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Thursday brings us an eight-game main slate on DraftKings along with a nice combination of expensive and cheap stacks to consider. With a nice balanced slate, here are some stacking options to consider targeting.
Set your DraftKings lineup here: MLB $400K Relay Throw [$100K to 1st]
1. New York Yankees
The Yankees have been somewhat off the grid this season, unable to put up many runs in their opening series against the Nationals, then getting unexpected off days because of the COVID-19 situation the Marlins left behind in Philadelphia. However, the Yanks were back to business on Wednesday, mashing nine runs at Camden Yards, and I don’t see why Thursday should be much different.
I actually like John Means ($5,800) as a pitcher, but this isn’t a spot setting up for much success. Means appeared five times against the Yankees last season, twice as a starter, only lasting 13 total innings in all five outings. He had a 7.62 ERA and gave up three bombs. The bullpen for Baltimore only gets worse. These RHBs should feast at Camden Yards.
Players to Consider
Giancarlo Stanton ($5,500)
Gleyber Torres ($5,100)
Aaron Judge ($4,900)
Gary Sanchez ($4,900)
DJ LeMaheiu ($4,400)
2. New York Mets
The Mets have gone over their team total in all three matchups against the Red Sox so far, ripping off 20 runs in three games. Boston’s pitching will continue to be trash on Thursday, as Martin Perez ($6,000) takes the mound after giving up five runs in five innings against the Orioles — an eventual 7-2 loss.
The Red Sox have one of the worst bullpens in baseball to backup Perez, who shouldn’t be able to hold the Mets off long. RHBs are the targets against Perez, but all bats should be safe with how bad the Red Sox have been pitching.
Players to Consider
Pete Alonso ($5,100)
Jeff McNeil ($4,800)
Amed Rosario ($4,700)
Yoenis Cespedes ($3,800)
J.D. Davis ($3,700)
3. Kansas City Royals
The Royals are setting up as an extreme value stack, with a wildly cheap heart of the order against Ivan Nova ($5,400) and the Tigers. Kansas City is projected for 5.5 runs, but could wind up with a lineup featuring six bats that are in the $2,000-$3,000 range — six of which are LHB, causing more issues for Nova. Nova was awful against the Royals in 2019, with a 6.10 ERA in four starts.
I think literally any bat that the Royals have in their lineup is a bargain, but I’ll avoid the pricier ones at the top of the order just to highlight how much value there is here. Stack a few of these bats and it makes it simple to roster any Yankee bats you want.
Players to Consider
Adalberto Mondesi ($3,300)
Alex Gordon ($2,800)
Salvador Perez ($2,600)
Maikel Franco ($2,000)
Ryan O’Hearn ($2,000)
4. Los Angeles Angels
This has been a high scoring series for the Angels, scoring 10 and seven runs in the first two games, respectively. Los Angeles is projected for another 5.5 runs against Marco Gonzales ($6,300) and this poor Seattle bullpen on Thursday’s slate.
Gonzales gave up four runs in 4.1 innings of an 8-2 loss to Houston in his season debut. He struggled against the Angels in four starts in 2019, posting a 5.61 ERA. This lineup is loaded with RHBs to do some early damage.
Players to Consider
Mike Trout ($6,100)
Anthony Rendon ($5,400)
Albert Pujols ($3,800)
Justin Upton ($3,600)
David Fletcher ($3,200)
5. Baltimore Orioles
Just because the Yankees are going to score a million runs and almost certainly win this game doesn’t mean the Orioles aren’t allowed to do some scoring, too. J.A. Happ ($10,400) has had his fair share of struggles in Baltimore, and actually had a 6.85 ERA in five starts against the O’s last season. With everyone on the Yanks, pivoting to an Orioles stack could be a nice contrarian play.
Players to Consider
Austin Hays ($4,200)
Anthony Santander ($4,000)
Renato Nunez ($3,800)
Hanser Alberto ($3,600)
Jose Iglesias ($3,100)
Set your DraftKings lineup here: MLB $400K Relay Throw [$100K to 1st]
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jedlow) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.