Squad Up Daily MLB Fantasy Dose: Don't overthink the easy choices
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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily MLB fantasy picture for the four-game late slate beginning at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 30:
Hitter Stacks
Chicago Cubs at Boston Red Sox (LHP Eduardo Rodriguez): The Cubs and Red Sox opened the day with the highest projected run total of all 15 games at 10. The national spotlight of Sunday Night Baseball has caused the line to be bet down to 8.5. Trust the oddsmakers, as the Cubs own the third-best wOBA and a .385 OBP against lefty pitching.
3-player stack: 3B Kris Bryant (67K), SS Addison Russell (49K), C Willson Contraras (51K)
Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks (LHP Patrick Corbin): The Rockies rank fifth in team wOBA and third in slugging percentage, against left-handed pitching. While the numbers are partially propped up by Coors Field in Colorado, Chase Field is similarly friendly to hitters. Right-handed batters are slugging .468 off Corbin.
3-player stack: OF Charlie Blackmon (55K), 3B Nolan Arenado (60K), SS Trevor Story (58K)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Bargain Plays
- C Cameron Rupp (38K), Phillies (at Dodgers): Rupp is routinely buried at the bottom of the Phillies' batting order, but he is walking at a 13.3 percent rate so far this season, allowing for a .300 OBP. He is able to get on base for the team's best hitters, allowing him to score six runs in 15 games. He has a career .522 slugging percentage against left-handed pitching, like Dodgers LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Top Fades
- 2B Dustin Pedroia (45K), Red Sox (vs. Cubs): Pedroia has been dropped to sixth in the batting order for each of the Red Sox's past two games. While he has gone 5-for-7 in those two outings all five hits were single,. and he scored just one run with no RBIs. The Cubs send another tough righty to the hill for Sunday's game, likely keeping Pedroia planted at the bottom of the order.
- 3B Eduardo Nunez (52K), Giants (vs. Padres): Nunez is hitting just .147/.216/.147 against left-handed pitching this season. He has just five hits -- all singles -- in 37 plate appearances. He is .283 OBP on the year limits the appeal, even if he were to draw a spot at the top of the batting order.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
Contrarian Plays
- 2B Yangervis Solarte (48K), Padres (at Giants): The switch-hitting Solarte is hitting dramatically better against lefties this season, holding a .333/.346/.333 slash line. He doesn't have a walk or an extra-base hit in 26 plate appearances, but the quality average has allowed for three runs and five RBIs. Giants LHP Ty Blach is letting righty hitters reach base at a .391 clip.
- 1B Hanley Ramirez (56K), Red Sox (vs. Cubs): Ramirez has been significantly better against left-handed pitching for his career, but he is hitting .265 against righties this year, with all five of his extra-base hits coming in the reverse side of his split. Twelve of his 13 strikeouts on the year have been against righties, but Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks is striking out just 6.55 batters per nine innings through four starts.
For up-to-the-minute starting lineups, check out Baseball Press.