MLB Tool Tips: Monday, May 9th
The Tool Tip series will highlight the top MLB DFS hitting plays at each position for the upcoming slate.
Today we will be using the Daily Batter Hub to help us in our quest to be profitable. The Daily Batter Hub, available to all, is a full suite of tools and has a number of different tabs to help you locate the most favorable hitting matchups while building your lineups.
Catcher
Chris Iannetta – Many people will be scared to target batters against Matt Moore tonight (for more stats on Moore, read Cruz’s write-up later on in the article), but I certainly am not. Over the past few seasons, Iannetta has a .181 ISO, .377 wOBA and a .457 SLG against LHP. Although Iannetta does not bring tons of power to the dish, he is batting .400 against LHP this season and is close to the minimum price on FanDuel.
First Base
Anthony Rizzo – Rizzo is simply one of the best hitters against RHP we have in the league right now and one we should be targeting as often as possible. Over the past two seasons, Rizzo has a .275 ISO, .394 wOBA and a .547 SLG against RHP. Those numbers are certainly impressive, but what he has done so far this season is even more impressive. Posting a .438 ISO, .490 wOBA and a .750 SLG, it’s safe to say Rizzo has taken his game to a new level. The Cubs have a sneaky team total of 4.7 today and I love Rizzo as a one off in your lineups.
Second Base
Derek Dietrich – It’s always smart to target a player with some HR upside at a weak position, and that is exactly what Dietrich brings to the table. Use our Daily Splits Targets hub, we see that surprisingly Dietrich has a higher ISO against RHP than smashers like Paul Goldschmidt and David Peralta over the past two seasons. With the recent suspension to Dee Gordon, Dietrich has seen some very favorable lineup spots against RHP and should see one again tonight. Take advantage of his cheap price, power and lineup spot while you still can.
Third Base
Nolan Arenado – Arenado is far and away my top third base option tonight, and I will be doing everything I can to get him into my lineups. Not only is he playing in Coors Field with a team total of 5.90, some people might not target Arenado when they see the righty on righty matchup, but he has smashed ALL pitching over the past two seasons. He posted a .315 ISO, .389 wOBA and a .608 SLG against RHP in that time frame. Archie Bradley has only started one game this season and got lit up by the tune of seven hits, five ER in only 4.1 innings pitched. He now is going to Coors Field against a good COL lineup…ouch. Arenado is not cheap but will be worth the money on tonight’s slate.
Shortstop
Zack Cozart – Cozart recently got the day off but is back batting leadoff for the Reds tonight, and he gets a R vs L matchup against Jon Niese. Cozart has been on a tear lately and is clearly “seeing” the ball very well right now, indicated by his one strikeout in his last five games. Over the past few seasons, he has a .214 ISO, .379 wOBA and a .910 OPS. Jon Niese started the year off strong but has really shown his true colors over his last three starts. In those starts he has given up 29 hits, 15 ERs and four home runs. Niese does not strike out many people and should get lit up by this Reds lineup tonight.
Outfield
Nelson Cruz – Cruz is a player we have targeted against LHP for as long as we can remember, and tonight is no different. Matt Moore is a player people were talking about earlier in the year due to his upside (has games with 9 and 10 strikeouts this year) but really is not one we should be scared to take bats against. He is giving up 1.49 HR/9 and over the past three starts has given up 4 HRs, 7 walks, 14 ER, and 19 hits. Since returning from Tommy John surgery, his delivery has seen significant changes and it seems he has lost his devastating changeup he once had. The one thing that has stayed with him is his velocity, which plays right into Cruz’s strengths. Cruz jumps off the page with his .454 wOBA and .325 ISO against LHP over the past two years and I expect him to be very low owned tonight.