We have an afternoon slate today and there are two main offenses I am targeting. The first being the Mets, who have scored 34 runs over the past four games (8.5 per game) and have a lineup filled with hitters who have had great success against Corbin. The other being the Royals, who have some hot bats and who have had success against lefties this season (though you will only see one player listed from them, I like others as well).
Top-Tier
Salvador Perez, KC – Over his last 16 games Perez is hitting .305 with 11 home runs, 24 RBI, and 14 runs scored. That was not a typo; he has 11 home runs over his last 16 games. He is now hitting .277 on the year with 41 home runs and 102 RBI. Again, not a typo… we have a catcher sitting on 41 home runs. He has absolutely crushed left-handed pitching this season, slashing .319/.357/.688 against them, compared to .261/.302/.497 against righties. He is expensive, but he is very much worth it.
Pete Alonso, NYM – Alonso is hitting .289 with 12 home runs across 48 games since the All-Star break. He has hit for a higher average against righties, but he has a .356 OBP and .591 SLG against lefties, compared to .339 and .473 against righties, respectfully. That is backed by the fact that he has 14 home runs in 136 at-bats against lefties, compared to just 15 home runs in 330 at-bats against righties this year. On top of that, Alonso is 8-27 (.296) with three home runs against Corbin in his career.
Mid-Tier
Javier Báez, NYM – Baez went a perfect 4-4 yesterday with a home run and a stolen base and he is now hitting .324 with four home runs and 10 runs scored over his last 10 games. He has been better against lefties this season than righties, slashing .263/.342/.545 against southpaws, compared to .247/.282/.478 against righties. On top of that, Baez is 5-17 (.297) with two home runs against Corbin in his career. I didn’t mention this in Alonso’s section, but Corbin has a 6.26 ERA this season and makes this Mets stack even more intriguing.
Jonathan Villar, NYM – Villar is super hot at the dish, slashing .440/.491/.740 across the past 13 games with three home runs, a steal, seven RBI, and 10 runs scored. He is hitting .274 against lefties this season, compared to .261 against righties. On top of all that, Villar has dominated this head-to-head matchup, going 10-21 (.476) against Corbin in his career. It is hard to see Corbin being the guy that slows Villar down right now.
Bargain Bin
Lane Thomas, WAS – Thomas has been great with the Nationals, slashing .328/.403/.567 with three home runs and 12 runs scored across 19 games with the club. He has been operating as the team’s leadoff hitter. He has loved his new home ballpark, slashing .364/.436/.667 with three home runs and eight runs scored through 10 games played at Nationals Park this season. Today he faces Williams, who has a 4.27 ERA this season and reverse splits as righties have slashed .286/.344/.464 against him, compared to the .254/.329/.423 line righties have produced.
Michael Conforto, NYM – Conforto has been super hot, but his price still hasn’t been adjusted. He is slashing .308/.400/.654 over his last eight games with three home runs, one steal, 12 RBI, and right runs scored. He has been better on the road this year, with a .229/.345/.394, compared to .216/.339/.353 at home. He has not been great vs. lefties this year or in his career, but he has been incredible against Corbin, going 10-27 (.370) with FIVE home runs and 12 RBI against him. His most home runs and most RBI against any pitcher in the entire league. METS STACK.