Daily Batter Breakdown: Wed, May 21st

by Jon Schiller (Varncass) Last Updated 2014-05-21 20:14:06

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.

		A.J. Pierzynski
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.294	0.780	3.53%	0.341
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.056	0.167	0.00%	0.071
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Hutchison – RIGHT			0.242	0.694	8.03%	0.306
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.960	1.043	$2,900	$4,664	$7,350	$3,600	$53,500	$4,800

A.J. Pierzynski

Hutchison was fantastic last time out with a complete game shutout for the Jays against the Rangers. Texas isn’t as good of an offense as Boston is, and unless you’re a totally dominant pitcher, it’s extremely difficult to have 2 monster games right in a row so I’m expecting a bit of a regression for Hutchison here today. Pierzynski has been terrible recently but he has had some time to rest and work on his swing and I think he comes out and puts some good at bats together here. He’s a nice value play at caatcher as his salary is really low everywhere. He has always hit right handers well and should be able to again tonight.

		Billy Butler
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.243	0.643	0.00%	0.278
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.296	0.678	0.00%	0.307
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Quintana – LEFT			0.248	0.679	6.37%	0.303
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.082	0.971	$2,600	$4,166	$7,850	$3,900	$54,500	$5,800

Billy Butler

Billy Butler continues to be one of the cheapest 1st basement around. There are some other solid options on this slate but if you’re really looking for value and power it’s hard to pass up on Butler. Quintana has been solid this year and looks like a good option against the Royals tonight so I guarantee he will be very low owned. Butler has a track record of being a very good hitter and while he isn’t the greatest power hitter, he does have some power and the ability to knock one out. He’s always crushed left handers and there isn’t much more upside you can find for his price especially since he seems to have found his rhythm in the last few games.

		Brandon Hicks
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.200	0.734	6.67%	0.325
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.150	0.52	0.00%	0.243
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Chacin – RIGHT			0.242	0.664	6.87%	0.297
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.273	1.146	$3,100	$5,203	$7,350	$3,800	$40,400	$4,100

Brandon Hicks

Chacin is playing with fire right now, allowing a lot of fly balls, which could really hurt him in Coors Field. He hasn’t been great since coming off the DL, and for some reason is really struggling against right handed batters this year surrendering an .896 OPS. Hicks has actually been better against right handers as well, has 5 HRs off of them and is one of the cheapest power bats you can find. He hasn’t shown much power lately but it’s still there and it should be easy for him to go deep in his 2nd game at Coors of this set.

		Josh Donaldson
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.268	0.947	7.32%	0.403
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.500	1.66	14.29%	0.675
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Bedard – LEFT			0.240	0.717	11.49%	0.321
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.931	0.967	$4,500	$9,501	$11,950	$5,300	$116,900	$11,300

Josh Donaldson

Bedard is not an auto-stack against anymore, but these are the Athletics that we are talking about that have made a lot of people a lot of money by stacking them. Donaldson has ridiculous numbers against left handed pitchers and anyone lefty short of Kershaw I would be recommending him against. His OPS against lefties this year is .960 and that’s not far from last years’ number with a bitter sample of .930. Donaldson is well worth the price here against a lefty who could implode at any time.

		Jose Reyes
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.215	0.730	3.80%	0.320
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.261	0.892	0.00%	0.385
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Buchholz – RIGHT			0.227	0.622	9.48%	0.283
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.960	1.043	$3,700	$7,873	$9,750	$5,100	$80,900	$7,100

Jose Reyes

The Jays and the Red Sox again are 2 of the top over/under teams of the day playing at Fenway, and here we have Reyes who will most likely be leading off. He’s a top shortstop option because of all the ways he can score you points. Buchholz has been horrible this year with one of the worst WHIPs for a starting pitcher one could imagine. I don’t give him much hope here to hold down the Jays and I think Reyes is in for a big game today.

		Charlie Blackmon
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.345	0.962	6.03%	0.417
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.250	0.568	0.00%	0.266
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Cain – RIGHT			0.251	0.731	5.90%	0.325
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.273	1.146	$4,400	$9,879	$12,150	$5,300	$90,100	$8,200

Charlie Blackmon

Well, you’re gonna have to pay for Blackmon today but that doesn’t mean hes a bad play. The Rockies and their power lefties do some huge damage to right handed pitchers and Blackmon’s numbers on the season have been very very good. Of course he’s playing at Coors Field, will be batting leadoff most likely and should be pushed to the plate by Tulo if he gets on base. Blackmon is one of the most consistent cash game plays you could roll out there tonight if you can afford him.

		Adam Eaton
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.254	0.730	1.41%	0.328
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.222	0.444	0.00%	0.198
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Guthrie – RIGHT			0.319	0.891	6.05%	0.390
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
1.082	1.014	$3,000	$8,314	$8,550	$3,800	$70,700	$6,400

Adam Eaton

If you want to fade the Colorado and SF hitters and go cheap with your other guys, Eaton is a great play today. He will most likely be leading off against Guthrie who has always struggled against lefties, and has allowed a ridiculous number of homers against left handed batters this year. In fact, he’s allowed 11 in about 130 at bats which is basically one homer per every 2 lefties in a lineup every game. His OPS is .880 and it just doesn’t bode well. I particularly like Eaton’s price on DraftKings where he should allow you to get some better pitchers.

		Mike Trout
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.237	0.813	5.08%	0.347
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.208	0.772	4.17%	0.342
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		McHugh – RIGHT			0.306	0.828	6.50%	0.363
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.968	1.066	$4,600	$10,200	$13,300	$5,900	$94,000	$10,100

Mike Trout

Mike Trout is really struggling but because of that he’s not the highest priced guy on the board. He’s still one of the most consistent fantasy players on the board, and even though McHugh has been solid this year I really think that Trout is going to break out of this “slump” that he’s in soon. Vegas really likes the Angels today and they are going to have to score some runs somehow. The one concern I have is that Trout has been dealing with tightness in his legs, so make sure you watch lineups for it and any updates on whether or not he’s feeling 100%.

		Erick Aybar
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.282	0.753	1.71%	0.328
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.150	0.48	0.00%	0.233
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		McHugh – RIGHT			0.288	0.797	5.51%	0.353
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.968	0.987	$2,900	$6,043	$7,550	$3,900	$70,300	$5,600

Erick Aybar

Aybar is another Angel that is cheap and should produce tonight. Vegas has the Angels at 4.5 over/under even with the Trout news so I really think that they will be putting up some runs tonight. Aybar has been struggling, but he’s been much better against right handers this year and his price is extremely low so he won’t break the bank if he doesn’t have a monster game. He should be leading off again, so there is major upside here with some power and stolen base threats.

		Nelson Cruz
		Daily Breakdown			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Left/Right Splits			0.333	1.026	4.17%	0.434
		Last 7 Days Splits			0.292	0.891	8.33%	0.375
		Opp SP vs. LR			Avg	OPS	HR%	wOBA
		Rodriguez – LEFT			0.255	0.780	5.17%	0.342
PARK-1	PARK-LR	FD	DS	DD	DK	FF	SS	FTD
0.907	0.947	$3,700	$7,772	$10,050	$4,800	$89,000	$7,300

Nelson Cruz

Overshadowed by Davis’ 3 HR game last night was the fact that Nelly Cruz jacked one out as well. Right now, his price is extremely cheap for a guy who is at the top of the HR Predictor, wOBA charts, and the total HRs for the year. Sure, he’s in Pittsburgh, but he really doesn’t have an issue with distance when he connects with his bombs. He is really locked in right now and with a .345 average and a 1.154 OPS against lefties this year, Wandy is in for a rude return to the mound.