Joel Freeland Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Five of tonight's 16 pitchers have an aEV of 85.2 mph or less this year all with less than 5% Barrels/BBE and 33% 95+ mph EV (three below 30%). Neither Carlos Carrasco, nor Zack Greinke are among that group. Kenta Maeda (84.9 - 4.6% - 29.3%) and C.C. Sabathia (84.4 - 4.1% - 29.5%) are probably names that won't surprise anyone at this point in the season. Kyle Freeland (84.4 - 4.4% - 32.8%) might and he's still going to be a pitcher players want to attack tonight considering that Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez are likely going to be in the opposing lineup. Among those with much smaller samples, Brandon Woodruff (84.7 - 3.1% - 32.3%) does come with some prospect hype, has started his career strongly and is in a nice spot against a weak hitting Pittsburgh offense. Chris Stratton (85.2 - 4.8% - 27.4%) pitches in a great park (San Francisco) against an ice cold offense tonight (43 wRC+, 27.4 K%, 8.2 HR/FB last seven days). He has struck out 10 in two of his last four starts, but no more than four in any of his other four starts this year and has not exceeded a 20.2 K% since A ball. On the other end of the spectrum are Reynaldo Lopez (89.5 - 9.1% - 36.4%), Ubaldo Jimenez (88.4 - 7.8% - 39.6%), and Ariel Miranda (87 - 9.5% - 34.1%). Lopez has some strikeout ability with an 8.8% or better SwStr% in all four starts, but a 28.8 GB% is not going to lead to a lot of favorable outcomes with that much hard contact. Jimenez should probably no longer be starting in this league. Miranda is tied of the league lead with 35 HRs allowed in just 156.1 innings (30 to RHBs).