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As a part of the Playbook PRO we are excited to announce a new daily feature dubbed “Stack the Deck". Each day one of our experts will provide you with different options for stacks within the DFS MLB slate. This article will be different each day. Sometimes we will go the traditional team stack route and provide insight into constructing lineups based on that. We will also introduce some new ideas for stacks, explain the strategy behind it and the factors used to develop them. We will then assess and analyze them.
In other words, we will have some fun with this. Because DFS is fun.
We will be reaching out to you for thoughts, pivots and success stories throughout the year. Also, have an idea for a feature on a certain type, let us know. Post in the comments or hit us up on the FANation boards.
Opening Day Stack
This first edition we'll be a simple straight forward edition with just the three games on the opening slate, our options are a bit limited. Also, with six “aces" taking the mound, identifying a couple of teams with a good chance of offensive outbursts is difficult. Though, if you have read the Playbook or seen our Optimal Lineups, you'll notice a trend. Giants. Lots and lots of Giants.
I'm suggesting that we stack on the Giants for a few reasons, all of which point to the best chance for a 6+ run performance:
Familiarity with Zack Greinke, even though the numbers themselves haven’t been pretty (.180 batting average), they have seen him a combined 250 times.
Chase Field certainly can take on the shape of a launching pad. Those long flies that come up short at AT&T Park in San Francisco can carry out in Phoenix.
If the Giants manage to get to Greinke and get his pitch count elevated, they can feast on a weaker backend of the Arizona bullpen.
Our rankings align with this belief as Giants lead the way in most positions. With Buster Posey (C) , Eduardo Nunez (3B), Brandon Crawford (SS) and both Hunter Pence (1) and Denard Span (2) leading the way in the outfield rankings.
Let's take a look at how we can construct some stacked lineups with Giants and fill in with players from other teams…
DraftKings
P - Madison Bumgarner (SF)
P - Masahiro Tanaka (NYY)
C - Yadier Molina (STL)
1B - Brandon Belt (SF)
2B - Joe Panik (SF)
3B - Kris Bryant (CHC)
SS - Brandon Crawford (SF)
OF - Corey Dickerson (TB)
OF - Jarrett Parker (SF)
OF - Kevin Kiermaier (TB)
FanDuel
P - Chris Archer (TB)
C - Buster Posey (SF)
1B - Anthony Rizzo (CHC)
2B - Ben Zobrist (CHC)
3B - Eduardo Nunez (SF)
SS - Brandon Crawford (SF)
OF - A.J. Pollock (ARZ)
OF - Hunter Pence (SF)
OF - Kyle Schwarber (CHC)
As you can see in the FanDuel example, if you want to stack with another team, I'd suggest the Cubs in St. Louis. The simple reasoning is that they are a loaded lineup from top-to-bottom and Carlos Martinez has a bit of trouble controlling his emotions. Opening Night in St. Louis on national television with the rival Cubs in town, who happen to be the defending champs, well, it doesn't get much more high-leverage than that outside the post-season.
This is a quick example of what we are looking to do with this piece throughout the season. We hope you enjoy it and be sure to send in your ideas for future “Stack the Deck” features.
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.