As with any DFS game, there are always some details that you will need to understand to get started. This article intends to put you in the right mindset so that you can be successful playing MLB DFS from Day 1.

While at some point the most important part of playing is going to be how you build your lineup, the first thing you need to understand is how the scoring works on each of the different sites. So, first thing, let's talk about the differences between the three main sites – DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo. 

 


The most glaring difference between these three sites is the usage of pitchers. DraftKings and Yahoo both have you choose two pitchers for each slate, while FanDuel only has one. The second-most important feature to understand is that DraftKings not only provides bonuses for both hitters and pitchers, but it also has more scoring categories – specifically for pitchers who can earn points for holds and saves. Meanwhile, FanDuel and Yahoo give you points for wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, etc. Now that we have that boring part out of the way, let us start getting into the other factors.
 

Game Type 

Before you start playing, you'll want to understand how you want to play and what kind of contests you’re going to be in. Cash games will provide you with the best odds to win, as usually the top 40-50 percent of the lineups entered will make money. However, the winnings from these cash contests will be less than in tournaments. In cash games, you will typically want to play more conservatively and you won’t have too much of a concern around players' ownership – as you only need to be in the top half of the contest to win. So if Juan Soto, for example, is owned by 65% of the field and you want to use him, then you’re going to be protected if he has a great game. If he doesn’t, you’re in the same boat as 65% of the field with that player and you still have a chance to win. 

In a GPP game, you will need to be willing to take more risks. In these contests, typically only a very small percentage of the entries will win. The higher you finish in the contest, though, the more money you will make. Ownership is much more meaningful in these types of contests because of the smaller chance to win. Using that same Juan Soto example: he would use up a high percentage of your salary and if he doesn't have a good game and is 65% owned, it will be very tough to win – 35% of the field didn’t have him in their lineup and potentially used that budget space on players who were successful at achieving their values.

 

 

Weather  

As many baseball teams play outside, the weather is always a factor. You don’t want to spend your budget on teams that are playing in a game that is going to get rained out or deal with weather delays. The other factor that the weather presents is that baseballs travel further the more humid the air is. For example: when the roof is open on hot summer Texas nights, that's going to be ideal for home runs. This is the same reason why Rockies players are more expensive when they play at home. 
 

Pitchers 

This item may feel obvious, but that's only because it is important. You want pitchers that are playing well on your team, and you want to face pitchers that are not. Understanding the factors that could make up that pitcher's success, though, is where you start to see some differentiation. Before you pick your pitcher or pitchers for your team, you should take a look at the following things for their opposition.

  1. How often does the team strike out?
  2. How many runs has the team scored recently?
  3. What does the opposing team’s slugging percentage (SLG) look like recently (last 3-7 days)?

Asking yourself these questions, and also looking at those same questions for the pitchers themselves, should help you make an informed choice and choose a good pitcher(s) on any given slate.

 

 

Hitters 

Choosing the right hitters is the most important part of your process. A good lineup of hitters can help you overcome a poor pitching performance and will also ensure that you have a chance to get to the cash line. Choosing hitters, however, is difficult. Starting in the right place is essential. You will want to look at the pitcher they are facing and how well they are performing. You should also look for an advantage in the pitcher splits (i.e. how well does a batter hit right-handed pitching or left-handed pitching). 

When looking at these numbers, pay particular attention to their SLG – this indicates the total number of bases the batter is getting on average. This is important because it will tell you more of the hitters' story than just home runs or singles. Also, remember that what has happened most recently is far more important than what a batter has done overall on the season. Take players who are hitting well right now. The long MLB season is full of ups and downs and with so many stats being averages, it can really make a player look great when he really isn’t performing well over the last few days or weeks.
 

Stacks 

Your lineups should always contain at least one stack of three players in the same lineup. Preferably target hitters right next to each other in the batting order, but having a player who is one spot off is fine too. As discussed in the previous section, picking the right hitter and surrounding that player with his teammates should be something you consider. It isn’t always possible, though, because of the cost of other players. 

The other thing you want to be thinking about is where those players are in the lineup. The earlier they are in the lineup, the more at-bats – and the more at-bats, the better chances you have for that player to get you points. The size of your stacks should also differ based on the type of game you’re playing. If you’re playing cash games, you will likely want smaller stacks and less of them so you aren’t tying all of your success to just a couple of teams Meanwhile, in a GPP, you can be more open to playing to the limit of one team if you feel like they might score a lot of runs in the game.