Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Jake Odorizzi

Since the All-Star break, and even before then, the Pirates offense has been clicking. They’ve ranked in the top-10 in OPS, wOBA and wRC+ against right-handed pitching since that time. Odorizzi has pitched against the Pirates once already this year allowing three runs over 4.1 innings. Odorizzi has also been very bad at home this year allowing a slash line of .285/.354/.502 with a .366 wOBA. Left-handed hitters are what’s given Odorizzi issues this year as he’s allowing a 1.71 HR/9 and 5.21 xFIP.

After that plug for lefties against Odorizzi, you know that is right where we’re going. Josh Bell , Grégory Polanco and Corey Dickerson are all firmly in play. Dickerson and Polanco have struggled lately, but Dickerson has a .368 wOBA and Polanco has a .370 wOBA versus right-handed pitching on the year. Bell has better lately notching a mini four-game hit streak while hitting three bombs over his last 10 games.

Colin Moran and Adam Frazier are two cheaper left-handed bats that could be used as salary relief here. Frazier has been great lately hitting .424 over his last 10 games. He has four multi-hit games over his last eight as well. Frazier has been this good since the All-Star break as his average sits at .417 with an OPS over 1.000. Moran has been solid against right-handed pitching all year long hitting .284 with a .335 wOBA.

If you do want to play some bats from the right side of the dish, Starling Marte and is dual threat capability is the obvious choice. Two value options are David Freese and Adeiny Hechavarria . Hechavarria has been really good lately hitting .370 over his last 10 games. He also homered in his last game played, so he’s coming into this one hot. Freese has also hit over .300 since the All-Star break and will likely go overlooked because everyone seemingly uses him against southpaws.

Primary Option(s): Corey Dickerson , Grégory Polanco , Josh Bell , Adam Frazier

Secondary Option(s): Colin Moran , Starling Marte , Adeiny Hechavarria , David Freese

 

Baltimore Orioles/New York Mets Game Stack

Only the Arizona and Texas game has a higher implied run total on today’s slate than this one. Luckily for us, the pitchers are gascan central with Andrew Cashner and Jason Vargas on the mound. Cashner is only two starts removed from allowing 10 earned runs in 1.2 innings and Vargas allowed three earned in 0.1 innings before a delay his last time out, but clearly things weren’t going to well. We also get the luxury of the offenses hitting in Baltimore compared to Citi Field.

Both pitchers have been dreadful against both sides of the plate, but let’s start with Mets bats since they’re the ones on the road. Brandon Nimmo is far too expensive on DK, but on FD he’s fine. Left-handers have a .361 wOBA versus Cashner, which is one of the reasons Michael Conforto is firmly in play as well. Conforto has actually looked good at the dish lately hitting .316 with an OPS well over .900. He’s homered in two straight games and has a hit in five straight with at least one in eight of nine.  Jeff McNeil is another lefty bat I’m interested in here. He’s been moving up and down the lineup, but second is a spot he’s hit frequently. All of his homers and runs batted in have come against right-handed pitching.

Sinc coming to New York, Austin Jackson has been revitalized. He’s slashing .424/.457/.606 with three doubles and a homer over his last 10 games. Todd Frazier and Wilmer Flores are the last two options on the Mets I’d consider. Frazier homered on Monday which is something he is always capable of doing. He actually has fairly good numbers against Cashner going 5-for-13 with three RBI. Flores, notoriously good versus lefties, but not in 2018. He’s been great against right-handed hurlers actually, posting a .291 AVG and a .368 wOBA.

If we’re looking at Orioles bats, hopefully Mark Trumbo returns from his minor injury. Trumbo has hit .394 with four home runs over his last 10 games. Cedric Mullins has started his Major League career off very hot, posting a hit in three of the four games he’s played in and has reached base eight times in those four contests. Joey Rickard has actually been doing it all lately for the O’s. He has three extra-base hits over his last eight games and has also swiped a bag over that span.

It’s been weird, but Jonathan Villar is hitting below the "Mendoza Line" against southpaws on the year, but he’s hitting for power posting four homers and a .367 wOBA. Tim Beckham has three homers over his last six games and hits right at the top or middle of the lineup. Austin Wynns is an excellent option at catcher for today’s slate and is a great salary relief on DK. He’s hitting .375 over his last 10 games and loves hitting at his home park posting a .292 AVG.

Primary Option(s): Michael Conforto , Jeff McNeil, Mark Trumbo , Cedric Mullins, Joey Rickard , Austin Jackson

Secondary Option(s): Wilmer Flores , Jonathan Villar , Tim Beckham , Todd Frazier , Austin Wynns