MLB Best Ball Strategy: DraftKings vs. Underdog (And Why the Differences Matter)

MLB best ball has exploded in popularity, and for good reason: no lineup setting, no waiver wire, just draft and let the season play out. But while DraftKings and Underdog both offer MLB best ball contests, they reward very different drafting strategies. Treating them the same is one of the fastest ways to torch EV.

This post breaks down core MLB best ball principles, then zooms in on the key strategic differences between DraftKings and Underdog, with actionable advice for each.

Core MLB Best Ball Concepts (No Matter the Platform)

Before splitting strategies by site, let’s cover what always matters in MLB best ball:

1. Embrace Volatility

Best ball automatically selects your highest scorers each day or week, so volatility is a feature, not a bug.

• Power hitters > safe singles hitters

• Strikeout upside pitchers > low-K control arms

• Streaky players are valuable, not scary

  
  

You don’t need consistency—you need ceiling.

2. Correlation Still Matters (But Differently Than DFS)

Stacking teammates increases your odds of spike weeks.

• Hitters from the same lineup can erupt together

• Pitchers + opposing hitters is usually a negative correlation

  
  

The impact of stacking depends heavily on scoring format and lineup structure, which is where DraftKings and Underdog diverge.

3. Playing Time Is King

You can’t score fantasy points from the bench.

• Everyday hitters > platoon bats (unless price/ADP bakes it in)

• Rotation locks > swingmen and bulk relievers

  
  

Upside is great, but upside with at-bats is better.

DraftKings MLB Best Ball Strategy

DraftKings MLB best ball is more complex and more stack-friendly than Underdog.

Key DraftKings Rules to Know

• Full team lineups (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, UTIL)

• Multiple starting pitchers

• Daily scoring, not weekly

• Larger rosters than Underdog

These factors dramatically shape optimal strategy.

DraftKings Hitting Strategy

Stacking is extremely powerful on DraftKings.

Because scoring is daily and you roster full lineups:

• A 5–7 run team explosion can carry an entire slate

• You benefit from having multiple hitters active on the same day

Actionable tips:

• Prioritize 3–5 player team stacks

• Favor teams with:

  • Strong lineups top to bottom

  • Favorable home parks

  • Weaker divisional pitching

• Don’t worry too much about “over-stacking” if ADP allows it

  
  

Positional scarcity also matters more here—shortstop and catcher thin out fast.

DraftKings Pitching Strategy

DraftKings rewards:

• Innings

• Strikeouts

• Wins

Because you start multiple pitchers daily:

• Pitcher volume is critical

• You want enough arms to cover injuries, off-days, and innings limits

Actionable tips:

• Draft 8–10 pitchers

• Mix:

  • High-K aces

  • Volatile upside arms

  • A few boring innings eaters

• Avoid overloading fragile pitchers early unless you’re pairing them with safer depth

Closers are generally overvalued unless scoring heavily favors saves.

Underdog MLB Best Ball Strategy

Underdog’s MLB format is simpler, tighter, and more star-driven.

Key Underdog Rules to Know

• Weekly scoring

• Smaller rosters

• Fewer starting spots

• Less positional rigidity

This shifts the game from stacking optimization to raw point accumulation.

Underdog Hitting Strategy

Stacks still help—but they’re less critical.

Because scoring is weekly:

• A player’s best week matters, not daily overlap

• You don’t need teammates erupting on the same day

Actionable tips:

• Prioritize elite hitters and power

• Don’t force stacks if it means passing on better bats

• One-offs are totally viable

• Platoon risk is less damaging if a player crushes during active weeks

Multi-position eligibility is sneaky valuable due to tighter rosters.

Underdog Pitching Strategy

Pitching is where Underdog feels wildly different.

Strikeouts matter more than innings.

• One 12-K start can win a week

• Wins are less predictable and less important

Actionable tips:

• Draft fewer pitchers (usually 6–7)

• Chase:

  • Strikeout rate

  • Swing-and-miss stuff

  • Young breakout arms

• You can tolerate injury risk more than on DraftKings

Closers are almost always a bad investment unless absurdly cheap.

Major Differences at a Glance

Category	DraftKings	Underdog
Scoring	Daily	Weekly
Rosters	Larger	Smaller
Stacking	Very important	Optional
Pitcher Depth	High priority	Moderate
Positional Scarcity	Strong	Mild
Volatility	Managed	Embraced

Final Takeaways

If you remember nothing else:

• DraftKings rewards structure, depth, and correlation

• Underdog rewards stars, strikeouts, and ceiling

• Copy-pasting the same draft strategy across both platforms is a mistake

  
  

DraftKings feels closer to season-long roster construction with DFS elements, while Underdog plays more like a pure upside contest where the best players win weeks on their own.

Draft accordingly—and let everyone else keep drafting the wrong way.

Strategy Differences: Large-Field Tournaments vs. Smaller Leagues

Not all MLB best ball contests are created equal. A 50,000-entry tournament and a 12-person league might use the same scoring rules, but they demand completely different mindsets. The biggest mistake players make is drafting too safely in contests that require extreme outcomes to win.

Let’s break it down.

Large-Field Tournaments (Top-Heavy Payouts)

Large-field tournaments reward first place, not “pretty good.” You are not trying to beat half the field—you’re trying to beat everyone.

Core Goal

Maximize your chance of finishing first overall, even if that increases your chance of finishing last.

How This Changes Strategy

1. Embrace Maximum Variance

In large fields:

• Finishing 20th or 2,000th pays the same: nothing

• You want rosters that can break the slate

Actionable adjustments:

• Draft volatile hitters with elite power

• Target pitchers with massive K upside, even if ratios are scary

• Accept injury risk if the ceiling is league-winning

Safe, low-ceiling players actively hurt you here.

2. Aggressive Stacking (Especially on DraftKings)

Correlation is your best friend in large tournaments.

• 4–6 hitter stacks can separate you from thousands of similar lineups

• Under-owned teams with elite upside are gold

On DraftKings:

• Lean heavily into team stacks

• Don’t be afraid to “over-stack” one offense

• Pair stacks with pitchers that benefit from the same game environments

On Underdog:

• Mini-stacks (2–3 hitters) are sufficient

• Focus more on elite individual ceilings than perfect correlation

3. Draft Against ADP, Not With It

Large-field tournaments reward uniqueness.

Actionable adjustments:

• Reach slightly for players you believe in

• Fade chalky, fragile constructions

• Draft players coming off injury discounts or role uncertainty

You don’t need every pick to “hit”—you need a few picks to nuke.

4. Late-Round Chaos Is Good

In big tournaments:

• Late-round fliers can swing everything

• Prospect call-ups, new closers, breakout arms matter more

Draft players who:

• Could gain playing time

• Could change roles midseason

• Have tools that fantasy scoring loves (power, Ks, speed)

Smaller Leagues (10–12 Teams, Flatter Payouts)

Smaller leagues are about consistency and floor, not lottery tickets.

Core Goal

Beat a small group of opponents, not the entire ecosystem.

How This Changes Strategy

1. Balance Ceiling With Reliability

You still want upside—but not at the expense of weekly zeros.

Actionable adjustments:

• Prioritize everyday players

• Avoid extreme platoon risks

• Lean into stable rotations and locked-in roles

A player who scores 10–12 points every week has real value here.

2. Stacking Is Helpful, Not Mandatory

In smaller leagues:

• You don’t need to perfectly correlate outcomes

• One or two stacks is usually enough

On DraftKings:

• 2–3 hitter stacks work well

• Avoid stacking so aggressively that you sacrifice roster balance

On Underdog:

• Stacking is mostly optional

• Drafting the “best player available” is often optimal

3. Drafting Closers and Role Certainty Matters More

Because margins are thinner:

• Guaranteed innings and saves become more valuable

• Dead roster spots are harder to overcome

Actionable adjustments:

• Draft fewer “if everything breaks right” players

• Slightly bump up secure closers and rotation locks

• Avoid overloading injured or suspended players early

4. ADP Discipline Matters More

In small leagues:

• Uniqueness is less important

• Value accumulation matters more

You don’t need to outsmart the room—you just need to draft cleanly.

Tournament vs. Small League Summary

Factor	Large-Field Tournaments	Smaller Leagues
Goal	First place only	Consistent edge
Risk Tolerance	Extremely high	Moderate
Stacking	Aggressive	Moderate
Player Types	Volatile, high ceiling	Stable, everyday
ADP Discipline	Flexible	Important
Late-Round Picks	Swing-for-the-fences	Role-focused

Putting It All Together

The most profitable MLB best ball players don’t just draft differently by site—they draft differently by contest type.

• DraftKings + Large Field = Stack hard, chase chaos

• DraftKings + Small League = Balance stacks with depth

• Underdog + Large Field = Elite ceilings, strikeouts, stars

• Underdog + Small League = Best players, clean construction

Once you align your strategy with both the platform and the payout structure, you stop drafting “good teams” and start drafting winning ones.

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