It’s looking like a rainy Saturday afternoon today that may spread into some evening games as well.  Every game but the D-Backs @ Padres have run totals from 8-to-9.5 runs, which makes this slate wide open for stacking. 

Early slate wise, I think the Cubs have a window to play today, but I’m not too sure with the KC/Minn game.  Both games are division rivals, meaning plenty of make-up date options if needed.  Same with Washington/Atlanta, so please keep an eye on the weather today.

While you saw a few teams blast off last night, picking the right combinations from those teams is key.  Best example would be Lamb from last night D-Backs or Tomas over Peralta.

As always, things can change based on lineups and weather, so do stay up to date using the Playbook Pro tools.  Below are my favorite stack options for the day.  Good luck!

Stacks for Saturday, May 20

Washington paired with Cleveland

If playing the afternoon slate, Washington will more than likely be the popular choice, and like them paired with one of the teams from the Cleveland @ Houston game.

The Nats are the only team of the entire slate that currently have a projected run total at over 5 runs (5.32).  Of course though, their players also come with a hefty price tag.  Colon is 2-4 with a 6.80 ERA on the season.  He hasn’t faced the Nats yet this season, but both Harper and Rendon have taken Colon deep twice in the past.  Opposing hitters are batting .391 against Bartolo Colon with RISP this season (Rank: 124th of 128 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .259), and the Nats are slugging .547 with runners on base this season (Rank: 1st of 30 in MLB).  If looking for power as well, Nationals hitters have 64 HRs (22.6 AB/HR) this season (Rank: 1st of 30 in MLB)

While the home team Astros are the favorites, I’ll take the road team up against the pitcher that has been handing out home runs in Fiers.  He has allowed at least two home runs in six straight starts, including a three and four home runs allowed game.  One of those games was vs these Indians, and Encarnacion and Almonte both took him deep.  Indians hitters have walked 104 times in 966 PAs (10.8%) versus starting pitchers this season (Rank: 2nd of 30 in MLB), and on the flip side, they are close to worst in the league, having 9.6% of their AB’s lasting only one pitch. 

Top Stack Suggestions: 

Washington: Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon, Michael Turner (or sub)

Cleveland:  Edwin Encarnacion, Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, Yan Gomes

*Alternative to this Stack: Houston over Cleveland

Seattle paired with Baltimore

The pitchers going up against these two teams are a combined 0-6 for the season.  Pelfrey has only made it out of the fifth inning in just one of his starts this season, and even though the Sox didn’t need their bullpen last night, Roberson did pitch two innings, and likely won’t be available.  Mariners hitters have come to the plate with runners in scoring position in 470 of their 1,671 plate appearances (28.1%)  this season (Rank: 1st of 30 in MLB).

While I’m not opposed of stacking the White Sox with Seattle for a late night hammer full game stack, not sure I want to leave out a Baltimore team that won in walk off fashion after a long delay last night.  Not sure if Bolsinger is worse than Pelfrey, but he’s started the year with 6.10 ERA through two starts, and includes hitting three batters in his last start. Even though Orioles hitters have struck out 217 times in 970 PAs (22.4%) versus starting pitchers this season (Rank: 27th of 30 in MLB; League Avg: 20.3%), and Bolsinger has not allowed a HR in any of his last 3 games started dating back to June 18, 2016, I think the opposite  happens today, with players like Davis, Trumbo, and Machado, who all missed going deep last night, come through tonight.

Top Stack Suggestions: 

Seattle:  Kyle Seager, Ben Gamel, Jean Segura, Taylor Motter

Baltimore: Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, Welington Castillo, Seth Smith

*Alternative to this stack:  Full game stacks of Chicago/Seattle or Toronto/Baltimore

Dodgers

Once again, if playing only the late night slate, taking the Marlins with the Dodgers for the full game stack works, but can also use multiple combinations of Dogers with some value players from other teams sprinkled in. 

The Dodgers are facing Dan Straily, who hasn’t won since April 11th.  He hasn’t been allowing the amount of hits I would like for stacking purposes, but has shown some control problems this year, walking five batters in a game twice already this season.  He left his last start early with a forearm injury, but looks to be ok for today.  Straily has not allowed a hit in the first inning in any of his last 4 starts, and has been keeping hitters guessing, as they have chased 41 of his 83 breaking balls down out of the zone (chase rate of 49.4%) this season (Rank: 9th of 153 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 34.9%).

The Dodgers hitters though have put 38.8% of their swings in play on non-fastballs this season (Rank: 5th of 30 in MLB), and have plenty of left handed bats to roll out vs Dan tonight.  They have an OBP of .359 versus RHP this season (Rank: 1st of 30 in MLB), and while Arizona worked as a nice stack last night, the Dodgers check in as my favorite late night lower owned option compared to Seattle.

Top Stack Suggestions: 

Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez

Alternative to this stack:  Full game stack with Marlins batters, or other combo’s of Dodgers if Utley is leading off