Wednesday is a getaway day for Major League Baseball teams, with many wrapping up their series and heading to new locations for the upcoming weekend. While several games get started in the afternoon to allow for travel, seven games are still on the main slate Wednesday night, which starts at 6:45 p.m. ET. With 14 teams available in the player pool, there are definitely some matchups to avoid, but also some very attractive matchups to target. Let’s take a look at each of the matchups and pinpoint some good options to go against in today’s MLB stacks.
In case you’re new to the term, “stacking” is a fantasy baseball strategy that relies on multiple players from the same team to boost each other’s production in a favorable game environment and matchup. MLB stacks are effective because fantasy baseball scoring awards multiple players from the team for the same run-scoring event. It makes sense to build MLB stacks to create a positive correlation between your players’ production, and if you can find the right matchup, they can all deliver big games by boosting each other’s output. Increasing the connectedness of your lineup raises both the ceiling and the risk in your roster, but it can pay off in huge ways if you find the best MLB stacks on the board.
As we look at the nine matchups on Wednesday’s main slate, check out these three top MLB stacks.
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1. Philadelphia Phillies
Kyle Schwarber ($6,500)
Bryce Harper ($6,400)
Trea Turner ($6,200)
J.T. Realmuto ($5,000)
Edmundo Sosa ($4,600)
The Phillies continue to be an obvious and high-priced play this Wednesday as they play the third game in their four-game set against Colorado. They’ll face rookie lefty Carson Palmquist ($5,000) on Wednesday, who gave up five runs in four innings in his MLB debut last Friday in Arizona. Palmquist didn’t have a single strikeout and only had a 3.82 ERA over 35 1/3 innings in Triple-A, so he really looks like he’s not quite ready to turn in great numbers in the majors quite yet.
That could be trouble for him against the Phillies’ lineup that has scored 16 runs in the first two games of the series. Schwarber homered in both games for 16 and 18 fantasy points, and Harper and Turner each had multiple hits and double-digit fantasy points as well. Turner and Realmuto are on the strong side of the split against the lefty, and Sosa could get another start in this matchup as well. Sosa offers a little value and flexibility to go with his upside and is hitting .386 in his 23 games after picking up four hits and 27 fantasy points on Monday in a start against a lefty to begin this series.
2. Athletics
Tyler Soderstrom ($4,500)
Lawrence Butler ($4,300)
Jacob Wilson ($4,100)
Shea Langeliers ($4,000)
Nick Kurtz ($2,600)
The Athletics are another strong option to consider for tonight’s MLB stacks since they’re in a great matchup at home at Sutter Health Park. They’ll take on Angels’ starter Jack Kochanowicz ($5,700). In his nine starts, he is 3-5 with a 4.71 ERA, 5.26 FIP, and 1.47 WHIP. Lefties have hit .311 off him this season with six home runs and a .391 wOBA, so lefties can be an especially effective part of the stack.
I highlighted lefties Butler and Kurtz in my top target for the night since both had strong games on Tuesday, and Kurtz brings a ton of value upside potential. Soderstrom has cooled off after his scalding start but still makes sense as a mid-range play now that he’s eligible in the outfield in this matchup. Wilson had to leave Tuesday’s game after being hit by a pitch, but if he’s in the order on Wednesday, he’s a solid option since he’s hitting .341 this season with five homers, has a .360 batting average, and .400 wOBA at home. Langaliers has nice power potential behind the plate as well after picking up two hits and his ninth homer of the season on Tuesday.
3. Atlanta Braves
Matt Olson ($4,600)
Austin Riley ($4,400)
Marcell Ozuna ($4,300)
Eli White ($3,900)
Michael Harris II ($3,400)
The Braves will be in a good matchup on Wednesday night if the rain holds off enough for them to face Trevor Williams ($6,000) and the Nationals in Washington. Williams gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings to the Braves last week and has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts. His ERA has ballooned to 5.91 with a 3.77 FIP. He has given up a 40.3% hard-hit rate and five home runs with an ugly 1.53 WHIP.
Ozuna is 11-for-35 (.314) in his career against Williams, while Olson is 2-for-10 with a home run. Ozuna is also heating up after averaging 11.1 fantasy points per game over his last 11 contests. Olson has three homers in his last four games and at least 14 fantasy points in four straight. White has stepped up lately while helping to fill in the outfield. He’s hitting .295 with a .349 wOBA over his last 25 games with four stolen bases, three triples and a pair of home runs. He had multiple total bases in each of his last three games.
Harris has flashed a high ceiling despite his struggles this year, and since his salary has dropped, he represents good value. Williams has let lefties hit .383 against him this season with a .433 wOBA, so it makes sense to lean into the left-handed side of the lineup with Harris and Olson, along with Drake Baldwin ($4,100) if he plays.
