For those who are unfamiliar with my thought process, I aim to add as many home run hitters as possible to my daily fantasy baseball lineups. One way of doing that is to look at a player’s isolated power numbers (ISO). The ISO statistic removes singles and provides a larger weight for each extra-base hit.
I also use the weighted on-base average (wOBA) metric. This stat takes every positive outcome into consideration.
Last year, the league average was a .150 ISO and a .313 wOBA. So, when you see me list a player’s ISO or wOBA, you know why I do it.
5 Things to Watch:
1. Here are the three highest over/unders for Monday, provided by OddsShark…
2. The Cubs are very strong favorites tonight as they travel to San Diego (-223). Jon Lester is on the hill for Chicago and has recorded at least seven strikeouts in four of the past five starts. He’s also allowed two earned runs or less in four consecutive outings.
3. To me, it’s always noteworthy when a starting pitcher returns to a hometown or former ballpark. That’s the case for David Price, as he pitches in Tampa Bay tonight. While Price has struggled at Tropicana Field as the road pitcher, he dominated the Rays the last time they came to Boston: 8 IP, 0 ER, and 10 Ks.
4. Surprisingly, rain shouldn’t be a factor tonight!
5. For the BvP enthusiasts: Miguel Montero is 6-15 (.400) with four extra-base hits against Edwin Jackson…Andrew McCutchen is 5-11 (.455) against Doug Fister…Also, Adam Lind is 5-14 (.357) with four extra-base hits against Michael Pineda.
Yesterday’s recap:
Gio Gonzalez was D.J. Foster’s must-start on Sunday. While he didn’t factor in the decision, Gonzalez struck out eight batters in 5.2 innings of work. Foster also foreshadowed a Bryce Harper homer run.
Must-Start of the day: Jake Lamb, ARI
He is 2-for-21 (.095) in the past week, which has brought his DFS price tag down tremendously. Lamb still has a .298 ISO against right-handed pitchers this year. I’m not even considering another option at third base tonight. He’s a must-start/deal combo, which is the best kind of must-start.
Deal of the day: Gary Sanchez, NYY
His salary is growing by the game. Last week, Sanchez went 11-for-21 with four homers. He currently has a .426 ISO and a .539 wOBA against righties this season.
Avoid of the day: Yangervis Solarte, SD
He is 0-11 with four strikeouts against Lester.
Stack of the day: Colorado Rockies
This might be the first time I’m suggesting a Rockies stack when they weren’t at home. Jimmy Nelson has allowed at least six earned runs in three of the past four outings. Since the All-Star break, Nelson is 1-6 with a 6.43 ERA. As for which four to choose, I’d stick to David Dahl, Carlos Gonzalez, DJ LeMahieu, and Charlie Blackmon.
Starting pitchers:
Jon Lester, CHC – (See “5 Things”)
David Price, BOS – (See “5 Things”)
Dylan Bundy, BAL – In my two-start pitcher piece for this week, I mentioned why I’m a fan of Bundy. His price tag makes him very usable in DraftKings as an SP2.
Catchers:
Manny Pina, MIL – He has a .250 ISO in 19 plate appearances against righties this year.
Gary Sanchez, NYY – “Deal of the day.”
First basemen:
Paul Goldschmidt, ARI – He has a .373 wOBA against righties this season.
Freddie Freeman, ATL – He has a .272 ISO against righties this year.
Anthony Rizzo, CHC – He has a .275 ISO against righties in 2016.
Second basemen:
DJ LeMahieu, COL – “Stack of the day.”
Ben Zobrist, CHC – He has a .361 wOBA against righties this year.
Third basemen:
Jake Lamb, ARI – “Deal of the day.”
Kris Bryant, CHC – He has a .251 ISO against righties this season.
Shortstops:
Jean Segura, ARI – He has a .366 wOBA against righties this year.
Orlando Arcia, MIL – He’s the punt play. Cheap price tag and bats towards the top of the order.
Outfielders:
Chris Carter, MIL – He has a .237 ISO against righties this year.
Ryan Braun, MIL – He has a .232 ISO against righties this season.
Carlos Gonzalez, COL – “Stack of the day.”
Charlie Blackmon, COL – “Stack of the day.”
Yasmany Tomas, ARI – He has a .216 ISO against righties in 2016.
David Dahl, COL – “Stack of the day.”
