Daily Batter Breakdown: Wed, August 20th
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.
Not a lot of stud pitching options tonight which might lead to a lot of overlap on high priced batters. There is a Coors game too which should make things interesting, and naturally, it’s projected to be the highest scoring of the night.
 | Brian McCann | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.211 | 0.598 | 2.96% | 0.268 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | |||||||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Feldman – RIGHT | 0.277 | 0.746 | 1.24% | 0.327 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 0.897 | 0.000 | $2,900 | $7,600 | $3,800 | $7,600 | ||
Brian McCann
McCann is back in the lineup, and while the shift has killed him this year especially against right handers he’s still showing some power. He’s one of the cheaper catchers out there with proven HR power and gets one of the best matchups tonight against Feldman. Feldman just isn’t very good against anyone at all and I’m really liking the Yankees lefties tonight at home. They should be able to put up some runs and a McCann homer isn’t out of the question.
 | Adam LaRoche | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.292 | 0.901 | 5.42% | 0.388 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.261 | 1.129 | 13.04% | 0.476 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Cahill – RIGHT | 0.347 | 0.945 | 2.54% | 0.410 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.013 | 0.000 | $4,000 | $10,350 | $4,800 | $10,000 | ||
Adam LaRoche
I would be wary of stacking the Nationals tonight because of the low HR% allowed by Cahill on the season, however I do really like LaRoche in this one. There are a ton of good first base options tonight and LaRoche should be low owned, but that doesn’t mean he has a bad matchup. Cahill while not allowing many HR has allowed a .336 average and .881 OPS to lefties which is impressive only giving up 3 HR. LaRoche is also having a nice season hitting righties at a .930 OPS. It’s not the greatest chance for a homer but it is one of the better 1b matchups.
 | Josh Rutledge | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.357 | 1.008 | 4.76% | 0.438 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.188 | 0.41 | 0.00% | 0.187 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Duffy – LEFT | 0.214 | 0.650 | 0.00% | 0.292 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.394 | 0.000 | $2,600 | $6,550 | $2,800 | $6,550 | ||
Josh Rutledge
While Duffy’s numbers look fairly solid on the year, I’m scared of him tonight in Coors Field. The Rockies still have a few solid right handers in the lineup right now and Rutledge will be one of them. Rutledge has hit lefties to a 1.020 OPS this year and even though Duffy’s WHIP is spectacular, he has struggled against right handers. The other issue I am looking at here is the fact that Duffy has been prone to the flyout lately and a couple extra feet in Coors Field could turn his 2 ER outing into a 6 ER with a couple of homers.
 | Trevor Plouffe | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.276 | 0.783 | 0.95% | 0.343 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.150 | 0.5 | 5.00% | 0.215 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| House – LEFT | 0.322 | 0.882 | 2.27% | 0.388 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.038 | 0.000 | $2,900 | $7,600 | $3,700 | $7,650 | ||
Trevor Plouffe
Since a few solid starts earlier in the year, House has let in about 3 ER per start in every start for the last 2 months. He’s got a 1.51 WHIP to match and has really struggled with righties allowing them to a hit a .878 OPS against him. Plouffe has a history of crushing lefties and he’s getting back on pace with that after hitting them well in the last couple of months. Plouffe is cheap and will be low owned today even though he’s in the middle of the Twins lineup.
 | Erick Aybar | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.289 | 0.739 | 1.68% | 0.326 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.273 | 0.652 | 0.00% | 0.297 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Buchholz – RIGHT | 0.309 | 0.863 | 2.44% | 0.383 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.006 | 0.000 | $2,500 | $7,400 | $4,100 | $7,400 | ||
Erick Aybar
Buchholz has been better of late but he’s still not good. His WHIP has been going down but it’s really hard to not have it go down when it’s almost at 2. I hate picking shortstop nowadays with some of the best SS hitters in the game on the shelf, so I usually attempt to go cheap like with Aybar. Aybar probably hits too far up the Angels lineup sometimes but he’s got a nice hit streak going and a .720 OPS against righties. Buchholz has allowed a .848 OPS to lefties this year and the Angels should be one of the top scoring offenses.
 | Matt Kemp | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.240 | 0.695 | 1.92% | 0.308 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.143 | 0.573 | 4.76% | 0.237 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Stults – LEFT | 0.282 | 0.824 | 0.00% | 0.359 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 0.918 | 0.000 | $3,500 | $9,000 | $4,200 | $9,000 | ||
Matt Kemp
Stults has been oddly effective lately but does anyone believe that is around to stay? He’s an older pitcher who is pitching above his ability at the moment and could crash down at any moment. His 15 HR allowed and .800 OPS given up to right handers is enough to make me consider Kemp and Puig here, especially Kemp and his mini-resurgence. He’s done most of it against righties but his career numbers against lefties make me believe that he’s going to break out against them at some point.
 | Kole Calhoun | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.286 | 0.823 | 4.15% | 0.362 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.458 | 1.352 | 8.33% | 0.576 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Buchholz – RIGHT | 0.309 | 0.863 | 2.44% | 0.383 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.006 | 0.000 | $3,600 | $10,250 | $5,000 | $9,800 | ||
Kole Calhoun
Calhoun’s price is increasing dramatically now, but he’s still a solid play. He’s staying hot and one of the better cash game plays even at his increased price. He’s getting multiple points every game and now gets Buchholz who I noted above isn’t the same pitcher from before. Calhoun will be hitting leadoff again and should be able to make his worth in Fenway tonight.
 | Josh Willingham | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.266 | 0.853 | 6.25% | 0.370 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.333 | 0.968 | 4.17% | 0.42 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| House – LEFT | 0.322 | 0.882 | 2.27% | 0.388 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.038 | 0.000 | $3,500 | $9,250 | $4,500 | $9,000 | ||
Josh Willingham
Willingham again gets to hit in Coors against a lefty, so he’s on my radar again. I hope the Royals find a way to stick him in the lineup somewhere as he’s got a great history against righties. De La Rosa crushes lefties but gives it up against righties with almost a .800 OPS and 15 HR this year and Willingham has been solid since being acquired by the Royals. He’s got a great matchup, great potential and a great price tonight.
 | Omar Infante | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.219 | 0.567 | 1.04% | 0.255 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.125 | 0.442 | 4.17% | 0.204 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| De La Rosa – LEFT | 0.255 | 0.799 | 0.83% | 0.352 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.394 | 0.000 | $2,300 | $6,850 | $3,600 | $7,100 | ||
Omar Infante
I am targeting the Royals right handers tonight and if Infante stays as cheap as this, I’ll keep targeting him even after Coors. He was solid yesterday with 4 hits and will look to continue it again today against a guy in De La Rosa who I noted above has really struggled against right handers. Infante doesn’t have much power, but in Coors Field anything is possible here.
 | Michael Brantley | ||||||
| Daily Breakdown | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left/Right Splits | 0.350 | 0.955 | 4.00% | 0.416 | |||
| Last 7 Days Splits | 0.200 | 0.638 | 5.00% | 0.28 | |||
| Opp SP vs. LR | Avg | OPS | HR% | wOBA | |||
| Nolasco – RIGHT | 0.346 | 0.954 | 3.74% | 0.414 | |||
| PARK-1 | PARK-LR | FD | DD | DK | FF | SS | FTD |
| 1.038 | 0.000 | $4,000 | $9,850 | $5,000 | $9,850 | ||
Michael Brantley
Brantley is really expensive and deservedly so, but I would still try to pay for him tonight even though he’s not been great lately. His counterpart, Nolasco, has been horrible this year with a 1.6 WHIP and has been terrible lately. His .949 OPS given up to lefties is only shortly trailed by his .858 OPS to right handers. Brantley has crushed righties to a .970 OPS and it looks like a very profitable matchup for him tonight. The Indians may be the team to stack especially against a guy like Nolasco who could give up 7 in the first 3 innings.