Daily Batter Breakdown: Tuesday, May 5th
Welcome to the Daily Batter Breakdown. Whenever there are at least eight games on the night slate, I’ll break down 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.
Disclaimer – The Rockies and D-Backs are in Coors tonight and this game is a bit better of a chance to get played than last night’s game, but there is still a risk. If the game goes off, all hitters from that game obviously make great plays.
 | Brian McCann | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.209 | 0.633 | 4.19% | 0.282 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.286 | 0.919 | 4.76% | 0.398 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Estrada – RIGHT | 0.222 | 0.719 | 5.18% | 0.316 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.042 | 0.000 | $3,200 | $9,650 | $4,100 | $70,500 | ||
Brian McCann
The pitchers yesterday in Toronto really held the batters in check, making most of the plays in that game awful plays. I think today’s pitchers are going to prove to be a different story, as I love the Yankees lefties, including the catcher McCann. Estrada has decent stuff but as a fly ball pitcher in the Rogers Centre I cannot see how this goes well. He has allowed a 1.42 career HR/9 and had a 1.73 HR/9 in 2014. McCann rakes against righties and his .204 career ISO is one of the highest despite continually having a poor batting average. Homers are king and this is a prime spot for one.
 | Stephen Vogt | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.291 | 0.770 | 3.48% | 0.337 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.400 | 1.35 | 13.33% | 0.561 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| May – RIGHT | 0.298 | 0.892 | 3.58% | 0.393 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.116 | 0.000 | $3,500 | $9,450 | $3,900 | $76,000 | ||
Stephen Vogt
Vogt is absolutely raking! He is STILL cheap on DraftKings despite hitting in the middle of the lineup and giving you one of the best chances for a homer of the night, plus he has that dual-position eligibility. Vogt has a ridiculous 1.196 OPS, .348 ISO and .498 wOBA this year against right-handed pitching, so look for him to continue his hot streak tonight against May.
 | Freddie Freeman | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.300 | 0.885 | 3.05% | 0.388 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.407 | 1.004 | 0.00% | 0.438 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Billingsley – RIGHT | |||||||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 0.940 | 0.000 | $3,500 | $10,550 | $4,600 | $72,400 | ||
Freddie Freeman
Chad Billingsley was once the dual ace with Kershaw, but has resurfaced after injury issues with the Phillies. I am definitely not expecting him to come back and be lights out, especially against Freeman, who has a career .379 wOBA, .197 ISO and a 143 wRC+ against right-handed pitching. A lot of times against returning aces from injury I take a wait and see approach, but I believe Freeman is in a great spot here at home to not worry about it.
 | Jose Altuve | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.414 | 1.013 | 2.63% | 0.440 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.467 | 1.233 | 3.33% | 0.508 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Rodriguez – LEFT | 0.313 | 1.087 | 1.97% | 0.463 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.012 | 0.000 | $4,800 | $11,800 | $5,300 | $111,200 | ||
Jose Altuve
The Astros were super popular last night, and I expect they will be again tonight and for a lot of the coming games. They have an extremely volatile style where their K% is incredible, but also their power potential and their ability to destroy a pitcher should be noted. They are great stacks because of this, but will also at times put up duds, like against Detwiler last night. Rodriguez is better than Detwiler (or at least has been this year), but Altuve is one of the best hitters in the game, especially against left-handers. Altuve does not get it done with massive power, but he has a .137 career ISO along with a .357 average and .892 OPS against left-handed pitching. He also steals bases and is always one of the greatest cash game plays on the board.
 | Pedro Alvarez | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.245 | 0.770 | 5.03% | 0.336 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.188 | 0.935 | 6.25% | 0.386 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Lorenzen – Right | |||||||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 0.977 | 0.000 | $3,000 | $9,350 | $3,700 | $61,400 | ||
Pedro Alvarez
I am considering fading this game entirely, but I do think Alvarez brings GPP upside in all GPP formats. He appears to be heating up at the plate and showing better discipline (7 walks in the last two games), and he gets to hit against an inexperienced Lorenzen today. One swing of the bat for Alvarez can make his value at his low price, and he brings dual HR upside. I am not exactly considering him for cash but I love him for GPPs tonight.
 | Danny Santana | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.326 | 0.841 | 1.77% | 0.369 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.393 | 0.893 | 0.00% | 0.39 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Chavez – RIGHT | 0.245 | 0.663 | 2.51% | 0.299 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.116 | 0.000 | $8,050 | $4,200 | $60,000 | |||
Danny Santana
Last year’s darling SP Chavez gets a start here against the Twins, who are somehow swinging some hot bats lately. Santana has moved down in the order to ninth, but it has definitely helped his approach at the plate, as he has hit in three straight and been more productive in that time. I would not be risking him in cash games, but I love him as a GPP upside play since he brings some power and speed. Chavez has allowed a 4.63 xFIP this year to lefties, and while Santana has struggled mightily, his numbers from last year against righties were very impressive with a .369 wOBA and a .156 ISO.
 | Joc Pederson | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.174 | 0.561 | 0.00% | 0.293 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.263 | 1.311 | 21.05% | 0.534 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Garza – RIGHT | |||||||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.002 | 0.000 | $3,700 | $10,000 | $4,300 | $66,000 | ||
Joc Pederson
I am guessing Pederson will be leading off again after he cracked another leadoff homer last night against the Brewers. We have Matt Garza on the mound, and he has been a favorite to pick on this year and has been poor against lefties. All this Joc does is hit home runs, and with Garza having a 2.03 HR/9 and a 4.82 xFIP this year, I expect another homer today in a very favorable park for hitters.
 | George Springer | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.194 | 0.774 | 5.56% | 0.342 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.250 | 1.003 | 8.33% | 0.431 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Rodriguez – LEFT | 0.313 | 1.087 | 1.97% | 0.463 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.012 | 0.000 | $3,900 | $11,950 | $5,100 | $87,700 | ||
George Springer
Along with the Altuve pick, I will roll again with Springer tonight. Astros stacks do well when not a lot of people use them and I feel like a lot of people will be off of them tonight after a very disappointing performance against Detwiler. While Springer has not exactly mashed left-handed pitching in his time in the majors so far, he does have a respectable career .208 ISO and 121 wRC+. He strikes out a ton but luckily neither of the big sites we have to worry about that. Astros should be another popular stack, albeit not as popular as last night.
 | Bryce Harper | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.276 | 0.769 | 3.89% | 0.338 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.240 | 0.806 | 0.00% | 0.366 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Latos – RIGHT | 0.233 | 0.609 | 1.59% | 0.271 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.068 | 0.000 | $4,200 | $11,500 | $4,300 | $78,100 | ||
Bryce Harper
I am expecting Latos to bounce back at some point this year and put together some solid starts, but none of his outings so far have indicated that this is coming soon. Now we have a hamstring issue to look at as well, and despite a low over/under in this game, I like the Nationals lefties here. Latos has a 5.69 xFIP and a horrible WHIP as well. Harper has a .215 ISO against right-handed pitching and has been struggling, so he makes for a great GPP gamble play as his ownership will be down.
 | Jacoby Ellsbury | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.258 | 0.711 | 2.78% | 0.312 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.538 | 1.138 | 0.00% | 0.509 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Estrada – RIGHT | 0.222 | 0.719 | 5.18% | 0.316 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.042 | 0.000 | $4,400 | $10,950 | $5,400 | $79,800 | ||
Jacoby Ellsbury
I really love Ellsbury tonight against Estrada. I have no idea what kind of stuff Estrada will bring but against the strong Yankees lefties, but I cannot imagine it will be good. Ellsbury has multiple HR upside with SB upside as well, and while you are going to have to pay up for him, you cannot argue with the upside in this one.