Top DFS Pitching and Team Stacking Strategies for DraftKings
In this article, I'm going to take a deeper dive into pitching and team stacking options. Let's take a look at our optimizer's rankings of the pitchers for the DraftKings 12-game main slate, sorted by projected fantasy points.
Visit RotoWire's MLB Daily Lineups to find out where the hitters slot in!
*No weather issues expected.
The top tier brings us five starters between $9,000-$10,000, and Tyler Glasnow stands out as clearly our highest projected pitcher and is expected to be the most popular option in GPPs. The Reds have been held to two runs in back-to-back games and strike out at a high clip. Glasnow is coming off his best start of the season, striking out 12 against the Twins last week.
We've also starred Jesus Luzardo, Michael Soroka and Luis Severino in our optimizer. Severino is the clear value of the group, getting a $1,600 discount compared to his FanDuel salary in a favorable matchup against the Mariners. Meanwhile, Luzardo has reached 30 DK points in three of his last eight starts and is facing the White Sox. He should be a viable GPP play for a ceiling game.
Joe Boyle and Ryan Bergert tend not to work deep into games, so I will look to avoid them. The Twins have also yet to name a starter in their matchup against the Red Sox. Note that Max Fried and Yusei Kikuchi rank well in the metrics below.
Here's how
Top DFS Pitching and Team Stacking Strategies for DraftKings
In this article, I'm going to take a deeper dive into pitching and team stacking options. Let's take a look at our optimizer's rankings of the pitchers for the DraftKings 12-game main slate, sorted by projected fantasy points.
Visit RotoWire's MLB Daily Lineups to find out where the hitters slot in!
*No weather issues expected.
The top tier brings us five starters between $9,000-$10,000, and Tyler Glasnow stands out as clearly our highest projected pitcher and is expected to be the most popular option in GPPs. The Reds have been held to two runs in back-to-back games and strike out at a high clip. Glasnow is coming off his best start of the season, striking out 12 against the Twins last week.
We've also starred Jesus Luzardo, Michael Soroka and Luis Severino in our optimizer. Severino is the clear value of the group, getting a $1,600 discount compared to his FanDuel salary in a favorable matchup against the Mariners. Meanwhile, Luzardo has reached 30 DK points in three of his last eight starts and is facing the White Sox. He should be a viable GPP play for a ceiling game.
Joe Boyle and Ryan Bergert tend not to work deep into games, so I will look to avoid them. The Twins have also yet to name a starter in their matchup against the Red Sox. Note that Max Fried and Yusei Kikuchi rank well in the metrics below.
Here's how each pitcher ranks in key categories (stats are from the 2025 season only):
| Pitcher | Fantasy Points | FIP | K% | Opponent K% |
| Tyler Glasnow | 1 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
| Sonny Gray | 2 | 3 | 4 | 18 |
| Jesus Luzardo | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Max Fried | 4 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
| Yusei Kikuchi | 5 | 11 | 7 | 10 |
| Sean Manaea | 6 | 5 | 1 | 22 |
| Lucas Giolito | 7 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
| Michael Soroka | 8 | 10 | 6 | 15 |
| Seth Lugo | 9 | 15 | 11 | 7 |
| Justin Verlander | 10 | 16 | 15 | 2 |
| Nick Lodolo | 11 | 7 | 10 | 13 |
| Quinn Priester | 12 | 8 | 13 | 20 |
| Patrick Corbin | 13 | 9 | 14 | 1 |
| Sandy Alcantara | 14 | 18 | 19 | 21 |
| Colin Rea | 15 | 22 | 17 | 16 |
| Logan Evans | 16 | 21 | 18 | 6 |
| Luis Severino | 17 | 12 | 20 | 4 |
| Ryan Bergert | 18 | 13 | 8 | 14 |
| Joe Boyle | 19 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Bailey Falter | 20 | 19 | 21 | 9 |
| Jonathan Cannon | 21 | 20 | 16 | 17 |
| Jason Alexander | 22 | 17 | 23 | 19 |
| Erick Fedde | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 |
Analyzing Team Stack Rankings for Maximum DFS Impact
Here is how each team ranks in implied runs, BABIP (batting average on balls in play) and how popular we expect each team stack to be in GPPs:
| Team | Implied Runs | BABIP | Stack Popularity |
| Phillies | 5.8 | 7 | High |
| Mariners | 5.7 | 14 | Medium |
| Yankees | 5.6 | 11 | Medium |
| Dodgers | 5.5 | 10 | High |
| Royals | 5.4 | 21 | High |
| Athletics | 5.3 | 8 | High |
| Angels | 5.1 | 20 | High |
| Giants | 5.0 | 19 | Medium |
| Red Sox | 4.9 | 2 | High |
| Astros | 4.9 | 3 | Low |
| Mets | 4.7 | 22 | High |
| Cardinals | 4.7 | 9 | Medium |
| Braves | 4.5 | 12 | Medium |
| Twins | 4.5 | 18 | Medium |
| Brewers | 4.5 | 6 | Low |
| Rangers | 4.3 | 24 | Medium |
| Padres | 4.2 | 13 | Low |
| Nationals | 4.0 | 16 | High |
| Reds | 3.9 | 5 | Low |
| Cubs | 3.9 | 17 | Low |
| White Sox | 3.6 | 23 | Medium |
| Pirates | 3.3 | 15 | Low |
| Rays | 3.3 | 1 | Low |
| Marlins | 3.1 | 4 | Low |
My primary team stack targets
Dodgers vs. LHP Lodolo (3.79 FIP vs. 3.08 ERA). Key pieces: Will Smith, Miguel Rojas, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Shohei Ohtani
Royals vs. RHP Fedde (5.09 FIP, 1.51 WHIP). Key pieces: Vinnie Pasquantino, Jonathan India, MJ Melendez, Bobby Witt, Salvador Perez
Phillies vs. RHP Cannon (4.74 FIP, 18.5 K%). Key pieces: J.T. Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber
Twins vs. RHP Giolito (4.28 FIP, 1.4 HR/9). Key pieces: Willi Castro, Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, Trevor Larnach, Kody Clemens
Key Matchups and Batter vs. Pitcher Insights for DFS Success
Notable hitter matchups against the opposing starter today:
- Matt Olson: 3-for-5, HR; .600 BA, 1.867 OPS
- Xander Bogaerts: 7-for-15, HR; .467 BA, 1.326 OPS
- Taylor Ward: 6-for-13, HR; .462 BA, 1.269 OPS
- Ronald Acuna: 6-for-12, 4 RBI; .500 BA, 1.100 OPS
- Jorge Polanco: 5-for-12, HR; .417 BA, 1.083 OPS
- Jonah Heim: 5-for-10, 4 RBI; .500 BA, 1.045 OPS
- Adolis Garcia: 4-for-15, 2 HR; .267 BA, .933 OPS
- Corey Seager: 4-for-15, HR; .267 BA, .917 OPS
- Travis d'Arnaud: 9-for-20; .450 BA, .900 OPS
- Carlos Correa: 6-for-25, 3 HR; .240 BA, .896 OPS
- Martin Maldonado: 6-for-19, 3 XBH; .316 BA, .876 OPS
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