MLB DFS Top Stacks: Monday, August 19th
MLB DFS is complex. Most articles are about the individual players most likely to succeed, but the MLB DFS picks most likely to succeed aren’t always the MLB DFS picks we should be most likely to play. With some help from our Top Stacks tool, we will aim to look more at the process instead of just the picks and the teams instead of just the players. We’ll still analyze the MLB player projections that are available in our MLB optimizer, LineupHQ. However, we’ll be more focused on collective ownership, optimal scores, and matchups of full stacks within the context of game selection and leverage.
We’re back for another week of MLB Top Stacks, and this could be a really fun slate. I have an opposite take on what appears to be a chalky stack, which could be either a really good or a really bad thing! Let’s dive in and investigate.
All stats cited are since the start of the 2024 season unless otherwise noted.
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MLB DFS Picks: Top Stacks for Monday, August 19th
CHALKY OPTO STACK
Rays vs. Joe Boyle
The Rays currently have the crown in terms of both pOWN% and Opto%, according to our Top Stacks tool. Joe Boyle takes the mound for Oakland with his ugly 7.39 ERA. That being said, he does own an xERA that’s under 5.00, which still isn’t good, but he seems like a much worse pitcher from the outside looking in.
While Boyle and the A’s bullpen might not be very good, I’m not sure if I’m on board with Tampa tonight. There are a few red flags.
Tampa’s implied team total isn’t even 4 runs (and the game has just a 7.5 total), which makes me raise an eyebrow regarding a full stack. The Rays have been pretty brutal lately, ranking 21st in wRC+ vs. RHP in August. The bottom of the projected lineup is brutal, and Christopher Morel doesn’t even have an extra-base hit this month.
Boyle has control issues, but he doesn’t give up a lot of power, sporting a .140 ISO this season and a .111 last year. He gets in trouble by walking 22% of lefties this year, but even if there are runners on base, I’m not sure anyone outside of Brandon Lowe has the upside to break this slate.
I don’t mind some one-off bats (both Lowes and Junior Junior Caminero), but if Tampa Bay is going to be popular, I’m going to look elsewhere for tournament stacks.
PIVOT STACK
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