Not all lineups have been released at this time. Make sure you’re following my channel in the DFS Army Slack chat, #AdotWalsh-MLB, for late updates on these selections and any others that come about. Follow me on Twitter ( @14AdotWalsh ).
CATCHERS:
Gary Sanchez (NYY vs LAA)
.440wOBA/.361 ISO in 44 plate appearances vs lefties
Yanks +0.7 IRT increase (4.9 to 5.6) is tied for highest on the slate
Heaney: .338xwOBA/.302 ISO/37.7%HC-rate allowed to righty bats
Always gets lower own% in Yanks’ stacks being a catcher
Kurt Suzuki (ATL @ BOS)
Tyler Flowers (ATL @ BOS)
Lots of offense projected for this game (10.5 total/IRT increases for both teams)
Both guys crush lefties, both are no more than $3200 DK/$2900 FD
Both guys are in the starting lineup with the DH at Fenway
John Ryan Murphy (ARZ @ OAK)
.448wOBA/.419 ISO in 31 plate appearances vs lefties
Last two games JRM was listed in this article: dong power!
Austin Barnes (LAD vs SD)
2nd-best numbers of any LAD player vs lefties:
^ .351wOBA/.795ops in 43 plate appearances
9-for-15, 5 XBH (1 HR), K vs Clayton Richard
FIRST BASEMEN:
Carlos Santana (PHI vs TOR)
Top-rated first baseman on the RS
Switch-hitting ability always appealing
.394wOBA/.278 ISO over the last 11 games (L14)
.402xwOBA compared to his .320wOBA tells the story of being unlucky early on this season – He’s been much better in May with the warmer weather… no more warning track balls
Jose Abreu (CHW @ DET)
+325 HR prop
.398wOBA/.234 ISO/.944ops in 154 plate appearances vs righties
11-for-29, 8 XBH (1 HR), 6 RBI, 5 runs over the last seven games
DET: Worst bullpen (according to RS) since 2017
Tyler Austin (NYY vs LAA)
.415wOBA/.341 ISO in 47 plate appearances vs lefties
Yanks +0.7 IRT increase (4.9 to 5.6) is tied for highest on the slate
Heaney: .338xwOBA/.302 ISO/37.7%HC-rate allowed to righty bats
Brad Miller (TB vs BAL)
Excellent price ($3200 DK/$2300 FD) for a matchup vs BAL
Started to get back in the groove, but ended up sitting 2 games these last few days vs BOS because of the lefty/leftymatchups
Freddie Freeman (ATL @ BOS)
.474wOBA/.316 ISO in 68 plate appearances vs lefties
E-Rod has been better vs lefties this season, but he allowed a .275avg to them from 2015-17
Lots of offense is projected in this game, might only see 2 ABs vs E-Rod
Marwin Gonzalez (HOU @ CLE)
8-for-17, 3 XBH (2 HR), 2 BB, 2 Ks vs Corey Kluber
Astros: +0.7 IRT increase (from 3.2 to 3.9) is tied for highest on the slate
SECOND BASEMEN:
Ozzie Albies (ATL @ BOS)
+350 HR prop
Switching-hitting ability
Best numbers vs lefties on ATL: .510wOBA/.407 ISO/1.226ops in 56 PAs
Scooter Gennett (CIN @ COL)
Coors Field
+325 HR prop
.531wOBA/.375 ISO, 5 HR, 16 RBI over the last 12 games
Gleyber Torres (NYY vs LAA)
.412wOBA/.222 ISO in 30 plate appearances vs lefties
.494wOBA/.500 ISO, 6 HR, 11 RBI over the last 10 games
Heaney: .338xwOBA/.302 ISO/37.7%HC-rate allowed to righty bats
Whit Merrifield (KC @ TEX)
Team-leading .508wOBA/1.203ops/6 SB in 67 plate appearances vs lefties
SB upside – Rangers catcher (Robinson Chirinos) is ran on often, tied for 3rd-most in MLB
^ He’s only thrown out 2 of 28 SB attempts
Cesar Hernandez (PHI vs TOR)
On-base machine, could be incredibly valuable for a team that has a few others projected to do well
SB upside – BJs catcher (Russell Martin) gets ran on often, tied for most in MLB
^ He’s only thrown out 7 of 35 SB attempts this season
Jose Rondon (CHW @ DET)
Who the hell is Jose Rondon? Well, he’s $2800 on FD
^ 4-for-10, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 runs over the last three games (all vs BAL)
THIRD BASEMEN:
Travis Shaw (MIL vs NYM)
.426wOBA/.405 ISO, 5 HR, 12 RBI over the last 12 games
Mets moneyline looks oddly low for a Thor game
Guaranteed low own% going against Thor
Matt Carpenter (STL @ PIT)
Better value on DK at $3600, he’s $3500 on FD
.408xwOBA – .302wOBA = literally, the unluckiest hitter in baseball this season
^ He’s back, last 14 days = .433wOBA/.270 ISO
PNC Park is sneaky good for lefty power
Alex Bregman (HOU @ CLE)
Absurd .468wOBA/.293 ISO over the last 12 games
Astros: +0.7 IRT increase (from 3.2 to 3.9) is tied for highest on the slate
Matchup w/ Kluber should have him below 1%
SHORTSTOP:
Jurickson Profar (TEX vs KC)
Team-leading numbers vs lefties – .429wOBA/.297 ISO in 44 plate appearances
Got the night off yesterday = recharged batteries
Yes, only one shortstop on the list… that’s how much I like him
OUTFIELDERS:
Mookie Betts (BOS vs ATL)
JD Martinez (BOS vs ATL)
Andrew Benintendi (BOS vs ATL)
Likely looking at chalk from Betts and JD… don’t mind
IRT jumped from 5.6 at the open to 6.2 currently, tied for 2nd-highest increase on the slate
^ Red Sox chumped it last night, expect them to come out with some pep in their step to right the wrongs
– Betts: +300 HR prop
– Betts/Martinez: 1-2 in MLB for most barreled-balls per plate appearance
ATL: 3rd-worst bullpen (according to RS) since 2017
Giancarlo Stanton (NYY vs LAA)
Likely chalk… don’t mind
Top-rated player on the RS for main slate
Stanton + lefty pitcher + Yankee Stadium = fireworks
Yanks +0.7 IRT increase (4.9 to 5.6) is tied for highest on the slate
Stanton: .563wOBA/.531 ISO in 54 plate appearances vs lefties
Aaron Judge (NYY vs LAA)
+325 HR prop
Yanks +0.7 IRT increase (4.9 to 5.6) is tied for highest on the slate
Heaney: .338xwOBA/.302 ISO/37.7%HC-rate allowed to righty bats
Bryce Harper (WSH vs MIA)
+325 HR prop
Lefty bats vs Urena = good news
Rhys Hoskins (PHI vs TOR)
– Hoskins: .459 ISO vs sinker <— Gaviglio’s most used pitch
– Gaviglio: Allowing a .435wOBA/.318avg to righties on the road throughout his career
Mark Canha (OAK vs ARZ)
Chad Pinder (OAK vs ARZ)
The two best A’s hitters vs lefties:
– Canha: .427wOBA/.364 ISO in 45 plate appearances
– Pinder: .434wOBA/.225 ISO in 46 plate appearances
Aaron Hicks (NYY vs LAA)
11-for-26, 3 XBH (2 HR), 4 RBI, 6 runs over the last six games
Yanks +0.7 IRT increase (4.9 to 5.6) is tied for highest on the slate
Gaviglio: Allowing a .435wOBA/.318avg to righties on the road throughout his career
Delino DeShields (TEX vs KC)
– .459 OBP in 37 plate appearances vs lefties
^ Also added 4 steals vs lefties too
Austin Meadows (PIT vs STL)
Excellent first week in the majors:
^ 11-for-25, 5 XBH (3 HR), 5 RBI, 4 runs over the last six games
.491xwOBA vs righties early on thus far
Matt Kemp (LAD vs SD) 13-for-35, 7 XBH (2 HR), BB, 4 Ks vs Clayton Richard
Yasiel Puig (LAD vs SD) 7-for-19 (.478obp), 4 XBH (2 HR), 4 BB vs Clayton Richard
– Kemp: Team-leading numbers vs lefties: .488wOBA/1.125ops in 55 plate appearances
Curtis Granderson (TOR @ PHI)
Good history at Citizens Bank Park from his time with the Mets:
^ .301avg/.396obp/.921ops with 8 HR, 19 RBI in 39 starts
3-for-5, double, 2 HR, BB vs Zach Eflin
Daniel Palka (CHW @ DET)
Hitting cleanup in a favorable spot against the Tigers
.357wOBA/.306 ISO in 63 plate appearances vs righties
Nick Williams (PHI vs TOR)
Great value at $3000 DK/$2600 FD
.390wOBA/.348 ISO over his last 25 plate appearances
Shohei Ohtani (LAA @ NYY)
Massive park upgrade moving into Yankee Stadium for the weekend
Team-leading .472wOBA/.361 ISO numbers in 78 plate appearances vs righties
^ Yes, albeit in about half the PAs, those are better numbers than Trout
Low own% for sure going against Severino