Robert Whalen Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Rob Whalen was not supposed to be much of a prospect and has allowed at least three runs (not all earned) in six innings or less in each of his four starts, but his 24.2% in the majors so far mirrors recent numbers in the minors and he’s also generated more weak contact (29%) than hard (27.4%). The Diamondbacks have some very hot bats over the last week (Segura, Goldschmidt, Tomas and Castillo above a 180 wRC+), but only two of those bats (Segura and Goldschmidt) have a been above average against RHP this season and neither has an ISO above .200. The point being, this is a manageable lineup for a RHP. Arizona has just a team 88 wRC+ with a 22.9 K% against them, which the positive run environment makes appear stronger. Whalen is a sleeper arm with some upside tonight that only has to be about average to pay off $6.5K on either site. The Diamondbacks are projected for 4.9 runs for some reason, likely because they've been hitting the ball a bit better lately and Whalen has a high ERA, but their bats are aggressively priced in this spot against a pitcher who may not be nearly as bad as that ERA.

Targeting an offense in their first game away from Coors Field is something that we typically try to avoid, but that may tougher to accomplish tonight as the Nationals have one of the higher implied run totals on the board of 4.9 runs. Rob Whalen gets the start tonight for the Braves, and he has had significant control issues in his 21 starts in minors this season (3.30 BB/9). However, those walks haven't been as much of an issue through his first three starts in the big leagues (7.1% BB%). Whalen brings some decent strikeout upside to the table (24.3% K%), but it will be difficult to trust him against an explosive offense in anything other than a long-shot tournament flier. The National have a high team total for a reason and we'll have to give them the slightest of edges in this matchup with the limited major league experience Whalen possesses. If deciding to stack up the Nationals bats, Daniel Murphy (169 wRC+, .428 wOBA, .273 ISO vs RHP), Trea Turner (155 wRC+, .407 wOBA, .275 ISO vs RHP), Bryce Harper (128 wRC+, .367 wOBA, .217 ISO vs RHP), and Anthony Rendon (.193 ISO vs RHP) are the top candidates here.

Rob Whalen is a 22 year-old former 12th round draft pick, who was not a highly regarded prospect, but is one of a few Braves acquisitions from the Mets in the last year who has taken steps forward in the high minors this season with a strikeout rate above 22% at both AA and AAA. He struck out five of 25 Pirates in his first start, but also walked four with just two ground balls and a 28.6 Hard-Soft%. The Brewers have an enormous strikeout rate (above 25% at home and vs RHP), but may be even more likely to take advantage of his control issues (9.4 BB% vs RHP). The two most potent bats in a lineup projected to score five runs are the two highest priced in Jonathan Villar (115 wRC+ vs RHP since 2015, 43 SBs this season) for his speed and Ryan Braun (125 wRC+, .213 ISO vs RHP since 2015) for his power. Both, along with Keon Broxton (48 wRC+, .188 ISO vs RHP) have a wRC+ above 200 with a hard hit rate above 40% over the last week. Pierzynski is an arm that Villar should be able to run on. Orlando Arcia had a disappointing 90 wRC+ at AAA this season, but did steal 15 bases and bats second for just $2.1K on FanDuel tonight. Scooter Gennett (88 wRC+, .128 ISO vs RHP since 2015) has no power and a moderate price tag on either site.