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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs – Tuesday, October 17, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs – Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

Lineuplab.com - NFL Daily Fantasy Sports - We have the tools to help you win DRAFTKINGS & FANDUEL

Houston Astros @ New York Yankees
Match-Up – Brad Peacock Vs Sonny Gray
Park – Yankee Stadium
Vegas – N/A

Pitchers

Lance McCullers Jr.

Brad Peacock was the projected starter here for a few days, but it looks like the Astros will make a last-second pivot to Lance McCullers. While McCullers is a much better pitcher at the peak of his game, we have no idea if he will be there. He’s been injured and up and down all year long, but did hold a 2.67 xFIP and 11+ K/9 when he was on the mound. The Yankees took a game back last night and will look to even it up. They have the bombers in Judge/Sanchez, but the strikeouts make them well worth it. All in all, these 4 pitchers are in a somewhat comparable spot. None are safe and you have to look more at which offense you dislike. The Yankees are explosive as anyone, but their statistically the worst offense by a good margin on this slate. McCullers is a fine play in all formats that comes with the inherent playoff risk.

Sonny Gray

I would like to think I can admit when wrong, but maybe not. I made it a point a couple years back to bask Sonny Gray. It had more to do with an average pitcher like himself getting lucky in Oakland and being looked at as an ace. He then fell back to Earth for 2 years, so everything in the world was right. This year, however, he’s returned with some fire. He’s been effective against both sides of the plate with a .281 wOBA. He’s striking out nearly 9 batters per 9 innings and walking just over 2. He’s a good pitcher by all means and that young guy from Oakland striking out 6 and BABIP’ing teams to death is gone. The big problem comes in the form of the Astros offense. They are swinging a hot stick right now and have one of the more overall lethal lineups in the game. Gray is a stay away for me, but I get the K appeal and low ownership.

Hitters

Lance McCullers and Sonny Gray are 2 excellent pitchers. There’s no getting around that. The problem is these offenses are nearly as good. On the Yankees side, I don’t have much interest. As we’ve already touched on, Sanchez and Judge have immense upside and can put 2 in the seats on any given night. THe rest of the order is pretty volatile with a lot of strikeouts, but I could see getting into Didi Gregorious. He has hit righties to a .372 wOBA on the season and has transferred that to the playoffs quite well. Guys like Brett Gardner, Todd Frazier, and Greg Bird are fine, but they aren’t guys you should be seeking out. I have a bit more interest in the Astros side. While Sony Gray is fine, this lineup is disgusting. Altuve and Correa are looking like the best duo in the league and both ae excellent cash game options with just 2 games. Josh Reddick and George Springer nail righties as well, so don’t leave them off. I will likely be stacking the Astros tonight, so here’s to hoping they get Sonny Gray.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs
Match-up – Yu Darvish Vs Kyle Hendricks
Park – Wrigley Field
Vegas – N/A

Pitchers

Yu Darvish

In my opinion, all 4 of these pitchers are very close together. On a set of games like this, any team can go off for no rhyme or reason. One bad pitch. One bad call. All it takes is 1 very volatile event to change the direction of the entire slate. It’s the reason I haven’t played cash games in the playoffs. It will often come down to a 1v1 or 2v2 matchup, which lowers any edge you may have had. On to Yu Darvish, I don’t like him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a top 10 pitcher in baseball. I just don’t think the Cubs lie on their side and go down 3-0 at home. The lineup is obviously very capable and at home, ranked 3rd with a .332 wOBA against righties. Darvish is an excellent pitcher and if your stance is anti-Cubs, play him. He’s in no more of a drastic spot than any of the other guys. He may end up being the most highly owned, too.

Kyle Hendricks

Kyle Hendricks is quietly one of the best pitchers in baseball. He doesn’t strike many guys out and he doesn’t get past 92, so nobody really pays attention. What he does do, however, is consistently shut down batters from both sides of the plate. He also has one of the best pickoff moves in baseball, which hinders the run a lot better than the other Cubs arms. Hendricks has allowed a .291 wOBA over the year while giving up just a putrid 24% hard contact rate. Now with that being said, this Dodgers lineup is just as lethal as the Cubs. They’re swinging the bat well and I do like them h2h against Hendricks. Personally, McCullers and Hendricks are the 2 guys I will have exposure to. It’s the 2 teams I think to get a W, so it wasn’t tough to pull apart. All in all, every pitcher on this slate is very risky and every offense on this slate is very risky. Welcome, once again, to playoff baseball.

Hitters

At first glance, I think the Dodgers get a lot of attention in Wrigley tonight. Kyle Hendricks has a somewhat bad perception and the Dodgers are killing the baseball. As someone who will own a lot of Kyle Hendricks, I can’t necessarily jump on board. However, I get it. Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger are no fun for righties and I assume Hendricks will have some trouble with both. The rest of the order is filled with guys who can do damage but will more often just piss off the pitcher with 8 pitch at-bats. Hendricks will be on a short leash and the Cubs bullpen is average, so take that into consideration as well. On the Cubs side, I like the usual suspects. Rizzo and Bryant are excessive but have the upside to take you to the promise land. I do think the Cubs get the victory here, so I’ll be waiting for that lineup to come out and picking my spots. Good luck tonight and good luck in opening night NBA!






MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs – Saturday, October 7, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs – Saturday, October 7, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

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Chicago Cubs @ Washington Nationals
Match-Up – Jon Lester Vs Gio Gonzalez
Park – Nationals Park
Vegas – 8, Even

Pitchers

With just 2 games on this slate, we have to thoroughly consider each option. Starting us off in D.C., we have Jon Lester and Gio Gonzalez. The Nats opened as a slight -115 favorite, but it’s moved to even since. Looking at Gio, he’s had a very strong season. Through 190 innings, he’s allowed a .265 combined wOBA, while striking out nearly 8.5 batters per 9. He’s been one of the more consistent pieces in an inconsistent Nationals season. With that being said, I don’t love him against the Cubs. They are hitting the ball well and have some guys that are truly insane against lefties. However, these are 4 good offenses, so what can you do. Gio is a fine play in all formats, but you have to fully understand what the risk is. As for Lester, it’s nearly the same situation. Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon scare the hell out of me against lefties, sporting a .432 and .417 respective wOBA’s. The rest of the order does have a lot of lefties and Lester has held a .214 wOBA against them. I prefer Lester just slightly to Gio in all formats. He should have a bit of a longer leash as the Cubs are up in the series 1-0. I do expect all of the offenses to pay off today, so I’m not sure how successful you can possibly be. All in all, both of these guys are extremely talented and so are the offenses.

Hitters

The hitters are basically in the same spot as both of the pitchers. You’re obviously not excited to bat against either of these guys, but it’s necessary. With me liking Lester just a bit more, I’ll be forced into plenty of Cubs. Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras are 2 guys who specialize against lefties and are some of the best hitters on the slate. Rizzo and Baez are the next 2, sporting .386 and .355 wOBA’s. Nationals Park is a bit better for pitching, but these Cubs can hit it out anywhere. After the core 4, wait for the lineup to come out and take advantage of anyone in a friendly spot. On the Nationals side of the diamond, Rendon and Zimmerman are great cash game options if you’re not playing Lester. You can also take a shot on one of the elite lefties in hopes that righties from the bullpen come in sooner rather than later. Trea Turner is another guys that’s always in play, as he has a combo of speed and power that nobody else does. Putting it together, these are 2 elite offenses facing great pitchers. We will see who avails.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Match-up – Robbie Ray Vs Rich Hill
Park – Dodger Stadium
Vegas – N/A

Paul Goldschmidt Daily Fantasy Baseball Stack Lineuplab

Pitchers

Robbie Ray and Rich Hill will take the mound tonight in Dodger Stadium. The O/U hasn’t been dropped yet, but I do expect it to be lower than the Cubs and Nats. These are 2 solid pitchers facing off in a very pitcher-friendly ballpark. The Dodgers won last night, but ended up having to use some of the bullpen in a 9-5 affair. Rich Hill is a guy that you have to consider a few things with. First, this isn’t the same as regular season Rich Hill. The guy has been battling blisters for 2 years now and I’m sure the Dodgers have been letting him heal for the postseason. When healthy, Hill has allowed a .311 wOBA against both righties and lefties. He is a guy that I’m willing to play in cash games in hopes that he has a solid 5 or 6 innings. I don’t like him as much as I like Robbie Ray, however. I know the Dodgers are great, but they’re worse against lefties and Ray is nothing short of elite. On the season, he’s struck out over 12 batters per 9 innings, while giving up just a .272 combined wOBA. Oh ya, that’s with most of his games in Chase Field. Ray should have a solid game against the Dodgers and he has a strikeout floor higher than anyone else. It goes without being said, but there is obviously risk. We’re talking about the Dodgers here.

Hitters

Even though we like both pitchers, we have to see what bats we want to take advantage of. Against lefties, the Diamondbacks are VERY good. Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez have both held .400+ wOBA’ against lefties since the start of the year. A.J. Pollock is also extremely lethal with speed and power that can make a huge difference. I don’t have any interest in the lefties, as the Dodgers bullpen is elite against them and so is Hill. On the Dodgers side, it’s more of the same. Justin Turner is one of the best hitters in the league against lefties and you can play him if you’re not on Robbie Ray. Austin Barnes is another lefty-specialist that will likely garner a solid spot in the order and be under 10% owned. Like I keep saying, this is the playoffs and any of these teams can get it going. For me, it’ll be Ray, the Cubs, and a solid mix of everyone else. Good luck!!!

 

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs – Tuesday, October 5, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs – Tuesday, October 5, 2017

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, October 4, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

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*Tuesday Night*

Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros
Match-Up – Chris Sale Vs Justin Verlander
Park – Minute Maid Park
Vegas – 7, HOU -119
Pitchers

First things first, we have to realize that this is playoff time. It’s not all flowers and rainbows. We have to play pitchers against good offenses and bats against good pitchers. We have an example of that here with Justin Verlander and Chris Sale. Facing off against each other, you have to expect a dual for the ages. Talk about a way to start off the Divisional Round. I slightly prefer Sale, but so do the pricing algorithms, so they’re both in play. Sale has been one of the 2 best pitchers in baseball this season, sporting a .252 combined wOBA and nearly a 13 K/9. The Astros offense has ranked in the top 3 for most categories, so it’ll be quite the task. Verlander doesn’t have the same explosiveness, but you may argue he’s a lot safer. I would disagree just because it’s playoff time and everyone can go off, but I get it. He’s been a different pitcher since coming from the Tigers and you have to like the fact that he’s favored. Both of these guys deserve consideration and I couldn’t fault you for either. My cash game pitcher will absolutely come from this game. As of now, it’s looking to be Chris Sale.

Hitters

Like I said, you’re going to have to get exposure in spots you don’t really like. While the bats in the next game are surely more exciting, someone is going to produce here and you can get a huge upper-hand if you pick right. On the Astros side, we know the dominance against lefties that Altuve and Correa possess. We also know they prefer sitting at home, where they have held respective .419 and .398 wOBAs. George Springer and Evan Gattis are 2 more guys who can hit 2 homers and nobody would blink an eye. They can also strikeout 4 times and people would be far less surprised. Go ahead an take a shot on any of the other guys, but just know you’re playing the lottery. On the Red Sox side of the diamond, Betts and Benintendi are obviously the top 2 targets. There the best hitters on the team and will have to produce if the Sox want a W. I like Pedroia and Moreland next, as they should be about 5% owned and have the upside in this ballpark. Yes, even Pedroia doesn’t have a hard time hitting one out in the Crawford boxes. All in all, this is a spot where you should rather avoid hitters. The problem is you can’t on a 2-game slate. Choose wisely.

*Wednesday Night*

New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins
Match-up – Sonny Gray Vs Trevor Bauer
Park – Progressive Field
Vegas – 8.5, CLE -141
Pitchers

Yankees fans seem to be up in arms about Sonny Gray and how he’s going to get a W against the cocky Indians, tossing out Trevor Bauer in game 1.They fail to realize that Kluber will be able to get full rest for game 2 and 5, so it’s just the logical move. Anyways, I’m not nearly as high on Sonny Gray. Gray is a good pitcher, but the Indians are one of the most lethal lineups in baseball and will hold no bars in the playoffs. I actually have a ta bit more interest in Trevor Bauer as the cheaper alternative. The Indians are the biggest favorites (-141 LOL) on the slate and the Yankees have the ability to lie down. Bauer has been excellent in his last 10 starts, though a .363 season wOBA against lefties is worrisome. Neither of these arms are on the same level as last game, but it’s a 2-game slate, so everybody is squarely in play.

Hitters

The Bats are where things get a little more exciting. We know the Indians are insane on offense and they have a lineup that just never stops. You can play Lindor, Ramirez, Santana, Encarnacion and whoever else finds their way into the top 6 in cash games. Sonny Gray is definitely a quality pitcher, but he’s allowed a 33% hard contact rate to both sides of the plate, so there’s upside. I don’t really like any 1 Indian more than another, but they’re all viable options in cash games. As for the Yankees side, Bauer has definitely struggled against lefties. With that being said, I’m not optimistic. Baier has looked like a different pitcher in the last few months and we know the Indians will go right to the bullpen with Kluber starting game 2. Sanchez and Judge are always going to be at the top of the list for an HR and tonight is no different. All in all, the Indians are probably the safest offense out of the 4 and the Yankees may have the most upside. With just 4 offenses on the slate and 4 good pitchers, I can’t give you anyone easy. This is where it gets fun!






MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs – Tuesday, October 3, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

Lineuplab.com - NFL Daily Fantasy Sports - We have the tools to help you win DRAFTKINGS & FANDUEL

*Tuesday Night*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs - Luis Severino - New York Yankees - Lineuplab.com

Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees
Match-Up – Ervin Santana Vs Luis Severino
Park – Yankee Stadium
Vegas – 7.5, NYY -235
Pitchers

Luis Severino is going to be the pitcher to own on this slate. The Yankees are a huge -235 favorite and Severino faces the weakest lineup of the 4. The other game is also at Chase Field, so that’s not a spot you love to target pitchers in anyways. Severino is at home, in Yankee Stadium, facing a Twins lineup that can be taken advantage of by righties. Don’t get me wrong, the Twins are a string lineup and they aren’t one to be taken likely. However, this is the playoffs now, so the relativity scale is a bit different. The Twins K 22% of the time against righties and have posted an adequate .318 team wOBA. They’re worse on the road and Vegas has them with an implied team total under 3. As for Ervin Santana, I have no interest. I guess he could go out and dominate, but I’m willing to take the L if that happens. The Yankees are the top offense around and we’ll get to that in a second. Wrapping it up, Severino is the top option in all formats and Santana is probably the worst of the 4.

Hitters

With just 4 lineups on the slate, we can’t be picky. If you’re targeting Luis Severino, you might as well ignore the Twins. If you’re going off the board with a different pitcher, you should certainly have some correlation plays from Minnesota. Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario are the 2 best hitters against righties and an HR out of either of them wouldn’t be surprising in Yankee Stadium. The rest of the order is in play if you dislike Severino, but it’s not necessary. As for the Yankees side of the diamond, they’re my favorite offense on this mini-slate. Ervin Santana is not that good of a pitcher and he’s a guy that can be taken advantage of by both sides of the plate. He’s allowed a .301 wOBA on the year, which is good. However, a .246 BABIP suggests we have a lot more to the situation than that. He’s allowing a 37% hard contact rate and a 24% LD. Gary Sanchez is the top catcher on the slate and he should be close to 100% with the other options to choose from. Judge is another top play on the slate and it’ll just come down to whether or not you can afford him. Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner are also right in that mix, so I like them in cash games as one of the last guys you fill-in. The bottom of the order should be RBI opportunities and you can take any of them in tournaments. To reiterate, we only have 4 teams to pick from, facing 4 decent or better pitchers, so you’re not going to be able to be very picky.

*Wednesday Night*

Paul Goldschmidt - MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Playoffs - Arizona Diamondbacks - Lineup lab

Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Match-up – Jon Gray Vs Zack Greinke
Park – Chase Field
Vegas – 8.5, ARI -167
Pitchers

If this game was in a neutral or pitcher-friendly ballpark, both of these pitchers would be a lot more interesting. Chase Field is the 2nd best park in baseball for hitting and these offenses can be lethal. With that being said, these guys are very talented and we can’t just ignore them because of the ballpark. For once, they’re both used to these conditions. Greinke has been dominant in Chase Field this year and Gray has been pretty impressive in Coors. Greinke is my 2nd favorite arm on this slate, though it’s by a healthy margin. He has been one of the better pitchers in baseball and it’s evident by his home numbers. He’s posted a .282 wOBA against both lefties and righties while striking out close to 10 batters per 9 innings. He’s an elite pitcher and you have to consider him for that sole fact. The argument against him is the Rockies lineup and their potency against righties. We’ll get to it. As for Jon Gray, I don’t have much interest. He is a very good pitcher, but he’s still young and I don’t think he has a leash longer than 1 run here. The Rockies have a decent bullpen and they will not want to fall behind against Greinke. This D-Backs lineup is too strong at home and I just see no reason to target Gray. However, I do like him more than Santana.

Hitters

There isn’t a single hitter in this game that isn’t at least a decent play. LIke I’ve said over and over, we don’t get to be picky on this one. We have 4 good pitchers and 4 good lineups to look at. In Chase Field, there’s nothing wrong with staking either or both of these teams. I definitely like the D-Backs a bit more and their insane 1-5. They are all cash game viable and will be a staple in cash games. The bottom of the D-Backs order (Iannetta, Drury) has a lot of boom/bust. Don’t hesitate on any of those guys if you think they will fall under 10 or 15% owned. As for the Rockies, they’re fine, but I won’t go searching them out. Gerardo Parra is probably my favorite as a decently priced OF’er with some upside. Guys like Arenado and Blackmon are phenomenal GPP plays, nut I’d certainly rather have some combo of Sanchez/Judge/Goldy/J.D. They are my priorities on this slate and targeting Greinke isn’t. All in all, this slate is tough. You never know what can happen in baseball and that’s only magnified in a 1-game playoff series. Good Luck!!






MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Wednesday, September 27, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

Lineuplab.com - NFL Daily Fantasy Sports - We have the tools to help you win DRAFTKINGS & FANDUEL

*STARTING PITCHERS*

Justin Verlander @ Texas Rangers
Park – Globe Life Park in Arlington
Vegas O/U – 3.96

On this 4-game early slate, you have 1 game in Coors Field, 1 in Chase Field, and 1 is a dual between Erasmo Ramirez and Kendall Graveman. That leaves us with Justin Verlander and Nick Martinez in Arlington. Nick Martinez is awful and I wouldn’t consider playing him in a million years. Verlander has been on a roll lately and I think he keeps it going into the playoffs. He’s gone 13 straight starts with at least 6 innings and 8 of those with 7+. He’s been allowed to go to 100 pitches and I think that’s what we see again today. The Rangers are a good hitting team, but Verlander is great and we don’t have any better options. On the early slate, Verlander is almost a plug and play.

Luis Severino Vs Tampa Bay Rays
Park – Yankee Stadium
Opp implied total – 3.10

Sitting as the biggest favorites of the day (-256), the Yankees will host the Tampa Bay Rays in a huge mismatch between Luis Severino and Matt Andriese. Andries is a decent pitcher, but the Yankees are going to light him up. Severino is an elite pitcher and I don’t think the Rays have much of a shot in getting to him. We may only see 85-95 pitches out of Severino, but that’s most guys with any sort of talent at this point in the year. He’s the safest option on the main slate and a great way to go in both cash and tournaments. They should be in for the W pretty easily.

*OFFENSIVE STACKS*

Colorado Rockies Vs Adam Conley (Marlins)
Park – Coors Field
Implied Total – 6.68

The Rockies still have something to play for, so I love getting exposure here. The wild-card has still yet to be clinched and the Rockies have the best shot at it. They’ll have all their chips on the table and we can expect them to be left in, even in a blowout. Adam Conley is one of the lesser intimidating guys around and I love seeing a lefty. Conley was good to start the year, but he’s fallen off. Way off. He’s now allowing a .361 wOBA to righties and a .340 to lefties. He’s given up 18 homers in less than 100 innings and now heads to Coors Field. Yikes. Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story are the 2 top options and both have held a .380+ wOBA against lefties. In Arenado’s case, closer to .450. The rest of the order is pretty random and you can go with whoever finds a spot. Ian Desmond and Jonathan Lucroy are both pretty good against lefties and should see a solid spot in the order. All in all, there are a few different ways to go on this early slate and the Rockies are my favorite.

Main Stack – Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon, Ian Desmond
Sneaky Stack – Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, Mark Reynolds, Jonathan Lucroy

Kansas City Royals Vs Jordan Zimmerman (Tigers)
Park – Kauffman Stadium
Implied Total – 5.48

Moving on to the main slate, you have to love the Royals. When any team is sitting in Kauffman Stadium with a 5.46 implied total, you pay attention. When it’s the Royals, you better really pay attention. Jordan Zimmerman is an atrocious pitcher and one that can be taken advantage of by both sides of the plate. In 140 innings of work this season, he’s allowed a .383 wOBA ago lefties and a respectable .373 to righties. Everyone in this Royals lineup can be played, but the preference is at the top. Merrifield and Perez are my 2 favorites and the guys I’ll have the most exposure to. Moustakas is also free on FanDuel and nearly a must in cash games. The rest of the order will fill itself in and you can go with whoever fits. They might not be the most popular stack of the night, but they should put up at least 5 or 6 runs and make some noise.

Main Stack – Mike Moustakas, Whit Merrifield, Eric Hosmer, Sal Perez
Sneaky Stack – Mike Moustakas, Whit Merrifield, Melky Cabrera, Brandon Moss

 

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 26, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

Lineuplab.com - NFL Daily Fantasy Sports - We have the tools to help you win DRAFTKINGS & FANDUEL

*STARTING PITCHERS*

Chris Sale - MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Lineup Lab

Chris Sale Vs Toronto Blue Jays
Park – Fenway Park
Opp implied total – 3.08

At the top, it’s Robbie Ray or Chris Sale. Ray has as much upside as anyone, but it’s tough to play a guy in Chase Field when Chris Sale is the same price. Moving down a bit, you have a lot of solid options, 1 of which we’ll touch on next. Sale is facing the Blue Jays for the 4th time this season, after going a combined 22 innings, 0 ER, and 35 strikeouts. To put it lightly, Chris Sale has owned the Blue Jays. On the season as a whole, he’s sported a .251 combined wOBA and has struck out 12 batters per 9 innings. He has been seeing a solid pitch count and the Red Sox will push him to 110 if he’s pitching well. The Blue Jays are a pretty bad team overall and rely on the bats of Josh Donaldson and Kendrys Morales against lefties. The rest of the order has held a combined .296 against lefties with a 24% strikeout rate. Sale is more comfortable pitching in Fenway and should be the safest way to go on this slate.

Alex Wood Vs San Diego Padres
Park – Dodgers Field
Vegas O/U – 2.88

Alex Wood was the same price as Chris Sale just a couple months ago. Since he’s struggled mightily and has seen a huge drop in production. However, these last 2 starts have derived some hope. He has shut down 2 offenses in a row and the Dodgers have allowed him to get to 100 pitches when it makes sense to. The Padres are an atrocious team and the one Wood has the most upside against. They’ve posted a .296 team wOBA on the season against lefties and a pitiful 25.1% strikeout rate.If you’ve had the honor to watch Wood pitch, it’s clear why he’s so productive. He has a starting pitching motion and snaps his elbow at the top. It’s a bit like Chris Sale and what he does over in Boston. Getting back to Wood, he’s a bit cheaper than Sale on both sites and makes for a fine play in both cash games and tournaments. I’m not sure there is a big difference between a lot of these pitchers, so let’s try to make the difference with the bats.

*OFFENSIVE STACKS*

Lineuplab.com - MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians Vs Bartolo Colon (Twins)
Park – Progressive Field
Implied Total – 5.64

Bartolo Colon is just doing whatever he possibly can do to get out of this season and make it to the offseason healthy. He has been absolutely horrible all year long and has been taken advantage of by both sides of the plate. He’s held a .387 wOBA against lefties and a .379 against righties, so the splits are marginal. He’s allowed close to 2.5 HR/9 and strikes out just under 6 batters per 9. The time is over for Colon, as I think 1 more season might just be the limit. He might not make it out of the 1st innings a few times if he kept going. This Indians lineup is extremely dangerous and a team you can definitely afford to pay up for. Lindor and Edwin are my 2 favorites, with Santana and Ramirez following closely. The whole order is in play and I couldn’t fault you for playing anyone 1-6. You should have the funds to pay up and there will be punts to pay down for. Just keep an eye out for lineups and jump on.

Main Stack – Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Edwin Encarnacion, Jason Kipnis
Sneaky Stack – Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Austin Jackson, Carlos Santana

Arizona Diamondbacks Vs Matt Moore (Giants)
Park – Chase Field
Implied Total – 5.48

Matt Moore isn’t the worst pitcher in the world, but the D-Backs have a 5.48 implied total and face a lefty, so you have to pay attention. Matt Moore has allowed an 11% barrel rate (2nd highest) to back up the 44% hard contact rate allowed vs righties. Moore is no longer the pitcher he was a couple years ago and is now just pushed around by righties with any kind of power. Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez are some of the best plays on the slate and guys that could hit 2 HR without blinking. Pollock is the next righty, but you can also go with lefties in hopes we see an early bullpen. Both Lamb and Peralta will be close to ignored by the general public, all the while having as much upside as anyone after the 4th or 5th inning. However you decide to go, it may be a good idea to get exposure to the Diamondbacks, who are expected to put up close to 6 runs in mini-Coors.

Main Stack – Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock, J.D. Martinez, Brandon Drury
Sneaky Stack – Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock, Jake Lamb, Chris Iannetta






MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 25, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Monday, September 25, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

Lineuplab.com - NFL Daily Fantasy Sports - We have the tools to help you win DRAFTKINGS & FANDUEL

*STARTING PITCHERS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Lineup Lab - Chicago Cubs

Yu Darvish Vs San Diego Padres
Park – Dodgers Field
Opp implied total – 3.52

With all these talented arms on the slate, it’s a bit weird for me to say I don’t think anyone is very safe. With the end of the regular season very near, most pitchers aren’t seeing full workloads. Yu Darvish is part of that group, but he has every other thing working for him. First of all, he’s facing the Padres. They’ve posted a .299 wOBA against righties and strikeout the 2nd most in the league at 25.1%. He’s also at home, where he’s posted a .286 wOBA against. He might just see 85-95 pitches, but they should be productive and clean. He strikes out 10 batters per 9 and only walks 1.5. He’s been great over his last 2 games and will look to keep it going into the playoffs. The Dodgers are facing off with Travis Wood and the win should be there with ease. He is expensive, but if you need safety, here you go. 

Jon Lester @ St. Louis Cardinals
Park – Busch Stadium
Vegas O/U – 3.97

Jon Lester has been sitting around $10k all year, so this drop down to $8400 is very intriguing. He faces a Cardinals team that he has dominated many times. As we know, Lester is risky. He can get knocked around occasionally and we saw it just last start. He is typically one of the best starters in the league and if you look at his box score, the bloops usually come about once every 2 months. As for the match-up, the Cardinals aren’t the greatest against lefties. They have held a .321 wOBA against them and a 22.5% strikeout rate. Lester, on the other hand, has sported a .245 wOBA against righties and he’s struck out over 9 per 9 innings. Busch Stadium is bigger than Wrigley Field and I expect Lester to have a very solid game as the Cubbies get ready for the postseason.

*OFFENSIVE STACKS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Lineuplab.com - Redsox

Los Angeles Dodgers Vs Travis Wood
Park – Dodgers Field
Implied Total – 5.51

Boy, Travis Wood is not very good. I keep waiting for him to turn things around, but a .372 wOBA suggests otherwise. In about 90 innings, he’s given up an astounding 18 home runs. He also strikes out 6 per and walks 4. No matter how you cut it, Travis Wood is one of the worst pitchers in the entire league. The Dodgers are one of the best offenses and I think there is a ton of ways to stack them. Justin Turner and Corey Seager are my 2 favorites, with Taylor, Forsythe, and Bellinger following. The entire lineup can be considered in a stack and I think they will be a bit too low-owned. They need some momentum after struggling the last month and you can expect Dave Roberts to leave he guys in if they swing it right. All in all, get some exposure to the Dodgers if you want a chance to win a GPP.

Main Stack – Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, Logan Forsythe
Sneaky Stack – Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Austin Barnes

Boston Red Sox Vs Brett Anderson
Park – Fenway Park
Implied Total – 5.68

The Red Sox are back to Fenway Park and they start it off with an exceptional match-up against Brett Anderson and the Blue Jays. Anderson has somehow been worse than the aforementioned Travis Wood. Against lefties, Anderson has allowed a .457 wOBA. Against righties, .375 wOBA and 43% hard contact rate. As a lefty, Anderson is going to struggle with the green monster. Hanley Ramirez is actually my favorite of the bunch and I think his HR projection is exceptional for the price. Moving on, Bogaerts, Mookie, and Young/Davis are my favorites. The entire lineup is in play and you really don’t need to fade anyone. Anderson has been atrocious against everyone and I can’t find a reason that he gets better tonight. Fenway is the toughest park he’s pitched in yet and the Red Sox will show him why.

Main Stack – Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Dustin Pedroia
Sneaky Stack – Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts, Chris Young, Rajai Davis






MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 20, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

 

Lineuplab.com - NFL Daily Fantasy Sports - We have the tools to help you win DRAFTKINGS & FANDUEL

*STARTING PITCHERS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Chris Sale - Lineup Lab

Chris Sale @ Boston Orioles
Park – Camden Yards
Opp implied total – 3.42

I’m not exactly sure how the general public will react to this standoff between Chris Sale and Robbie Ray at the top. I do suspect Sale will be higher owned, but I’m not sure by how much. I think it’s a lot closer than some may have it, but still have Sale just a bit higher. The Red Sox are just 3 games ahead of the Yankees and they will allow Sale to go 110 if he’s sailing. The Orioles are an explosive offense, but extremely weak past the surface. They strikeout close to 26% of the time and have held just a .321 wOBA since the break. We know Sale has had a few rough starts this season, but they’re bound to happen with how he throws. You can’t use them to dissuade yourself from exposure tonight. He’s striking out close to 12 batters per 9 and has been the black plague to lefties at the plate. I’m not saying Chris Sale is a must by any stretch, but I do think this will be the first time his ownership under 30% in quite a long time. It just might be something to think about in tournaments. I may end up with 100% in hopes of a crazy game that boosts me way above the field.

Brad Peacock Vs Chicago White Sox
Park – Minute Maid Park
Vegas O/U – 3.30

There’s also the strategy of paying down, which is just as solid on this slate. We have a few different offenses to pay up for and going down to Peacock could very well let you fit 1 or 2 more elite bats. It doesn’t seem like much, but topping off a stack or getting an HR is nothing to scoff at. Peacock has also just been really good. He has demolished righties to a .238 wOBA and lefties a .322. He’s striking out close to 12 batters per 9 and allowing a hard contact rate of just 32%. The White Sox are one of the worst offenses in the league and them also K nearly 26% of the time. Vegas has them expected for just 3.30 runs, which is the lowest on the entire slate. Peacock is a solid value play across the board and a guy you shouldn’t ignore.

*OFFENSIVE STACKS*

Lineuplab.com - Jose Altuve - MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks

Houston Astros Vs James Shields (White Sox)
Park – Minute Maid Park
Implied Total – 6.20

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. When James Shields is on the mound, I stack the opposing hitters. A whopping 6.20 implied total on the Astros tells you all you need to know. Him being on the road in Houston is just an utter joke. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong and throw a gem, but we all know how likely that is. The reality of the situation is that he’s given up a .394 wOBA to lefties and a .356 to righties. He’s one of the worst arms in the entire league and struggles to make it 6 innings on a regular basis. I highly doubt he gets out of the 4th tonight, facing such a lethal set of bats. Altuve and Reddick are my 2 favorites and I wouldn’t make a stack without either. After that, any mix of Springer, Bregman, Correa, Gonzalez, and McCann works. The Astros are going to put up runs and you’ll need exposure to get anything done.

Main Stack – Jose Altuve, Josh Reddick, Marwin Gonzalez, George Springer
Sneaky Stack – Jose Altuve, Josh Reddick, Carlos Correa, Brian McCann

St. Louis Cardinals @ William “Rookie” Davis (Reds)
Park – Great American Ballpark
Implied Total – 5.28

Believe it or not, we may have a pitcher worse than James Shields on the slate. While William “Rookie” Davis is very young and still likely to improve, it’s not often you can find numbers this bad. Against righties, a .438 wOBA. Lefties, a .436. He has only pitched a few games, so I wouldn’t say it’s completely fair. However, he wasn’t great in the minors and this is no surprise. The Cardinals offense is dangerous in this ballpark and they can hit righties well. Matt Carpenter should be back in there tonight and is the top guy you want. Paul DeJong and Dexter Fowler are close behind. After those 3, I think you can go anywhere. Wait for the lineup to come out and grab someone who’s seen a shift in the lineup. The Cardinals are rarely projected for over 5 runs and we should probably take advantage of this situation. I’m hoping for a repeat of that run-fest last night in Cincy.

Main Stack – Matt Carpenter, Dexter Fowler, Paul Dejong, Jose Martinez
Sneaky Stack – Matt Carpenter, Dexter Fowler, Paul Dejong, Yadier Molina






MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 19, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

 

*STARTING PITCHERS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Max Scherzer - Lineuplab.com

Max Scherzer @ Atlanta Braves
Park – SunTrust Park
Opp implied total – 3.22

Did you expect anyone else? We do have a full slate on our hands tonight, but there aren’t a ton of pitching options to choose from. Scherzer is the clear top option and I suspect his ownership will certainly reflect that. You can still play him in cash games, though, as the performance he puts up could force you to the bottom if you fade. He has a great match-up with the weak Braves, who are easily one of the worst offenses in baseball. The still have the dangerous Freddie Freeman in the middle of the order, but Scherzer should be able to pitch around him rather easily. Scherzer has been as good as ever, sporting a .187 wOBA against righties and a .283 against lefties. He’s one of the undisputed best pitchers in the league and is just getting into playoff mode. I suspect him to go well over 100 pitches if things are going well and for the win to be in the bag with Luiz Gohara on the other side. Scherzer is the safest option by a longshot and he belongs in every cash game you make.

Zach Godley @ San Diego Padres
Park – Petco Park
Vegas O/U – 3.39

In tournaments and on 2 pitcher sites, you’ll need exposure outside of Max Scherzer. I’m just as uncomfortable with as you are, but it’s necessary. We, fortunately, have a few options who have some real upside and don’t rely on K’s or a terribled offense. Zach Godley has been a very consistennt pitcher for the D-Backs and one of the reasons they still have a chance to make the playoffs. Godley has held both righties and lefties to a sub .283 wOBA and has struck out close to 10 batters per 9 innings. He faces the Padres tonight, who we all know are atrocious. They are a bit better against righties, but a .311 team wOBA is far from impressive. Petco Park is the toughest bark in the league to hit HR’s in and with Godley playing most of his games at Chase Field, this is a monstrous upgrade. He should be able to go at least 6 or 7 innings and strikeout close to 10. He’s still a bit riskier than Scherzer, but his price is also lower, giving you more upside with the bats.

*OFFENSIVE STACKS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Nelson Cruz - Lineup Lab

Seattle Mariners Vs Martin Perez (Rangers)
Park – Safeco Field
Implied Total – 5.27

Even with so many games on the slate, I can’t find any complete gas cans to pick on. We do have a lot of younger guys, and of course, they can bust at any point, but they have a lot of talent and it’s tough to predict. For example, I’m not willing to bet on Jose Berrios having a bad game. It can still happen, but I’d much rather look towards a guy like Martin Perez. The Mariners hold the highest implied total on the day and should have no problem putting up some numbers. Martin Perez isn’t the worst lefty around, but he’s given up a .365 wOBA and 19 homers to righties in just under 130 innings. The Mariners are extremely dangerous against righties and you can also target the lefties in hopes we see a bullpen game. Nelson Cruz is the easy choice, as one of the absolute best hitters in baseball against lefties. Mitch Haniger isn’t a big name, but he has posted a .382 wOBA against left-handers. Jean Segura, Danny Valencia, and Taylor Motter are all pretty good against lefties as well and don’t be afraid to get some exposure. Cano and Seager are still amazing hitters, so I’m not willing to leave them off a stack. All in all, the Mariners are going to put up some runs and you should probably find a way to get exposure.

Main Stack – Nelson Cruz, Mitch Haniger, Jean Segura, Robinson Cano
Sneaky Stack – Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Danny Valencia

Washington Nationals @ Atlanta Braves
Park – SunTrust Park
Implied Total – 5.16

The Nationals faced this kid just a few days ago and he was actually decent. He went 6 innings and gave up just 1 run on 6 hits. I suspect the Nats will have a much better idea of what’s going on in this one after going into last game with virtually no film. They now have his pitches on file and I’m a big fan of the righties. Anthony Rendon is one of the best hitters against lefties and I will have close to 100% exposure to him at 3B. He’sheld nearly a .500 wOBA against them on the season. Ryan Zimmerman isn’t far behind, either, and I wouldn’t put a stack together without either of them. Trea Turner is better against righties, but he’s still at the top of the order and has an immense amount of upside with the speed. The back of the order has studs against lefties with Werth and Kendrick that are a bit cheaper and have just as much upside. Don’t be afraid to play Daniel Murphy, who could see 2 or 3 at-bats against righty out of the pen.

Main Stack – Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner, Jayson Werth
Sneaky Stack – Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick

 

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Monday, September 18, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Monday, September 18, 2017

*STARTING PITCHERS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Sammy Kershaw - Dodgers - Lineup Lab.com

Clayton Kershaw @ Philadelphia Phillies
Park – Citizens Bank Park
Opp implied total – 2.38

We only have 7 games on the slate tonight, so are pickings are quite a bit slimmer out. Fortunately, we do have Clayton a Kershaw against the Phillies. The biggest concern for Kershaw recent has been his pitch count. He saw 91 last time out and I think he gets there again. The Phillies are obviously a trash defense and they’ve sported just a .299 wOBA vs L since the break, while striking out nearly 24% of the time. We know how great Kershaw is, but a 12 K/9 and 2.64 xFIP solidify it. The Dodgers are -330 favorites and implied to put up nearly 6 runs. The win will be there for Kershaw, even if he just goes 5 or 6. The problem here is the lack of pivots. We’ll touch on one next, but he’s it. The bottom is ugly and there isn’t any arm that I have hope in. Kershaw is the clear top option on the slate and a guy you’re almost forced into in cash games.

Patrick Corbin @ San Diego Padres
Park – Petco Park
Vegas O/U – 3.39

Fortunately, we do have 1 solid pivot off of Clayton Kershaw. Patrick Corbin and the D-Backs enter San Diego to face the Padres in spacious Petco Park. Corbin has made a name for himself on the season, striking out 10 batters per 9 and holding a respectable .291 combined wOBA. He’s death to lefties and not much worse against righties either with a 63% GB rate. The Padres are one of he worst offenses in baseball and happen to call Petco Park, the worst hitting park in baseball, home. Corbin should be able to get up to 110 pitches if he’s slicing and dicing, which does give him substantially more upside for the price than even Kershaw. All in all, these are 2 guys who are extremely skilled and you’ll certainly have to pick at least 1 of them.

*OFFENSIVE STACKS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Miami Marlins - Lineuplab

Miami Marlins Vs Matt Harvey (Mets)
Park – Marlins Park
Implied Total – 4.73

Boy oh boy, how the great have fallen. Once an ace that could be counted on to dominate, now a so-so 4 starter with not much upside. I don’t know what the problem is with Harvey, bits it’s certainly more than just 1. Literally, every single thing he was good at just 2 years ago is out the window to never be found again. For god sake, Harvey has allowed a whopping .394 wOBA to lefties. He’s also given up 17 homers in just 70 innings, so the HR issue looks to be here to stay. This Miami Marlins offense isn’t full of stars, but they are lethal. It all obviously starts with Stanton, who’ still chasing the 60 HR mark. You then get to Yelich and Gordon, who smash righties consistently. After that, the Marlins lineup is pretty spread out and I think you can go anywhere. Ozuna would be the obvious one to go with. You also have Justin Bour and Derek Dietrich, who hit righties extremely well and won’t be nearly as high owned.

Main Stack – Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna
Sneaky Stack – Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Justin Bour, Derek Dietrich

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Nick Pivetta (Phillies)
Park – Citizens Bank Park
Implied Total – 5.27

With just 7 games to choose from, we don’t have a bunch of offenses with crazy totals. I’d say the Marlins, Dodgers, and Yankees will e the 3 stacks who garner some attention. After that, everything else will be contrarian and off the board. The Dodgers, as I’ve mentioned, enter into this game as -330 favorites against Nick Pivetta. Pivetta has actually been worse against righties, but is still not any good vs lefties with a .331 wOBA. The Dodgers are moving from spacious Dodgers Stadium to Citizens Bank Park, where it’s much easier to hit homers. Justin Turner and Corey Seager are my 2 favorite options as they both drill righties and don’t rely on power for production. Next are Cody Berlinger and Yasmani Grandal. 2 power bats that can send one to the moon at any point. The Dodgers lineup is expected to put up close to 6 runs and you have to get some exposure in cash games.

Main Stack – Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Yasmani Grandal
Sneaky Stack – Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig, Curtis Granderson