Sticks & Stacks

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) stay in the American League, avoiding the low-hanging fruit of the day and looking for action that could pay off big. They start their tour in Toronto, where Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and the slugging Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles… where Jen picks the O’s in the upset! She explains the numbers behind her decision, and why Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins are all set up for success. Moving on to Detroit, the Tigers are swinging and missing with regularity, and Oakland’s James Kaprelian is ready to take advantage. It’s the Tigers, however, that Jen picks, and she assembles a creative parlay to take further advantage of the fade. They wrap up in Kansas City, where the Royals are inexplicably favored against the visiting Cleveland Indians, making this an easy decision despite KC catcher Salvador Perez’s must-play DFS status. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the DFS and baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!

After picking all three of yesterday’s games correctly with big-time DFS hits to boot, hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) keep things rolling into the weekend by starting in Texas, where the Rangers host their in-state rivals, the World Series-contending Houston Astros. With the Rangers’ Glenn Otto making his major-league debut after arriving from the New York Yankees as part of the Joey Gallo trade, the highly touted pitching prospect will have his hands full with a loaded Astros lineup – but Shawn has a fade centered around the rookie. Heading to Chicago next for another heated rivalry between the White Sox and the visiting Cubs, Jen thinks that White Sox pitcher Dallas Keuchel, a notorious pitch-to-contact hurler, might have the strikeout ball going against a depleted Cubs roster that’s been swinging and missing with alarming regularity. They both love red-hot shortstop Tim Anderson to keep his bat warm for DFS purposes. Lastly, the pair look at the loaded Tampa Bay Rays, as Brandon Lowe, Austin Meadows and an underrated lineup take on wobbly Baltimore starter Matt Harvey in hot and muggy Maryland on Friday night. The O’s have won two straight after breaking their lengthy losing streak – but DFS stalwart Cedric Mullins and sleeper third baseman Ryan Mountcastle give the Orioles a puncher’s chance to make it three. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the DFS and baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) start the show on the West Coast with a battle with between postseason contenders as the slugging Yankees visit the A’s. Jen likes all of the Yanks’ power bats (Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo, Anthony Rizzo and Gary Sanchez) to carry the day, while Shawn likes strikeout props for both New York starter Jameson Taillon and Oakland’s James Kaprelian. Up the coast in Seattle, Jen likes a pesky Royals team to surprise Seattle and talented-but-inconsistent starter Yusei Kikuchi. The Royals’ contact rate is high, and Whit Merrifield leads the charge for Kansas City, while both Shawn and Jen deem big-swinging backstop Salvador Perez a must-play against the Mariners. The pair wrap up the show with two big markets moving in different directions, as they like the visiting San Francisco Giants to continue their surprising, sterling season in New York against the fading Mets. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the DFS and baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) start today’s look at baseball betting and DFS opportunities in Cincinnati, where hurler Luis Castillo is set up for a solid outing against the Marlins. Castillo’s tremendous strikeout stuff should play well against one of the league’s worst swing-and-miss offenses, and Jen and Shawn take a moment to admire Joey Votto’s resurgent campaign. Next, the pair venture to the Bronx, where the red-hot Yankees host the underachieving Twins. Though Yankees fans and media have suggested that their 2021 season has somehow been an embarrassment, our hosting duo suggests that nobody feels too sorry for the 69-52 Yankees, who are now only 1.5 games from having the second-best record in the American League. Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo and Gary Sanchez are highly recommended plays this evening, but Shawn reminds listeners not to forget about Jorge Polanco, Minnesota’s do-it-all shortstop. Finally, they end their tour in St. Louis, where the visiting Brewers look to topple the Cardinals and extend their NL Central division lead to double-digits. With Brandon Woodruff on the mound, the "Brew Crew" looks to get it done at Busch Stadium on Thursday. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the DFS and baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) take a look at four games that appear to be mismatches, with overwhelming favorites and obvious underdogs that nevertheless provide sneaky-good betting and DFS opportunities. They start their tour in Washington, where the visiting Blue Jays and their vaunted offense come to town. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Teoscar Hernandez, George Springer and Randal Grichuk look to tee off on wobbly Nationals starter Erick Fedde. In Tampa Bay, Randy Arozarena, Austin Meadows and the Rays expect to dominate the visiting Orioles, but don’t overlook John Means. The O’s no-no-throwing starter has a better matchup than you probably think – but Jen has one DFS player whose history with Means is simply remarkable. The Rangers host the Mariners in Arlington, and while the M’s may not look like world-beaters, they’ll be facing "Johnny Wholestaff" on the mound; a collection of reliever and spot starters cobbled together to get through one game. Seattle’s Kyle Seager and red-hot Ty France should be drooling. Finally, the pair peek into the Cubs-Reds matchup in Cincy, where Jen introduces you to one Vladimir Gutierrez. The Reds’ hurler has a great matchup against what amounts to a Triple-A Chicago lineup – oh, and he has Joey Votto, Nicholas Castellanos and rookie sensation Jonathan India at his back. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the DFS and baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) highlight the "Field of Dreams" game in Dyersville, Iowa, where the Yankees and White Sox will square off in a new stadium built next to the legendary corn-field diamond of movie fame. Chicago’s Lance Lynn should look good in his old-time uniform against a strikeout-prone New York lineup, but the White Sox’s Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson and Andrew Vaughn all look to tee off against Andrew Heaney, who gives up a longball every five innings on average! In Arizona, Yu Darvish has a terrific matchup against the abysmal Diamondbacks; expect strikeouts galore for the Padres hurler, and look at Will Myers for a sneaky DFS play. The road-kill Rockies travel to the Bay Area to face baseball’s best team in the Giants, and while San Francisco is expected to win handily, don’t sleep on an opportunity to fade them with underrated All-Star Colorado pitcher German Marquez. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the DFS and baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) begin today’s tour in "Hotlanta", where the *ahem* red-hot Reds and Braves will be pitted in an evenly matched contest. Jen won’t pick a winner, but she has an idea on the over/under – and Reds like Joey Votto and Nick Castellanos – while Shawn likes Jesse Winker to succeed against Atlanta’s Drew Smyly. Over in Baltimore, temps are expected to be in the mid-90s at first pitch against the Tigers, so the pair expect to see the ball flying out of Camden Yards thanks to winless Orioles pitcher Keegan Akin and his 7.66 ERA. Detroit’s Jonathan Schoop leads the way, but don’t forget about future Hall-of-Famer Miguel Cabrera, and despite the bad matchup for their pitcher, O’s DFS superstar Cedric Mullins is set up for success, and Jen has a sneaky selection for GPP play. The pair finish the program with a look at the Red Sox, who host the Rays in a big-time matchup on a cool August night in Boston. Jen has strikeout props for Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez and Rays hurler Luis Patino, while Shawn likes the visiting Rays outright and pairs it with an over/under to get into plus territory. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) have a trio of home-run friendly matchup for DFS players and wagerers alike! Our intrepid pair read the tea leaves earlier this week, and they go back to the well in Toronto, where Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien and the undervalued Randal Grichuk take aim at rookie Cleveland hurler Triston McKenzie and the 14 long balls he’s given up in only 63.1 innings – an average of one every 4 2/3 innings!  Over in the Bronx, things look good for Aaron Judge and a stacked Yankees lineup against visiting Seattle, and Jen has a stat about newly-acquired Anthony Rizzo that you’ll have to hear to believe. They finish their tour in Houston, where Jen’s Astros take on the Twins and converted rookie reliever Griffin Jax – looks like it’s bombs away for Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Jordan Alvarez and Carlos Correa. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) look at three matchups around baseball that loom as terrific opportunities for some of the major league’s very best talents. Shohei Ohtani takes the hill for the Angels as they visit the reeling Rangers, who dealt slugger Joey Gallo to the Yankees last week. The Angels’ MVP candidate faces a pedestrian lineup the mound, and at the plate, an underwhelming Kolby Allard isn’t likely to deter "Sho-time’s" electric bat. Up in Toronto, another MVP candidate lurks in the person of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose Blue Jays host a Cleveland team that’s playing out the string. Though Jose Ramirez might give Toronto starter Steven Matz fits, it’s Guerrero and teammates Bo Bichette, Teoscar Hernandez and Randal Grichuk that are set up for success against J.C. Mejia and his 7.60 ERA. The pair round things out in St. Louis, where new acquisition J.A. Happ might be in for a rude welcome to the National League. Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies bring big bats, backed up by southpaw pitcher Drew Smyly, who will face one of the National League’s worst left-handed hitting teams. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"

Hosts Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) and Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) swung and missed at the matchup between the visiting Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals earlier this week, but they’re back in the batter’s box and ready to take another cut. Lucas Giolito takes the hill for a potent White Sox offense led by Jose Abreu and Andrew Vaughn – both of whom are primed for big nights. In Pittsburgh, the starting pitcher is "TBD", but that doesn’t change how good things look for the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Jen picks Avisail Garcia to click, while Shawn likes Kolten Wong. In Washington, the Nationals have become trade-deadline sellers, and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies have one of baseball’s best pitchers on the mound in Zach Wheeler. Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and Andrew McCutchen back him up with plenty of power. Take a quick, 15-minute trip around the baseball betting world with "Sticks & Stacks!"