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Cubs
It’s hot and humid with the wind blowing out at Wrigley once again today, and the Cubs will look to score double digit runs for the fourth straight game after they scored 14 runs on 20 hits in what felt like 100-plus degrees in Chicago yesterday. They’ll face Lance Lynn today, who is coming off allowing four runs to the White Sox, and has allowed 31 earned runs over 42 innings to give him a 6.64 road ERA. In these types of hitting conditions, all hitters from the Cubs would be in play, but I prefer Anthony Rizzo , Javier Báez , Jason Heyward , and Kyle Schwarber as my four-pack. Schwarber is a home run waiting to happen in these types of games, and has taken Lynn deep in the past, while Rizzo is 11-33, with two homers over his career vs Lynn. Baez swings for the fences whenever he’s at the plate, while Heyward is 6-for-10, with a homer and five runs scored over the first two games of this series, and is actually batting over .290 for the season.
Angels vs Orioles Full Game Stack
I’m a fan of stacking full games on most slates, as the potential for fantasy points is possible for just about every half inning. While there are some other teams with slightly higher implied run totals, this would be my full game stack play. The Angels lost six straight before taking the first two games vs the O’s, and get the opportunity to face Gausman in another game with temps in the mid-90’s this afternoon. He’s not getting rocked as much as he should be lately, but has still lost his last four decisions, and is 1-3, with a 5.97 era over five starts vs. the Angels. I wouldn’t try to be sneaky when choosing Angels, as your move with this stack is more on the O’s side. Mike Trout is 7-for-13 with three homers off Gausman, while Valbuena is 5-for-9, with four homers off him, and can be used as a salary relief play with Kole Calhoun . The fourth spot could be used by Maldonado if catching, or Ian Kinsler , who has also fared well vs. Gausman by going 8-for-17, with a home run.
The O’s have lost seven straight games, and are 0-15 this season vs. the AL West. If they were going to pick up a win, their best chance could be today vs. the spot starter in Deck McGuire . He allowed three homers when he came in for the injured starter in his last appearance, and has allowed six earned runs off of four home runs in his six innings pitched on the road so far this year. Manny Machado remains the one bright spot for the O’s, and has two hits in each of the first two games, and multiple hits in five out of his last ten games. Pair him up with the O’s starting catcher today, and first base and an OF spot is all that’s left for the full stack. If McGuire is homer prone, then I like Mark Trumbo . He’s without an XBH through the first six games of his current homestand, but has the two-homer potential, and had homers in three of his four games on the road before returning home. Chris Davis does have two home runs during this homestand, and hits in three out of his last four games. Taking him and Trumbo, as well as the players listed above, leaves you with $9.2K per pitcher on DK, and roughly $9.9K for your pitcher on FD.
Possible Lower Owned Stacks: Teams playing in hot ballparks
Roughly every game not played in a dome or out west will see temps in the 90’s or higher today, which can create some great hitting atmospheres. If looking to be different, feel free to attack some of the better pitchers taking the mound in the heat today. Of those not listed above, attacking the Brewers vs. Matt Harvey will likely be the popular route, but on the flip side, Peralta may finally struggle, especially if the sweaty hands hurt his control. After that game, I would look at Gant having the same issues with the Cardinals vs. a Braves team that put up double digits vs. them yesterday. I liked the Indians last week vs. Gant, which ended up a disaster as he shut them down, and hoping many will end up fading the Braves thinking the same thing. The same situation is there with the Rangers, who were shut down by Lopez in an earlier season start, but have been destroying the Sox in the current Texas heat. Finally, the Twins are also producing some solid numbers at Wrigley in this series, and for those not sold on Lester, it’s a great spot for Dozier, Escobar, and Adrianza.