MLB Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for March 27, 2026
Last updated: Mar 26, 2026, 7:29PM | Published: Mar 26, 2026, 7:26AM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Friday DFS contest begins at 7:10am AEDT on March 27, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for MLB fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' MLB contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Friday and beyond.
Featured MLB Games
Draftstars' MLB Friday slate consists of the following match-ups:
- Philadelphia Phillies vs Texas Rangers
- Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels
- Cincinnati Reds vs Boston Red Sox
- San Diego Padres vs Detroit Tigers
- St. Louis Cardinals vs Tampa Bay Rays
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the best DFS projections in the world.
With the best MLB fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more MLB fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tarik Skubal (DET, P) | $23,130 | 23.4 | 1 |
| Value | Isaac Paredes (HOU, 3B) | $5,000 | 6.1 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Jonathan DeLuca (TB, OF) | $8,200 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Fernando Tatis (SD, OF) | $7,530 | 9.1 | 1.2 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer the most "bang for your buck," meaning they are expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For those needing to stay under the salary cap, "cheapie" options refer to the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
C (Catcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Yainer Diaz (HOU) | $7,820 | 6 | 0.8 |
| Value | Ivan Herrera (STL) | $6,940 | 5.9 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Yainer Diaz (HOU) | $7,820 | 6 | 0.8 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Elly De La Cruz (CIN) | $7,880 | 9.2 | 1.2 |
| Value | Elly De La Cruz (CIN) | $7,880 | 9.2 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Trevor Story (BOS) | $9,450 | 6.3 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Masyn Winn (STL) | $6,330 | 7.2 | 1.1 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Fernando Tatis (SD) | $7,530 | 9.1 | 1.2 |
| Value | Fernando Tatis (SD) | $7,530 | 9.1 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Jonathan DeLuca (TB) | $8,200 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Jackson Merrill (SD) | $6,180 | 7.2 | 1.2 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Junior Caminero (TB) | $10,350 | 8.2 | 0.8 |
| Value | Isaac Paredes (HOU) | $5,000 | 6.1 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Yandy Díaz (TB) | $10,990 | 7.4 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Manuel Machado (SD) | $7,300 | 7.7 | 1.1 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gleyber Torres (DET) | $7,740 | 7.2 | 0.9 |
| Value | Jacob Cronenworth (SD) | $5,510 | 6.2 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Matthew McLain (CIN) | $8,250 | 6.3 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Gleyber Torres (DET) | $7,740 | 7.2 | 0.9 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bryce Harper (PHI) | $8,690 | 7.9 | 0.9 |
| Value | Alec Burleson (STL) | $7,080 | 6.6 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Willson Contreras (BOS) | $9,060 | 5.8 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Gavin Sheets (SD) | $5,000 | 4.6 | 0.9 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tarik Skubal (DET) | $23,130 | 23.4 | 1 |
| Value | Matthew Liberatore (STL) | $11,980 | 13.6 | 1.1 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your MLB Friday teams, consider starting with a value player like Isaac Paredes. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Tarik Skubal is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Fernando Tatis.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jonathan DeLuca is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' MLB Friday slate closes at 7:10am AEDT on Friday. ENTER NOW!
As with all MLB DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven MLB fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the MLB Friday slate. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your MLB DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised MLB Friday line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
