MLB DFS: Thursday Cheat Sheet

MLB DFS: Thursday Cheat Sheet

This article is part of our DFS MLB series.

Here's a quick glance at Thursday's slate(s).

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    Park Factors & Lines

    Park factors in this piece are a three-year average from 2015-2017, indexed (100 = average). For example, left-handed home runs at Guaranteed Rate Field (home of the White Sox) have a three-year index of 122, which means there have been 22% more homers hit by lefties from all teams during that span in that park compared to a completely neutral environment. Left-handed hitters have a significant advantage when hitting at Guaranteed Rate Field.

    AT&T Park (home of the Giants), has a three-year run index of 90, which means that games played at AT&T park have had 10% fewer runs scored overall than a completely neutral environment. Overall offensive production is reduced by a significant amount for games played in San Francisco, making it a safer environment than most for pitchers.

    LeftiesRighties
    Road StarterHome StarterHome TmRAVGHRAVGHRKO/UHmL1st Pitch
    Zack GreinkeTrevor RichardsMarlins84938691831037.014512:10 PM
    Sean ManaeaMichael FulmerTigers103981041031011049.0-1101:10 PM
    Jake OdorizziLucas GiolitoWhite Sox9590122991101069.01202:10 PM
    Mike LeakeJimmy YacabonisOrioles1061031141011219410.01353:05 PM
    Jose QuintanaClayton KershawDodgers909511396901037.5-1853:10 PM
    Jon GrayChris StrattonGiants90975310074997.51003:45 PM
    Tanner RoarkAaron NolaPhillies9895120971241098.0-1357:05 PM
    Jaime BarriaBrian JohnsonRed Sox114112781091059910.5-1257:10 PM
    Lance McCullersRyne StanekRays92959794901107.51407:10 PM
    Junior GuerraAnthony DeSclafaniReds104100119981081069.0-1107:10 PM

    Pitcher Skills

    These stats look at each starting pitcher's stats since the start of last season.

    The final two columns are team stats for each pitcher's opponent.

    OwRC+ is the team wRC+ for the current season, against the handedness of that pitcher.

    TeamK% is the strikeout rate of the opposing team for the current season, against the handedness of that pitcher.

    Note: Opponent team matchup data from 2018 season.

    PlayerOppIPK%BB%K-BBHR/9ERAWHIPDKFDOwRC+OsK%
    Jaime Barria (R)at BOS50.320.16.713.41.613.401.21$6,600$6,10012019.0
    Anthony DeSclafani (R)v MIL22.019.68.710.92.054.091.36$6,400$6,70010024.3
    Michael Fulmer (R)v OAK251.018.36.811.50.863.941.19$7,900$7,70011022.3
    Lucas Giolito (R)v MIN123.715.210.94.31.465.311.37$4,900$6,2009419.7
    Jon Gray (R)at SF 198.326.36.719.60.914.491.37$9,500$8,40010623.6
    Zack Greinke (R)at MIA298.326.65.421.21.243.351.09$10,600$9,8008922.9
    Junior Guerra (R)at CIN147.022.311.610.81.593.921.32$8,200$8,40010120.0
    Brian Johnson (L)v LAA63.019.56.513.01.294.431.46$5,500$5,8009419.7
    Clayton Kershaw (L)v CHC227.029.04.724.31.192.461.00$11,700$10,50010621.8
    Mike Leake (R)at BAL286.715.95.010.91.043.991.26$6,400$8,0008724.3
    Sean Manaea (L)at DET259.319.66.712.81.113.991.23$10,800$8,70011919.4
    Lance McCullers (R)at TB 213.025.78.517.30.764.061.25$11,100$10,4009622.7
    Aaron Nola (R)v WAS269.326.07.218.80.803.171.14$12,100$9,7009621.0
    Jake Odorizzi (R)at CWS223.021.710.111.51.784.441.32$6,300$6,5009724.8
    Jose Quintana (L)at LAD269.024.98.616.31.144.181.27$7,400$7,30010321.7
    Trevor Richards (R)v ARI44.020.910.510.50.824.911.43$6,500$6,0008023.5
    Tanner Roark (R)at PHI274.021.08.312.71.184.531.30$7,100$7,3009626.4
    Ryne Stanek (R)v HOU42.729.512.616.91.693.801.38$4,000$5,50011719.2
    Chris Stratton (R)v COL145.718.99.99.00.803.951.41$6,900$7,5008223.4
    Jimmy Yacabonis (R)v SEA23.08.718.3-9.60.785.481.74$4,300$5,50011119.5

    Pitcher Splits

    These splits cover each pitcher's performance against left-handed and right-handed hitters since the start of the 2016 season.

    Stats highlighted yellow indicate matchups favoring the pitcher. Stats highlighted blue indicate matchups favoring opposing hitters.

    v. Leftiesv. Righties
    NameOppK%BB%K-BBHR/9wOBAK%BB%K-BBHR/9wOBA
    Jaime Barria (R)at BOS22.54.917.60.710.27517.88.49.32.520.369
    Anthony DeSclafani (R)v MIL21.45.316.01.700.35719.67.512.10.880.272
    Michael Fulmer (R)v OAK18.57.111.40.830.29219.76.213.50.930.287
    Lucas Giolito (R)v MIN12.312.9-0.61.730.36616.99.27.61.620.332
    Jon Gray (R)at SF 25.47.617.91.010.31227.07.319.70.850.319
    Zack Greinke (R)at MIA23.85.418.41.130.29924.75.918.81.390.302
    Junior Guerra (R)at CIN21.811.610.11.200.30121.29.212.01.210.302
    Brian Johnson (L)v LAA21.76.715.00.000.24118.96.512.41.700.364
    Clayton Kershaw (L)v CHC31.22.428.81.040.24529.64.125.60.870.244
    Mike Leake (R)at BAL13.95.58.41.090.32318.23.814.40.980.317
    Sean Manaea (L)at DET21.04.416.60.740.25519.87.112.71.270.321
    Lance McCullers (R)at TB 30.78.921.80.580.28323.610.413.30.820.330
    Aaron Nola (R)v WAS22.09.112.90.790.29829.24.624.60.820.277
    Jake Odorizzi (R)at CWS23.18.614.51.460.29320.48.911.61.710.339
    Jose Quintana (L)at LAD24.74.220.50.500.26923.28.414.81.220.313
    Trevor Richards (R)v ARI27.011.215.70.410.28615.79.85.91.230.374
    Tanner Roark (R)at PHI19.310.29.11.120.32322.06.615.30.860.277
    Ryne Stanek (R)v HOU33.310.123.20.000.24127.214.013.22.770.364
    Chris Stratton (R)v COL15.212.13.00.900.34022.77.615.10.710.304
    Jimmy Yacabonis (R)v SEA10.526.3-15.80.000.3107.613.6-6.11.170.343

    The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Derek VanRiper plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: RotoWireDVR, DraftKings: BentleysChair, Yahoo: d.vanriper,.
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Derek VanRiper
    Derek was a frequent writer and media host. During his tenure, he'd been a two-time finalist for the FSWA's Baseball Writer of the Year award, and winner of the Best Football Article on the Web (2009) and Best Baseball Article on the Web (2010) awards. Derek also had hosted RotoWire's shows on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (XM 87, Sirius 210).
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