Top Stacks – One of the most important concepts to understand in DFS MLB.  Watch our daily YouTube live podcast for more information on this understanding/mindset.  Keep in mind it is ok to stack 4 guys or 3 from the same team.  This mathematically increases your chances of “cashing” in tournaments.  It isn’t as necessary to stack in cash games (double ups/heads up).  Below is our rankings starting from the best at number 1.

Not only will I be identifying two teams I believe you should target in GPPs, but I will also discuss in the analysis which specific players I want exposure from these two teams AND why.

 

• Pirates – Surprisingly, a ton of the Karma team is on the Pirates tonight.  I had them listed as the number one GPP stack in my article for 2-3 days now so I don’t want to alter things as I don’t believe a ton of the industry will be too high on the Pirates.  If making multiple lineups today the first thing I’m going to do is hedge my Pirates stacks with a Luis Castillo lineup.  This is something I suggest you, the reader, do as well.  Castillo has some filthy stuff but is prone to walks and due for some regression after very unlikely BABIP’s the past two years.  One of the reasons I really love the Pirates stack today is because their standard deviation of run production between the first five hitters in the lineup is projected to rank 2nd on the slate at .006 behind the Diamondbacks (who are only ranked first because they have equally terrible hitters).  This means we can get a full stack of the 1-5 for the Pirates and know that it won’t be one hitter in the stack dominating all the points, meaning we can expect production from all of the hitters in a scenario where the Pirates are scoring runs.  In addition, these five hitters are projecting for impressive wOBA’s in this game where the best pitcher they will face (Castillo), has not gone for over 93 pitches on opening day against similair lineups in the past.  This all sets up for the 1-5 of the Pirates lineup to do some damage against the Reds in a fantastic hitters ballpark.  They’re an extremely sharp play.
  • • Best “One-Off” – Josh Bell
    • Best Bet for a Homerun – Corey Dickerson
• Angels – Obviously the #1 piece you want from this game is possibly the best baseball player of all time in Mike Trout. Unlike the Pirates, where the run production is spread out from the 1-5 hitters, the Angels get a ton of run production from Trout skewing these numbers a bit as an extreme and outlier I’m going to overlook today (while obviously including Trout in my lineups).  They are facing Mike Fiers who is a pitcher who walks batters and doesn’t get strikeouts.  It’s unlikely he goes deep into this game and at that point I imagine the Angels to already have built a lead so unlikely we face any quality A’s relievers.  Kole Calhoun, Justin Bour, and Zack Cozart are the top options from this team to add to a stack with Trout.  I’m completely fading Albert Pujols here and I suggest you do to even if he is included in the top three batters.
  • • Best “one-Off” – Mike Trout (DUH. Play him.)
    • Best Bet for a Homerun – It’s Mike Trout but behind him Justin Bour

 

Make sure to stay up to date with my core plays which can be utilized for cash games and single entry GPPs by DMing me on twitter and signing up for our core plays at www.dfskarma.com/shop.  I will always be in discord, as usual, answering questions and giving additional insight to our subscribers and community on the day’s slate.  

 

Bobby’s LOW-OWNED BOMB’S PER POSITION (ISO splits)

 

 

Written by Bobby Viafora (Follow @DF_Advantage on Twitter)