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 emphasize hitters with numbers much higher than the 2015 averages.
5 Things to Watch:
1. Here are the three highest over/unders for Friday, provided by OddsShark…
2. On the flipside of things, the WAS/NYM game has the lowest over/under (6.5 total runs). That matchup will feature Stephen Strasburg and Noah Syndergaard.
3. Chris Sale (-300) and Jose Fernandez (-270) are the largest favorites of the evening. Sale’s White Sox host Atlanta and Fernandez’s Marlins will welcome the Reds into town.
4. There is rain in the forecast in the LAA/BAL game. Keep that in mind when setting your lineups tonight.
5. For the BvP crowd: Adrian Gonzalez is 11-for-32 (.344) with four home runs against Andrew Cashner … Michael Bourn is 9-for-20 (.450) with four extra-base hits against Jeff Samardzija … Finally, David Ortiz is 12-for-31 (.387) with six extra-base hits (two homers) against Chris Archer.
Yesterday’s recap:
On Thursday, John Halpin recommended Jason Hammel as your DFS starting pitcher. Hammel didn’t earn the win, but he had a decent outing for such a low price (5 IP, 2 ER, and 6 Ks). Also, Mike Trout didn’t homer for Halpin, but he walked twice and even stole home.
Must-start of the day: Trevor Story, COL
He leads the Rockies with a .291 ISO against righties this season. Last night, Story homered twice and seems to be back on the hot streak he had when the season began.
Deal of the day: Jose Abreu, CWS
I get that he’s been struggling this year, but a power hitter like Abreu shouldn’t be priced under $3,000 on FD or under $3,500 on DK. I’m buying.
Avoid of the day: Paul Goldschmidt, ARI
He is 2-for-18 (.111) with eight strikeouts against Jeff Samardzija.
Stack of the day: Chicago White Sox
With the expensive pitchers on tonight’s slate, it will be difficult to stack Coors Field teams. However, the White Sox heavy hitters are priced to sell. Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson and Adam Eaton form a solid trio for your DFS entries.
Starting pitchers
Jose Fernandez, MIA – He was rocked in his last start (5.2 IP, 6 ER), but now he’s back at home where Fernandez has a 1.72 ERA this season. He’s the most expensive option, but the pitcher is well worth the investment.
Chris Sale, CWS – He’s tallied at least seven strikeouts in five straight starts. I’m thinking this outing tonight could solidify Sale’s bid to start for the AL in the All-Star Game.
Stephen Strasburg/Noah Syndergaard, WAS/NYM – Both are great options and can rack-up the strikeouts, but the bonus points for winning will be a risk with either play. I’d prefer Stras over Thor.
Matt Shoemaker, LAA – If the weather doesn’t worry you, take a look at Shoemaker. He’s struck out at least six batters in eight of the past nine games and already had one great outing against the Orioles this season (7.1 IP, 0 ER, and 12 Ks).
Catchers
Buster Posey, SF – He has a .258 ISO and a .409 wOBA against lefties this year.
Cameron Rupp, PHI – He has a .212 ISO against righties this year.
Victor Martinez, DET – He has a .218 ISO and a .390 wOBA against lefties this season.
First basemen
Edwin Encarnacion, TOR – He has a .243 ISO against righties in 2016.
David Ortiz, BOS – (See “5 Things”)
Mark Reynolds, COL – He has a .234 ISO against righties this year.
Tommy Joseph, PHI – He has a .231 ISO against righties this season.
Second basemen
Ian Kinsler, DET – He has a .223 ISO and a .399 wOBA against lefties this year.
Logan Forsythe, TB – He has a .324 wOBA against righties this season.
Third basemen
Josh Donaldson, TOR – He has a .309 ISO and .417 wOBA against righties this season.
Nolan Arenado, COL – He has a .286 ISO and a .376 wOBA against righties this year.
Nick Castellanos, DET – He has a .262 ISO against lefties in 2016.
Maikel Franco, PHI – He has a .212 ISO against right-handed pitchers this season.
Evan Longoria, TB – He has a .244 ISO against righties in 2016.
Shortstops
Trevor Story, COL – “Must-start of the day”
Corey Seager, LAD – He has a .240 ISO against righties this season.
Troy Tulowitzki, TOR – He has a .251 ISO against righties this year.
Brad Miller, TB – He has a .220 ISO against righties in 2016.
Outfielders
Carlos Gonzalez, COL – He has a .406 wOBA against righties in 2016.
Jackie Bradley Jr., BOS – He has a .302 ISO against righties this year.
Michael Saunders, TOR – He has a .239 ISO against righties this season.
Cody Ashe, PHI – He has a .228 ISO against righties this year.
