These stacking articles can become a challenge on Thursdays. With the shorter slates and day games, it pretty much limits the opportunities out there. That won’t stop us from finding a fun, creative way to stack our DFS MLB lineups and set ourselves up for success.
 

We’ll just focus on the main slate - games starting after 6:05 PM EST.
 

Just so we are on the same page, we take into consideration many factors (not just expected run totals) when identifying the potential teams to stack upon each day. These factors include: ballpark, wind, weather, umpire, opposing starting pitcher and opposing bullpen.
 

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

The O’s have let us down in Cincinnati thus far with a total of five runs scored against Bronson Arroyo and Amir Garrett. Tonight, things change the the bats awaken in a big way. They are facing Scott Feldman, who has been better than expected this year.  Though, the wind is blowing out to left at gusts between 10-15 MPH. Vegas has their adjusted expected run total at 4.67 which is the highest of the day.
 

Targets: 1B Chris Davis; 3B Manny Machado; OF Adam Jones; OF Mark Trumbo and C Welington Castillo
 

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

The Royals have not been much fun to watch this year on offense, ranked 24th in our cumulative rankings that take into account many offensive factors. Remember, even the teams that are lesser known for offense can surprise if everything aligns in their favor. Thus is the case for the Royals tonight. With Andrew Cashner on the mound for the Rangers, in that bandbox ballpark, things could get a bit ugly there. The wind is actually expected to be blowing in from right field, so take that into consideration. It shouldn’t have too much of an impact, especially on the righties.
 

Targets: C Salvador Perez; OF Lorenzo Cain; 3B Mike Moustakas; 1B Eric Hosmer (L) and OF Alex Gordon (L)
 

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
See the above two sentences in the Kansas City write-up and then add bold to it for the Cardinals. They have not been good even though they just managed a sweep with just two runs per game. The good news is that they are leaving the pitcher-friendly Busch Stadium and heading to hitter-friendly Miller Park. Zach Davies is on the bump for the Brewers and he has not been very good this year so far and the wind is blowing out to center as an added bonus - assuming the roof will be open.
 

Targets: 1B Matt Carpenter; OF Stephen Piscotty; SS Aledmys Diaz; OF Dexter Fowler and 2B Kolten Wong (cheap option)


ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

The Diamondbacks are playing in San Diego so the ballpark certainly knocks them down a bit, but here is what we like. We like the fact that two of their top hitters, Paul Goldschmidt and Yasmany Tomas are known lefty-killers and with Clayton Richard on the mound, that aligns perfectly. Gerry Davis is behind the plate and his 7.4 walks per game average last year ranked the highest amongst all umpires. That means he’ll be making that much more difficult for Richard, who may be forced to be more in the zone and allow for the D-backs to rack up the hits and runs.
 

Targets: 1B Paul Goldschmidt; OF Yasmany Tomas; 3B Jake Lamb and OF A.J. Pollock

SEATTLE MARINERS

We don’t have a problem with stacking on a team that has really only one of the factors working in their favor. The caveat in that statement is that it must the opposing starting pitcher. The wind; weather; umpire and ballpark alone won’t move the needle enough for us. However, when a 32-year old career minor-leaguer is called up for a spot start like the A’s are doing tonight with Cesar Valdez, that’s enough for us. The fact that it’s in a pitcher friendly venue doesn’t change our minds and they should be worth a look.

Targets: OF Nelson Cruz; 3B Kyle Seager; 2B Robinson Cano; OF Jarrod Dyson and 1B Danny Valencia (cheap option)

 

Stack those decks today and utilize the other great tools here at Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS to build those winning lineups today. Learn. Play. Win.