez ($2,200)

2B Plays

Top Play: Jordan Westburg ($4,800)

Jordan Westburg ($4,800) offers an intriguing combination of value and upside in tonight’s matchup against the Diamondbacks. Slated to bat third for Baltimore, he’s in a prime lineup spot to maximize plate appearances and RBI opportunities. Arizona’s pitching staff has been vulnerable to right-handed hitters, which plays into Westburg’s strengths. While his recent stat lines don’t jump off the page, his projection of 8.33 DraftKings points and appearance in 15.4% of optimal lineups suggest he’s a solid option with a favorable path to production.

At 8.8% projected ownership, Westburg is moderately popular but not overwhelming chalk, making him viable for both cash games and tournaments. His salary aligns well with his potential ceiling, especially given his strong lineup placement in a game that should feature plenty of scoring opportunities for the Orioles. If you’re looking for a mid-range infielder who can contribute across multiple categories, Westburg fits the bill without being overexposed in the field.

Honorable Mentions

• Luisangel Acuna ($3,100)
• Dylan Moore ($3,300)
• Santiago Espinal ($2,700)

3B Plays

Top Play: Jonathan India ($4,300)

Jonathan India ($4,300) offers intriguing value in tonight’s DFS slate as he leads off for Kansas City against Minnesota. His 1st spot in the batting order ensures maximum plate appearances, which is always a plus at this salary. Despite a slow start to the season, India’s recent 6-for-11 stretch over three games shows he’s seeing the ball well. With a 15% optimal lineup rate and moderate ownership (7.7%), he provides solid leverage in tournaments while maintaining a reasonable floor for cash games. His multi-position eligibility (3B/OF) adds roster flexibility, making him even more appealing.

The matchup itself is favorable for India, as he’ll face a Minnesota pitching staff that’s been vulnerable to right-handed hitters early on. While his power and speed upside haven’t surfaced yet this season, hitting leadoff in a game with some run-scoring potential gives him multiple paths to production. At $4,300, he’s not an overly flashy play but checks enough boxes—value, lineup spot, and ownership—to warrant strong consideration as part of your DFS builds tonight.

Honorable Mentions

• Manny Machado ($5,000)
• Dylan Moore ($3,300)
• Mark Vientos ($4,400)

SS Plays

Top Play: Bobby Witt Jr. ($5,900)

Bobby Witt Jr. checks all the boxes for a strong DFS play tonight, even at his elevated $5,900 price tag. Batting second for Kansas City, he’s in a prime spot to maximize plate appearances and leverage his elite power-speed combo. Facing Minnesota, Witt brings a solid projection of 10.1 DraftKings points, supported by his recent surge at the plate (three multi-hit games in his last four outings) and a favorable 14.2% optimal lineup rate. His aggressiveness on the basepaths—three steals already this season—adds another layer of upside, particularly against a Twins team that has been middle-of-the-pack in controlling the running game.

At 18.7% projected ownership, Witt will be popular, but it’s easy to see why given his ceiling and consistency. The Royals’ offense may not be prolific, but with Witt’s ability to contribute across multiple categories, he stands out as one of the premier shortstop options on this slate. While chalky, he’s worth considering in tournaments due to his tournament-leading GPP rank and ability to differentiate your lineup through raw production rather than contrarian ownership alone.

Honorable Mentions

• Luisangel Acuna ($3,100)
• Francisco Lindor ($5,400)
• Gunnar Henderson ($5,500)

OF Plays

Top Play: Fernando Tatis Jr. ($5,800)

Fernando Tatis Jr. ($5,800) offers a strong blend of power and speed from the leadoff spot in a favorable matchup against the Athletics. With an optimal percentage of 16.1%, he’s appearing in more optimal lineups than most, which aligns with his ability to contribute across multiple categories. While his recent stat lines don’t jump off the page, Tatis has shown flashes of his elite ceiling early this season, including three stolen bases and a home run already. Facing an Oakland pitching staff that lacks shutdown arms, he’s positioned well to capitalize on both run-scoring and base-stealing opportunities.

At 18.5% projected ownership, Tatis will be chalky compared to the field average, but it’s hard to argue against it given his upside in this spot. His $5,800 salary is steep but justified considering his combination of talent and role as San Diego’s table-setter in a game with sneaky offensive potential. If you’re building for tournaments, he doesn’t offer much leverage given the ownership, but fading him entirely could be risky given how often he appears in optimal builds. Ultimately, Tatis is a high-floor option with slate-breaking potential that fits well into balanced or stars-and-scrubs roster constructions.

Honorable Mentions

• Juan Soto ($6,000)
• Corbin Carroll ($5,700)
• Byron Buxton ($4,600)

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