FREE 05/06 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Today’s 11-game MLB slate features a few solid options with totals mostly in the 7-9 run range. The highest totals are in Anaheim and Arizona at 9.0, while Seattle and Oakland’s matchup tops out at 10.0, making those games worth a closer look for stacking. Weather looks mostly favorable across the board, though keep an eye on the San Diego at New York Yankees game where there’s a 63% chance of rain and possible delays that could affect lineup decisions.

Pitching matchups offer some intrigue, especially with notable arms like Zack Wheeler in Tampa and Chris Sale in Atlanta on the bump. The domed stadium games in Milwaukee and Arizona remove weather as a factor, which is always helpful for consistency. Aside from the rain risk in New York, most parks have light winds with partly cloudy skies or clear conditions, so hitters should get fairly neutral conditions tonight.

Top Stacks

MIN 5-Man ($20,000)

Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers, Ty France, Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis

The 5-man Minnesota stack featuring Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers, Ty France, Carlos Correa, and Royce Lewis offers solid value at 2.23 pts/$1000 with a total salary of $20,000. The average ownership of 8.7% and an optimal lineup rate of 8.0% indicate moderate popularity but still room for differentiation in large-field MLB DFS contests. With a game total of 8.5 runs projected in favorable weather conditions—clear skies, 82°F temperature, and light 5 MPH wind—this stack benefits from a hitter-friendly environment in Minneapolis. The combination of multiple offensive positions (OF, C, 1B, SS, 3B) enhances lineup correlation potential through multi-run scoring events and RBI opportunities within the same lineup. Given the balanced cost distribution and moderate ownership, this stack provides an efficient way to capture upside in a medium-to-high scoring game while maintaining leverage against higher-owned stacks.

ATH 5-Man ($23,300)

Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, Miguel Andujar, Shea Langeliers

The 5-man ATH stack featuring Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, Miguel Andujar, and Shea Langeliers offers solid value at 1.92 points per $1000 on a total salary of $23,300. With an average ownership of just 5.2%, this stack presents a low-ownership leverage play with a moderately higher optimal lineup rate of 7.3%, indicating it is favored by advanced models but not overly popular among the field. The all-outfield-heavy composition (four OFs plus a C) maximizes lineup correlation potential, increasing upside through combined run and RBI opportunities in favorable innings. Although no game total or weather data is provided to assess matchup conditions, the stack’s balanced salary and modest popularity make it a strong candidate for DFS lineups seeking efficient scoring with decent leverage against chalkier options.

KC 5-Man ($20,000)

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

The 5-man Kansas City stack featuring Jonathan India, Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, and Maikel Garcia offers solid value at 2.18 points per $1000 with a total salary of $20,000. The stack’s moderate average ownership of 9.6% and optimal lineup rate of 6.8% indicate it is a moderately popular but not overly chalky option, allowing for differentiation in lineups while maintaining upside. With a game total of 8.5 runs in favorable weather conditions—72°F, partly cloudy, no precipitation, and an 8 MPH wind blowing right to left—the environment supports run scoring without extreme weather interference. The inclusion of multiple infield positions (3B/OF, SS, 1B/C) enhances lineup correlation by maximizing multi-position eligibility and leveraging the team’s offensive synergy against the opposing pitcher. Overall, this stack presents a balanced combination of efficiency and moderate ownership in a game environment conducive to scoring.

SP Plays

Top Play: Chris Sale ($8,800)

Chris Sale has shown signs of settling in after a shaky start to the season, posting a 3.48 ERA with a strong 29:8 K:BB ratio over his last four starts. Facing the Reds at home, he draws a favorable matchup against a lineup that strikes out frequently and lacks consistent power against left-handed pitching. Given his ability to rack up strikeouts without issuing walks, Sale’s strikeout upside is solid, especially in a park that isn’t overly hitter-friendly.

At $8,800, Sale offers strong value with a 2.38x return and appears in about a quarter of optimal lineups. His expected ownership north of 36% reflects his clear appeal as one of the top pitching options on the slate. While he may be chalky, the combination of strikeout potential and run suppression upside justifies the attention in tournaments where locking in reliable SP1 production matters most.

Honorable Mentions

• Zack Wheeler ($9,700)
• Michael King ($9,500)

C Plays

Top Play: Ryan Jeffers ($3,700)

Ryan Jeffers offers strong value at $3,700 in a favorable matchup against Baltimore. Batting second in the Twins’ lineup, he should see plenty of quality at-bats in a game environment that projects decent run scoring. Jeffers has been heating up recently, hitting .333 with six RBI over his last nine games, and his power upside is evident with two homers in that stretch. As a right-handed batter facing a typically strikeout-prone Orioles pitching staff, he profiles well for both floor and upside.

His 9.1% ownership is elevated but justified given his recent production and affordable salary. Jeffers appears in 7.6% of optimal lineups as a solid catcher option who can provide multi-category contributions without eating much salary. While catchers can be volatile, this combination of lineup spot, price, and matchup makes him worth considering for tournaments where you want to differentiate from lower-owned premium options.

Honorable Mentions

• Salvador Perez ($3,800)
• Mitch Garver ($3,000)

1B Plays

Top Play: Salvador Perez ($3,800)

Salvador Perez offers strong value at $3,800, especially batting cleanup for Kansas City against the White Sox. The Royals have a modest implied team total tonight, but Perez’s position in the lineup ensures plenty of plate appearances. As a right-handed hitter facing a lefty-heavy White Sox pitching staff that struggles against power from the right side, he carries decent power upside despite recent limited action.

His 8% projected ownership is reasonable given his salary and role, fitting near field average but showing up in over 8% of optimal lineups. With a 2.1x value multiplier and solid exposure in top builds, Perez is an intriguing mid-tier option who can provide steady points without drawing heavy chalk. His potential to deliver runs and RBI from the cleanup spot makes him worth considering for tournaments where balanced salary allocation is key.

Honorable Mentions

• Vinnie Pasquantino ($3,400)
• Matt Olson ($4,600)

2B Plays

Top Play: Brooks Lee ($2,900)

Brooks Lee offers solid value at $2,900 against Baltimore, a matchup that’s generally favorable for left-handed hitters. Batting sixth in the Twins’ lineup, he should see a decent number of plate appearances without facing the toughest parts of the opposing bullpen. Lee has been consistent recently with hits in seven of his last nine games and showed some pop with a solo homer on April 30. While not a high-power bat, his ability to get on base and contribute runs makes him a reliable floor play in this mid-tier salary range.

His moderate ownership around 6.2% is slightly above field average but well aligned with his DFS upside, appearing in over 8% of optimal lineups. The Twins’ implied run total isn’t elite, but the matchup and his recent form justify paying up slightly for a player at this price point. Overall, Lee provides a nice balance of safety and upside as a value option at 2B/3B who can fit easily into lineups looking to allocate salary elsewhere.

Honorable Mentions

• Ketel Marte ($5,300)
• Brandon Lowe ($3,900)

3B Plays

Top Play: Jonathan India ($3,100)

Jonathan India offers strong value at $3,100, especially batting leadoff for Kansas City against Chicago White Sox pitching. The Royals have an implied team total near 4 runs in a neutral park, and India’s right-handed bat fits well against a White Sox staff that has struggled with consistent command. His recent power spike, marked by his first homer of the season, hints at some emerging pop that boosts his ceiling beyond typical leadoff upside.

While he’s highly owned at around 10.5%, that chalk seems justified given his affordable salary and solid lineup spot maximizing plate appearances. His 2.64x value and presence in over 6% of optimal lineups reflect that balance of floor and upside. India doesn’t offer huge power or speed upside yet but should provide steady production as long as he continues to get on base regularly against this favorable matchup.

Honorable Mentions

• Austin Riley ($4,800)
• Josh Rojas ($2,000)

SS Plays

Top Play: Bobby Witt Jr. ($5,800)

Bobby Witt Jr. offers solid value at $5,800, especially batting second for the Royals against the White Sox. He’s a right-handed hitter facing a pitching staff that has struggled to contain speed and extra-base hits this season. Witt’s combination of power and speed is clear—he leads MLB with 14 doubles and has swiped 11 bases already. His .314/.389/.504 line shows he’s getting on base and driving runs, making him a strong contributor in a lineup expected to score multiple runs tonight.

His 14.4% ownership is elevated but justified given his consistent production and role in the lineup. Witt appears in nearly 9% of optimal lineups, reflecting his appeal as a balanced play who can deliver both counting stats and stolen base upside. While not the cheapest option at shortstop, his ability to contribute across multiple categories in a favorable matchup makes him worth considering for tournament lineups where you need both floor and upside.

Honorable Mentions

• Carlos Correa ($3,200)
• Trea Turner ($5,000)

OF Plays

Top Play: Byron Buxton ($5,000)

Byron Buxton offers solid value at $5,000 with a 2.11x value mark and ranks 4th in hero GPPs, thanks in part to his leadoff spot where he maximizes plate appearances. He’s facing Baltimore, a team that’s been vulnerable to right-handed power hitters, which fits Buxton’s profile as a righty batter with upside in both power and speed. The implied team total for Minnesota is middle of the pack, so while it’s not a smash spot, the opportunity for extra-base hits and stolen bases remains.

Ownership is on the higher side at 10%, reflecting his recent production and affordable salary, though that chalk appears warranted given his role and matchup. Buxton has shown consistent contact with multiple multi-hit games recently and still carries threat for homers and steals. The main caution is his strikeout rate near 33%, but in a slate lacking standout value bats at this price, Buxton provides a balanced floor-ceiling mix worth considering in tournaments.

Honorable Mentions

• Lawrence Butler ($4,900)
• Julio Rodriguez ($4,800)

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