Squad Up Daily MLB Fantasy Early Dose: Trouble brewing for Reds Rookie starter

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily MLB fantasy picture for the nine-game early slate beginning at 1:40 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 26:

Hitter Stacks

• Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cincinnati Reds (RHP Rookie Davis): Davis has given up seven hits (including a pair of home runs) and six walks in his seven innings of action. He's not a good bet to pitch deep into the game, exposing the fourth-worst bullpen (4.84 ERA) since the start of 2016 to a Brewers lineup of threatening power hitters.

2-player stack: OF Ryan Braun (62K), 1B Eric Thames (62K)

• Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays (RHP Alex Cobb): Cobb has gotten off to a shaky start, posting a 4.88 ERA with low strikeout numbers. He walks only 1.5 batters per nine innings, but when you're giving up 11.3 hits (including 1.9 home runs) per nine, it doesn't really matter if he's issuing free passes. The Orioles should be able to produce some runs against the veteran.

3-player stack: OF Seth Smith (48K), 1B Chris Davis (52K), 2B Jonathan Schoop (37K)

• Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins (LHP Wei-Yin Chen): Chen has a 3.94 ERA and a dismal 5.63 K/9 through three starts. The Phillies' lineup is still maturing but a strong core of OF Odubel Herrera and 2B Cesar Hernandez provides a solid foundation built on great on-base skills and base-stealing speed. Pair them with cheap C Cameron Rupp, or leave them as a two-man stack.

3-player stack: 2B Hernandez (50K), OF Herrera (53K), C Rupp (42K)

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Pitcher Breakdown

• TARGET - RHP Noah Syndergaard (99K), Mets (vs. Braves): The price of a true ace is rarely this low; Syndergaard makes for an excellent high-floor play. Atlanta ranks 24th in the majors in both team wOBA vs. RHPs (.299) and runs per game (3.61). Afraid of 1B Freddie Freeman? Target Cubs lefty Jon Lester (89K) at Pittsburgh instead.

• BARGAIN - RHP Lance McCullers (29K), Astros (at Indians): McCullers owns a 3.38 ERA on the season, but it's his 11.6 K/9 which really makes headlines. The potential for double-digit strikeouts at a hilariously-low salary cements McCuller's bargain appeal. A quality start with eight or more Ks is fantastic value.

• FADE - RHP Tyler Glasnow (85K), Pirates (vs. Cubs): Glasnow is just 4K cheaper than the proven ace he'll have to out-duel for the win. If you're willing to pay top dollar for a pitcher, just take Lester. Glasnow has allowed 10 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings across three starts. It seems far more likely he gets demoted to the minors for more seasoning than he tames a great Cubs lineup.

• CONTRARIAN - LHP Daniel Norris (47K), Tigers (vs. Mariners): Seattle ranks 12th in runs scored per game despite looking lost against LHPs. With a .250 team wOBA vs. lefties, they'll be in tough against Norris, who could use a bit of luck to get his peripherals back on track. Despite a 5.8 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9, Norris still has a 3.71 ERA and 3.21 FIP.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Bargain Plays

• 2B Jonathan Schoop (37K), Orioles (vs. Rays): 3B Manny Machado and 1B Chris Davis garner the spotlight, but Schoop has shown a flair for big plays in his own right. With five homers and three doubles through 18 games, Schoop has legit base-clearing power, especially at cozy Camden Yards. With a .419 wOBA vs. RHPs so far this season, he could easily return value against Alex Cobb.

• OF Shane Peterson (35K), Rays (at Orioles): Peterson has found a role as a lefty bat at the bottom of the Rays' order. To his credit, he has recorded a hit in each of his seven starts this season. With a .390 wOBA vs. RHPs he has an opportunity to steal a hit or two against Dylan Bundy.

• C Christian Vazquez (32K), Red Sox (vs. Yankees): A .579 BABIP is completely unsustainable, but there's no shame in riding the hot hand. Vazquez has hit .478 with four doubles through eight games. With the Green Monster in Fenway's tiny left field, it won't be hard for Vazquez to tally another cheap double.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Top Fades

• 1B Edwin Encarnacion (63K), Indians (vs. Astros): Despite a slow start in which he's hitting just .203, Encarnacion has stayed afloat with a .345 OBP. Walks aren't going to cut it in daily fantasy. Encarnacion is the third-most expensive corner infielder -- ahead of other big ticket sluggers like Eric Thames, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

• 2B Robinson Cano (59K), Mariners (at Tigers): Cano, who bats left, has always been weaker against left-handed pitchers in his career, but age seems to be exacerbating the difference in ability. In 23 plate appearances against LHPs this season, the veteran has three singles, two walks and a strikeout.

• OF Mark Trumbo (48K), Orioles (vs. Rays): If you're looking to compliment an Orioles stack or just looking for great raw power, you can do better than Trumbo right now. With a career-worst hard contact rate of 22.2 percent, Trumbo just isn't swing his bat with the sort of authority which produces impact extra-base hits with regularity. Among Baltimore's regular outfielders, his .229 wOBA vs. RHPs ranks last.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Contrarian Plays

• OF Lorenzo Cain (54K), Royals (at White Sox): Only one Royals batter has had a modicum of success against LHPs this season and it's Cain. The veteran center fielder has better splits against southpaws for his career, and he has continued the trend this season with three hits and seven walks in 21 PAs. Kansas City's lack of base runners this season limits the risk of Cain being walked.

• OF Avisail Garcia (44K), White Sox (vs. Royals): Garcia against RHPs is what Cain is against LHPs: the lone player pulling his weight in a lineup of struggling hitters. Garcia doesn't have Cain's pedigree, but he has an easier matchup against Royals righty Nate Karns. Garcia has a .448 wOBA vs. RHPs in 57 PAs this season.

• 3B David Freese (42K), Pirates (vs. Cubs): Freese is a lefty-killer, with a career slash line of .302/.377/.472 against southpaws. Jon Lester is a tough matchup, but hitting fifth in the order -- immediately after OFs Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco -- provides ample opportunity to drive in runs.

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