Daily Batter Breakdown: Thu, July 10th

by Jon Schiller (Varncass) Last Updated 2014-07-10 17:48:25

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.

Today should be interesting as we only have one game over 8 over/under today in the Angels/Rangers and the Rangers have been awful lately. The other thing we have to consider is that we have potentially the most unbalanced pitcher/team matchup today in the Kershaw/Padres matchup today and even though his price is out of control, he will still be highly owned and worth it.

		Chris Gimenez
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.313	0.853	0.00%	0.371
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.235	0.706	0.00%	0.301
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Santiago – LEFT			0.242	0.721	10.39%	0.331
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.985	1.016	$2,300	$4,760	$5,500	$3,200	$46,600	$3,800	$5,550

Chris Gimenez

The Rangers have been completely awful for almost two weeks now so it makes me a little bit wary to recommend them, but I think Gimenez could make a solid punt play today in a game with a 10 over under which is the highest of the night. Gimenez doesn’t have many at bats against lefties this year but in previous years, he’s hit them really well with a .347 average and .864 OPS. Santiago is either solid or awful and he could be in for a long night tonight.

		Billy Butler
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.282	0.682	0.00%	0.299
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.115	0.294	0.00%	0.125
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Smyly – LEFT			0.289	0.828	8.24%	0.363
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.082	0.971	$2,500	$4,033	$6,550	$3,700	$49,300	$4,900	$6,750

Billy Butler

There’s something about the Tigers that brings out the best in Butler. He’s still cheap and is facing Smyly who has allowed right handers to do damage off of him this year. Butler is hitting lefties at a little below average this year but his career mark is .919 OPS which will get the job done. He’s still cheap and he has a proven track record of being a solid hitter, the only concern here is the lack of power this year.

		Jason Kipnis
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.270	0.736	1.26%	0.329
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.250	0.572	0.00%	0.257
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Phelps – RIGHT			0.235	0.702	9.27%	0.320
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.933	0.992	$3,200	$5,369	$8,450	$4,400	$60,700	$7,600	$8,200

Jason Kipnis

Kipnis is enjoying the new leadoff role with a couple of steals 2 days ago and while he’s been struggling a lot this year there is no doubt that he hits right handers better than left. Phelps has been a mixed bag, but you have to think that his penchant to give up the fly ball is going to hurt him in times. I think Kipnis breaks out of his slump today and goes yard in Progressive and I think that he’s one of the top 2nd basemen to play especially on an Indians team who rocks right handed pitching.

		Matt Carpenter
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.281	0.778	1.70%	0.350
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.435	1.109	0.00%	0.482
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Volquez – RIGHT			0.279	0.804	10.14%	0.357
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.892	1.018	$3,200	$6,097	$9,400	$4,200	$72,800	$7,200	$9,550

Matt Carpenter

Carpenter has been great in the last couple of weeks at being one of the best cash game options out there. He’s gained multiple points in almost every game in the last 2 weeks and batting at the top of the order means he is going to get an extra try a lot of times. Volquez has been great recently but anyone who is an avid DFS player knows his implosion is just around the corner as his .747 OPS allowed to lefties is under his career average allowed. Carpenter rakes against right handed pitching and is very safe today.

		Elvis Andrus
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.353	0.858	0.00%	0.380
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.310	0.713	0.00%	0.316
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Santiago – LEFT			0.242	0.721	10.39%	0.331
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.985	1.016	$2,900	$5,215	$7,900	$4,200	$59,100	$5,700	$7,950

Elvis Andrus

I’m still concerned about using Rangers today even against Santiago today who has given up 6 of his 7 homers to righties this year. Andrus has really done good things against lefties this year with a .353 average and .858 OPS which should translate really well in this game against Santiago. I’m not huge on the Rangers but I do believe they have some nice cash game value in the high over/under match today.

		Mike Trout
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.307	0.965	5.33%	0.409
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.259	0.931	7.41%	0.404
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Lewis – RIGHT			0.284	0.769	6.15%	0.344
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.985	1.016	$5,200	$9,193	$13,050	$5,900	$99,400	$10,400	$12,650

Mike Trout

Trout is only one of a bunch of Angels who I like today, but if you’re going to use an Angel, it might as well be the best hitter on the team right now. Lewis loves homers, and especially loves giving them up in Texas where they will be playing. This game has the highest over/under of the night, and even though the reverse splits aren’t there it’s hard to argue against Trout against anyone. If you can find some bargain pitchers, I would definitely say grab him as his upside is huge.

		Nelson Cruz
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.363	1.089	6.25%	0.458
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.296	0.98	7.41%	0.405
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Gonzalez – LEFT			0.232	0.674	10.40%	0.304
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.057	1.024	$4,600	$7,924	$11,950	$5,200	$96,500	$10,000	$11,950

Nelson Cruz

Cruz is just nuts right now with a 1.308 OPS in the last 7 days and a 1.089 OPS against left handers this year. He’s just destroying southpaws along with everyone else and gets to face a lefty today in Gonzalez who has been immaculate in the last few games. A lot of people will be off Cruz because of that but it’s not scaring me off of Cruz. Gonzalez’s 2 shutout starts prior were against the Cubs and this is against the Orioles in Camden which is a little different of a story.

		Josh Hamilton
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.245	0.721	1.96%	0.320
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.280	0.979	8.00%	0.41
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Lewis – RIGHT			0.378	0.975	7.58%	0.428
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.985	1.002	$3,100	$6,325	$9,400	$4,100	$72,200	$7,800	$9,750

Josh Hamilton

Hamilton has been really sluggish this year and has really struggled, but I like today to get him out of the slump. He’s against homer-prone Lewis in Globe Life Park today which seems like a great time for Hamilton to get back on the homer train. The game has the highest over/under, Lewis isn’t good against lefties and Hamilton has been great against righties in his career.

		Manny Machado
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.209	0.586	2.99%	0.253
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.333	1.111	11.11%	0.477
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Gonzalez – LEFT			0.232	0.674	10.40%	0.304
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.057	1.024	$3,300	$6,065	$9,100	$4,400	$72,800	$6,200	$9,100

Manny Machado

Machado is not slowing down at all right now and still sits at a manageable price point across the industry. His career profile against handedness is not really anything so it’s just the fact that he’s absolutely scorching hot that makes me want to use him. He hits really well at Camden and we could be seeing a semi-early chase of Gonzalez today if the Orioles hit the way they can.

		Wilson Ramos
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.375	0.801	0.00%	0.350
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.313	0.728	0.00%	0.326
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Chen – LEFT			0.279	0.779	5.76%	0.342
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.057	1.024	$3,000	$5,450	$6,500	$3,900	$70,700	$5,500	$6,500

Wilson Ramos

Chen has been just like Lewis and given up a TON of home runs in his last 10 starts. He’s probably the guy on the mound tonight that I really want to stack against the most just because of the Camden Yards factor and because he could allow 3 homers so the Nationals can continue their solo shot barrage. Ramos has been really solid with the stick lately and is hitting over a .800 OPS on the season against lefties, but is still seeking his first homer of the year against them.

Daily Batter Breakdown: Thu, July 10th

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