Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Wednesday, May 28th! 

We have a 5-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings starting at 7:40 PM ET, and an 7-game main slate (weather permitting) on FanDuel starting at 6:35 PM ET. Today, we have plenty of talent on the diamond and many different ways to build your lineup. Our expert analysis is here to guide you through the top pitchers, value plays, and stackable offenses to target.

Whether chasing big GPP prizes or grinding cash games, we’ve got you covered with insights tailored to today’s matchups. Let’s jump right into the key plays and strategies to dominate the slate!

 

 

This season's MLB DFS picks and playbook will consist of a pitcher and hitter core players section with written analysis, player pool grid and core stacks section.

The core player section should be used as a starting point for all lineups, you may not be able to use all players in the same lineup, but those players should be the building blocks for you on a given night.

The player pool grid will feature both players from the core player section along with additional plays to help you build a complete lineup. The grid will be broken into top priced players, mid-priced players and value tier players.

The stacks section will bring you are favorite lineups stacks for the day and which players we would look to include in those stacks based on matchups and pricing.

Check out the MLB DFS Show to get an initial outlook on the day's MLB DFS slate to give you a good base for the start of your research each day! 

Make sure you subscribe to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel so you never miss a show! Also, join the Fantasy Alarm Discord to get your DFS lineup questions answered by our MLB DFS team! Plus, as always, be sure to check in with our MLB DFS Tools, with the Daily MLB Projections, MLB DFS Rostership Projections, and our MLB DFS Lineup Generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting.

 

MLB DFS Picks & MLB Playbook

MLB Weather: Wednesday, 5/28

St. Louis Cardinals @ Baltimore Orioles (FD Only)

A lot of rain throughout the day that should slow down by game-time. A late start is definitely possible and they could PPD if they don't want to wait it out. 

Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies (FD Only)

Rain all day and night. High risk for PPD.  

UPDATE: Braves-Phillies postponed due to inclement weather.

Cincinnati Reds @ Kansas City Royals

Rain chances increase later in the evening. They should be able to get the game in, but there is a chance for a late-inning, in-game delay. 

Colorado Rockies @ Chicago Cubs

Temperatures in the 50s with light wind blowing in from left field. Small chance for some light rain that should not interrupt play. 

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

Let's get into today's core pitching plays for our DFS lineups

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds

Greene returned from a brief IL stint to face a tough Cubs offense in his last start. He lasted just 4 innings and 83 pitches, but he gets a better matchup and should be closer to a full workload in this start. Prior to his groin injury, Greene was having an outstanding season. The Reds ace owns a 32.6% strikeout rate and 5.2% walk rate on the season with a brilliant 2.54 ERA. The Royals offense has posted just an 86 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, but they also own the lowest strikeout rate in the league. 

Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals 

Royals rookie Noah Cameron has been excellent in his first three career starts, allowing just two runs in total. The lefty has worked into the 7th inning in each of his three starts, and he is coming off an 8-strikeout performance against the Twins. Cameron gets a good matchup today against the Reds, who have struggled against left-handed pitching. They own just a 78 wRC+ and have struck out at 24.8%.   

George Kirby, Seattle Mariners

Kirby was touched up for five runs in his season debut last week against the Astros. He was only able to work 3.2 innings on 72 pitches, but he should be able to build on that today against the Nationals. Kirby has been an above average pitcher over the first three seasons of his career, posting solid strikeout and groundball rates with elite walk rates. On a short slate, I am willing to bet on the talent and roll the dice with Kirby in just his second start of the season.  

Matthew Boyd, Chicago Cubs

Boyd is the top point-per-dollar pitching option of the day thanks to an elite matchup with the Rockies away from Coors Field. Against left-handed pitching, the Rockies rank dead last in wRC+ and own the 2nd-highest strikeout rate in the league. Boyd has put together a solid season thus far with a 3.42 ERA. The Cubs lefty owns an above average 23.7% strikeout rate and 6.4% walk rate. He is also aided by cooler temps and favorable wind at Wrigley Field today.  

Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees

Schmidt has struggled with his control this season, but the high-upside matchup against the Angels make him an intriguing GPP option. The Angels do pose a power threat, ranking 4th in ISO against right-handed pitching, but they also strike out at the highest rate in baseball and their 7.5% walk rate ranks just 26th. Schmidt was unable to make it out of the 5th inning last start in Coors Field, but he did rack up 8 strikeouts on a season-high 92 pitches. The Yankees righty owns a 4.58 ERA on the season, but estimators have him pitching a decent bit better than that this season. 

FanDuel Only Note

Zack Wheeler and AJ Smith-Shawver would be of interest if the weather outlook improves, but there is risk we see an early postponement in Philadelphia. 

UPDATE: Braves-Phillies postponed due to inclement weather.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

Let's check out today's core plays to build our lineups around.

Core MLB DFS Hitters

Cal Raleigh (and Lefty Friends) vs. Trevor Williams 

The Mariners get a matchup against Nationals righty Trevor Williams, who has struggled to a 6.39 ERA this season. Lefties have been the main issue for Williams, as they have torched him for a .216 ISO. Cal Raleigh is the standout here, as he has 19 home runs on the season and has posted a .323 ISO when hitting from the left side. Rowdy Tellez is enjoying a resurgent season, with a .272 ISO and 19.7% barrel rate against righties. He has tremendous upside at a discounted price. Jorge Polanco got off to a ridiculous start this season, but has since cooled off. I'm still interested given the matchup. J.P Crawford should lead off and owns a .332 wOBA against righties this season. Righties Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena are fine to include in a full stack. 

Chicago Cubs vs. Tanner Gordon

The Cubs have the highest implied team total of the slate despite less than ideal hitting conditions at Wrigley Field today. Tanner Gordon was shockingly good last time out against the Yankees, but he has struggled to a 6.23 ERA in the PCL this season and was lit up for an 8.65 ERA in eight starts last season. The Rockies bullpen behind him ranks dead last in SIERA and strikeout rate. The Cubs have four hitters (Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch) who have posted an ISO of at least .236 and barrel rate of at least 12.5% against righties this season. Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson also have barrel rates of at 9.6% and 10.2% respectively against righties. Matt Shaw has been much better in his second try at the big leagues, slashing .355/.412/.516 in eight games since being recalled. 

New York Yankees League-Leading Power vs. Yusei Kikuchi

The Yankees have been the best offense in baseball this season, ranking first in the league in ISO, wOBA and wRC+. They lead the league in all three categories against left-handed pitching as well. Angels lefty Yusei Kikuchi has seen his strikeout rate fall to 20.7% this season and his walk rate is up at 11.5%. His swinging-strike rate is a career-low 8.8%, so the strikeout decline to begin the season looks completely real. He also owns a career-high 40.8% fly-ball rate, but has allowed just a 9.9% HR/FB rate – 2nd-lowest of his career. There is some regression coming in the HR department and I think it begins tonight. The Angels bullpen behind him owns a league-worst 6.31 ERA. 

Aaron Judge is having another MVP-caliber season, and his numbers against lefties this season are absolutely absurd – .727 ISO, .695 wOBA, 35.7% barrel rate. Paul Goldschmidt has also been elite against lefties this season with a .405 ISO and 13.5% barrel rate. Cody Bellinger and Austin Wells have been great in lefty-lefty matchups this season, and Anthony Volpe owns a .200 ISO. 

Los Angeles Angels Power vs. Clarke Schmidt

The Angels strike out way too much and I prefer the Clarke Schmidt side of this matchup, but they do also boast some elite power numbers. Zach Neto, Yoan Moncada, Taylor Ward and Matthew Lugo all own an ISO of at least .229 and barrel rate of at least 16.3% against right-pitching this season. Jorge Soler is not far behind at .185 ISO and 12.1% barrel rate. Schmidt owns a career-high 43.4% fly-ball rate this season, and has allowed 1.21 HR/9, so a home run or two would not surprise me. He also has a lofty 12.1% walk rate that could help the Angels generate some traffic on the bases.  

FanDuel Only Specials

There is weather risk in the Cardinals-Orioles game, but I have interest in both offenses if it looks like they will be able to play. Orioles lefty Cade Povich has posted a 4.86 ERA and 1.55 HR/9. Baltimore is not a great park for right-handed power since they moved the fences back, but righties boast a .209 ISO against Povich this season. Willson Contreras and Ivan Herrera have been the Cardinals only sources of RH power this season, but Jordan Walker also has potential. Masyn Winn was very good against lefties last season and I dont mind Lars Nootbar as a lefty-lefty option. 

On the other side, Cardinals righty Miles Mikolas has posted an unsustainable .255 BABIP and 4.1% HR/FB rate, and his fly-ball rate sits at a career-high 45.4%. Lefties have only posted a .124 ISO against him, but they have squared him up for a 10.9% barrel rate…there is some regression coming. Gunnar Henderson, Ryan O'Hearn and Cedric Mullins all own an ISO of at least .230 versus righties this season. Jackson Holliday also has a strong .188 ISO and 10.9% barrel rate against righties. 

Player Pool

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Stacks

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