Daily Batter Breakdown: Fri, June 6th

by Jon Schiller (Varncass) Last Updated 2014-06-06 18:46:53

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.

No better time than Friday to get your research done early and your team set and ready for lineups to be out, so we’re getting the articles out early today. This slate definitely intrigues me as there are a few games to target for batters and a few games to just stay away from completely, and it’s always interesting to see the % owned of pitchers in the survivors.

		Derek Norris
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.322	0.974	5.08%	0.421
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.091	0.403	0.00%	0.198
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Chen – LEFT			0.281	0.766	5.75%	0.336
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.057	1.024	$3,000	$6,968	$7,650	$3,400	$57,400	$5,100	$7,600

Derek Norris

I’m guessing Norris will get the start against Chen today as he is a lefty on the mound and the A’s won’t roll out Jaso here. Norris has been struggling and his price has dropped as such but he’s still hitting at a .982 OPS against lefties this season. He’s got a great OBP and makes a fantastic play for a game like FanDuel’s survivor tonight.

		Adrian Gonzalez
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.305	0.978	7.28%	0.413
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.174	0.487	0.00%	0.232
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Butler – RIGHT
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.273	1.042	$3,200	$7,636	$9,900	$4,800	$69,100	$7,600	$11,200

Adrian Gonzalez

Gonzalez has been terrible lately, but Coors Field might be just what he needs to get it together. He’s been putrid against lefties but has actually managed a .954 OPS against right handers this year and faces prospect Eddie Butler who has never pitched a game above double-A. Butler doesn’t have electric stuff and he’s pitching in Coors in a game with an over/under of 10 so this isn’t the greatest time for the Rookie to get his feet wet, so I think Gonzalez dongs tonight.

		Matt Carpenter
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.294	0.763	0.63%	0.344
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.560	1.341	0.00%	0.579
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Stroman – RIGHT			0.379	1.008	3.23%	0.448
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.118	1.045	$3,600	$6,438	$10,850	$4,200	$89,200	$7,500	$9,600

Matt Carpenter

I really like Carpenter today against Stroman in Rogers Centre. Carpenter is a low risk play who will be hitting at the top of the Cardinals lineup and really likes to double and score runs. He should play well in the survivor tonight and also has a huge bonus hitting in one of the most homer-friendly parks in the league. He doesn’t have a lot of power but it doesn’t take a lot to hit it out in this park and I like his chances to do well today especially against an inexperienced pitcher.

		Josh Donaldson
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.296	1.110	11.11%	0.464
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.346	1.145	11.54%	0.488
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Chen – LEFT			0.281	0.766	5.75%	0.336
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.057	1.024	$4,800	$10,259	$11,700	$5,500	$118,800	$9,300	$14,000

Josh Donaldson

Just like the game 2 days ago, you have to like Donaldson against a lefty in a nice park. This time it’s Chen who was good last time out but before that had a pair of 3 ER games one with 3 HRs given up. Donaldson seems like a no-brainer today if you can afford him with a couple of decent value pitchers as he’s in a hitters park in a primo situation.

		Erick Aybar
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.292	0.795	2.78%	0.343
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.360	1.01	4.00%	0.426
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Rienzo – RIGHT			0.243	0.753	10.83%	0.337
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.968	0.987	$3,300	$5,768	$8,750	$4,200	$78,400	$6,400	$8,700

Erick Aybar

This is my off the wall pick today as most people I feel are going to be on Tulowitzki facing Ryu. Ryu has the ability to shut down any team he faces, so if you are playing multiple lineups it could be good to pivot off Tulo in a couple especially because of his high price. Aybar himself has a nice matchup with Rienzo who isn’t a dominant pitcher, is a heavy dog and Aybar is solid against righties hitting at a .797 OPS and all 4 of his homers coming off of them. He’s much cheaper than Tulo and although he doesn’t have the upside, he could save you money for a stud pitcher.

		Nelson Cruz
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.405	1.395	10.81%	0.560
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.450	1.3	10.00%	0.54
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Milone – LEFT			0.242	0.702	5.91%	0.312
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.057	1.024	$5,300	$10,621	$12,450	$5,500	$121,300	$10,400	$14,000

Nelson Cruz

Cruz is absurd right now and his numbers are off the charts. His 1.353 OPS against left handers is ridiulous and he faces Tommy Milone who is pitching a bit above his ability right now. Milone’s WHIP isn’t that great and Cruz absolutely destroys lefties and is hitting a homer almost once every 10 at bats at home.

		Jacoby Ellsbury
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.244	0.636	0.76%	0.285
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.375	0.965	4.17%	0.424
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Guthrie – RIGHT			0.313	0.873	6.19%	0.383
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.082	1.014	$4,100	$6,299	$11,800	$4,700	$88,400	$8,400	$9,700

Jacoby Ellsbury

Is Ellsbury finally getting this all together? He’s got a massive hit streak going, he’s been walking and stealing bases and showing some power. His price is going up right now and there is a little bit of time still to grab him before he’s one of the top priced outfielders. I love his matchup tonight against Guthrie who is notoriously terrible against left handed hitters. Guthrie is also going to be easier to steal on as a right hander and Ellsbury’s upside is huge tonight hitting 3rd in the Yankees lineup. He is definitely one of my favorite plays of the night.

		Jason Heyward
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.270	0.744	1.89%	0.337
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.370	1.006	3.70%	0.427
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		McCarthy – RIGHT			0.294	0.751	4.19%	0.331
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.974	0.970	$3,000	$7,066	$10,700	$4,100	$77,200	$7,300	$6,500

Jason Heyward

Another guy whose price was at the bottom of the barrel and is playing really well right now is Heyward. He has a 9 game hitting streak going with a 1.007 OPS in that time and is making solid contact. He’s a lot better against right handers, and hitting in Chase Field is definitely going to help him. McCarthy has allowed an .824 OPS this year to lefties with a 5.34 ERA at home. His WHIP isn’t good and Heyward will be leading off today. All signs point to a nice game for Heyward.

		Ben Zobrist
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.242	0.644	0.78%	0.291
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.200	0.56	4.00%	0.243
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Young – RIGHT			0.202	0.637	9.70%	0.287
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.931	0.976	$3,100	$5,222	$8,450	$3,500	$57,400	$6,500	$8,000

Ben Zobrist

Zobrist is still cheap even after smashing homers in both of the last 2 games. I really like his chances to make it 3 tonight at home against Chris Young who doesn’t strike anyone out and pitches to contact making Zobrist a solid play on sites like Draftstreet where he is really cheap and shouldn’t get negative points for strikeouts. The Rays offense might be turning the corner and the underpriced Zobrist should make a solid play tonight.

		Brett Lawrie
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.246	0.705	4.23%	0.311
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.261	0.699	4.35%	0.307
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Lynn – RIGHT			0.247	0.630	5.99%	0.289
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.118	1.060	$3,100	$5,747	$8,400	$3,500	$68,400	$6,400	$9,700

Brett Lawrie

Lawrie has actually been hot lately with 2 homers in the last 3 games. He’s got 10 this season and is definitely a risk/reward play. I don’t mind his matchup against the right handed Lynn as Lynn’s WHIP has been pretty poor this year and he’s given up all of his homers away from home. Lawrie has reverse splits in his career hitting right handers better than lefties making him a really nice what should be low owned play tonight.