Happy Thursday everyone!
Today we have a smaller, 8-game slate. The Red Sox, Braves and Yankees are one of the better options on the slate.
This intro is going to be short, so let’s just jump right in to today’s action. Good luck out there!
Pitcher xFIP vs. LH
1. Elieser Hernandez – 6.63
2. Dillon Peters – 5.71
3. Eric Lauer – 5.47
4. Thomas Pannone – 5.37
5. Jorge Lopez – 4.49
Pitcher xFIP vs. RH
1. Thomas Pannone – 5.40
2. Alex Wood – 5.26
3. Jorge Lopez – 4.75
4. Eliser Hernandez – 4.61
5. Dallas Keuchel – 4.57
Hitter xFIP vs. LH
1. J.D. Martinez – Boston Red Sox – .541
2. Kris Bryant – Chicago Cubs – .459
3. Rhys Hoskins – Philadelphia Philles – .444
4. DJ LeMahieu – New York Yankees – .442
5. Javier Baez – Chicago Cubs – .433
6. Nolan Arenado – Colorado Rockies – .422
7. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels – .417
8. Ian Desmond – Colorado Rockies – .391
9. Charlie Blackmon – Colorado Rockies – .391
10. Daniel Murphy – Colorado Rockies – .387
Hitter xFIP vs. RH
1. Freddie Freeman – Atlanta Braves – .420
2. Nelson Cruz – Minnesota Twins – .408
3. Carlos Santana – Cleveland Indians – .388
4. Fernando Tatis, Jr. – San Diego Padres – .385
5. Jorge Polanco – Minnesota Twins – .384
6. Josh Donaldson – Atlanta Braves – .383
7. Francisco Lindor – Cleveland Indians – .379
8. Max Kepler – Minnesota Twins – .379
9. Ronald Acuna, Jr. – Atlanta Braves – .364
10. Justin Smoak – Toronto Blue Jays – .351
PITCHERS
Madison Bumgarner – vs. Philadelphia Phillies – $8,600
Analysis: We have Mad Bum at home against a Phillies team that is fairly hit or miss. They have some righties with some pop, but we have to factor in the home ballpark and the price tag here. Bum has been elite against lefties, owning a .251 wOBA with a 3.56 xFIP and a 9.93 K/9. Righties have fared better against him, but he’s still pitching well with a .320 wOBA, a 2.14 BB/9, a 4.47 xFIP and an 8.84 K/9. People out there believe Bum is washed up and not the same pitcher he used to be. That may be true, but on smaller slate where we need some value, Bum is just too cheap for me at home as a late-game hammer.
HITTERS
Freddie Freeman – 1B – Atlanta Braves – $4,400
Analysis: Dallas Keuchel is soooo tempting for the pitcher spot, but he’s in Miami and the Marlins are scrappy. Marlins Park in general gives me the willies for fantasy, but it’s a small slate and the Braves are one of the best stacking options. Based on matchup with Elieser Hernandez, Freeman might be the best option on the slate. Hernandez has been dreadful against lefties, allowing a .430 wOBA, 48% hard contact, 5.28 BB/9 and a whopping 3.52 HR/9.
