Split slate Saturday with some nice stack options for both slates today. There are some weather concerns today, but hitters should be all good to go with all games more than likely still being played tonight. If new to stacking, the quarter arcade is a great spot to try multiple lineups. Feel free to play around with a few combos of your own. 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!
96.4% of all lineups that cashed last season on DraftKings stacked at least two players.
Stacks for Saturday, April 22
Early slate:
Detroit @ Minnesota
I’m not usually a huge fan of stacking the highest total game, but if playing the early slate, this is the game that you can fully stack from. Vegas has this game as a pick’em, with a implied run total of 9.5 runs. Detroit is starting Matt Boyd, who has won his past two starts after a rough first outing. Getting the first batter out is key for Boyd, as he has allowed an OPS of .200 against the first batter faced in the inning this season (Rank: 5th of 128 qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: .720). He has also held left handed bats to an .194 avg over the past two years, but the Twins aren’t left handed heavy. Four of their projected starters have taken him deep in the past: Dozier, Grossman, Gimenez, and Polanco.
The Twins are sending Adalberto Mejia to the mound, who has surrendered six hits and five walks in 6 ? innings this season. Besides the fact that I love to take Miggy vs a lefty on day games, Tigers batters have homered every 16.2 at bats when facing left-handed pitchers this season (Rank: 3rd of 30 in MLB). If they get Mejia out early, Twins relievers have a strikeout rate of just 10.9% with RISP this season (Rank: 28th of 30 in MLB; League Avg: 21.4%).
Top Targets: Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, Brian Dozier, Robbie Grossman, Mikie Mahtook, Jorge Polanco, Nick Castellanos
Houston
The Cubs are always in play as a stack option, but like Houston as my second stack for the early slate. The later game always seems to be overlooked with lineups coming out last. Snell is still looking for his first win of the year, but hasn’t been horrible. Opponents have a Well-Hit Avg of .065 (4/62), but Astros hitters have an OBP of .388 on the road this season (Rank: 1st of 30 in MLB; League Avg: .299). Something will give this game, and think Snell will struggle. He was rocked in his only start vs Houston last year, allowing five runs off nine hits in just three innings.
Top Targets: Carlos Beltran, George Springer, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Evan Gattis
Late Slate:
There are two top games to target in the game at Coors, and the game in mini-Coors field (Arizona). All four teams are in play, but more for cash games for me. If playing multiple lineups, should have some exposure to those games.
Cleveland
Mike Pelfrey is looking to take the spot start from Shields today for the White Sox, and still not sure why he is in the league. He was 4-10 with a 5.07 ERA last year with Detroit, and was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in AAA this season. It’s very much possible for Cleveland to load up on left handed bats today, leaving Encarnacion as the only true righty in their lineup.
Top Targets: Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley, Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall.
Toronto/ LAA
Once again, will look to target the late game of the slate. The Toronto bats woke up a bit last night, but the Angels check in with the higher run total at close to five runs. With Happ on the DL, Casey Lawrence will spot start for the Jays. He gave up three runs in two relief appearance early in the season, and doubt he goes more than five today. The Angels are hitting .293, but hitters are slugging .498 at home this season (Rank: 1st of 30 in MLB; League Avg: .410).
While it’s best to focus on the Angel hitters, the Jays don’t have a $5K priced Mike Trout player, keeping themselves affordable due to slow start. Skaggs had a great last start with seven strong innings and nine K’s vs the Royals, but struggled in his first two starts, which has kept his ERA at 5.19. I guess it’s hard for me, if entering multiple stack lineups, to fully lay off the Cubs and Jays early this season.
Top Targets: Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun, Jose Bautista, Troy Tulowitzki, Andrelton Simmons, Justin Smoak.
Gut Stack
If entering multiple gpp entries tonight, consider going with a gut stack for one of them. This could be based on your favorite team, players, or a pitcher you just don’t trust. All players in lineups will/should receive at least three at bats, so why not take a flier gpp chance with your gut. Here are my top gut plays at each position today from players not listed above.
Gut targets early: Anthony Rizzo, Trea Turner, James McCann, Byron Buxton, Khris Davis, Brad Miller, Rajai Davis
Gut Targets late: Yasmani Grandal, Eric Hosmer, Dee Gordon, Mike Moustakas, Giancarlo Stanton, Steve Pearce, Christian Yelich