Today we are going to do things slightly different for The Stack.
Usually Wednesdays allow for focus on one slate, but since there are two 7-game slates, today we will conquer both!
And because of this, you get to view all of the early slate stacking options for free, but to view the late slate, you must be a subscriber or a free trial member!
So on Wildfire, on we go. May the Force be with you!
MLB EARLY SLATE
CLEVELAND INDIANS
1. Francisco Lindor
2. Jose Ramirez
3. Michael Brantley
4. Yonder Alonso
Analysis: This early slate is pretty ugly for stacking options if you ask me. But the Indians chime in as the No. 1 stack Wednesday afternoon. If you are a person who hates chalk, then this stack isn’t for you, but you may be on the losing end if you fade. The Indians draw the more favorable matchup of the slate taking on starter Reynaldo Lopez. While he struggled against lefties early on in the year, Lopez has turned it around a bit against them. However, he still gives up long balls and walks can hurt him. Plus, this Indians team continues to hit and show why they are one of the best offenses in the American League. I like this 4-man stack of lefties, but understand if you want to throw E5 in there.
DETROIT TIGERS
1. Leonys Martin
2. Jaimer Candelario
3. Niko Goodrum
Analysis: I needed another stack to make this coverage of the early slate worth it, so I picked the starting pitcher with the biggest weakness – Tyler Mahle. While the Tigers as a whole don’t really matchup well with Mahle, there are 3 lefties that do. That’s where we want to attack because Mahle struggles mightily with lefties this season to the tune of a .391 wOBA, 47% hard contact rate and a HR/9 rate at 2.27 HR/9, The three guys listed above are 3 of the 4 top hitters for the Tigers against righties. Martin has been great as a leadoff man, sporting a .365 wOBA, .203 ISO and 42% hard contact rate. Candy has a .338 wOBA, .200 ISO and a 35% hard contact rate while Goodrum, who batted cleanup on Tuesday, owns a .331 wOBA, .233 ISO and 35% hard contact rate. This game is in a small ballpark, too, so that gives a bump to these three guys in this offense as well.
MLB EVENING SLATE
NEW YORK YANKEES
1. Aaron Judge
2. Giancarlo Stanton
3. Gleyber Torres
4. Didi Gregorius
5. Miguel Andujar
Analysis: With Coors on the slate, I am not so sure it will be the most popular option tonight. The three main stacks I will focus on should eat a lot of the ownership, but still be spread out enough to lower it. Here we have the Yanks against Felix Hernandez, who isn’t much of a king these days. Facing the Yankees in Yankee Stadium does not assist Felix’s .350 wOBA and 1.66 HR/9 rate against lefties and .331 wOBA and 38% hard contact rate allowed to RH bats. Even though Stanton has been awful against RH pitching this season, he’s starting to really warm up, so I couldn’t leave him off this stack. He has a couple of hits off Felix after all. The remaining crew here all have ISOs of .200 or better against RH pitching.
BOSTON RED SOX
1. J.D. Martinez
2. Mookie Betts
3. Andrew Benintendi
4. Rafael Devers
Analysis: While the Red Sox are not enjoying home cooking tonight, they are taking on Lance Lynn, whose allowing a .356 wOBA, 42% hard contact rate to lefties and has walk rates of 1.50/9 or higher to both sides of the plate. While he’s been a little unlucky, he shouldn’t find any retribution here against this top of the order of the Red Sox. J.D., Mookie and the Super Ninetendo all have wOBAs of .400 or greater against righties and each have at least a .250 ISO against them, too. Betts and J.D. have hard contact rates of 46% or higher. Benintendi’s hasn’t shown yet in the numbers, but the power and contact are there against RH pitching.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
1. Bryce Harper
2. Juan Soto
3. Trea Turner
4. Anthony Rendon
5. Adam Eaton
Analysis: I had this strange feeling the Nationals would finally put it together last night and they did. It wasn’t tournament-winning production, but it’s a sign they may be coming around, especially Bryce Harper, who is as streaky of a hitter as they come. Today they get Andrew Cashner coming off the disabled list. After beating up the bullpen Tuesday and getting Cashner on a likely pitch count, supports this stack as one of the top options of the day, even with the teams in Coors. This season, Cashner owns a .404 wOBA against righties and a .370 wOBA against lefties. I hate stacking against Cashner because he is a chump and trolls me even though I know he’s a terrible pitcher. This might be the stack that breaks that streak for me and gets the rest of you in the pay line. The Nats have BvP against Cashner, too. Turner is 2-for-5 with a bomb and two steals against, Rendon has 5 hits in 12 ABs with a bomb, Harper also has 5 hits, but in 11 ABs, and Eaton is 3-for-9. I would love to incorporate Murphy somewhere, but I am not sure he is right or in baseball form at the moment.
