Home Run Derby: Friday, July 26th
Calling home runs, besides great fun, often makes the difference between a wildly profitable night in DFS and missing the cash line. Throughout the 2019 MLB season, I will endeavor to find a few home runs in three salary tiers on DraftKings. Join me throughout the year and call your home runs for monthly and seasonal RotoGrinders prizes. Without further ado, let’s play Home Run Derby!
Throughout this season, I will produce the Home Run Derby for main slates on DraftKings 2-3 days per week — selecting a home run from three different pricing tiers. If you want to call your home runs, please use these tiers for your selections to be eligible for any Derby prizes. Here are the tiers.
Luxury Box – $4,500 and above
Club Seats – $3,500 – $4400
Bleachers – Below $3,500
Hitters must be selected from the DraftKings Main Slate.
Schedule this Week: Monday, Tuesday, Friday
Happy Friday, Grinders! We waited all week for the weekend and the MLB is treating us to a 14-game slate to kick off our short respite from the daily grind. The Yankees will see Andrew Cashner in Fenway Park. The Dodgers travel to the nation’s capital to meet Anibal Sanchez and the Nationals. The slumping Braves travel to Philadelphia for a big series with the Phillies. This is one of the final slates of July for our contest and will be one of the largest left to play. The July leaderboard keeps getting crammed. Who will come out on top? Here are my picks for tonight followed by an update to the leaderboard from Tuesday.
The statistics for each player are for the 2019 season.
Luxury Box
Edwin Encarnacion — 1B – $5,500
Encarnacion in 2019 – .291 ISO, 50.2 FB%, 36.8 Hard%, 89.5 MPH aEV
Cashner vs RHH – .237 ISO, 90.7 MPH aEV, 35.7 FB%, 33.1 Hard%
Edwin Encarnacion — assuming he makes the lineup — finds himself in a wonderful power spot in Fenway Park. The Red Sox will send their prized acquisition from the Orioles… ahem… Andrew Cashner to the hill to face the Yankees powerful lineup. Cashner ceded nine runs thus far in two starts for the Sox while allowing two home runs in each game.
Fenway Park is a really positive environment for right-handed sluggers. Encarnacion comes into Friday with five home runs in his last 11 games. His massive fly ball rate this season puts him squarely in play when picking out home runs.
Club Seats
Matt Olson — 1B – $4,000
Olson in 2019 – .288 ISO, 47.3 FB%, 52.2 Hard%, 91.7 MPH aEV
Lynn vs LHH – .138 ISO, 86.0 MPH aEV, 32.8 FB%, 36.6 Hard%
Lance Lynn is amidst a bit of a renaissance year as a starter for the Texas Rangers. With that said, even during this successful stretch, Lynn continues to allow home runs. In his last ten starts, Lynn surrendered seven home runs. Also, despite an improvement in both his FB% and Hard% against lefties, Lynn possesses a very inauspicious 5.6 HR/FB%. The previous three seasons, Lynn’s HR/FB% was north of 10%. Regression could be incoming and most of us would not be shocked.
Matt Olson is a proven powerhouse. Despite missing a portion of the season, Olson still boasts 21 home runs and possesses the type of raw power that renders ballpark factors obsolete. Backed by a bad bullpen, Lance Lynn could allow a few bombs and whether or not his start goes well. If it doesn’t, the Rangers bullpen is ripe for the picking. Hopefully, Olson gets on the board a couple of times before night’s end.
Bleachers
Khris Davis – OF – $3,100
Davis in 2019 – .171 ISO, 37.6 FB%, 45.9 Hard%, 89.7 MPH aEV
Lynn vs RHH – .152 ISO, 87.0 MPH aEV, 38.2 FB%, 42.0 Hard%
What the hell? If you would have told me during the 2018 season that Khris Davis would only be $3100 on DraftKings, I would have responded with “Yeah, sure, I suppose the Warriors will lose the NBA Finals to the Toronto Raptors led by Kawhi Leonard Well. We are where we are.
I do not have much confidence in Davis. Nor should I. That said, in this gruesome tier, I could do worse than taking someone with Davis’ pedigree. Khris Davis shares the same price as his teammate, Josh Phegley. 2019… you are drunk.
Leaderboard (sortable by column)
| Player | Total | July | 7/2 | 7/3 | 7/5 | 7/15 | 7/16 | 7/19 | 7/22 | 7/23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| joeycis | 29 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| erichanlon | 24 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| shanekern03 | 43 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| KardiacChris | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| nrcave | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| mewhitenoise | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D4RKSH33P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| boomanfoo | 27 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| allanturner84 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| hautalak | 23 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| kdubs81 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SportsLover37 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| chdmoney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| moisheg1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| chris5764 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| donb5170 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TheDataDetective | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| pabloplyr | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| infy72 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ropediddy | 25 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| krot | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bcorbett | 38 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| pastorthor | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MoccasinMusic | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gillik9486 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Anttheman | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curse | 24 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TheBigMeat88 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| only1david77 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WestCrook1 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| oxlodge42 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| strgzer585 | 36 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| okbosox26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| djwagner92 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| weave40 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| pryan000 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| RLane11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Semaj89 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HIPPYHD | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| michjim | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| apov22 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| mmart2780 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| gswenson0607 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| mcnasty52 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| whitetrashballerz | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| dankc2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AverageMoesef | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| tsall | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| jsherman003 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| samsonite136 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| steelerhead | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| wcuball29 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| him | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| silverback9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| timtime33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| yellowzjacket | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| mattk614 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| jut01013 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| jokerdpro | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| dhorton8813 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| yisman | 31 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| NatemanH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| kodatazer | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SmoothLH20 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DJESQUIRE | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| mclellan72 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DKMaestro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EmceeDusty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| sochoice | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bigstacks2015 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| XonoX | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MattyIce07 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wencesace21 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J_maw | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TakeoverTarget | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| nearthewall | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mangone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| dannydonahue98 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BigPod | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GBRollClones | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PackerOwner | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| autumnhunter33 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rcplayer07 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FiveStarCo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| tmirrione | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| player527 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| pclesnare | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| fredvr223 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| jsteele1020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Well, Tuesday’s slate was full of landmines. The field was on the Brewers, Braves, and Dodgers and unless you were a Manny Pina fan — you missed out on hitting one of the 38 home runs provided by the MLB. Of course, when it does not matter to the organization, Robinson Cano went crazy with three home runs. Yisman and ropediddy were all over the Cano surge. The three home run nights from both of them represented the only home runs the entire pool found. Yikes.
With the three home runs, yisman vaulted himself into a tie for second in July with eight home runs. Strgzer585 remains atop with nine while a small pack is forming just below waiting to overtake first place for July. The overall leaderboard has not seen a ton of movement lately with shanekern03 sitting in a holding pattern up top as July nears a close.
Friday brings a massive slate to comb through. Will the Braves break out of this recent slump in Philadelphia? Will Andrew Cashner keep the Yankees’ bats in the ballpark? Can a lefty-heavy Dodgers team put on a show in Washington against Anibal Sanchez? The answers to these questions will arrive next week when we finish up July and move into August. Until then, have a great weekend, everyone.
I am happy to announce that at the end of each month I will be rewarding the highest home run total with a RotoGrinders T-shirt. Having a rough month? Don’t let up. The RotoGrinders member with the most home runs throughout the season — until the end of August — will be awarded a 3-month Combo Premium subscription to start the NFL season!
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed the article, stick around for the rest of the MLB season. Want to compete against me? Drop your expensive, mid-tier, and cheap home run calls in the comments (DraftKings pricing). Otherwise, give me a follow on Twitter where I typically post slate-relevant statistics and embarrassing comments about professional wrestling.
Statistics for this article are obtained from FanGraphs, Baseball Reference, RotoGrinders Daily Research Console, and Baseball Savant.