Three MLB Stacks to Target: Friday, May 3rd
Stacking has become a common strategy used in tournaments on FanDuel. The concept is simple – roster multiple players from teams with the best MLB odds to score the most runs.
This article will take a closer look at the three teams on FanDuel’s main slate with the highest implied run totals.
Tampa Bay Rays (5.8 implied run total)
Weather permitting, the Tampa Bay Rays look like the top stack of the night in a road matchup against Dan Straily and the Baltimore Orioles. Not only is the matchup a favorable one for the Rays against Straily but Tampa gets a favorable park shift with this game being played at hitter-friendly Camden Yards as opposed to pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field. Straily has been brutal this season for Baltimore with a 6.37 SIERA and a near single-digit strikeout rate (10.3%). Unsurprisingly, Straily has struggled with the long ball, already allowing seven HRs in just 18.2 innings pitched, which translates to 3.38 HR/9.
Tampa has plenty of power in their lineup and they are favorably priced, especially recent call-up Nate Lowe ($2,400) who posted a .243 ISO in AAA before being called up to the Big Leagues. Tommy Pham ($3,800) and Ji-Man Choi ($2,900) are other favorites of mine with Brandon Lowe ($3,700) being the final guy I would use if running out a four-man Rays stack. Avisail Garcia ($3,200) and Yandy Diaz ($4,000) are likely to see lower ownership than the other four, which make them intriguing options if looking to differentiate your stack without sacrificing too much power.
Arizona Diamondbacks (5.6 implied run total)
Coors. It’s unsurprising to see a road team at Coors with one of the highest implied run totals on the slate. Tyler Anderson is scheduled to toe the rubber for the Rockies on Friday and boy has he been bad this season with an 11.34 ERA after four starts. Anderson certainly isn’t THAT bad but this is a tough spot for a struggling pitcher that has given up six HRs over 16.2 innings pitched.
Coors isn’t all about power though, as it inflates extra base hits which puts speed guys like Eduardo Escobar ($4,700) and Ketel Marte ($4,500) in play despite high price tags. Wilmer Flores ($3,000) is the most cost-effective option for the Diamondbacks and he’s posted strong numbers against left-handed pitching throughout his career with a 108 wRC+ and .202 ISO. Christian Walker ($4,500) is arguably the top overall play from the Diamondbacks as he has been smoking the ball this season with seven HRs and a .298 ISO. Adam Jones ($4,000) and David Peralta ($4,200) get honorable mention status with Peralta likely seeing lower ownership due to the L/L matchup. The Diamondbacks are one of the more expensive stacks of the night which means you’ll have to go dumpster diving at the pitcher position if full out stacking Arizona in Coors.
Colorado Rockies (5.5 implied run total)
The Rockies get the tougher matchup of the two teams playing at Coors but still have one of the three highest implied run totals on the slate. Colorado will square off against Robbie Ray who is a good pitcher in a bad matchup. The Rockies profile a bit more as a boom or bust stack. If things are clicking for Ray there may not be a whole lot of contact being made by the Rockies as Ray posted a 31.4% strikeout rate last season and has started off this year with a respectable 27.2% strikeout rate. Still, Nolan Arenado is one of the top overall plays on the slate ($4,900) and he recently found his power stroke, slugging three HRs in the past two games against the Brewers. Right behind Arenado is Trevor Story ($4,800) who is another fantastic play despite his high price tag. Colorado’s other top hitters are all left-handed in Charlie Blackmon ($4,200), Daniel Murphy ($4,300), and David Dahl ($4,300).
Robbie Ray has been tough against left-handed hitters throughout his career which makes me like these guys a bit less but the trio is still in play if stacking Colorado in tournaments. If only using right-handed bats in your Rockies stack your only remaining options are Ian Desmond ($3,400), Garrett Hampson ($2,500), and Drew Butera ($2,500). Desmond gives you the most power upside of the three, while Hampson may be more intriguing because he has eligibility at one of the worst positions of the night (second base).