Best MLB DFS Picks Today: Top Value Plays for May 26, 2026
Tuesday’s MLB slate is loaded with 15 games spread across the afternoon and evening, giving DFS players plenty of options to build around. The standout storylines center on two dominant pitching matchups that look almost too good to be true, a historically hot New York offense facing one of the worst starters in the league, and a pair of underpriced hitters whose current production is wildly outpacing their salary tiers.
Today’s approach is built on stacking elite pitching where the matchups scream for it, targeting the Yankees offense in a single-game stack, and filling out the lineup with value hitters who are posting premium production at mid-range or lower prices. Here are five MLB DFS picks worth rostering across both your DraftKings lineup and FanDuel picks today.
Cam Schlittler, SP — New York Yankees (DK: ~$8,800)
Cam Schlittler has quietly become one of the most dominant pitchers in the American League this season, and today’s matchup sets him up for another strong outing. The Yankees right-hander is 6-2 with a 1.50 ERA and 75 strikeouts across 66 innings, numbers that firmly place him among the top fantasy salary plays on any given day. His 0.86 WHIP tells you everything you need to know about his ability to control games and limit base traffic.
He draws the Kansas City Royals tonight at Kauffman Stadium, and the Royals are sending out a left-hander who is currently 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA and just 6 strikeouts in limited innings pitched. That is not a misprint. The Royals starter has been one of the worst options in baseball, and Schlittler is walking into exactly the kind of soft matchup DFS pitchers dream about.
The Royals are 22-32 on the season and have been inconsistent at the plate. Schlittler’s ability to generate swings and misses at a high rate makes this one of the safest SP plays on today’s MLB slate. For DFS cash games, he is an easy lock. In GPP picks, he may carry moderate ownership, but the upside of a 30-plus DraftKings point ceiling justifies it.
Chase Burns, SP — Cincinnati Reds (DK: ~$9,200)
Chase Burns has been absolutely elite in 2026, and today he faces a Mets team that has not confirmed a starting pitcher for the game as of this morning. Burns currently sits at 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 59 innings, making him one of the most efficient arms in all of baseball when it comes to generating outs and missing bats.
The Mets come into this contest at 22-32, among the more offensively challenged squads in the National League. Citi Field generally plays as a neutral-to-slight pitcher’s park, and when you factor in the TBD opposing starter situation for the Mets, the narrative advantage clearly swings to the Burns side. His 0.95 WHIP backs up the ERA, and his ability to pitch deep into games maximizes the innings-based scoring upside on DraftKings.
Burns is the kind of arm you want to pay up for when the matchup aligns, and today it absolutely does. He is a premium play worth the higher salary if you can fit him into your DraftKings lineup alongside value hitters in the field. In two-pitcher formats on FanDuel picks, pairing Burns and Schlittler is a viable tournament build given the quality of both matchups.
Aaron Judge, RF — New York Yankees (DK: ~$6,000)
Aaron Judge is in the middle of yet another monster season. He is slashing .250/.377/.556 with a .933 OPS, 17 home runs, and 32 RBI across 54 games. His on-base percentage of .377 speaks to his ability to not only hit for power but to contribute run-scoring opportunities at the top of the lineup, where he consistently bats for the Yankees.
Tonight, Judge and the Yankees are visiting Kauffman Stadium to face that same Royals starter with the 9.82 ERA. Whether the Royals leave that pitcher in for multiple innings or go to the bullpen quickly, the Yankees offense is primed for a big night. Judge’s combination of power, patience at the plate, and consistent contact makes him one of the safest DFS salary plays when the matchup checks out like this one does.
Kauffman Stadium plays slightly above average for left-handed hitters but is not extreme in either direction, meaning Judge should benefit from pure lineup context rather than park factors. His stolen base capability, with five on the year, adds another scoring dimension in DFS formats that reward SB production. This is a cash game anchor and a GPP core piece on today’s MLB slate.
Drake Baldwin, C — Atlanta Braves (DK: ~$4,600)
The catcher position in MLB DFS is often where lineups either thrive or waste salary on a low-upside play. Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves is the exception right now. He is slashing .303/.389/.543 with a .932 OPS, 13 home runs, and 38 RBI across 48 games. That production makes him the single best hitting catcher in baseball over this stretch, and his salary has not yet caught up to the numbers he’s posting.
The Braves are visiting Fenway Park today to face the Red Sox, coming in as the hottest team in baseball at 36-18. Atlanta’s lineup is stacked top to bottom, and Baldwin’s consistent presence in the middle of that order means he is regularly seeing pitches in prime RBI situations. He does not chase outside the zone at an alarming rate, which contributes to his high OBP relative to catcher standards.
For DFS cash games, Baldwin at catcher is one of the best value plays on the board today. His salary tier on both DraftKings and FanDuel allows you to pay up for pitching or at other positions while still fielding a catcher who can explode for 30-plus DFS points on any given night. His combination of average, power, and run production is a rare package at the position.
Gavin Sheets, 1B — San Diego Padres (DK: ~$4,400)
Gavin Sheets has quietly put together one of the better value seasons in the National League. He is slashing .253/.331/.507 with an .838 OPS, 9 home runs, 23 RBI, and 3 stolen bases across 48 games for the Padres. Those power numbers at first base, combined with a salary that falls well below the premium tier, make him one of the more appealing DFS value plays on Tuesday’s slate.
Sheets and the Padres host the Philadelphia Phillies tonight at Petco Park. The Phillies are sending a right-hander who is 2-4 with a 6.04 ERA and 51 strikeouts in his starts this season. That is a pitcher who has been getting hit hard, and the Padres have a lineup that can take advantage at home. Petco Park is traditionally a pitcher-friendly environment, but when you are facing an arm with a 6.04 ERA, the park factor matters less than the pitcher quality.
What makes Sheets particularly interesting for DFS cash games is his recent production paired with his position. First base is a premium slot in most lineups, and Sheets gives you mid-first-base power upside at a cost closer to a utility pick. He is a natural pivot off more expensive 1B options and fits comfortably into any salary cap structure on DraftKings or FanDuel.
Building Your Lineup
Today’s slate offers a clear two-pronged strategy. If you want to be aggressive, the Yankees stack is the most compelling single-game build available. Cam Schlittler with Aaron Judge provides both pitching dominance and lineup upside against the same weak Royals starter. You can extend that stack with Ben Rice, who is posting a .978 OPS and 16 home runs this season, if your salary cap allows. In GPP formats, a three- or four-man Yankees stack against this opponent is absolutely viable.
For players who prefer lineup diversity, pairing Chase Burns and Drake Baldwin in a Braves stack offers a different route. Burns locks up one of your SP slots, and Baldwin provides catcher value out of Atlanta’s dangerous lineup against Boston. Gavin Sheets then rounds out your value tier at first base, freeing up cap space elsewhere. Make sure you lock in your live MLB odds before setting your lineups, as line movement can indicate which teams the market is backing most heavily tonight. If you are looking for a sportsbook to play alongside your DFS, checking the latest DraftKings promo code or the current FanDuel promo code can add extra value to your bankroll on a big slate day like this one.
Carmelo Roldan
Sports Betting Contributor
Carmelo graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Using his 10+ years of sports betting experience, Carmelo is one of the main analysts for UFC on HelloRookie.
