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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily MLB fantasy picture for the late-slate beginning at 8:05 p.m. EST, Thursday, April 12:
Hitter Stacks
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants (RHP Matt Cain): Matt Cain looked an awful lot like Matt Cain in his season debut last week, making it just one out into the fifth inning before getting pulled with four earned runs charged to his account. The season is barely a week old but the Diamondbacks rank third in team OPS vs. RHPs with a mark of .870.
3-player stack: OF A.J. Pollock (53K), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (60K), 2B Brandon Drury (41K)
- Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners (RHP Yovani Gallardo): Gallardo allowed three earned runs in five innings of work in his debut with the Mariners -- though it should've been much worse. The veteran allowed eight hits (including a homer) and two walks, pushing his WHIP to an unseemly 2.00. The Astros' bats (save for OF George Springer) have been quiet but have the potential to break out.
3-player stack: OF Springer (60K), 2B Jose Altuve (62K), 1B Marwin Gonzalez (42K)
Pitcher Breakdown
- TARGET - RHP Brandon McCarthy (65K), Dodgers (at Cubs): The Cubs' lineup has gotten off to an unbalanced start. While they're posting a 1.037 OPS against southpaws, their OPS against RHPs is an ugly .610. The Dodgers have scored 5.3 runs per game, so McCarthy should have enough support to notch a win and close to a strikeout per inning. He's your man in 50/50 lineups.
- BARGAIN - RHP Shelby Miller (48K), Diamondbacks (at Giants): Miller has a 3.10 ERA in four career starts at AT&T Park. All he really has to do is out-duel a past-his-prime Matt Cain and get a bit of run support to record a win. The Giants shouldn't frighten him without C Buster Posey.
- FADE - RHP Matt Cain (58K), Giants (vs. Diamondbacks): At least this matchup is at home in pitcher-friendly AT&T Park, but Cain will be in tough against a solid Diamondbacks lineup anchored by the one-two punch of Pollock and Goldschmidt. The last time Cain posted a season ERA below 4.00, Barack Obama was running for re-election. Welp.
- CONTRARIAN - RHP Jesse Chavez (88K), Angels (vs. Rangers): Chavez is the most expensive option on the slate despite being generally uninspiring. He did manage to strikeout six batters in 5 2/3 innings in his season debut and the Rangers have struck out in 24.7 percent of their PAs against RHPs in 2017. Chavez will also be aided by solid home park factors.
Bargain Plays
- 3B Joey Gallo (38K), Rangers (at Angels): Gallo has struck out 10 times in 27 plate appearances so far this season -- a major improvement over the 19 Ks in 30 PAs in 2016. Of his four hits, two have left the yard. Every time the bat leaves Gallo's shoulder, he's either catching nothing but air or relocating the ball very, very far away from home plate.
- 1B Yonder Alonso (41K), Athletics (at Royals): Alonso has posted seasons with high walk rates in the past, so a .440 OBP to start the season isn't shocking, even if it's not sustainable at this exact level. As the second-cheapest corner infield on a small slate, Alonso can offer a fairly safe floor while providing some cap relief.
Top Fades
- OF Nelson Cruz (57K), Mariners (vs. Astros): As always, there are a ton of great options available among the outfielders. It doesn't make much sense to pay big bucks to roster Cruz, who is hitting just .176 with a .462 OPS so far this season. Against a weaker opposing pitcher, there'd be enough of a crack for contrarian upside but against a steady vet in RHP Mike Fiers, look elsewhere.
- SS Marcus Semien (52K), Athletics (at Royals): Semien is hitting .192 to start the year, though he has walked in 18.2 percent of his plate appearances, providing some floor. Even with some power-speed potential, he's more likely to be a bust at this relatively high price
Contrarian Plays
- 3B Kris Bryant (65K), Cubs (vs. Dodgers): Bryant has always been a little weaker against RHPs than LHPs but hitting .174 against righties to start the year is a tad worse than expected. The man posted a .939 OPS and captured NL MVP honors last season, so expect him to turn it around sooner than later.
- OF Jason Heyward (46K), Cubs (vs. Dodgers): Heyward's 2016 campaign was downright disastrous, but unlike his fellow Cubbies, he has managed to get off to a solid start against RHPs. His .845 OPS versus righties is second on the team and he has struck out in only 8.3 percent of his PAs against RHPs to date.
For up-to-the-minute starting lineups, check out Baseball Press.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
