Daily Trends: April 23, 2015

 

C: Brian McCann faces Anibal Sanchez, and he's had success in that matchup hitting .281 with eight RBIs over the course of 32 at-bats. McCann is also hitting .300 over the past week after a slow start to the season. 

 

1B: Lucas Duda faces righty Julio Teheran. Duda has hit .350 with two homers in 20 at-bats in the matchup. He’s also produced against righties in his career with a .362 OBP and .487 SLG over more than 1,200 at-bats against them. 

 

2B: Brandon Phillips has had a solid, if unspectacular start, to the 2015 season. In 70 games at Miller Park he’s hit .297 with nine homers and 52 RBIs. He faces Kyle Lohse who he’s only produced a .558 OPS against in 48 plate appearances, but with the way that Lohse is currently pitching… 

 

3B: Entering play Wednesday Brock Holt had 10 hits in 23 at-bats leading to a .435 batting average. He faces the successful to date Jake Odorizzi, but you have to like the patience that Holt is showing this season waiting for the pitch he can drive. 

 

SS: Alcides Escobar has had a good start to the season with the bat, even if he still has no idea how to take a walk and has a knee that isn’t 100 percent. Chris Sale has always been someone he’s been able to control with 18 hits in 45 at-bats leading to a .400 average and .937 OPS.

 

OF: Carlos Beltran had an OPS that was .213 points higher against righties last season than lefties. He hasn’t hit righties well at all this season, and for his career his slash line is impressive against righties (.279/.358/.483). Beltran is 7-for-21 with a .333 average and a homer against Anibal Sanchez. 

 

OF: Khris Davis has hit two doubles along with three homers in 18 at-bats against Homer Bailey. He’s also hit .389 with a .476 OBP. For his career Davis has a .779 OPS with 21 homers and 66 RBIs in 510 at-bats against righties. 

 

OF: David DeJesus faces the worst pitcher in the history of baseball – Clay Buchholz (slight exaggeration). DD has killed it this year for the Rays and he’s long been a borderline impressive option when a righty has been on the bump (.288/.365/.445 over 3,630 at-bats).

 

SP: Drew Hutchison, Blue Jays

In his last two starts Drew has not looked sharp. However, some positives. In 146 at-bats against the Orioles Hutchison has allowed a .219 batting average. He also has a better than 25 percent K rate in the matchup and a six to one strikeout to walk ratio. Last season he allowed batters to hit .236 at home as well.

 

SP: Bartolo Colon, Mets

Remove Jonny Gomes from consideration and the current Mets lineup has hit three homers in 169 at-bats against Colon. He’s also been locked in for three starts – all of the quality start variety – and he’s struck out 18 batters while walking only one. The Braves are 8th in OPS against righties, but Colon seems pretty locked in right now, doesn’t he?

 

SP: Michael Wacha, Cardinals

Wacha takes on a team that has five hits in 44 at-bats against him (there’s only one extra base hit as well, a homer by Anthony Rendon). The Nationals also ranked 23rd in OPS against righties this season. Wacha has allowed a solo homer in each of his two outings but those are the only two runs that he has allowed this season. Right now he’s lacking the strikeout with six in 13.1 innings, as it’s been his only negative. 

 

Greg Holland will start throwing this weekend as he works his way back from his pectoral issue. The hope is that he might be able to return when the 15 days are up for his DL stint. Wade Davis will continue to close in the meantime. 

 

Anthony Rendon will start his rehab assignment, officially, on Friday with Harrisburg after appearing in five innings in an extended spring game. The hope is that he will be back in the first week of May for the Nationals. 

 

Drew Smyly will in fact start for the Rays Friday against the Blue Jays. He may not be able to go deep in the game though having thrown just 3.2 innings in his last start, so be wary of starting him. His teammate, Alex Cobb, is set to pitch Friday with his first bullpen session since going down with right forearm tightness. If all goes well it would seem that a return in mid-May is possible for Cobb.

 

Shane Victorino (right hamstring) and Dexter Fowler (right groin) both were removed from action Wednesday. Chris Denorfia for the Cubs and Allen Craig for the Red Sox entered the lineup and would both see significant value if the starters are out for a period of time.

 

 

Sean O’Sullivan has been placed on the DL with a knee issue for the Phillies. He’s not very good anyway, but in NL-only leagues folks were probably using him. Maybe. Chad Billingsley (elbow) isn’t ready to go yet, so Dustin McGowan will be promoted to start Thursday against the Marlins. The last time McGowan threw 85 innings was 2008. Gotta give him credit for keeping at it through all those injuries he’s dealt with, but he cannot be trusted in any format. None. 

 

C.J. Wilson has some elbow stiffness so his start was pushed back from Thursday to Saturday. He was going to be suggested above as an option for Thursday. In his place Nick Tropeano will face the Athletics.

 

 

Mark Melancon is still the closer for the Pirates according to manager Clint Hurdle. Tony Watson should still be added for those that are current owners of Melancon (and maybe Jared Hughes in deeper leagues). 

 

David Price entered game action Wednesday with a 0.40 ERA. He allowed eight runs and recorded seven outs. He left the game with a 3.28 ERA. 

 

Jeff Samardzija might be one of the most unlucky guys going. According to Aceballstats on Twitter JS is 2-6 in his last 10 starts in games of at least six innings pitched.