Chas McCormick Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

A 4.5 implied run line currently has the Astros tied for the fifth highest total on the board and it might be hard to argue that they’re in one of the top spots on the slate. This is especially true should the roof be open, where Statcast Park Factors suggest an eight percent increase in run scoring environment. In addition, they’re facing a lefty with a wide platoon split since last season (RHBs .358 wOBA, .367 xwOBA). Since competing four innings in his first start, Taylor Hearn hasn’t done so since, allowing eight runs over his next 6.1 innings. He’s struck out 14 of 58, but with just a 9.3 BB%, while also walking six. The contact profile is disastrous. He’s allowed 16.7% Barrels/BBE behind a 92.7 mph EV and exactly half his contact at least 95 mph off the bat. He has a 7.59 ERA despite only two of his six barrels leaving the yard. Omitting Martin Maldonado, in the lineup strictly for his defense, the remaining five right-handed batters in the projected Houston offense all exceed a 110 wRC+ vs LHP since last season. Yuli Gurriel (152 wRC+), Aledmys Diaz (120 wRC+) and Chas McCormick (129 wRC+) have all punished them above a .200 ISO as well. McCormick is currently projected to leadoff and is within $300 of $2.5K on either site.

The Astros have devastated LHP to the tune of a 126 wRC+ this season, mostly because they don’t strike out (17.5%), and if you think the absence of Alex Bregman should have slowed them down, think again. The Astros have a team 156 wRC+ and 20.6 HR/FB over the last week and a trip to Baltimore isn’t likely to slow them down. The Astros have a team 5.89 implied run line that no other team comes within a full run of right now and while stacking Astros against marginal lefties is hardly anything new, it can generally become quite expensive. This is where the absence of Bregman can actually benefit daily fantasy players because Chas McCormick (92 wRC+, .250 ISO vs LHP since 2020) and Abraham Toro (122 wRC+, .138 ISO) make everything a bit more affordable. Martin Maldonado is the only batter in the projected lineup below a 115 wRC+ over the last 30 days. Yuli Gurriel (164 wRC+, .278 ISO) takes over the title of top bat in the lineup against LHP and still costs a reasonable $3.3K on FanDuel. As for Baltimore starter Keegan Akin, he had the strange combination of 27 batters faced, seven strikeouts and eight earned runs last time out. A 13.3 K-BB and 7.7% Barrels/BBE project a 4.03 xERA that’s the best of his estimators, though all except a 5.67 DRA more than a run below his 5.76 ERA. Batters from either side of the plate are between a .310 to .330 wOBA and xwOBA against him since last year.