Squad Up Daily MLB Early Fantasy Dose: Cubs offense should get brewing early

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily MLB fantasy picture for the four-game early slate beginning at 1:45 p.m. EST, Wednesday, April 19:

Hitter Stacks

• Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers (LHP Tommy Milone): With a lefty on the mound and a game at Wrigley Field, the Cubs should help get the afternoon slate started with some instant offense. The question of whether to roster 1B Anthony Rizzo or 3B Kris Bryant at corner infield is easily answered; since the start of the 2016 season, Bryant has a .449 wOBA vs. LHPs to Rizzo's .372.

3-player stack: OF Kyle Schwarber (62K), 3B Bryant (70K), SS Addison Russell (52K)

• Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics (RHP Jesse Hahn): The Rangers aren't in their usual hitter's haven in Arlington, which could explain why some of their hot bats are shockingly affordable. You can leave out the corner infielder and just go with their top middle infielder and outfielder, saving some money to bulk up at other positions.

2-player stack: OF Nomar Mazara (43K), 2B Rougned Odor (45K)

Pitcher Breakdown

• TARGET - RHP Michael Wacha (66K), Cardinals (vs. Pirates): The Pirates' core took a massive hit with OF Starling Marte's 80-game suspension. Wacha has struck out 14 batters in just 12 innings while keeping his walks down. The Cardinals' bats haven't come alive yet, but Wacha is good enough to notch a win without a ton of help.

• BARGAIN - LHP Martin Perez (37K), Rangers (at Athletics): The pitcher-friendly park factors of Oakland Alameda Coliseum and a weak Athletics lineup gives Perez some upside, even if his career 5.5 K/9 means he needs a win to really cement his value. At 37K, Perez is your best option if you're looking to put together several high-priced bats -- like a Cubs stack.

• FADE - LHP Tommy Milone (60K), Brewers (at Cubs): Milone has never been a strikeout threat, and against a powerful Cubs lineup boasting a .395 wOBA against southpaws in 2017, his day could be over quickly. He didn't pitch past the fifth inning in either of his two starts.

• CONTRARIAN - RHP Gerrit Cole (87K), Pirates (at Cardinals): The Cardinals have been a bottom-five offense in terms of runs scored, tallying just 3.38 per game as of Tuesday, April 18. They've particularly struggled against RHPs thus far, posting a collective .278 wOBA. Cole has struggled so far this year but the Cardinals are an opportunity to get back on track.

Bargain Plays

• OF Nomar Mazara (43K), Rangers (at Athletics): In a lineup chalk full of above-average batters, being able to roster a team's No. 3 hitter for next to nothing is a crime. Mazara leads the American League with 16 RBIs and 12 runs while boasting a .352 batting average. He will have a justifiably high ownership percentage.

• 2B Dee Gordon (37K), Marlins (at Mariners): The Marlins are as far away from south Florida as can be, but Gordon's elite speed should travel. Gordon should easily return value against RHP Felix Hernandez with a slash line of .317/.328/.365 thus far.

Top Fades

• 1B Eric Thames (54K), Brewers (at Cubs): The Thames love is reaching a fever pitch. Having been out of MLB since 2012, Thames is hitting .405 with seven homers through 12 games. There's just no way opposing pitchers continue pitching to him without adjusting to his newfound power profile.

• C Willson Contreras (56K), Cubs (vs. Brewers): Though his catcher eligibility gives him some instant appeal, Contreras has not gotten off to the start he had hoped for after a big 2016 campaign. He's hitting just .216 with three extra-base hits in 40 PAs. Don't bother with him at his position-leading price.

Contrarian Plays

• OF Ryan Braun (54K), Brewers (at Cubs): Kyle Hendricks has held current Brewers to a .167 batting average in 78 ABs; Braun has played his part by going 2-for-14 with no walks or extra-base hits against Hendricks. Still, Braun has gotten off to a hot start, with a .407 OBP cementing his floor and five homers and four steals showing he still has a dynamic ceiling.

• OF Khris Davis (62K), Athletics (vs. Rangers): The Athletics have collectively hit .187 against LHPs this season, so even though Martin Perez isn't a fantasy stud, he has the edge in this matchup. Davis still has plenty of upside. He had a .267/.331/.550 line against LHPs in 2016 and always maintains his multi-homer profile in any matchup.

For up-to-the-minute starting lineups, check out Baseball Press.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)