Daily Batter Breakdown: Wed, April 23rd

Welcome to the Daily Batter Breakdown. Each day, with at least 8 games on the night slate, I’ll breakdown some of the best top tier hitters to target based on matchup. The biggest split taken into account will be left/right, but each player card will also show park factors, player salaries and then a description of why I’ll be targeting him. Be sure to check out the FAQ for more information on specific stats.

The Coors Field game gets going in the early set of games today making a Coors stack a bit less likely for those of us playing the night games only or those looking for a reason to displace their Haranger at their early lineups. There are some bad pitchers going and some matchups to exploit that should make for a very solid and entertaining night.

Article Image Brian McCann
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.200 0.570 5.00% 0.251
Last 7 Days Splits 0.294 0.765 5.88% 0.335
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Lackey – RIGHT 0.238 0.666 5.81% 0.295
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
0.960 1.043 $3,400 $7,464 $10,150 $4,800 $70,900 $5,900 $8,500

Brian McCann

McCann has been really hitting the ball well recently after struggling for the better part of the beginning of the season. He’s brought his average up to a reasonable number and is starting to hit with power as well. The Over/under is one of the highest of the night in this game although I am probably only going to be targeting Yankees. Lackey has been absolutely terrible in the past 3 starts and McCann has always high right handers well. On a night with no slam dunk catcher option, McCann should be at the top of your list; the only problem is he will be at the top of the salary list as well.


Article Image Chris Davis
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.243 0.767 2.70% 0.341
Last 7 Days Splits 0.143 0.597 0.00% 0.319
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
McGowan – RIGHT 0.235 0.686 10.31% 0.318
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
1.118 1.045 $3,900 $7,741 $11,900 $4,600 $93,200 $7,700 $11,400

Chris Davis

This is one of my favorite games to target on both sides tonight as the Orioles get to head to the Rogers Centre to hit some homers. Chris Davis hasn’t been the Chris Davis of last year yet although he is still being a productive hitter right now. McGowan got the best of the Orioles last time but he also struggled against the Twins and against the Yankees and only lasted 2.2 innings the last time he pitched in the Rogers Centre. I am certain he will not shut out the Orioles tonight and is one of the most likely pitchers in this slate to give up some homers early. I really like the Orioles lefties as in limited innings in the past 3 years McGowan has allowed a .820 OPS.


Article Image Ben Zobrist
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.302 0.830 2.33% 0.376
Last 7 Days Splits 0.333 0.798 0.00% 0.363
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Pelfrey – RIGHT 0.265 0.751 9.20% 0.335
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
0.931 0.976 $3,400 $8,158 $11,050 $4,200 $86,900 $6,600 $9,600

Ben Zobrist

Mike Pelfrey has been awful this year allowing 5 HR in 3 games and should be in for another doozie tonight against Tampa. I would like to see Zobrist hit from the right side today but either way Ben is really hitting well recently and the Rays are the 2nd most favorite team of the night. Any Rays right hander that hits right handers well is in play as Pelfrey has allowed a 1.571 OPS this year to right handers and is usually worse against them as well.


Article Image Evan Longoria
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.333 0.891 4.44% 0.389
Last 7 Days Splits 0.368 0.988 5.26% 0.422
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Pelfrey – RIGHT 0.342 0.849 7.90% 0.378
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
0.931 0.967 $4,100 $6,936 $10,950 $4,900 $80,500 $7,500 $10,200

Evan Longoria

As noted above, Pelfrey is terrible against hitters from the right side and that’s just what Longoria is. Although Longoria hits better against lefties, he can still rake against righties and his low price on Draftstreet is extremely enticing. He’s been hot except for one game in the last week and I am going to look for him to keep it going in this one. I am going to make sure I have a few Rays in my lineups tonight as Pelfrey and his north of 7 ERA are not going to shut down this hot offense.


Article Image Alexei Ramirez
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.278 0.611 0.00% 0.270
Last 7 Days Splits 0.241 0.646 3.45% 0.285
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Smyly – LEFT 0.254 0.736 7.11% 0.327
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
1.139 1.090 $4,100 $7,300 $8,350 $5,100 $85,700 $5,400 $9,900

Alexei Ramirez

Alexei is going to me one of the most expensive shortstops on the board today, and for good reason as the guy is the hottest hitting shortstop in this slate tonight. Ramirez has done a lot of damage against righties this year but he is usually better against left handers with a few points of OPS higher against them. Ramirez will face Smyly today who got lit up by the Angels last week. I like Smyly and think he’s in for a better outing today but Ramirez is just locked in right now and makes for an extremely safe play at shortstop.


Article Image Adam Jones
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.244 0.589 2.22% 0.258
Last 7 Days Splits 0.476 1.071 0.00% 0.473
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
McGowan – RIGHT 0.250 0.678 9.76% 0.322
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
1.118 1.060 $3,200 $7,581 $10,650 $4,600 $83,600 $8,000 $9,900

Adam Jones

With Chris Davis most likely hitting ahead of Jones in the lineup I’m going to again use Jones tonight in the hopes that he will come through for me. Jones has a history of hitting right handers better than left handers with over 100 points of OPS higher against right handers. McGowan doesn’t scare me with Jones at the dish as there should be plenty of RBI opportunities with Markakis and Davis up at the top with Cruz as well. This is just a simple mini stack here against a pitcher I don’t believe in and a team with a high over/under.


Article Image Alex Gordon
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.326 0.873 2.33% 0.378
Last 7 Days Splits 0.321 0.773 0.00% 0.341
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Masterson – RIGHT 0.254 0.690 10.57% 0.319
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
0.933 0.992 $2,800 $5,584 $8,750 $3,600 $64,700 $6,500 $8,600

Alex Gordon

Alex Gordon price continues to be extremely low even though he’s been hitting really well in the last 2 weeks. Gordon has a .845 OPS against right handers and has always hit them well with a .831 mark in the last 3 years. A lot seemed to be made about Masterson improving against left handers who he has been awful against in his career, but he’s still struggling allowing lefties to hit .304 and a .782. I don’t think he will ever be great against left handers and Gordon really has a solid matchup in this one.


Article Image Allen Craig
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.200 0.454 0.00% 0.192
Last 7 Days Splits 0.308 0.918 3.85% 0.401
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Niese – LEFT 0.294 0.759 7.77% 0.341
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
0.867 0.961 $2,500 $5,225 $9,850 $3,700 $70,900 $6,100 $7,300

Allen Craig

I used Craig last night to no avail, but I’m not ready to back out on him just yet. He faces a lefty tonight which he hit at a .917 OPS in the last 3 years, and even though his average looks poor he’s been turning it on lately. I’m not the type that is going to give up on a cheap proven power hitter in their prime very easy, and I think Craig can be a steal at the price that he’s at tonight all across the industry. Niese has been fairly solid but if you take away the left handed batters against him his peripherals become very meager.


Article Image Alex Avila
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.179 0.553 0.00% 0.264
Last 7 Days Splits 0.235 0.728 0.00% 0.322
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Rienzo – RIGHT 0.248 0.770 9.70% 0.342
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
1.139 1.044 $2,600 $3,823 $6,750 $3,000 $37,400 $4,500 $7,300

Alex Avila

Ah yes, Alex Avila, everyone’s least favorite every day catcher at the plate for this year. Are we seeing some life from the one time all-star? It’s possible as he’s got doubles in 4 of the last 6 games with a really nice game against the lefty in Leesman. If he’s able to hit lefties well, he should be locked in as he has never been able to do much against left handed pitching. I like a ton of the Tigers today but I’m focused in on Avila and Martinez being the lefties against Rienzo. Avila’s price can’t be beat as he is almost minimum salary on every single site.


Article Image Brandon Phillips
Daily Breakdown Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Left/Right Splits 0.283 0.682 2.17% 0.304
Last 7 Days Splits 0.231 0.5 0.00% 0.221
Opp SP vs. LR Avg OPS HR% wOBA
Morton – RIGHT 0.233 0.588 4.62% 0.274
PARK-1 PARK-LR FD DS DD DK FF SS FTD
0.907 0.947 $2,900 $5,598 $7,800 $3,500 $59,900 $6,200 $8,100

Brandon Phillips

Brandon Phillips is another guy whose price is not indicative of his ability, but more of a struggle to start the season. I’m not a huge fan of him but it’s hard to ignore the extremely cheap price on almost every site for a guy who has hit right handers at almost a .780 OPS for his career facing a pitcher who has allowed an .870 OPS to right handers this year and has also really struggled in his last 3 games. Morton pitches better at PNC but I’m not sold on him right now until he can post some 0 and 1 ER games.


About the Author

Varncass
Jon Schiller (Varncass)

Jon Schiller (aka Varncass) has been providing college sports content for the fantasy industry since 2012 and the sports betting industry since 2022. He’s an analytics junkie who uses any and all predictive stats and game theory to discover edges for the RotoGrinders and ScoresAndOdds community. Follow Jon on Twitter – @Bronzesword