Major League Baseball is back to work this Monday with a nine-game slate that begins at 6:40 p.m. ET. With 18 teams in action, a few matchups stand out as high-risk options to avoid, but in this post, we’re looking at the top three offensive matchups that are too juicy to pass up this Monday. Based on form, environments and matchup, the three teams listed below are great options for MLB stacks this Monday.
In case the term’s new for you, “stacking” is an MLB DFS strategy that relies on multiple players from the same team boosting each other’s production as they pile up runs in a favorable matchup. Since multiple players earn points in run-scoring scenarios, building around several options from the same lineup creates a potential positive correlation for your squad. If you can find the right matchup, stacking can be extremely effective because high-scoring teams usually have multiple players near the top of the overall leaderboard. Despite raising the risk of your lineup being shut down, the right target for MLB Stacks can carry you to the top of the leaderboard.
Here are my top three MLB DFS stacks for this Monday.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $225K Knuckleball [$50K to 1st]
1. Los Angeles Angels
Zach Neto ($5,300)
Mike Trout ($5,200)
Taylor Ward ($4,300)
Nolan Schanuel ($3,400)
Jo Adell ($3,200)
The Angels are facing the Athletics after both teams got series wins over the weekend. The Halos took two of three from the Mariners after taking two of three from the Red Sox, and are up to 30-34 on the season. The offense has been good over the last month, averaging 4.9 runs per game and with a top-10 wOBA over that span. They’ll face lefty Jeffrey Springs ($6,800), who has a 4.66 ERA, 4.90 FIP and 1.34 WHIP, while allowing a 35.6% hard-hit rate. He has given up 11 homers on the year, with 10 of them hit by right-handed hitters. In his last three games, he has served up four homers and 14 runs in 14 2/3 innings.
The Angels’ recent production coincides with Neto’s emergence as a strong option at the top of the lineup. In his last 25 games, he’s hitting .259 with six doubles, six homers, a triple, and three stolen bases. He’s been leading off ahead of Trout, who is 4-for-9 in his career against Springs and went 10-for-28 (.357) in his first eight games after returning from IL with a 65.2% hard-hit rate. Ward also brings good power potential after hitting home run No. 18 on Saturday. I highlighted Adell in my top value targets, and Schanuel is a solid value option as well, even though he is in a lefty-lefty matchup.
2. Boston Red Sox
Rafael Devers ($5,300)
Jarren Duran ($5,200)
Carlos Narvaez ($3,700)
Trevor Story ($3,400)
Kristian Campbell ($2,900)
The Sox smashed five homers on Sunday Night Baseball and scored 21 runs to take spotlight games on Saturday and Sunday night from the Bronx Bombers. They’ll return home this week and take on the Rays before getting the Yankees in a rematch at Fenway. They have scored at least six runs in four straight games and have averaged 5.3 runs per game over the last two weeks while hitting .260 as a team with a .335 wOBA.
They face Shane Baz ($7,800), who has shown dominant stuff at times but also given up 13 homers in 12 starts with a 4.96 ERA and 5.01 FIP. He has given up eight homers in his last five starts with multiple homers against in three of those outings. Righties have done most of the damage off him with nine of the 13 homers against him a .366 wOBA.
I included Narvaez, Story and Campbell in this stack as a result of the splits and like the wraparound potential of going with Campbell ninth ahead of Duran and Devers, who are both hot coming home, where they both have much stronger splits this season. Duran is hitting .319 with a .385 wOBA at home while Devers is hitting .339 at Fenway with a .461 wOBA and 10 of his 16 homers. Campbell had two hits in each of the last two days, posting 10 and 21 fantasy points. The rookie may be shaking off a little mini-slump and getting back to great production.
3. Cleveland Guardians
Jose Ramirez ($5,400)
Carlos Santana ($3,600)
Angel Martinez ($3,500)
Gabriel Arias ($3,200)
David Fry ($3,100)
The Guardians are in a favorable spot at home with the wind is blowing out as they take on Wade Miley ($6,200). The veteran lefty has only pitched in one MLB game this season and was hit hard by the Brewers last Wednesday. He gave up four runs and a home run on six hits in just two innings. He also struggled in the minors during his rehab, posting an 8.84 ERA, 5.78 FIP and 1.86 WHIP in 19 1/3 innings over seven contests.
Ramirez has been outstanding over the last month, hitting .402 with seven homers, 10 stolen bases and a .482 wOBA over his last 30 games and going hitless just once during that impressive run. He’s also been crushing lefties all season with a .417 batting average in the split. The rest of the Guardians’ stack is an affordable way to build around Ramirez as a centerpiece, with Martinez usually hitting right in front of him. Santana will likely bat right behind him and is 7-for-15 (.467) against Miley in their careers with a home run. Arias and Fry come in with decent form, and Fry still has catcher eligibility. He is 3-for-12 (.250) in his five starts since returning from the injured list with a stolen base and a home run.
