MLB DFS Top Stacks: Monday, June 17th
MLB DFS is complex. Most articles on MLB DFS picks are about the individual players most likely to succeed on any given day, but the MLB DFS picks most likely to succeed aren’t always the MLB DFS picks we should be most likely to play. In this article, we will look at the MLB DFS process over the MLB DFS picks. And we’re looking at teams over individual players, using the features of the RotoGrinders Top Stacks tool. We’ll still look at the player projections that are available in our MLB Lineup 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’ve got a wild 9-game main slate for MLB DFS on Monday. One of the best offenses in baseball is in Coors Field, and the wind is blowing out at Wrigley Field. Additionally, we have some elite pitching options we are going to want to get into our lineups.
Tough decisions will need to be made. Let’s dive in and discuss some of the top bats to target.
All stats cited are since the start of the 2024 season unless otherwise noted.
MLB DFS Picks: Top Stacks for Monday, June 17th
DODGERS IN COORS STACK
Dodgers at Cal Quantrill
Cal Quantrill has put together a nice little run of giving up 2 or fewer runs in 7 of his last 8 starts. The team he gave up more than 2 runs against in that stretch? The Dodgers, of course. He gets a chance at redemption today, but it will be a mighty difficult spot in Coors Field. Quantrill has done a solid job keeping the ball off the barrel, as he has lowered his barrel rate to 6.4% this season. He still allows plenty of contact, as demonstrated by his subpar 17.1% strikeout rate.
The Dodgers continue to lead MLB in wRC+ and wOBA while trailing only the Orioles and Yankees in ISO. They are unquestionably one of the top two or three offenses in baseball.
Unfortunately, Mookie Betts suffered a fractured hand yesterday and will miss some time. Even without one of their superstars, there is still plenty to like here.
It is not very often we see a hitter reach $7,000 on DK or $5,000 on FD, but that is exactly where Shohei Ohtani is at.
Ohtani is following up his 2023 MVP campaign with a season nearly as great in 2024. He owns an incredible .353 ISO and 22.5% barrel rate against righties.
Teoscar Hernandez presumably gets a bump up the order with Betts now sidelined, and he owns a .212 ISO and 14.7% barrel rate against RH pitching.
Freddie Freeman is again posting an elite season, as he owns a .241 ISO and 12.7% barrel rate against righties.
Will Smith continues his reign as one of the top catchers in the league. He is closer to average against righties but still offers plenty of upside with a .161 ISO and 8.6% barrel rate.
Andy Pages and Jason Heyward have been above average versus righties. Pages is up at a .174 ISO and 8.6% barrel rate, while Heyward is at .210 ISO despite a low 4.1% barrel rate.
The lineup falls off sharply after the top six hitters, but including any of Cavan Biggio, Miguel Rojas, or Gavin Lux in a stack is totally acceptable. We will need to save some salary somewhere if including multiple top options from the Dodgers, and we might as well get some correlation with our value bats.
The Dodgers are leading the pack in pOWN% on both sites, but their OPTO% is lagging well behind. The elevated salaries certainly force some sacrifices when filling out a roster. Their implied run total is approaching 7 runs, so I think you definitely want some exposure. I would not call them a must, even in single-entry or 3-max settings.
THE OTHER COORS STACK
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