MLB DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Stacks Today: Thursday Playbook
Published: May 29, 2025
Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Thursday, May 29th!
Let’s start the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have an 5-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 6:45 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: Thursday, 5/29
Nothing of note.
Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers
Let's get into today's core pitching plays for our DFS lineups
Core MLB DFS Pitchers
Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
This guy is, well, quite good. He's fire off three straight scoreless outings and hasn't allowed more than 2 ER in seven straight starts. He's put up 20+ DKP in all seven and has topped 30+ DKP in four of them. The Braves offense rank in the middle of the pack offensively against right-handed pitching.
MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals
Seattle hasn't been terrible against left-handed pitching ranking 10th in OPS and wOBA and 8th in wRC+, but they strike out a lot. Their 25.1% K-rate vs. LHP pops when they face a guy who strikes out a LOT of batters. NOBODY in baseball has struck out more batters this year than MacKenzie Gore. He's thrown fewer innings than Skubal, Rodon, Crochet, and Wheeler. He's struck out more than all of them.
Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves
We knew the turnaround for Chris Sale would happen after a bad start because it was a lot of unlucky breaks. His ERA is down to 3.36 with a 2.99 xFIP and 2.91 SIERA and his K-rate is the exact same as last year punching out 11.4 K/9. Philly is a great offense against lefties, but the drop-off at SP is REAL after Sale and he's too cheap.
If I were playing a pitcher sub-8K it's Jacob Lopez, but I'm not excited about it.
Recommended MLB DFS Hitters
Let's check out today's core plays to build our lineups around.
Core MLB DFS Hitters
Rays Lefties Go for the Gusto!
The problem for Ryan Gusto today is going to be the left-handed bats. He does not fair well against lefty swingers. It's likely we see 6 Rays in the lineup for Tampa tonight as Josh Lowe, Brandon Lowe, Jonathan Aranda, Chandler Simpson, Kameron Misner, and Matt Thaiss all likely play.
Aranda has a .967 OPS, .235 ISO, and .418 wOBA against righties. Brandon Lowe sits at .813 OPS, .215 ISO, and .353 wOBA. Simpson has a .218 AVG vs. RHP and has 12 SB off of them as well.
Shane Baz Struggles vs. Righties; That's all the Astros Have
The issue for Shane Baz this year has been getting righties out and that is a massive challenge today considering that's basically all the Astros have. All 6 HR he's allowed have come against lefties as he's allowed a .582 SLG%, .413 wOBA, .299 ISO, 4.62 xFIP, and a 42.9% FB rate.
Righties against Baz this year; 1.99 HR/9, 4,75 xFIP, 17% K (29% vs. LHH), .362 wOBA, .216 ISO & .231 xISO, .361 wOBA & .378 xwOBA
Astros vs. RHP in May;
- Isaac Paredes; .957 OPS, .272 ISO, .412 wOBA, .296 AVG
- Jake Meyers; .891 OPS, .178 ISO, .391 wOBA, .315 AVG
- Mauricio Dubon; .829 OPS, .162 ISO, .361 wOBA, .324 AVG
- Cam Smith; .800 OPS, .359 wOBA, .333 AVG
- Zach Dezenzo; .788 OPS, .196 ISO, .343 wOBA
- Yainer Diaz; .773 OPS, .160 ISO, .341 wOBA
Nationals Look Hashtag Great
The Nationals have a lot of lefties and that's where Emerson Hancock has really struggled. Lefties have 2.56 HR/9, 4.48 xFIP, .261 ISO, .419 wOBA, and a 39% FB rate, which is HIGH for a guy who profiles as a groundballer.
The Nationals could have NINE batters hitting from the left side as seven pure lefties and two switch-hitters grace the box. Pick them. Any of them. They're all great.
Preference? James Wood, CJ Abrams, Luis Garcia Jr., Robert Hassell, Jose Tena
Josh Bell, Daylen Lile, Nathaniel Lowe, and Keibert Ruiz are all viable as well.
Vladimir Guerrero and George Springer..Even Ernie Clement
It's a very small sample, but through 14 innings this year, Jacob Lopez has definitely had lady luck behind him. He has a 2.57 ERA but a 5.02 xFIP and 4.29 SIERA. He's also been an extreme flyball pitcher posting a 59.5% FB rate and it was 69% last year.
Guerrero has some crazy expected numbers against lefties because a .205 ISO is great, but a .339 xISO is elite. The .407 wOBA and the .482 xwOBA are crazy, too. Springer has great lefty stuff too with a .433 ISO and .463 wOBA. I mention Clement too because he has a .205 ISO and .412 wOBA and is cheap.
Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers & Jacob Wilson
The right-handers look reallllllly good against Jose Berrios. Berrios only has an 18.8% K against righties along with a .221 ISO, .285 xISO, .322 wOBA & .368 xwOBA.
Rooker has a .162 ISO but .249 xISO and .303 wOBA and .375 xwOBA. Jacob Wilson has smashed everything and has a .381 wOBA. Langeliers has a .188 ISO and has belted 7 HR vs.RHP.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | SP | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Zack Wheeler  $10,600 |  CJ Abrams $3,600 | Kyle Schwarber $4,100 | |||
| MacKenzie Gore $10,000 | James Wood $4,000 | |||||
 Chris Sale $9,900 | ||||||
| Medium |  Vladimir Guerrero $3,300 |  Brandon Lowe $3,100 |  Isaac Paredes $3,400 | Jeremy Peña $3,200 |  Brent Rooker $3,400 | |
| Jonathan Aranda $3,100 | Jose Altuve $3,100 | Junior Caminero $3,000 | Jacob Wilson $0 | Josh Lowe $3,200 | ||
| Low | Jacob Lopez $7,500 | Josh Bell $2,600 | Luis GarcÃa $2,900 | José Tena $2,500 | José Caballero $2,700 | George Springer $2,900 |
| Ernie Clement $2,500 | Bo Bichette $2,900 | Jake Meyers $2,800 | ||||
| Mauricio Dubón $2,400 | Chandler Simpson $2,800 | |||||
| Cam Smith $2,700 | ||||||
| Robert Hassell $0 |
Stacks
| Nationals | CJ Abrams | Josh Bell | José Tena | James Wood | Luis GarcÃa | Robert Hassell |
 DraftKings | 5400 | 2900 | 2700 | 5700 | - | - |
| Fanduel | 3600 | 2600 | 2500 | 4000 | - | - |
| Rays | Matt Thaiss | Chandler Simpson | Brandon Lowe | Josh Lowe | Jonathan Aranda |
| DraftKings | 2900 | 3900 | 4400 | 4800 | 4700 |
| Fanduel | 2400 | 2800 | 3100 | 3200 | 3100 |
| Astros | Mauricio Dubón | Jake Meyers | Jeremy Peña | Cam Smith | Yainer Diaz | Isaac Paredes |
| DraftKings | 2500 | 3700 | 3900 | 2900 | 3500 | 4500 |
| Fanduel | 2400 | 2800 | 3200 | 2700 | 2700 | 3400 |
| Blue Jays | George Springer | Ernie Clement | Vladimir Guerrero |
| DraftKings | 4300 | 2400 | 4900 |
| Fanduel | 2900 | 2500 | 3300 |
| Athletics | Shea Langeliers | Brent Rooker | Jacob Wilson |
| DraftKings | 3900 | 4200 | - |
| Fanduel | 2900 | 3400 | - |
| Nationals | CJ Abrams | Josh Bell | José Tena | James Wood | Luis GarcÃa | Robert Hassell |
| DraftKings | 5400 | 2900 | 2700 | 5700 | 3700 | - |
| Fanduel | 3600 | 2600 | 2500 | 4000 | 2900 | - |
| Rays | Matt Thaiss | Chandler Simpson | Brandon Lowe | Josh Lowe | Jonathan Aranda |
| DraftKings | 2900 | 3900 | 4400 | 4800 | 4700 |
| Fanduel | 2400 | 2800 | 3100 | 3200 | 3100 |
| Astros | Mauricio Dubón | Jake Meyers | Jeremy Peña | Cam Smith | Yainer Diaz | Isaac Paredes |
| DraftKings | 2500 | 3700 | 3900 | 2900 | 3500 | 4500 |
| Fanduel | 2400 | 2800 | 3200 | 2700 | 2700 | 3400 |
| Blue Jays | George Springer | Ernie Clement | Vladimir Guerrero |
| DraftKings | 4300 | 2400 | 4900 |
| Fanduel | 2900 | 2500 | 3300 |
| Athletics | Shea Langeliers | Brent Rooker | Jacob Wilson |
| DraftKings | 3900 | 4200 | - |
| Fanduel | 2900 | 3400 | - |