Chalk Stack(s)

Seattle Mariners vs. Jimmy Yacabonis

Yacabonis was called up from Triple-A to start this game and immediately steps in against one of baseball’s better offenses in the game. He held a 3.14 ERA at Triple-A, but it’s just that; Triple-A. In 16 career Major League appearances, Yacabonis has a 5.38 ERA and has allowed 14 earned runs in just 23 innings. He’s very wild as well, walking 19 opponents across those same 23 innings as well.

The Mariners have six players that have .330 wOBA’s or better against right-handed pitching with Mitch Haniger leading the charge at .370. Haniger has belted 14 bombs off of right-handed pitching and has been the Mariners leading run producer all season long. He also happens to have four multi-hit outings over his last six games. Nelson Cruz , although day-to-day, has been the M’s hottest hitter. He’s slashed .378/.465/.811 with four homers over his last 10 games. He said he plans to be in Thursday’s lineup, so let’s wait and see if he actually is. Jean Segura currently has the second highest batting average across baseball at .338. His .332 AVG versus right-handers is elite and he just so happens to have five of his six homers this year against RHP.  It’s going to be really hard to afford all three of these guys, but two is doable.

The other three players with wOBA’s north of .330 are Ben Gamel , Ryon Healy and Denard Span . Gamel is hitting .303 over his last 10 and really works in a stack because of his cheap price tag. Slotting him in would allow you to grab two of the high price Mariners. Healy is always a home run threat although he’s better against left-handed pitching. He did homer on Wednesday and gets a park upgrade playing in Baltimore. Denard Span has been heating up of late hitting .294 over his last 10 games. Six of his seven homers have also come against RHP, which would be an added bonus. And finally, just because he doesn’t have a .330 wOBA against RHP doesn’t mean Dee Gordon should be left out. We know Gordon can go out and steal us four bags in a single game, especially against a right-hander.

Primary Option(s): Nelson Cruz , Mitch Haniger , Jean Segura , Ben Gamel

Secondary Option(s): Denard Span , Dee Gordon , Ryon Healy

 

Contrarian Option(s):

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tanner Roark

At one point this season, Roark was having a really solid year, but as of late he has faltered. In 20.2 June innings, his ERA sits at 7.18 after being 3.55 and below the first two months of the year. Something that may be biting in the you know where is that he has given up six home runs over his last five games. He’s allowed 2.61 HR/9 in June compared to 0.26 in May and 1.42 in April. Left-handed hitters have really been the one’s giving him trouble this season as they’ve belted eight homers in 47.1 innings which has led to a .465 SLG and .341 wOBA.

The Phillies have some really good left-handed bats, starting with Odubel Herrera and César Hernández . Before Herrera’s recent 0-for-11 against the Yankees, he was the hottest hitter in baseball posting five consecutive games with a home run. Even after this recent 0-for-11, he’s still hitting .357 over his last 10 if that gives you any idea how hot he actually is. He OWNS Roark as well, going 15-for-34 (.441 AVG) with a homer and six runs batted in. Hernandez also has decent numbers against Roark (9-for-31, .290 AVG) and also comes into this game hot. Over his last 10 games, he’s hitting .308 with 10 runs scored and two stolen bases.

Carlos Santana showcases all his power against right-handed pitching. He’s belted 10-of-13 bombs against them this season while posting a .227 ISO and .353 wOBA against them. Jorge Alfaro is another Philly I’m strongly considering here. He’s 3-for-5 off of Tanner Roark and has taken him deep as well. Let’s not ignore the fact that this is being played in Philly so the bats get the park upgrade here.

Rhys Hoskins ’ ability to crush baseball’s puts him in play no matter who is on the mound. He homered on Wednesday giving him a home run in three of his last 10 games and six this month. The thing about this month is he’s only played 17 games -- seven less than May -- and he’s already hit two more homers than he did in May. His 1.026 OPS, .333 ISO and .428 wOBA in June says it all. Elite play. Maikel Franco is hitting .367 over his last 10 games, but he’s more of a secondary option because of how inconsistent he is.

Primary Option(s): Odubel Herrera , Rhys Hoskins , Carlos Santana , César Hernández

Secondary Option(s): Jorge Alfaro , Maikel Franco