3 Daily Fantasy Baseball Stacks for Wednesday 8/24/22
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.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies host a punching bag on the hill tonight. The Cincinnati Reds need a fill-in starter and are tabbing T.J. Zeuch for that duty. To date, Zeuch hasn't had what it takes to succeed in the bigs.
According to FanGraphs, in 15 appearances (nine starts) totaling 57 innings dating back to his debut in 2019, Zeuch has a bloated 5.84 ERA, supported by a 5.34 xFIP and 5.04 SIERA. He's also allowed 2.05 homers per nine innings.
Further, Zeuch has been dreadful against righties and lefties. The right-handed pitcher has ceded a .542 slugging percentage and .363 wOBA to righties. He's also coughed up a .505 slugging percentage and .408 wOBA to lefties. And, of course, Cincinnati's relievers have had the highest ERA (4.88) this year.
As a result, the Phillies are my favorite stack tonight, and their 5.07 implied total is the slate's second-highest.
It starts right out of the chute with Kyle Schwarber ($3,200). Since last year, the slugging outfielder has a .335 ISO and 145 wRC+ against righties. Rhys Hoskins ($3,200) is another attractive power source, muscling up for a .232 ISO against righties since 2021.
Baltimore Orioles
Lucas Giolito has experienced some unfortunate luck this year. Still, 22 starts into his 2022 campaign, he owns a 5.34 ERA and 1.47 homers per nine innings. Those marks are exciting to stack against.
The Baltimore Orioles are the next opponent that can pile on GIolito's problems. They have lineup depth and some top-shelf talent. Since last year, six projected starters for the O's have recorded at least a 102 wRC+ against righties, and two sport at least a 142 wRC+.
The two most successful hitters against righties for Baltimore have been Cedric Mullins ($2,800) and Adley Rutschman ($3,700).
Since 2021, Mullins has posted a .363 OBP, .218 ISO, and 142 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. The speedy outfielder has also swiped 25 bags in 2022.
Meanwhile, Rutschman has terrorized righties in his rookie campaign. The switch-hitting catcher has mashed his way to a .394 OBP, .239 ISO, and 168 wRC+ against righties. Mullins and Rutschman are my two favorite selections from Orioles.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have on tap one of MLB's most surprisingly disappointing starting pitchers in 2022 in their hitter-friendly home digs tonight. Among qualified pitchers, Jose Berrios' 5.37 Expected ERA (xERA) has been the highest. Yikes.
Berrios hasn't been any great shakes in same-handed matchups. The righty has allowed a .323 wOBA to right-handed bats. However, Berrios has been a disaster against lefties, giving up a .538 slugging percentage and .380 wOBA in the split.
As a result, my two favorite picks from the Red Sox are Alex Verdugo ($3,200) and Rafael Devers ($3,700). Verdugo has a .360 OBP and 119 wRC+ against righties since last year. Devers has been more impressive, pummeling righties for a .317 ISO and 157 wRC+.
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.
