This article is part of our FantasyScore MLB series.
All 15 games on the schedule are included in FantasyScore's featured contests, the Mastersball 50/50 GPP and the BaseballHQ GPP, and both lock at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Lineup Configuration Notes
Over the past week, the daily fantasy landscape has shifted slightly. There have been double-digit run totals galore, and since Monday, June 8, the lightly scheduled Thursday, June 11, was the only day without at least one team scoring 10 runs.
As a rule, offenses begin to click with warmer weather, but in this case, it may be wetter weather. Regardless, pinpointing potential offensive explosions and having exposure to them is critical for your daily lineups. This week, a stack potential section has been added accordingly.
Spending up at shortstop and starting pitcher makes sense Wednesday. There are values at other positions, and plenty of exploitable pitching match ups to increase hitter's upside.
With all 30 teams in play, the player pool is deeper, but that also polarizes and increases the significance of your high-end arms. However, it also makes it easier to fit two aces under the salary cap.
Arms to Target
The lefty trio
Atop the price list, Clayton Kershaw ($9,400, 18.8 percent of cap), David Price ($9,200, 18.4 percent of cap) and Madison Bumgarner ($9,100, 18.2 percent of cap) are obvious candidates. Each possesses the upside for double-digit strikeouts with a complete-game shutout nightly. Expect them to carry high ownership percentages, and aside from the odd hiccup, all three continue to be as reliable as any hurler in baseball.
Making at least one of these three a lineup priority is advised.
The next tier
After the top trio, there are a few more risks associated with Felix Hernandez ($9,000, 18.0% of cap) and Johnny Cueto ($8,900, 17.8% of cap). Hernandez has been shelled in two of his last three starts, he faces Bumgarner, and the Giants' .736 OPS is seventh best against righties. Similarly, Cueto faces a capable Detroit lineup, ranked fourth in baseball with a .746 OPS against right-handed pitchers.
For a few dollars more, targeting the lefties makes more sense. However, taking a contrarian spin could pay off, as both Cueto and Hernandez have contest-winning upside, too.
The rest
Carlos Martinez, SP, STL, $7,200, 14.4 percent of cap: Minnesota's .665 OPS against righties ranks 28th in the league, and Martinez is dialed in. Over his last five starts, he has four wins, a 1.16 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 38.2 innings.
Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, BAL, $6,400, 12.8 percent of cap: With Baltimore receiving plenty of chalk, scoring runs in bunches and riding an 8-1 run, there is a lot to like about Jimenez. He sports a respectable 3.19 ERA for the season and has allowed more than three runs in just two starts.
Hector Santiago, SP, LAA, $5,600, 11.2 percent of cap: Santiago has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 11 of 13 starts this season, and he has a 2.59 ERA, 1.18 WHP and 8.1 K/9. Just note, he has only four wins, and his 4.30 FIP suggests there could tougher times ahead. There are also only two teams in baseball with more runs scored than the Diamondbacks.
Potential Stacks
There have been some monstrous run totals over the past week, as teams and individuals are starting to find their groove at the dish. There are also some hittable pitchers taking the mound, and some high over/under totals.
The high-priced stars aren't the only bats to target in stacks, as the low-priced hitters often land in plus-opportunities and provide huge returns in high-scoring games.
Houston and Colorado
In Houston, these two teams combined for 22 runs in the first two games of the series. At Coors Field, and with Brett Oberholtzer and Kyle Kendrick on the hill, there is huge offensive upside for both lineups.
Baltimore
As noted, Baltimore is on a roll. They've scored 65 runs (7.22 per game) over their past nine, and Kevin Correia will be tossing them meatballs Wednesday.
Washington
Opposing starter Matt Andriese has a 4.41 ERA and 1.78 WHIP through his four starts this season, and he is allowing a .358/.395/.463 slash line and .370 wOBA to opposing hitters.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates have a slew of impact right-handed hitters, and they're all in fine form. Southpaw John Danks has allowed a .404 wOBA and .940 OPS to righties this season.
Milwaukee
Joe Blanton last started July 22, 2013. So there is huge upside for the Brewers, though the Royals' bullpen boasts a 1.96 ERA and .198 batting average against.
Bats to Target
Spending up
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA, $6,200 salary, 12.4 percent of cap: During his nine-game hit streak, Stanton has six homers, 15 RBI and a 1.755 OPS. 10 of his 16 hits have been for extra bases, too.
Anthony Rizzo, 1B, CHC, $6,100 salary, 12.2 percent of cap: Mired in a 0-for-17 drought, look for a bounce-back showing against soft-tossing Shaun Marcum.
Starling Marte, OF, PIT, $5,900, 11.8 percent of cap: Marte has returned at least 4.0 FantasyScore points in seven consecutive games, and he has multiple hits in five straight. He has a plus-matchup, too.
Manny Machado, 3B, BAL, 5,100 salary, 10.2 percent of cap: Eventually the youngster will cool. Currently, he is riding a 24-for-65 stretch with 16 runs, seven home runs, 14 RBI, two stolen bases and a 1.122 OPS over his last 16 games.
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL, $5,000 salary, 10.0 percent of cap At Coors Field against southpaws, Tulowitzki has a career .444 wOBA and 1.045 OPS.
Values
Matt Wieters, C, BAL, $4,500 salary, 9.0 percent of cap: A high-floor, high-ceiling option, Wieters draws the favorable matchup and has gone 9-for-27 with six runs, two home runs, seven RBI and a 1.074 OPS since returning from Tommy John surgery.
Denard Span, OF, WAS, $3,800 salary, 7.6 percent of cap: Span has reached base at a .441 clip over his past seven games with five runs, two doubles, three RBI and three stolen bases.
Ben Zobrist, 2B, OAK, $3,700 salary, 7.4 percent of cap: When the veteran heats up, he has proven to pile counting stats on in a hurry. He is riding a 5-for-10 streak with seven runs, two doubles, a home run, two RBI and a .643 OBP. Plus, batting cleanup is a bonus, especially at his cap hit.
Cap Relief
Kyle Schwarber, C, CHC, $2,800, 5.6 percent of cap: Expected to serve as the designated hitter during Chicago's run through American League ballparks, Schwarber is the latest top prospect with sights on making an impact. Through 58 games with Double-A Tennessee, he has posted a .320/.438/.579 slash line with 39 runs, 10 doubles, 13 home runs, 39 RBI and 42 walks.
Yunel Escobar, 3B, WAS, $2,900, 5.8 percent of cap: The veteran has emerged as one of the most consistent hitters in the league this season, and he currently sports a five-game hitting streak and .322 batting average for the season. Batting in front of Bryce Harper helps, too.
Scooter Gennett, 2B, MIL, $2,600, 5.2 percent of cap: With a homer in his last outing and an 8-for-22 run since returning to the majors, Gennett is in play Wednesday. He has two runs, four extra-base hits and three RBI during the stretch.
