STACKED Part 2
Written By Paul Dika
Stacking is awesome. Stacking Dingers is even better. Not only is it an effective strategy to build supercharged teams, but stacking is also easy enough for a layman like yours truly to understand.
On the heels of my previous article, I’m going back to the draft board and evaluating teams I’m looking to target as Best Ball season starts to wind down. I’ve highlighted some stacks that will cost you draft capital, and some stacks that can be had for a very low price. You’ve got to spend money to make money, but finding value at the end of drafts matters too. Here are the stacks I like at the beginning and end of builds.
Premium Stacks
Athletics
The A’s still project to be a poor team, but don’t let that scare you away from their hitters. They project to be a top-10 team by wRC+ and stand to benefit from another year at Sutter Health Park. Outside of Coors Field, Sacramento proved to be the most hitter-friendly environment in 2025.
Park factors aside, the A’s have a roster full of bats entering their prime years. Nick Kurtz (19.6), Brent Rooker (13.8), and Tyler Soderstrom (38.1) go within the first four rounds, and for good reason. These are bats that can get to big power numbers and provide very valuable spike week scores. Even with the rise in cost from 2025 to 2026, the new prices are justifiable, and you avoid the risk of playing catch-up as OF falls off a cliff.
Atlanta Braves
Atlanta has been snake bitten by injuries the last couple of years, and that’s scaring off some drafters. After down years from Matt Olson (30.7), Austin Riley (53.6), and Michael Harris II (75.4), one of the most tantalizing offences can be had in the formative rounds of the draft.
Even at the top of draft boards, Ronald Acuna (4.1) has 1.01 potential, which he’s flashed early in Spring Training. Many of the names mentioned are still in their mid-late 20’s, and I’m willing to bet the team can still produce at an elite level over 162 games.
Bargain Bin Stacks
St. Louis Cardinals
My favourite picks are the ones that don’t cost you a thing but still present plenty of upside. You don’t even need to think about Cardinals players until round 17, so tacking them on at the end of builds is very easy.
The team as a whole does not project to win many games this year, but even bad teams have productive players. Ivan Herrera (202.3) and Alec Burleson (230.1) project to be well above league-average hitters and figure to play every day. If you’re looking for upside, JJ Wetherholt (231.4), their top prospect, is another infield option with an opportunity to start. Even Jordan Walker (220.6), who is still only 24, can be had for free (*ducks*).
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds sneakily project to be a middle-of-the-pack offence overall, and have some notable names at the beginning and end of drafts. Elly De La Cruz (12.8) and Eugenio Suarez (76.8) can spike with the best of them, and OF TJ Friedl (116.5) is available in the middle of drafts if you’re looking for some volume.
Even if you don’t want to spend up for the Reds, personal favourite Sal Stewart (183.3) is still affordable despite his rise over the last month. Matt McLain (197.7) can provide plenty of volume with moderate power and speed, and Noelvi Marte (232.0), who, despite his poor projections, is still only 24 with room to improve in his first full season with everyday ABs.
Great American Ballpark is right behind Dodger Stadium for the best place to hit home runs, so if some key pieces can take a step, the runs should come in bunches.