3 Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for Tuesday 8/2/22
Stacks are an integral part of daily fantasy baseball. They can push a team to the top of a GPP by driving upside. However, they're also viable in cash games, namely smaller (two-person or three-person) stacks that mitigate the volatility of a full four-person stack.
This article is your home throughout the 2022 Major League Baseball season for the day's top stacks. The primary goal is to identify the highest-scoring upside stack. Still, game theory will play a role in contrarian stacks making the cut as GPP options. Nevertheless, chalky stacks will make appearances in this space, too.
Beyond my analysis in this space, I strongly suggest numberFire premium members using our DFS Sharpstack tool and hitting heat map tool. The DFS Sharpstack helps plug stacks into optimized lineups, allowing you to change parameters and lock or exclude players and teams. Meanwhile, the heat map offers a one-stop-shop for the opposing starting pitcher, implied total, park factor, and other notable goodies.
Now, let's look at the top stacks on today's main slate.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are facing the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Phils are cobbling together a bullpen game tonight. Philadelphia's relievers have done an acceptable job this year. According to FanGraphs, their relievers are 14th in ERA (3.85). Nonetheless, it is a tall task to ask them to keep Atlanta's offense in check in the Braves' hitter-friendly home ballpark.
At home this season, the Braves are tied for ninth in wRC+ (109), sixth in wOBA (.332), and tied for third in ISO (.192). They'd be a challenge even for an above-average starter. Instead, they'll take cuts against a mediocre bullpen. Atlanta's 5.01 implied total is the slate's third-highest.
My favorite option from the Braves is their freshly paid stud third baseman, Austin Riley ($4,300). He's been a monster at home this year, recording a .376 OBP, .316 ISO, 173 wRC+, and 17 homers in 237 plate appearances at Truist Park. Dansby Swanson ($3,700) has also excelled at home, owning a .367 OBP, 141 wRC+, 10 homers, and eight stolen bases in 237 plate appearances.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins have a juicy matchup at home tonight versus Matt Manning, who is returning from the 60-day IL. So far, the 24-year-old righty has struggled in his big-league career, getting battered for a 5.50 ERA and 4.98 xFIP across 93 and 1/3 innings.
Manning also hasn't been any great shakes against lefties and has been downright pitiful against righties. Manning has allowed a .314 wOBA to 192 lefties. Meanwhile, 222 righties have knocked him around for a .347 wOBA. Moreover, Manning has been at his worst on the road, owning a 6.52 ERA in 38 and 2/3 innings in the split. Thus, the Twins -- owners of a 5.17 implied total, the night's second-highest clip -- should greet him rudely tonight in his return to a big-league mound.
Carlos Correa ($3,000) is an excellent piece of exposure to Minnesota's stack. Since last season, he's had a .339 OBP, .211 ISO, and 127 wRC+ in 659 plate appearances against righties. He's also given the home fans plenty to cheer about this year, mashing seven taters with a .351 OBP, .200 ISO, and 140 wRC+ in 154 plate appearances at Target Field.
Jose Miranda ($2,700) is another excellent selection in this stack. After last night's multi-hit effort, he has a 127 wRC+ this year. The rookie has been white-hot out of the All-Star break, netting multiple hits in four of eight games and failing to reach base in only one game.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals haven't often had success against Lucas Giolito. Regardless, Giolito's stuck in the mud right now and has been especially bad at home. In his last 10 starts, Giolito has been beaten like a drum to the tune of a 6.33 ERA -- albeit with a less disastrous 4.37 xFIP. Still, a 4.37 xFIP is a mediocre mark.
On top of that, Giolito has been a dumpster fire at home. In 38 and 2/3 innings at home, Giolito has had a 6.28 ERA and allowed a .377 wOBA. Kansas City's lineup can light up the scoreboard if he remains terrible.
Interestingly, Giolito has been worse against righties than lefties. He's coughed up an unsightly .415 wOBA to right-handed batters. As a result, Salvador Perez ($3,100) is the most attractive option for the Royals. Perez had found his power stroke lately. He's homered in three of his last four games, including launching long balls each of the last two days.
Gamers also shouldn't overlook Vinnie Pasquantino ($2,200). The rookie has been saddled with horrendous luck on his batted balls. Specifically, according to Baseball Savant, Pasquantino's -0.074 difference between his .292 wOBA and .366 Expected wOBA (xwOBA) is the second-largest negative gap among players with at least 50 batted-ball events.
Joshua Shepardson is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Joshua Shepardson also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username bchad50. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
