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.
Los Angeles Angels
Cole Irvin has spent most of 2022 overachieving. According to FanGraphs, he's had a 4.11 ERA, notably lower than his 4.47 Expected ERA (xERA) and 4.33 xFIP. In addition, the other shoe has dropped lately.
In Irvin's last nine starts, he's been destroyed for a 6.97 ERA and 1.92 homers per nine innings. Irvin has also allowed at least five runs in five of his last nine starts, illustrating his blow-up potential. So, the Los Angeles Angels are a fun stack tonight. Further, the Oakland Athletics have had the seventh-highest bullpen ERA (4.37), elevating the Angels' ceiling.
Obviously, the Angels have a top-heavy offense. Mike Trout ($4,400) and Shohei Ohtani ($4,100) are excellent choices who don't require an explanation for suggesting them. However, gamers shouldn't overlook Luis Rengifo ($2,500). The switch-hitting infielder has slugged 11 homers with a .350 OBP, .268 ISO, and 166 wRC+ against lefties in 164 plate appearances this year.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are an offensive powerhouse.
They'd be a tricky matchup for any pitcher. So, they're a nightmare for a young pitcher who hasn't found his footing in the majors. Mike Baumann has had a 5.77 ERA and 5.07 xFIP in his first 39 innings in the majors.
Baumann has also been knocked around by all batters. Lefties have had a .350 wOBA against Baumann in his young career. Meanwhile, righties have ripped him for a .480 slugging and .364 wOBA. Therefore, Toronto's righty-laden lineup has a tasty matchup.
They're stackable from top to bottom. So, keeping that in mind, don't dismiss the appeal of a wrap-around stack. For example, Danny Jansen ($2,900), Whit Merrifield ($2,400), and George Springer ($3,900) can be stacked together. Merrifield has had a rock-solid 111 wRC+ in the second half. Jansen has been even better, producing a .361 OBP, .227 ISO, and 144 wRC+ in the second half.
Baltimore Orioles
On the other side of that one, Mitch White has been a trainwreck for the Blue Jays.
In 39 innings for Toronto, he's been smashed for a 7.38 ERA and 4.78 xFIP. White has also had a lousy 14.7 percent strikeout rate for the Blue Jays.
As a result, the Baltimore Orioles could further White's woes tonight. White also hasn't dominated lefties or righties, allowing a .314 wOBA to the former and a .337 wOBA to the latter this season.
Cedric Mullins ($3,700), Adley Rutschman ($3,000), and Gunnar Henderson ($2,800) have been Baltimore's most productive hitters against righties. So, they're an ideal starting point. The rookies, Rutschman and Henderson, have had a 156 wRC+ and 150 wRC+ against righties this season, respectively. Mullins has had a 136 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers since last season.
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.