Zach Thompson gives his top teams to consider for MLB DFS stacks on Wednesday’s daily fantasy baseball slate on DraftKings.
On Friday night, Major League Baseball has a solid 12-game DFS fantasy baseball slate lined up to begin at 7:07 p.m. ET. While the headliners are some exciting young pitchers matching up head-to-head, there are also some great spots for offense to consider as you build your fantasy roster. As you assemble your Friday night squad, let’s take at some of the strongest offenses to build around as the day’s top MLB DFS stacks.
Before we get to the individual picks, let’s define exactly what we’re looking for. An ideal target for MLB DFS stacks is a team in a position to score plenty of runs based on its matchup and environment. “Stacking” is the strategy of including multiple players from the same MLB lineup on your roster, so that they can boost each other’s production. For example, the Rangers had 20 runs on Wednesday, and the Phillies scored 19 runs on Thursday, both giving huge totals to their fantasy supporters.
Ideally, MLB DFS stacks focus on players who are back-to-back or at least from the same part of the lineup to allow positive correlation. Since most run-scoring plays produce fantasy points for multiple players, stacking a high-scoring team can carry your entry to the top of the leaderboard. The key to MLB DFS stacks paying off is finding the perfect matchup to attack, so let’s take a look at Friday’s top spots.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Hidden Ball Trick [$50K to 1st]!
1. Chicago Cubs
Kyle Tucker ($6,500)
Michael Busch ($5,200)
Pete Crow-Armstrong ($5,500)
Dansby Swanson ($4,500)
Ian Happ ($4,300)
The Cubs are a pricey stack as they open their series in Denver against the Rockies at Coors Field. They have the highest implied run total on the board by a wide margin as they face German Marquez ($5,000), who will be coming off the injured list. The veteran Marquez has been a great stacking target for the past couple of seasons, and this year he has a 3-11 record in 20 starts with a 5.67 ERA and 4.57 FIP. He has allowed lefties to post a .392 wOBA against him overall and a .435 wOBA against him at Coors Field. Lefties also have nine of the 13 homers he has allowed.
As a result of those splits, I like the lefties in the lineup with Tucker, PCA and Busch leading the way. I highlighted Tucker in my home run props of the day, and he seems much better after getting a few days off last week. Busch is also a high-ceiling play since he has plenty of power potential out of the leadoff spot. PCA has just one homer in his last 31 games, but he has reached safely in five of his last six games, while going 6-for-24 (.250) with a 42.9% hard-hit rate. He’s not “back,” but he’s showing signs of finding a rhythm.
Swanson homered on Thursday and has hit safely in five of his last six games. Happ is another affordable piece to include in the stack, especially since he is 6-for-13 with a double in his past meetings with Marquez.
2. Seattle Mariners
Cal Raleigh ($6,200)
Julio Rodriguez ($5,000)
Eugenio Suarez ($4,500)
Jorge Polanco ($3,400)
The Mariners take on Logan Allen ($6,200) on Friday night. The 26-year-old lefty is 7-10 with a 4.35 ERA and 4.64 FIP. He has given up at leas bring really nice value as a stacking option and have a favorable matchup at home against the slumping Angels and Jack Kochanowicz ($5,800), who has been a favorite target all season for MLB DFS stacks. Kochanowicz is 3-10 in 22 games with a 6.19 ERA and 5.68 FIP. He’s giving up a .307 batting average, 15 homers and a .386 wOBA against lefties this season. He has given up multiple runs in each of his last eight starts, allowing 28 runs in 44 1/3 innings. He gave up three home runs to the Rangers in his last start and has give up at least three walks in each of his last four starts.
The Mariners dropped five in a row on their last road trip but went 4-2 at home this week, scoring 30 runs in their last four games. Raleigh has three homers in those four games, averaging 14.3 fantasy points per contest. Rodriguez had double-digit fantasy points in three of those four games and has averaged 9.5 fantasy points over his last 14 games. He also has thrived on the road this year with a .300 batting average and .385 wOBA away from Seattle.
The switch-hitting Polanco has been stronger against lefties this season, and Suarez has given the team a nice boost with five homers in his last 11 games, while going 10-for-38 (.263)
3. Detroit Tigers
Riley Greene ($5,300)
Kerry Carpenter ($5,100)
Gleyber Torres ($4,300)
Wenceel Perez ($3,800)
Colt Keith ($3,500)
The Tigers are in Kansas City for a huge series for the Royals, who are trying to hang in the AL Wild Card race. The Royals will turn to veteran Seth Lugo ($7,400) on Friday, but Lugo has been getting lit up in his last few outings, including his most recent game, which was against these same Tigers. Lugo has given up 22 runs in 18 2/3 innings over his last four starts with eight home runs against him and a 15.2% barrel rate. The Tigers had six runs on six hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings against him last Sunday.
Carpenter and Greene are the two big bats to build around, and Greene has been the hotter of the two, with at least 13 fantasy points in four of his last six games and an average of 10.7 fantasy points over his last 10 games. Greene also has two homers off Lugo in the past, despite going only 2-for-13. Carpenter hasn’t been quite as hot as Greene, but he still brings plenty of power potential whenever the Tigers face a righty.
Perez is actually one of my favorite parts of this stack since he comes at such an affordable price point and has been playing very well lately. The switch-hitting 25-year-old is hitting .262 over his last 12 games with three doubles, two homers, and a stolen base. He’s also 4-for-8 with a home run against Lugo in their past matchups.
The Tigers just got swept by the Athletics in Sacramento, but I think they’ll be able to bounce back in this spot against the struggling Lugo.
On Friday night, Major League Baseball has a solid 12-game DFS fantasy baseball slate lined up to begin at 7:07 p.m. ET. While the headliners are some exciting young pitchers matching up head-to-head, there are also some great spots for offense to consider as you build your fantasy roster. As you assemble your Friday night squad, let’s take at some of the strongest offenses to build around as the day’s top MLB DFS stacks.
Before we get to the individual picks, let’s define exactly what we’re looking for. An ideal target for MLB DFS stacks is a team in a position to score plenty of runs based on its matchup and environment. “Stacking” is the strategy of including multiple players from the same MLB lineup on your roster, so that they can boost each other’s production. For example, the Rangers had 20 runs on Wednesday, and the Phillies scored 19 runs on Thursday, both giving huge totals to their fantasy supporters.
Ideally, MLB DFS stacks focus on players who are back-to-back or at least from the same part of the lineup to allow positive correlation. Since most run-scoring plays produce fantasy points for multiple players, stacking a high-scoring team can carry your entry to the top of the leaderboard. The key to MLB DFS stacks paying off is finding the perfect matchup to attack, so let’s take a look at Friday’s top spots.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Hidden Ball Trick [$50K to 1st]!
1. Chicago Cubs
Kyle Tucker ($6,500)
Michael Busch ($5,200)
Pete Crow-Armstrong ($5,500)
Dansby Swanson ($4,500)
Ian Happ ($4,300)
The Cubs are a pricey stack as they open their series in Denver against the Rockies at Coors Field. They have the highest implied run total on the board by a wide margin as they face German Marquez ($5,000), who will be coming off the injured list. The veteran Marquez has been a great stacking target for the past couple of seasons, and this year he has a 3-11 record in 20 starts with a 5.67 ERA and 4.57 FIP. He has allowed lefties to post a .392 wOBA against him overall and a .435 wOBA against him at Coors Field. Lefties also have nine of the 13 homers he has allowed.
As a result of those splits, I like the lefties in the lineup with Tucker, PCA and Busch leading the way. I highlighted Tucker in my home run props of the day, and he seems much better after getting a few days off last week. Busch is also a high-ceiling play since he has plenty of power potential out of the leadoff spot. PCA has just one homer in his last 31 games, but he has reached safely in five of his last six games, while going 6-for-24 (.250) with a 42.9% hard-hit rate. He’s not “back,” but he’s showing signs of finding a rhythm.
Swanson homered on Thursday and has hit safely in five of his last six games. Happ is another affordable piece to include in the stack, especially since he is 6-for-13 with a double in his past meetings with Marquez.
2. Seattle Mariners
Cal Raleigh ($6,200)
Julio Rodriguez ($5,000)
Eugenio Suarez ($4,500)
Jorge Polanco ($3,400)
The Mariners take on Logan Allen ($6,200) on Friday night. The 26-year-old lefty is 7-10 with a 4.35 ERA and 4.64 FIP. He has given up at leas bring really nice value as a stacking option and have a favorable matchup at home against the slumping Angels and Jack Kochanowicz ($5,800), who has been a favorite target all season for MLB DFS stacks. Kochanowicz is 3-10 in 22 games with a 6.19 ERA and 5.68 FIP. He’s giving up a .307 batting average, 15 homers and a .386 wOBA against lefties this season. He has given up multiple runs in each of his last eight starts, allowing 28 runs in 44 1/3 innings. He gave up three home runs to the Rangers in his last start and has give up at least three walks in each of his last four starts.
The Mariners dropped five in a row on their last road trip but went 4-2 at home this week, scoring 30 runs in their last four games. Raleigh has three homers in those four games, averaging 14.3 fantasy points per contest. Rodriguez had double-digit fantasy points in three of those four games and has averaged 9.5 fantasy points over his last 14 games. He also has thrived on the road this year with a .300 batting average and .385 wOBA away from Seattle.
The switch-hitting Polanco has been stronger against lefties this season, and Suarez has given the team a nice boost with five homers in his last 11 games, while going 10-for-38 (.263)
3. Detroit Tigers
Riley Greene ($5,300)
Kerry Carpenter ($5,100)
Gleyber Torres ($4,300)
Wenceel Perez ($3,800)
Colt Keith ($3,500)
The Tigers are in Kansas City for a huge series for the Royals, who are trying to hang in the AL Wild Card race. The Royals will turn to veteran Seth Lugo ($7,400) on Friday, but Lugo has been getting lit up in his last few outings, including his most recent game, which was against these same Tigers. Lugo has given up 22 runs in 18 2/3 innings over his last four starts with eight home runs against him and a 15.2% barrel rate. The Tigers had six runs on six hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings against him last Sunday.
Carpenter and Greene are the two big bats to build around, and Greene has been the hotter of the two, with at least 13 fantasy points in four of his last six games and an average of 10.7 fantasy points over his last 10 games. Greene also has two homers off Lugo in the past, despite going only 2-for-13. Carpenter hasn’t been quite as hot as Greene, but he still brings plenty of power potential whenever the Tigers face a righty.
Perez is actually one of my favorite parts of this stack since he comes at such an affordable price point and has been playing very well lately. The switch-hitting 25-year-old is hitting .262 over his last 12 games with three doubles, two homers, and a stolen base. He’s also 4-for-8 with a home run against Lugo in their past matchups.
The Tigers just got swept by the Athletics in Sacramento, but I think they’ll be able to bounce back in this spot against the struggling Lugo.
