Daily Batter Breakdown: Tue, August 19th

by Jon Schiller (Varncass) Last Updated 2014-08-19 15:40:36

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.

Tonight the Royals get to go into Coors with one of the hottest lineups in the game and there should be a plethora of popular plays from that game. I like them too because they are cheap and you’re able to fill with a couple of solid pitchers if using a bunch of Royals righties. There are a couple of other attractive games as well, so lets get to it.

		Buster Posey
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.320	0.876	3.88%	0.383
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.261	0.609	0.00%	0.265
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Wada – LEFT		0.295	0.877	3.07%	0.376
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.968	0.000	$3,300	$9,500	$4,000			$9,500

Buster Posey

Posey was used to being the #1 catcher for all of last year just because of how well he was hitting, especially against left handers. It has kind of tamed this year and he’s no longer that sure-fire #1 catcher bat, but the talent and the potential is still there. He’s had a sub-par season against lefties but I really like him against Wada tonight. Weather is a real concern in this game but it’s also going to effect the scoring as well as right now the winds are going out to right at 10 mph which would help Posey out a lot. Wada has been horrible against righties with a .797 OPS and he’s given up 4 HR in the last 3 games. Posey has a great track record of crushing lefties, so get him in the lineup at this cheap price.

		Billy Butler
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.310	0.812	3.00%	0.349
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.310	0.644	0.00%	0.291
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Matzek – LEFT		0.303	0.859	0.83%	0.375
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.394	0.000	$2,700	$8,450	$3,900			$8,500

Billy Butler

I’ve been riding the Billy Butler train for a while and I really hope that they find a way to keep him in the lineup against Matzek. He’s always crushed left handers and is doing it again this year with a .859 OPS and most of his power. Matzek has given up 7 HR and a .871 OPS to right handers and with this game in Coors, Butler should be able to get one over the wall. The only question is if he’s able to play first in the absence of the DH.

		Omar Infante
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.219	0.567	1.04%	0.255
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.167	0.492	4.17%	0.22
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Matzek – LEFT		0.303	0.859	0.83%	0.375
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.394	0.000	$2,400	$7,300	$3,400			$7,250

Omar Infante

There isn’t an issue with Infante playing because he will most likely be slotted in at 2nd base as usual. He’s extremely cheap for a Coors Field hitter and while he’s been poor this year, he’s got a nice track record against lefties with most of his power numbers coming off of them. Coors Field really helps the HR totals and with the poor pitchers the Rockies throw out there it helps it as well. I’ve noted above how bad Matzek has been against righties and I love the Royals again tonight.

		Matt Carpenter
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.281	0.772	1.67%	0.347
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.286	0.839	3.57%	0.372
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Simon – RIGHT		0.245	0.723	4.02%	0.317
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.116	0.000	$3,400	$9,150	$4,200			$9,550

Matt Carpenter

I think Carpenter will go very low owned tonight but makes a really nice leadoff play at 3b against Simon. Carpenter generally doesn’t hit the two sides differently except for his HR numbers, so this one is about the pitcher. Simon’s given up more HR and a worse OPS and wOBA to lefties but it doesn’t look terrible because his early season numbers were sparkling. Those have gone out the window and he’s been horrible lately with location and control. I really like the Cardinals in this game as I can’t see Simon lasting past 5.

		Alcides Escobar
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.303	0.777	1.01%	0.340
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.318	0.769	0.00%	0.336
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Matzek – LEFT		0.303	0.859	0.83%	0.375
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.394	0.000	$2,400	$7,400	$3,500			$7,100

Alcides Escobar

Another Royals bat which should be extremely cheap. Escobar hits at the bottom of the lineup which is a minus, but being in Coors Field with the added bonus of hitting against a poor lefty with how cheap he is in almost too good to pass up. Escobar doesn’t have the power but he does have the ability to hit lefties really well and hits them with a .313 average and .770 OPS. He will likely be lower owned than the other Royals guys but I like him at a weak SS position.

		Hunter Pence
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.312	0.824	2.40%	0.362
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.182	0.626	4.55%	0.271
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Wada – LEFT		0.295	0.877	3.07%	0.376
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.968	0.000	$3,600	$9,750	$4,500			$9,750

Hunter Pence

I mentioned above how Wada has struggled against righties and how the wind is blowing out to right and might help the righties if the go opposite field. I like Pence in this one as well as he’s cheap and has a history of really hitting lefties with power. He’s got some reverse splits this year but I’m going to trust his career numbers and he should be hitting at the top of the lineup.

		Mike Trout
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.305	0.961	5.47%	0.411
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.053	0.189	0.00%	0.103
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Webster – RIGHT
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.006	0.000	$4,800	$13,850	$5,400			$13,850

Mike Trout

There is lots of value out there today, enough for you to grab Trout against Allen Webster. We all know of the tools that Trout brings to the table and the upside, so even if he hasn’t been the greatest hitter lately he is still one of the top options on the board every single day he gets in a good matchup. The Angels have one of the highest non-Coors over/unders of the day and Vegas is expecting Webster to get some damage done.

		Corey Dickerson
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.330	0.987	5.05%	0.421
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.393	1.257	10.71%	0.526
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Shields – RIGHT		0.272	0.755	2.47%	0.333
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.394	0.000	$3,900	$9,600	$4,000			$9,050

Corey Dickerson

Dickerson is probably the Rockies best hitter right now and still isn’t priced at the top of the top in salaries. Dickerson has hit righties to almost a 1.000 OPS on the season and it really hasn’t mattered who it is, he’s crushed them all of the same. The problem with Dickerson is that he’s against Shields who has been solid lately and with the Royals cruising should have all the motivation he needs to shut down a Rockies lineup. That being said, this is one of the top wOBA matchups of the day and I really can’t trust any pitcher in Coors against a solid hitter.

		Aramis Ramirez
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.338	1.042	8.82%	0.444
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.318	0.784	0.00%	0.335
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Happ – LEFT		0.282	0.779	2.00%	0.344
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.932	0.000	$3,300	$8,900	$4,300			$9,350

Aramis Ramirez

Who is this guy that we’ve seen from Happ in the past few games? He did come back down to earth like the old Happ in the last one allowing 4 runs and 2 HR but before that was spectacular. I have it in my bones to never believe in Happ so I really like Ramirez at 3rd if you aren’t going for Carpenter. Ramirez has been extremely solid this year and is one of the top wOBA matchups on the night. He’s hit lefties to a 1.018 OPS on the year and has a solid history of crushing left handed pitching and is very affordable.

		Giancarlo Stanton
		Daily Breakdown		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits		0.270	0.877	5.93%	0.374
		Last 7 Days Splits		0.391	1.316	13.04%	0.548
		Opp SP vs. LR		Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Mikolas – RIGHT		0.339	0.818	1.01%	0.364
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.028	0.000	$5,200	$12,600	$5,300			$12,050

Giancarlo Stanton

The Rangers have no one better in the minors than Mikolas that they can throw out there? That seems crazy to me, but becuase of it the Marlins are huge favorites tonight and Stanton has to be thought of as the top play on the board. Mikolas has allowed a .888 OPS to righties with 4 HR in 80 at bats and is just off of giving up 10 ER to Tampa. Stanton is a beast and there’s really not much to say but he’s hitting both sides about a 1 OPS, has a ridiculous wOBA and has hit 26 HR off of righties this year. He absolutely mashes at home and is my top play for the day.