*Austyn Varney*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Monday, September 18, 2017
*STARTING PITCHERS*
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*
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