MLB DFS Playbook November 1: Top Plays for DraftKings and FanDuel
Hello and welcome to the MLB DFS Showdown Playbook for November! We Game 5 of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks (Rangers lead 3-1) on our hands today as playoff action continues. We have an 8:03 pm ET start time, so plenty of time to make lineups. Make sure to check out all of our amazing MLB DFS tools as they are always worth going through before building your lineups as are the Vegas Odds. However, as I am sure you have figured out by now, the new playbook will be a one-stop shop that includes everything from easy-to-read player write-ups and suggestions to MLB Weather Reports to lineup construction tips to our best value plays for DraftKings and FanDuel. You will be given core plays around which to build your lineups, DFS stacks to consider for GPP tournaments and key statistics to help you in your DFS research. Let’s dive in!
MLB DFS Playbook November 1
Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers
I liked Eovaldi over Gallen in their first matchup and that proved to be slightly fruitful (Eovaldi outscored Gallen by 2). Eovaldi has been fantastic in the playoffs, scoring 29.4, 28.8, 25.9, 16.9, and 12.3 dk points across his five starts in the postseason, pitching at least 6 innings in all but one game. On the other hand, Gallen has really struggled in his last three starts and he has to face a Rangers offense that is firing on all cylinders.
Recommended DFS Hitters
Seager is cruising to a World Series MVP award, as he has been incredible in the Rangers 3 wins thus far. In those three games, he has homered in all of them while racking up SIX RBI and scoring FIVE ties himself. He has had games of 24, 16, and 21 dk points. I don’t expect him to slow down at this point and he may clinch the Rangers a title tonight.
Travis Jankowski, Texas Rangers
Jankowski got his first start of the playoffs yesterday with Adolis Garcia sidelined due to injury and he played very well, going 2-4 with a double and two RBI to finish with 16 dk points. He had a solid season, hitting .269 with 19 steals and I really like this price tag on him as he is a huge salary-saver. He doesn’t provide much power upside, but if he can get a hit or two and swipe a bag, he could still have a big time game.
Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
Moreno has scored 16 dk points in two of the past three games, by going 3-8 with a home run, three RBI, two walks, and three runs scored in those two games. He was FAR better at home this year too, hitting .333 with a .811 OPS, compared to hitting .228 with a .697 OPS on the road. He is also relatively cheap, which doesn’t hurt of course.
Honorable mention: Corbin Carroll, Evan Carter, Marcus Semien, Tommy Pham
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.