Fantasy Team Stacks: MLB Winning Edge for August 18

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This report will provide recommended DFS stack options for today’s nine-game main slate. I will also include my favorite pitching picks.

All plays are listed in order of preference. Please check back between 5-6 PM EST as some players can receive rest days or get limited at bats especially as we get closer to the postseason. Make sure you are watching the weather as well.

Teams with Highest IRT

Fantasy Team Stack: Boston Red Sox**

vs. LHP Tyler Blach (BOS): UPDATE

**Low Risk

Back to the Red Sox we go! No line out from Vegas yet but it’s safe to assume that Boston will carry the biggest implied run total on today’s slate. Same song and dance, the Red Sox face the worst bullpen and starting pitching rotation in all of baseball. Ty Blach is a career dumpster fire and carries a 13.94 ERA, 7.67 FIP, and 6.29 SIERA through 10 innings pitched this season. History tells us Blach has been fairly decent to lefties but I won’t hesitate to play Devers. Guy’s like J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts are a priority for me. The Red Sox continue to hit well, slashing to a .373 wOBA, .272 ISO, and 130 WRC+ for the month. Massive chalk here but I feel fine eating it.

Preferred Plays: J.D. Martinez ($4200 FD|$5400 DK), Mookie Betts ($4300 FD|$5300 DK), Sam Travis ($2900 FD|$3800 DK), and Andrew Benintendi ($3700 FD|$4500 DK). Also consider Xander Bogaerts ($4200 FD|$5400 DK. Chris Owings ($2200 FD|$2200 DK) for big salary relief.

Fantasy Team Stack: New York Mets

vs. RHP Glenn Sparkman (KCR): 5.80 Runs

**High Risk

Initial chalk reports this morning indicate that the Mets should attract a good bit of ownership. I can respect that at first glance with Glenn Sparkman owning a 13% K rate and 84% contact on the year. If we dig a little further we will see that other than two starts Sparkman has been very dominant to right handed batting at home. He has allowed hitters to slash to a measley .278 wOBA, .370 SLG, and .281 OBP through 57 innings pitched. I’m not advocating you to play Sparkman, there just isn’t enough strikeout upside with him and win probability is slim with Wheeler on the other side of the plate. I will likely fade the Mets here as they are rolling out seven righties.

Preferred Stack: Pete Alonso ($4200 FD|$5400 DK) , J.D. Davis ($3300 FD|$4700 DK), Michael Conforto ($3700 FD|$4700 DK), Amed Rosario ($2700 FD|$4200 DK). Joe Panik ($2400 FD|$3300 DK) for value.

Fantasy Team Stack: Milwaukee Brewers/Washington Nationals**

vs. RHP Eric Fedde (TEX): 5.50 Runs

vs. RHP Chase Anderson (MIL): 5.50 Runs

**Moderate Risk

This is another game that should attract a good bit of ownership. The Brewers and Nationals put on a 14 inning show last night combining for 29 total runs. In the meantime they both exhausted their entire bullpens and we get two pitchers who typically don’t go deep into games facing off in today’s matchup. The weather and park factor give us a boost as well. My only hesitation is a possible hangover from a quick turnaround but other than that I like both of these teams today.

Nats: Preferred Plays: Juan Soto ($4000 FD|$5200 DK), Anthony Rendon ($4300 FD|$5400 DK), Trea Turner ($3900 FD|$5200 DK), and Matt Adams ($3100 FD|$4000 DK). Gerrardo Parra ($2000 FD|$3900 DK) great for value on Fanduel.

Brewers: Preferred Plays: Christian Yelich ($4700 FD|$5600 DK), Trent Grisham ($3000 FD|$3500 DK), Keston Hiura ($3500 FD|$4000 DK), and Eric Thames ($3000 FD|$4300 DK).

Other Teams I Have Interest in

Fantasy Team Stack: Toronto Blue Jay’s

vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi (SEA): 5.60 Runs

**Moderate Risk

Preferred Plays: Randal Grichuk ($3200 FD|$5500 DK), Bo Bichette ($3300 FD|$4800 DK), Justin Smoak ($2700 FD|$3600 DK) and Derek Fisher ($2600 FD|$4000 DK). Also consider: Teoscar Hernandez ($2900 FD|$4100 DK).

Fantasy Team Stack: Los Angeles Dodgers**

vs. LHP Max Fried (ATL): 4.75 Runs

**Moderate Risk

Preferred Plays: Will Smith ($3600 FD|$5200 DK), Justin Turner ($3700 FD|$5000 DK), A.J. Pollock ($3300 FD|$4400 DK), Cody Bellinger ($4700 FD|$5800 DK) and Kyle Garlick ($2300 FD|$3600 DK). Jedd Gyorko (2000 FD|$3700 DK) for min price on Fanduel.

Pitching

1. Jack Flaherty RHP (STL): 3.90 Runs
2. Tony Gonsolin RHP (COL): 5.30 Runs
3. Mike Clevinger RHP (CLE): 4.90 Runs

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