(*) BATTERS: Platoon leaders
Aug 11 2014
Fantasy owners are always looking for any sort of edge wherever they can get it. Those looking to boost their offensive numbers and have the roster flexibility required may want to consider utilizing platoons. This week we’ll focus on lower profile batters with the best platoon splits so far this season. Established higher profile batters will show up in each of these lists, but it is advised to leave those guys in the lineup and not try to play matchups with them. The goal here is to highlight some lower profile batters who can be spotted into lineups to take advantage of what they do best and in most cases benched at other times.
We will begin with the hitters who have excelled against right-handed pitching (minimum of 80 PA through games of 8/8):
Name ABvsRHP BAvsRHP OPSvsRHP TotalAB TotalBA TotalOPS ================ ======= ======= ======== ======= ======= ======== Adam Lind 149 .369 1.004 178 .320 .878 Yasiel Puig 315 .327 .982 401 .314 .932 Corey Dickerson 224 .330 .979 276 .322 .944 José Abreu 299 .301 .971 397 .302 .973 Andrew McCutchen 337 .323 .967 412 .311 .947 Edwin Encarnación 258 .283 .965 328 .277 .959 Michael Brantley 305 .348 .953 437 .320 .891 Mike Trout 314 .303 .953 430 .298 .958 Robinson Canó 262 .359 .946 424 .335 .873 Kevin Kiermaier 163 .313 .943 207 .290 .859 J.D. Martinez 176 .330 .943 257 .304 .915 Lucas Duda 284 .285 .942 351 .259 .847 A.J. Pollock 139 .338 .941 177 .316 .920 Devin Mesoraco 210 .290 .938 270 .289 .914 Troy Tulowitzki 237 .321 .930 315 .340 1.035 Justin Morneau 273 .341 .920 374 .316 .851 Seth Smith 284 .296 .904 319 .288 .882 Adam LaRoche 248 .290 .899 346 .272 .823 Matt Adams 291 .340 .895 370 .314 .835 Kyle Seager 268 .284 .894 421 .278 .823 Paul Goldschmidt 333 .282 .894 406 .300 .938 Conor Gillaspie 254 .343 .892 336 .313 .812 Miguel Cabrera 306 .320 .892 425 .306 .881 Josh Harrison 245 .318 .888 328 .314 .861 Giancarlo Stanton 345 .270 .888 429 .289 .939 Scooter Gennett 275 .331 .885 310 .306 .818 Adrián González 309 .298 .883 424 .264 .773 Josh Reddick 163 .294 .878 239 .255 .736 Juan Francisco 212 .255 .873 249 .233 .800 Delmon Young 92 .348 .872 152 .316 .797
Kevin Kiermaier (OF, TAM) wasn’t on the radar of many heading into the season, but he has been a very pleasant surprise. The 24-year-old had never hit more than six homers in a season prior to this year. He has struggled mightily in limited exposure to left-handed pitching (.529 OPS with 15 K in 45 AB), but the team typically benches him against southpaw starters. While the power numbers should fall off a bit, he could put up slightly more stolen bases over the balance of the season, provided he continues to use his 147 Spd as often as he did last month (17% SBO%).
Seth Smith (OF, SD) has been a bright spot on what has been the worst offense in the majors this season. The 31-year-old has long been a valuable asset in real-life baseball as a platoon player (Career: .853 OPS with 77 HR in 1,956 AB vs. RHP; .593 OPS with 8 HR and 100 K in 399 AB vs. LHP). He has shown very solid skills across the board so far in 2014 (80% ct%, 0.76 Eye, 122 HctX and 120 xPX) and should continue to produce against right-handed pitching.
Adam Lind (1B, TOR) is expected to return from the disabled list as soon as August 12. He has missed a good chunk of the season with various injuries, the latest being a non-displaced fracture in his right big toe. However, he has produced when in the lineup. The 30-year-old’s ct%, Eye, HctX, and FB% are all up from a year ago. With an .860 career OPS and 123 HR in 2,470 AB vs. RHP and .590 OPS in 825 career AB vs. LHP, it’s easy to see why he typically takes a seat against southpaws. It’s worth noting that Lind’s hr/f currently stands at a mere 8% which is well below the 19% he posted in 2013 and his 15% career mark. Meanwhile, his 129 xPX is 10 points better than his career 119.
Josh Harrison (2B/3B/OF, PIT) is in the midst of a breakout season. He has launched eight of his ten homers against same-sided pitching. He’s no slouch against southpaws either, slashing .314/.333/.465 with 2 HR and 12 K in 86 AB. Overall, a .283 xBA hints at some regression in batting average, but it’s tough to complain about a player who possesses an 83% ct%, 133 xPX, 129 HctX and 131 Spd, particularly one who can play multiple positions.
Josh Reddick (OF, OAK) has been plagued by numerous injuries over the past couple years. However, since coming off the disabled list July 21, he has been swinging the bat much better (.333 with 4 HR and 10 RBI in 60 AB). Over that span, he owns a 95% ct%, 0.67 Eye, 124 HctX and 109 xPX. All eight of his homers have come against right-handed pitching. He has managed a measly .429 OPS with 19 K in 76 AB vs. southpaws this season.
Now let’s take a look at those who feast on southpaws (minimum of 80 PA through games of 8/8)
Name ABvsLHP BAvsLHP OPSvsLHP TotalAB TotalBA TotalOPS ================== ======= ======= ======== ======= ======= ======== Troy Tulowitzki 78 .397 1.348 315 .340 1.035 José Bautista 89 .382 1.195 394 .297 .933 Giancarlo Stanton 84 .369 1.149 429 .289 .939 Victor Martínez 109 .367 1.117 383 .321 .940 Paul Goldschmidt 73 .384 1.115 406 .300 .938 Adam Jones 118 .364 1.097 469 .284 .791 Josh Donaldson 101 .277 1.080 436 .245 .790 Scott Van Slyke 72 .264 1.072 154 .247 .864 Drew Stubbs 97 .371 1.034 268 .306 .855 Derek Norris 99 .364 1.029 248 .294 .853 Justin Upton 77 .312 1.015 402 .281 .853 David Wright 101 .396 .996 437 .270 .712 Alex Rios 95 .358 .990 420 .293 .735 Ben Zobrist 104 .385 .983 390 .282 .797 Jose Altuve 122 .418 .982 475 .333 .803 José Abreu 98 .306 .980 397 .302 .973 Mike Trout 116 .284 .972 430 .298 .958 Rajai Davis 115 .365 .959 315 .295 .755 Nelson Cruz 103 .320 .957 431 .258 .831 Khris Davis 92 .315 .951 381 .252 .781 Martín Prado 79 .354 .950 429 .268 .687 Steve Tolleson 82 .341 .944 131 .244 .700 Edwin Encarnación 70 .257 .938 328 .277 .959 Hanley Ramírez 78 .295 .934 354 .277 .822 Wilin Rosario 81 .296 .934 298 .255 .702 Chris Iannetta 92 .304 .930 212 .264 .784 Yan Gomes 102 .353 .927 354 .285 .812 Anthony Rizzo 121 .298 .923 422 .280 .887 Nolan Arenado 86 .314 .919 306 .284 .794 Adrián Béltre 87 .333 .916 386 .319 .875
Scott Van Slyke (OF, LAD) has not been able to earn an everyday job in the crowded Dodgers outfield, but he has carved out a nice niche as a guy who can bash left-handed pitching. In 162 career AB vs. southpaws, the 28-year-old has a .235/.354/.619 slash line with 12 HR, 25 RBI and a 0.65 Eye. He is expected to continue to start against lefties in place of Carl Crawford (OF, LAD) and occasionally at first base. As you can see, even against left-handers, he hasn’t offered much in the way of batting average, but the power is legit.
Rajai Davis (OF, DET) was a big winner in the recent trade of Austin Jackson (OF, SEA) to Seattle. Davis went from fourth outfielder to primary centerfielder. The 33-year-old has posted his lowest Spd (103) since 2006 and his lowest SBO% (42%) since 2010 while also posting his best ct% (82%) since 2010. Overall, he has still had a fine season and should continue to be a great asset for steals.
Drew Stubbs (OF, COL) has put up some very good numbers across the board so far this season. However, a 67% ct%, 0.19 Eye, 42% h% and .259 xBA put a bit of a damper on things looking forward. That being said, he can still be a useful player against lefties. Stubbs and Corey Dickerson (OF, COL) have formed a nice platoon for the Rockies. It will be interesting to see what happens when Mike Cuddyer (OF/1B, COL) returns from the disabled list. Cuddyer, who hasn’t played since suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left shoulder socket in early June, began a minor league rehab assignment on August 6 and hopes to return around mid-August. Carlos Gonzalez (OF, COL) was also placed on the disabled list recently.
Khris Davis (OF, MIL) got off to a slow start this season before rebounding with a strong May and June. However, he has cooled a bit over the past few weeks. Still, he has a 163 xPX, 132 HctX, 40% FB% and .275 xBA overall this season. The recent addition of Gerardo Parra (OF, MIL) could cut into the 26-year-old’s playing time just a bit, but he should continue to be a strong play against southpaws. Against same-sided pitching, Davis owns a .232/.288/.439 slash line with 12 HR, 36 RBI, 0.24 Eye and 74 K in 289 AB.
Dexter Fowler (OF, HOU), who has been out of action since late June with a right intercostal strain, began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 8 and hopes to be activated from the disabled list this week. He has always hit lefties well (.299/.390/.433 with 10 HR, 64 RBI, 20 SB in 776 career AB), but he has taken that to an even higher level so far this year. Though his 145 Spd is ten points better than a year ago, his current 9% SBO% is down 11% from a year ago. The 28-year-old can be particularly useful in OBP leagues with a .377 OBP overall and .426 OBP vs. LHP.
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