The MLB season got off to a flying start on Thursday with great Opening Day festivities across the country, and the action continues this Friday with the Rockies and Rays in the afternoon and eight games under the lights on DraftKings main slate, which begins at 7:07 p.m. ET when the action starts in Toronto. Let’s take a look at the 16 teams on the slate and find the top three MLB stacks.
Most of the action on tonight’s slate is indoors with the two exceptions in Los Angeles and San Diego. Since weather shouldn’t play much of a factor, finding the right MLB Stacks is mostly about starting pitching matchups and current form of the lineup, which can be tricky to get a grasp on so early in the season.
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1. Toronto Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($5,300)
Bo Bichette ($4,200)
Andres Gimenez ($3,500)
Alejandro Kirk ($3,200)
Alan Roden ($2,000)
The Blue Jays and Orioles combined for 14 runs on 18 hits on Opening Day, but unfortunately for Toronto, most of the fireworks were on the visitor’s side. Gimenez homering in his Blue Jays debut and Roden picking up his first MLB hit were among the few highlights for the Jays in their 12-2 defeat.
On Friday, they should fare better against Charlie Morton ($7,000), who is making his first start with the O’s after signing with them as a free agent this offseason. The 41-year-old went 8-10 last year in Atlanta with a 4.19 ERA, 4.46 FIP and 23 home runs allowed in 30 outings. He struggled away from Truist Park and especially in the second half, which could be signs that he’s going to struggle this year in Baltimore. In spring training, he gave up three runs in eight innings across four games.
Roden is one of my top value plays of the day, and he can be part of a nice 9-1-2 stack with Bichette and Guerrero. Bichette is 5-for-16 with a double and home run in his career against Morton, while Vlady is 4-for-13 with a double in their previous meetings.
2. Texas Rangers
Corey Seager ($5,100)
Adolis Garcia ($4,700)
Wyatt Langford ($4,400)
Joc Pederson ($4,200)
Josh Jung ($3,700)
The Rangers also took the loss in their season opener at home but will look to bounce back with a better Game 2. They’ll get a favorable matchup to be one of the best MLB stacks as they take on Tanner Houck ($7,700), who flashed good potential last season but had a miserable spring training. Houck allowed 19 runs on 29 hits in just 13 2/3 innings, with only seven strikeouts. Last year, Houck posted reverse splits, so right-handed batters actually have a slight advantage against him.
Garcia has gone 4-for-7 with a double and a home run against Houck in the past, and is a solid place to start your stack. Lefty Joc Pederson will likely make his first start for the Rangers after coming off the bench on Thursday. He hit five homers with a .420 wOBA this spring and will be an interesting option with both 1B and OF eligibility. Langford hit .424 with a .508 wOBA this spring and is another solid mid-range play to include in your outfield mix.
3. Chicago Cubs
Seiya Suzuki ($5,000)
Ian Happ ($4,800)
Pete Crow-Armstrong ($3,800)
Matt Shaw ($3,500)
Miguel Amaya ($2,200)
Maybe it was just the jet lag. After struggling in the Tokyo Series, the Cubs’ offense came alive and smashed the Diamondbacks for 10 runs on Thursday night. Happ led the way with a home run and 27 fantasy points, while Miguel Amaya had 20 fantasy points out of the No. 9 spot with two doubles and five RBI. Crow-Armstrong had 14 points with his first stolen base of the season, and rookie Matt Shaw had 11 fantasy points as well.
The Cubs are one of the more affordable MLB stacks if you go with their young hitters, and they should get a good matchup against Merrill Kelly ($7,300). Kelly struggled in the second half last season, posting a 4.49 FIP and a 1.29 WHIP after the All-Star break. He gave up eight runs in 15 1/3 innings this spring, including three consecutive home runs in his last Cactus League start against the Giants.
