FREE 05/13 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Today’s 10-game MLB slate offers a few solid pitching matchups and some intriguing run totals to consider. The Dodgers-Oakland game leads the way with a 9.5 run total, while both the Washington-Atlanta (8.5) and Colorado-Texas (8.5) matchups also provide decent scoring environments. Several games are in domed stadiums, so weather won’t be a factor there, but keep an eye on the rain potential in New York and Atlanta where delays or postponements could impact lineups and game flow.

Weather is a real consideration tonight for DFS, especially at Citi Field where there’s a 62% chance of rain and wind blowing in, which could suppress offense. Atlanta also faces a nearly 50% chance of rain with wind blowing out, making that game tricky as well. Chicago’s foggy conditions might slightly limit carry for hitters, but with only a 17% chance of precipitation it’s less of a concern. Meanwhile, San Diego looks stable with partly cloudy skies and minimal rain chances, so that late matchup should play normally from a weather standpoint.

Top Stacks

TEX 5-Man ($19,400)

Sam Haggerty, Wyatt Langford, Jonah Heim, Adolis Garcia, Marcus Semien

The TEX stack offers solid value at 2.06 points per $1000 with a total salary of $19,400, fitting well within budget constraints for MLB DFS lineups. With an average ownership of 9.9% and an optimal lineup rate of 8.7%, this stack presents a moderately leveraged play that balances popularity and uniqueness effectively. The game’s total sits at a modest 8.5 runs, indicating moderate scoring potential; however, the domed stadium setting eliminates weather as a variable, potentially stabilizing offensive output. Given the inclusion of key contributors like Adolis Garcia and Marcus Semien alongside emerging bats such as Sam Haggerty and Wyatt Langford, this stack holds upside against favorable pitching matchups in a controlled environment, making it a strong consideration for diversified roster construction.

ATH 5-Man ($21,600)

Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, JJ Bleday

The ATH stack offers solid value at 1.84 points per $1000 with a total salary of $21,600, representing an efficient use of salary given the players involved: Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and JJ Bleday. With an average ownership of 5.1%, this stack remains moderately underutilized relative to its 8.4% optimal lineup rate, suggesting potential leverage in tournament builds. No game total or weather data is provided to further contextualize scoring environment or conditions. Overall, the stack presents a strong cost-to-production ratio with room for increased deployment against presumably favorable matchups implied by its value metrics.

LAD 5-Man ($26,700)

Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Andy Pages

The LAD stack offers solid value at 1.77 points per $1000 with a total salary of $26,700, fitting well within budget constraints for MLB DFS lineups. The average ownership sits at a moderate 11.4%, while the optimal lineup rate is slightly lower at 8.0%, suggesting some leverage on ownership without being overly contrarian. The game total of 9.5 indicates a strong offensive environment, supported by favorable weather conditions—clear skies, mild 64° temperature, minimal precipitation risk (2%), and a 13 MPH wind blowing out—which typically aids power hitting in Los Angeles. Including high-impact players like Ohtani and Betts enhances ceiling potential, making this stack both a value play and strategically sound in terms of ownership share and game environment.

SP Plays

Top Play: Dylan Cease ($8,300)

Dylan Cease offers strong DFS appeal at $8,300 facing the Angels at Petco Park, a pitcher-friendly environment that supports his strikeout upside. Over his last five starts, he’s posted a 3.16 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 25.2 innings, showing consistent ability to limit damage despite some run support issues. The Angels rank near the bottom in strikeout rate against right-handed pitching (25% K-rate), which should help Cease rack up Ks while keeping the scoring low.

Cease is highly owned (47.9%), reflecting his combination of floor and ceiling as the top-ranked GPP option by DFS Hero with a 2.64x value multiple. His workload has been solid recently, and he’s expected to go deep enough into this game to maximize points without major risk of pitch count limitations. While ownership is elevated, it’s justified given the matchup and park factors, making him a reliable anchor for tournament lineups on Tuesday.

Honorable Mentions

• Ben Brown ($7,500)
• Jack Leiter ($7,000)

C Plays

Top Play: Shea Langeliers ($4,000)

Shea Langeliers offers strong value at $4,000 in a tough road matchup against the Dodgers. Batting cleanup for the Athletics, he’s positioned for plenty of plate appearances in what should be a moderately competitive game environment. Langeliers has shown decent power this season with eight homers and a .473 slugging percentage, and his right-handed bat matches up well given the Dodgers’ right-handed pitching staff has allowed a .340 wOBA to righties over the last two weeks.

His recent production supports paying up slightly above minimum salary, especially considering his 2.07x value and presence in 13% of optimal lineups. While moderate ownership around 10% keeps him from being overly chalky, it also signals that DFS managers recognize his upside as a mid-tier catcher option who can deliver steady run and RBI potential without requiring significant salary investment. This balance makes Langeliers worth consideration in tournaments where you want to differentiate while maintaining a solid floor.

Honorable Mentions

• Will Smith ($4,500)
• Jonah Heim ($4,300)

1B Plays

Top Play: Kike Hernandez ($3,400)

Kike Hernandez offers strong value at just $3,400 with a solid 2.08x value projection and a 10.2% share in optimal lineups. He bats sixth for the Dodgers against the Athletics, who have struggled to contain right-handed hitters lately. While Hernandez’s overall slash line (.215/.267/.468) is modest, his power is real—he’s already hit six homers this season—and his spot in the lineup ensures steady plate appearances in a game environment where run scoring should be reasonable.

His moderate ownership around 8% makes him an interesting leverage play given his upside on the power-heavy Dodgers squad. Hernandez is part of a rotating mix at second and third base, so playing time isn’t guaranteed but recent usage patterns suggest he’ll see enough opportunities to pay off if he connects. This combination of price, power potential, and lineup position makes him worth considering as a low-cost option in tournament builds targeting upside without sacrificing floor.

Honorable Mentions

• Jake Burger ($2,800)
• Shohei Ohtani ($6,500)

2B Plays

Top Play: Marcus Semien ($3,100)

Marcus Semien offers strong value at $3,100 against the Rockies, a team that has struggled to contain right-handed hitters this season. Batting fifth in the Rangers’ lineup, Semien should see ample RBI opportunities in what’s expected to be a moderately high-scoring game environment. His recent stretch after moving down from leadoff has been productive, posting a .787 OPS over 10 games compared to a much weaker start earlier in the season. While his power upside is modest, he provides steady on-base skills and some speed, which adds scoring potential.

Despite his 12.8% ownership being well above the field average, that chalk appears warranted given his combination of price and role. The Rockies’ ballpark remains hitter-friendly, particularly for righties like Semien who can capitalize on run-scoring chances in the middle of the order. With an optimal lineup appearance rate over 11%, he fits nicely as a core value play that balances floor and ceiling without requiring a large salary investment.

Honorable Mentions

• Brandon Lowe ($3,400)
• Ketel Marte ($5,000)

3B Plays

Top Play: Austin Riley ($5,000)

Austin Riley slots into the Braves’ No. 2 spot tonight against Washington, providing solid upside at a $5,000 salary. He’s a right-handed batter facing a Nationals pitching staff that has struggled to contain righties this season. Since April 27, Riley is hitting .286 with some pop—two homers and seven RBI—and he’s maintained a strong on-base streak over his last 10 games. The implied team total is favorable for Atlanta, which should help maximize his plate appearances in this productive lineup spot.

Riley’s ownership around 12% aligns with his value and recent production, making him a viable chalk option in tournaments. His combination of contact ability and occasional power gives him balanced DFS appeal without requiring excessive salary investment. While he doesn’t offer elite ceiling upside every night, his consistent role and matchup make him one of the better mid-range third-base plays on the slate.

Honorable Mentions

• Josh Jung ($3,600)
• Junior Caminero ($3,800)

SS Plays

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

Bobby Witt Jr. is showing strong recent form, slashing .325/.392/.530 with five homers and 13 steals this season. Batting second for Kansas City, he offers a mix of power and speed upside that fits well in tournaments, especially given his ability to generate extra-base hits and steals. Tonight’s matchup at Houston presents a solid opportunity; the Astros’ pitching staff has struggled at times with right-handed hitters, and KC’s lineup should provide plenty of run-scoring chances.

At $5,900, Witt stands out as strong value with a 1.69x projection and nearly 12% optimal lineup presence. His ownership around 8.6% is reasonable relative to his production and salary, offering some leverage without being overlooked. With consistent plate appearances near the top of the order and a balanced skill set in a favorable game environment, Witt is worth considering as a mid-tier tournament option.

Honorable Mentions

• CJ Abrams ($4,700)
• Jordan Lawlar ($2,000)

OF Plays

Top Play: Adolis Garcia ($4,000)

Adolis Garcia offers solid value at $4,000 facing Colorado, a team that’s historically tough on right-handed power but playing at home in a hitter-friendly ballpark. Batting cleanup for Texas, he should see plenty of quality pitches and plate appearances in what projects as a competitive game environment. While his season average is modest at .225, he brings speed with five steals and has shown occasional power upside with five homers already.

His 9.3% ownership aligns closely with optimal builds around 10.8%, suggesting the field is aware of his potential without oversaturating lineups. Garcia’s combination of power and speed in the middle of the order makes him a strong value play for tournaments where you need leverage without sacrificing upside. The matchup isn’t perfect, but his price and lineup spot give him enough appeal to consider as a contrarian option in this slate.

Honorable Mentions

• Pete Crow-Armstrong ($5,000)
• Juan Soto ($5,200)

Good luck! 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!