Top-Tier
Trea Turner, LAD – Turner is scorching hot, slashing a ridiculous .396/.439/.623 over his last 12 games with two home runs, six doubles, four steals, and 11 runs scored while averaging 11.5 points per game on DK in that span. He has destroyed left-handed pitching this season, slashing .398/.440/.683 against lefties with 19 extra base hits in 123 at-bats (6.5 at-bats per XBH), compared to .296/.343/.457 against righties with 29 extra base hits in 348 at-bats (12.0 at-bats per XBH). He’s also loved his new home ballpark, slashing an incredible .382/.424/.564 with four steals across 15 games at Dodger Stadium this season. Turner should be able to keep the momentum going today against Smyly.
Kyle Schwarber, BOS – Schwarber is hitting .350 with two home runs, three RBI, five walks, and five runs scored over his last five games and he is slashing .349/.500/.581 across 13 total games with the Red Sox. He has done the majority of his damage this season against right-handed pitching as he is hitting .275 with a .661 SLG against them and has 25 home runs with 50 RBI against them, compared to a .244 BA and .356 SLG against southpaws with two home runs and six RBI. Lefties are slashing .271/.402/.457 against Patino this season, compared to the .205/.244/.378 line that righties have produced.
Mid-Tier
Raimel Tapia, COL – Tapia is expected to make his return tonight and why bother wasting any time on considering him an option. He is having a great season, hitting .288 with five home runs, 19 steals, 45 RBI, and 62 runs scored. In two rehab games he went 3-6 with a steal. He has hit for a slightly higher average against lefties this season, BUT all ALL five of his home runs and 15 of his 19 steals are against righties, so the counting stats (the things that mostly matter) are against righties. Like most Rockies bats, he’s better at home, but he’s been fine on the road with a .267 BA and 11 swipes, so this game being in Texas doesn’t worry me.
Kyle Tucker, HOU – Tucker is having a very strong season, hitting .278 with 22 home runs, 26 doubles, 11 steals, 71 RBI, and 62 runs scored. He is currently on a five-game hitting streak, hitting .381 with a home run, four RBI, and five runs scored in that span with three multi-hit games, averaging 11.2 points per game on DK in that span. He has excelled against righties this season, slashing .288/.356/.540 against them with ALL 11 of his steals, compared to .262/.304/.490 against lefties. While Flexen has pitched well this season, it’s hard to not have interest in Tucker at this price in this matchup.
Bargain Bin
A.J. Pollock, LAD – Pollock is having a nice year, hitting .301 with 16 home runs, eight steals, and 56 RBI. He is hitting .351 with three home runs, six steals, nine doubles, and 20 RBI over his last 29 games while averaging 9.4 points per game on DK in that span. He has very close splits this year, but has been slightly better against lefties with a slash line of .303/.367/.514. He’s been amazing at home this year too, slashing .324/.394/.568, compared to .284/.320/.479 on the road. The Dodgers offense in general should be strong tonight with Turner and Pollock being two that I would consider great plays, but someone like Pujols also is intriguing.
Christian Walker, ARZ – Walker comes into this game slashing .325/.426/.525 over his last 12 games (10 starts) with two home runs and eight RBI, averaging 10.0 DK points per game in that span in games that he has started. Walker has always been a guy that does more damage against righties and this season all seven of his home runs have been off a righty. Paddack as a name may scare people, but I mean this is a guy with a 5.13 ERA and 1.32 WHIP… he’s far from scary. He has major reverse splits too; righties are slashing an insane .330/.361/.541 against him, compared to the .225/.270/.369 mark that lefties have produced against him.