The main slate on Thursday only has five games, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go stacking.
Minnesota Twins
The Mariners’ Erik Swanson is a guy we want to attack when he takes the bump for Seattle. The right-handed pitcher has the highest ERA on the slate with a robust 6.35 mark. And his peripheral numbers don’t support any sort of upcoming rebound to his season. Swanson has a 4.68 SIERA and is allowing 2.22 HR/9, while owning the second lowest whiff rate of tonight’s starting pitchers. Combine that with the fact that the Twins’ offense has produced a .234 ISO versus right-handed pitching this season and Minnesota looks like a juicy stacking option for Thursday.
The Twinkies’ build should start with some righty-on-righty crime, as Swanson is allowing 2.84 HR/9 to righties in 2019. So the building blocks would be Willians Astudillo (FanDuel: $2,700 DraftKings: $3,900), Jonathan Schoop (FanDuel: $3,000 DraftKings: $3,900) and Byron Buxton (FanDuel: $3,200 DraftKings: $4,000). All three of these right-handed bats have over .200 ISOs against righties in 2019. And while he has been out a few days with a wrist injury, Nelson Cruz (FanDuel: $3,800 DraftKings: $4,200) certainly is in play if he makes the Twins’ lineup on Thursday. He has a .243 ISO and a .373 wOBA versus righties this season.
While Seattle’s Swanson has been bad against right-handed bats, you don’t have to ignore the lefty sluggers on Minnesota. Jorge Polanco (FanDuel: $4,300 DraftKings: $5,000), Jason Castro (FanDuel: $3,100 DraftKings: $3,700), Max Kepler (FanDuel: $3,300 DraftKings: $3,900) and Eddie Rosario (FanDuel: $4,200 DraftKings: $4,700) all have ISOs over .257 versus righties.
Seattle Mariners
The Minnesota Twins’ Michael Pineda is a great stacking target on Thursday. The right-handed starter has a 5.85 ERA this season as well a 4.71 xFIP. Look for the Seattle offense to take advantage of this opportunity against a weak pitcher, as the Mariners have a team ISO of .226 against righties in 2019.
As you piece together your Seattle stacks, start with the right-handed bats of the Mariners. Pineda has allowed a .397 wOBA, 2.39 HR/9 and a 49.4% hard contact rate to right-handed hitters this season. Edwin Encarnacion (FanDuel: $3,800 DraftKings: $4,700), Mitch Haniger (FanDuel: $4,000 DraftKings: $4,700), Ryon Healy (FanDuel: $2,800 DraftKings: $3,700) and Tim Beckham (FanDuel: $2,900 DraftKings: $3,600), are all right-handed batters that have excelled against right-handed pitching this season. Each of these hitters have ISOs over .200 in those type of match ups.
And while he is not a righty stick, Daniel Vogelbach (FanDuel: $3,700 DraftKings: $4,800), has to make your list of Mariners. He has a monstrous .370 ISO and 181 wRC+ against righties in 2019.
Atlanta Braves
The Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright has really struggled with lefties this season. The veteran starter has given up a .406 wOBA, 2.55 HR/9 and a 46.2% hard contact rate to batters from the left side. So feel free to stack up with Brian McCann (FanDuel: $2,900 DraftKings: $3,600), Nick Markakis (FanDuel: $3,500 DraftKings: $3,900), Matt Joyce (FanDuel: $2,100 DraftKings: $3,500) and Freddie Freeman (FanDuel: $4,000 DraftKings: $4,500) in this one. Not only do all four of these guys have a plus matchup, they also provide plenty of salary relief as well.
Good luckand happy stacking!