Derek Norris Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Holland has posted some very poor stats against right-handers since 2016 (610 batters faced), including a 37.6% Hard% (worst on slate), 34.7% GB% (second-worst), 44.0% FB% (second-worst among pitchers with more than 14 TBF), 5.38 xFiP (worst among pitchers with more than 14 TBF), and a .352 wOBA (second-worst). The Rays will roll with six RHB tonight. One of the biggest concerns when going with this team is their K%. PlateIQ shows their current projected lineup has a 27.7% K% agaisnt LHP over the last two years, but Holland has a low 15.4% K% against RHB, which works in their favor. Holland is a sinker ball pitcher, tossing it 47.28% of the time and his second-favorite pitch is the slider (18.35%). Although none of the Rays' right-handers excel against sinkers - they're mostly average or a little below (Bourjos is the exception at 3.28% above average) - five guys are above average when it comes to sliders. Across the league, hitters accumulate 13.67% of their hits against sliders, but Souza (20.33%), Robertson (21.74%), Norris (16.67%) Bourjos (16.79%), and Longoria (13.96%) beat that rate. All of these guys have strong Hard% of at least 33.0% against LHP with Norris and Robertson both topping 44.0%. Plus, those two and Longoria have fly ball rates over 41.0%. Their left-handers aren't as appealing considering Holland's 19.3% Hard%, 52.3% GB%, .239 wOBA, .035 ISO, and 3.32 xFIP against RHB over the past two seasons (122 total batters faced). The five righties mentioned above are appealing options today and Vegas gives the team the fifth-highest projected run total on the main slate (4.79).

With pitching so inexpensive today, players probably aren't in need to too many bargain bats, but you may still be looking to potentially punt a position. If so, Matt Joyce (141 wRC+, .234 ISO vs RHP last season) is in a nice spot, batting second in Texas against a pitcher who allowed a lot of hard contact in the air to RHBs last year (44.4%). He costs just $3K on DraftKings and $2.1K on FanDuel. Rickie Weeks (133 wRC+, .272 ISO vs LHP since 2015) is a minimally priced option in the cleanup spot against tonight's top pitcher, but also a very flawed one. If you're looking to punt Catcher, A.J. Ellis is not much of a bat, but does have a good eye and bats second against a pitcher who is returning from TJS and previously had control problems (Zack Wheeler). Derek Norris did not hit at all last season but bats fifth against Liriano and costs $2.6K or less on either site. Those are the confirmed bats in the top half of any lineup tonight for $3K or less on DraftKings. FanDuel has a few more cheap options. Mitch Haniger might be a league average bat against the hittable Jesse Chavez. He's projected to bat second again for the Mariners at the minimum price. Jesus Aguilar bats fifth for the Brewers against lefty Brett Anderson. He hasn't shown much in the majors, but his power was on display this spring. Wilmer Flores (176 wRC+, .330 ISO vs LHP since 2015) bats cleanup for the Mets and costs just $2.3K on FanDuel.

The Padres have been one of the hottest offenses in the league (148 wRC+ last seven days) and now have a 109 wRC+ and 17.0 HR/FB vs LHP, but also a 25.6 K%. Chris Rusin has an 18.3 K% this year and a fairly average 4.03 xFIP on the road since last season. He has a 64.2 GB% on the road this season (28 innings). If you're rostering someone like Syndgergaard on DK and are looking to punt your 2nd pitcher in GPP, the high San Diego strikeout rate might make him an option. If not, he has allowed a .358 career wOBA to RHBs on the road and the Padres have a couple who have torched LHP this year. Matt Kemp now has a 151 wRC+, .321 ISO vs LHP in 2016 and Wil Myers has a130 wRC+, .167 ISO vs southpaws this season. Both have a wRC+ above 150 and a hard hit rate above 30% over the last week. Derek Norris (116 wRC+, .250 ISO vs LHP this year) has shown life in his bat with a 187 wRC+ and 53.9 Hard% over the last week. Yangervis Solarte (116 wRC+, .175 ISO vs LHP since last season) doesn't have many RH ABs this year, but bats cleanup and has a 232 wRC+ over the last week.

Robbie Ray has allowed a .333 wOBA, 38.8 Hard% vs RHBs since 2015 and the Padres have only two left-handed bats in the lineup. Yangervis Solarte (.322 wOBA, .164 ISO vs. LHP) will be the cleanup hitter once again with Wil Myers back in the lineup, batting 2nd. Myers has been dealing with a forearm and wrist injury as of late and has a .317 wOBA, 101 wRC+ vs. LHP this season. He's expensive on DraftKings ($4,600) but is more playable on FanDuel ($3,100). With his salary so elevated and injuries nagging the first baseman, it'll be tough to recommend Myers on DK who has a .125 ISO vs. LHP. Matt Kemp is also cheaper on FanDuel ($2.5K) and has a .352 wOBA, .240 ISO vs. LHP but his .178 wOBA L14 takes him out of cash game consideration. Derek Norris .336 wOBA, .194 ISO vs. LHP is only $2.2K on FanDuel but is batting 7th today.

While the Padres are listed as small favorites tonight against LHP Jeff Locke, there aren’t many hitters to get excited about in the San Diego lineup tonight. Locke has better numbers against RH (18.6K% - 3.98 xFIP) than he does against LH (11.8K% - 4.52 xFIP) which slightly downgrades the right handed SDP hitters. Matt Kemp (.377 wOBA - .207 ISO – 132 wRC+ vs LHP in Petco last year) and Derek Norris (.377 wOBA - .173 ISO – 145 wRC+ vs LHP in Petco last year) are the preferred plays for the Padres tonight. Note that Cory Spangenberg is headed to the 15-day DL and that Jemile Weeks, who is not available on DK or FD, will start in his spot and bat 8th.

On the surface, this is a cake walk and easy money on the mound. The Padres stack the order with RHBs that don't really hit LHP all that well aside from Kemp (137 wRC+ vs LHP since last season) and Myers (132 wRC+ vs LHP). A couple of other bats Norris (115 wRC+) and Upton (116 wRC+) are average or slightly better, but then it quickly becomes a mess. The Padres have the lowest projected run total on the board (3.2 runs). A healthy Francisco Liriano is a ground ball and strikeout machine, who might walk a few too many batters, but he missed his last start with a hamstring issue and has walked 18.4% of the batters he's faced in two starts prior. With batters from either side held below a .300 wOBA over the last year plus, there's really no interest in the San Diego lineup and the question becomes completely about Liriano's health. Unfortunately, we won't entirely know until he's on the mound. Consider him a moderately high risk, high reward starting pitcher tonight.