DFS Alerts

Dan Strailey looks to hold down the meager Brewers offense

Dan Straily has limited the production allowed to right-handed batters, possessing a xFIP of 4.22 against RHBs. His 23% k rate is plenty respectable and highlights why he is able to hold down teams with right-handed heavy lineups. The Brewers today will have Scooter Gennet and Jonathon Villar in the lineup, leading DFS players to believe Straily very well may have a good outing.

Dillon Gee has been pitching to contact to extreme levels in recent starts. Over the last couple of weeks, Gee has a near identical ground ball rate and fly ball rate, sitting at around 44%. His 11% K-rate has led to an xFIP of 5.71 over the last few starts, with both LHBs and RHBs making solid contact against the Royals right-hander, look to Miguel Sano who has a 255 wRC+ over the last 7 days. Sano’s unreasonable 0.609 ISO over the same time period highlights his immense power, pointing towards targeting Dillon Gee with Miguel’s power.

Jose Abreu looks to continue his hot hitting

Adam Conley has not been sharp over the last couple of weeks, with a fly ball percentage of 43% and a hard contact percentage of 37% leading to an xFIP of 7.46. The majority of the production Conley has given up has been to RHB, considering he has a fly ball percentage of 45% and a hard contact percentage of 35% versus RHB that has led to 1.10 HR/9 allowed to RHBs.Over the last week, Jose Abreu has been putting the ball in play often, only striking out 11% of the time, leading to a ridiculous wRC+ of 219.

Trea Turner leads off for the Nationals today

Rob Whalen does not have enough innings pitched to deduce much, but has proven he can whiff left-handed batters. Whalen has a strike out rate of 35% against LHB in limited innings, leading to an xFIP of 2.62. On the other hand, his xFIP versus RHB is higher, sitting at 5.91. While Whalen’s batted ball data versus LHBs and RHBs does not appear to be too dissimilar, his strike out rate and walk rate versus RHBs appears to be what has led to his troubles versus RHBs. Against RHP, Trea Turner looks to be a fantastic option at the shortstop position.

Justin Turner Scratched

Justin Turner has been scratched with a right hand contusion, replaced by Rob Segedin at third base.

Gerrit Cole faces a Dodgers team that strikes out 21% of the time versus RHP

In 53 innings versus RHBs, Gerrit Cole has an xFIP of 4.10 against RHBs, but Cole has still kept limited his fly ball percentage allowed to 26%. With a hard contact percentage of 24%, Cole has done a fantastic job of limiting production by RHBs, highlighting the fact that his 4.10 xFIP can most likely be attributed to early season troubles. Against left-handed batters, Cole has been exceptional, striking out lefties 25% of the time, making him a interesting play versus a Dodgers lineup that will have five left-handed batters in the lineup today in Los Angeles. Although the Dodgers are hitting RHP well with an wRC+ of 102, they are still striking out 21% of the time, making Cole a viable play today in a pitchers park.

Sound the alarms. Roth has RED/ORANGE in Cleveland

Kevin Roth is judicious with his RED ratings, so consider avoiding the Angels v Indians game. No other games appear to be in doubt, but check out Roth’s full report for details.

While it may be tempting to use Cubs bats against a rookie pitcher, Luke Weaver is plenty capable of pitching a quality start

The Chicago Cubs are one of the better offenses in the NL and we all know that minor league numbers often fail to translate to the big leagues. That being said, Luke Weaver appears to be an above average pitcher, holding LHBs and RHBs to below a 0.215 batting average in AA. If DFS players want to target Weaver today, it is worth noting that he has given up a higher slugging percentage against LHB (0.344), but keep in mind that using Cubs today looks to be a speculative play at best. The scouting report on Weaver is a positive one, but use Cubs lefties if you are hoping for the young right-hander to struggle in his major league debut.

Although the Astros bats are starting to heat up, Aaron Sanchez has dominated RHB in 2016

Aaron Sanchez looks to be a pitcher who will suppress production by right-handed batters, giving up only a 17% fly ball rate and a 25% hard contact percentage. Of the Astros LHBs with at least 40 at bats versus RHP this year, only Luis Valbuena, who is rarely making into the starting lineup in recent weeks, has a wRC+ over 105. While it is true that Sanchez struggled in his last outing against an average Royals team, giving up 4 earned runs and 9 hits, the best Astros hitters bat from the right side of the plate and the season long numbers favor Sanchez.

Start of tonight's DET/TEX game to be delayed due to rain

The start of tonight’s Tigers-Rangers game will be delayed due to the threat of rain and lightning north of Globe Life Park. The new start time is still to be determined. We will continue to provide updates if they become available before lock on late swap sites.

Start of tonight's KC/MIN game to be delayed due to rain

The start of tonight’s Royals-Twins game will be begin in a rain delay. The new start time is still to be determined. We will continue to provide updates if they become available before lock on late swap sites.

Matt Cain owns a 7.1% K-BB% to RHB

The ballpark downgrade for the Orioles at AT&T Park is not a positive thing for their upside, however, a matchup with Matt Cain certainly adds to their potential. Cain is a fly ball pitcher (39.4%) that has surrendered a ton of long balls his past two seasons in the majors, including 1.88 HR/9 allowed to right-handed batters and 1.13 HR/9 allowed to left-handed batters this year. He still has decent control (8.1% BB%), and with the home run suppression of AT&T Park, it may be a good idea to avoid Orioles hitters as a full stack and in cash games. The preferred course of action would be to use them as tournament one-offs in hopes someone can take advantage of Cain and his home run problems. Manny Machado (141 wRC+, .384 wOBA, .266 ISO vs RHP), Mark Trumbo (133 wRC+, .373 wOBA, .258 ISO vs RHP), Adam Jones (125 wRC+, .361 wOBA, .222 ISO vs RHP), and Chris Davis (.222 ISO vs RHP) make the most sense here.

Giants implied run total continues to decline, currently sits at 3.6 runs

Bundy (3.61 SIERA) has been a revelation for an Orioles squad that has been really lacking quality starting pitching depth in their rotation. Over his last four starts, he owns a stellar 30.6% K-BB% with only five earned runs allowed. Bundy is a former top prospect whose ascent to the majors was derailed by injuries, but based on his pedigree as a prospect, it’s not all that surprising to see him having this type of success. The issue for Bundy tonight is the tough matchup he draws with a Giants team that has one of the lowest strikeout rates against right-handed pitching in the big leagues (17.4%). The ballpark upgrade to AT&T Park is a nice added bonus, but it’s doubtful that Bundy possesses the upside in this matchup needed to be a viable tournament pitcher tonight on either site. There is only a case to be made if looking to load up on bats in tournaments and paying down at pitcher(s).

Red hot Dodgers (40.4 Hard%, 17.9 HR/FB last seven days) face HR prone Ivan Nova at home

While the Dodgers don’t have one of the highest run projections, they’re a hot offense (40.4 Hard%, 17.9 HR/FB) facing a pitcher who has allowed LHBs a .372 wOBA since last season. You might think moving to Pittsburgh would be a great benefit to Ivan Nova’s career, but he allowed two HRs in his first start there and while Yankee Stadium gets some credit for the other nine he’s allowed at home this year, he’s also allowed 10 on the road and this Dodger lineup is full of LH power. Corey Seager (159 wRC+, .242 ISO vs RHP career) and Yasmani Grandal (124 wRC+, .269 ISO vs RHP this year) are both top bats at their position, while Joc Pederson (133 wRC+, .255 ISO vs RHP this year) is actually second in ISO vs RHP on the team. The two through seven batters all have a wRC+ above 120 vs RHP this season with only Gonzalez (245 wRC+ last seven days) and Reddick (.185 ISO) below a .200 ISO. This is a high powered and hot lineup in a good spot almost entirely up and down.

Despite low 3.2 implied run total, Pirates RHB should take advantage of Ross Stripling and his reverse splits

We are working with a fairly limited sample size when evaluating Ross Stripling as he has only accrued 59 major league innings to this point in his career. Stripling has exhibited some significant reverse splits thus far with a 59.3% ground ball rate and 19.8% strikeout rate to left-handed batters. However, against right-handed batters, the ground ball numbers drop to 48.5% while the strikeouts drop to 15.8%. Further piling on, he is also surrendering a 38.0% hard contact rate to righties compared to a near league average 30.1% hard contact rate to lefties. Starling Marte (132 wRC+, .365 wOBA, .156 ISO vs RHP) is the bat that should peak our interest the most individually, while Gregory Polanco (132 wRC+, .365 wOBA, .222 ISO vs RHP), Andrew McCutchen, and Josh Harrison can be considered as a part of tournament stacks only.