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 Wednesday, provided by OddsShark...
COL/TEX - 10.5
NYY/BOS - 9.5
ATL/MIL - 9.5
2. Jason Hammel and the Cubs lead the way with a -210 favorite from Vegas. This season, Hammel is 6-1 with a 2.24 ERA at home.
3. Rain is in the forecast for the ARI/NYM game. Keep that in mind if you're looking to use one of those starting pitchers.
4. We have three early games on the docket today: SF/MIA, PHI/LAD, and CLE/WAS. I'm removing those teams from today's player pool.
5. For the BvP readers: Andrew McCutchen is 13-for-31 (.419) with three home runs against Edwin Jackson. ... Hanley Ramirez is 8-for-19 (.421) with one homer against Nathan Eovaldi. ... Also, Miguel Cabrera is 11-for-26 (.423) with two extra-base hits against Felix Hernandez.
Yesterday's recap:
Kenta Maeda was great as the must-start (5 IP, 4 Ks). The Reds were the suggested stack and they compiled seven runs. Also, Rick Porcello continues to own the Yankees and pitch phenomenally well at home. Remember that on Sunday when Porcello and the Red Sox host the Diamondbacks.
Must-Start of the day: Adrian Beltre, TEX
He has a .218 ISO against lefties this year. Beltre has also tallied at least two hits in each of the past three games.
Deal of the day: Robbie Ray, ARI
His price is ideal on FanDuel ($7,800). His ERA is high (4.83), but Ray has struck out at least nine batters in three consecutive starts.
Avoid of the day: Nelson Cruz, SEA
He is 5-for-28 (.179) with seven strikeout against Justin Verlander.
Stack of the day: Toronto Blue Jays
Blake Snell has been solid for Tampa Bay this season, but he's still a lefty walking into the Rogers Centre to face the Blue Jays' powerful lineup. Devon Travis is on fire (.419 AVG in the past week). Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista are also very usable tonight.
Starting pitchers:
Robbie Ray, ARI - "Deal of the day."
Jason Hammel, CHC - (See "5 Things")
Justin Verlander, DET - He's tallied at least nine strikeouts in four of the past five outings. Verlander has also allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts.
Catchers:
Jonathan Lucroy, TEX - He has a .217 ISO against lefties this year.
Stephen Vogt, OAK - He has a .328 wOBA against righites this season.
Russell Martin, TOR - He has a .303 wOBA against lefties this year.
First basemen:
David Ortiz, BOS - He has a .359 ISO against righties this year.
Hanley Ramirez, BOS - (See "5 Things")
Edwin Encarnacion, TOR - He has a .313 ISO against lefties this season.
Second basemen:
Scooter Gennett, MIL - He has a .307 wOBA against righties this year.
Devon Travis, TOR - He is 13-31 (.419) with three homers in the past week.
Third basemen:
Nolan Arenado, COL - He has a .296 ISO and a .404 wOBA against lefties this season.
Adrian Beltre, TEX - "Must-start of the day."
Shortstops:
Jonathan Villar, MIL - He has a .348 wOBA against righties this year.
Troy Tulowitzki, TOR - He has a .327 wOBA against lefties this season.
Outfielders:
Shin-Soo Choo, TEX - He has a .361 ISO and a .493 wOBA against lefties this year.
Ryan Braun, MIL - He has a .226 ISO against righties in 2016.
Carlos Beltran, TEX - He has a .289 ISO and a .438 wOBA against southpaws this season.
Jackie Bradley Jr., BOS - He has a .268 ISO against righties this year.
Andrew McCutchen, PIT - (See "5 Things")
Jose Bautista, TOR - He has a .214 ISO and a .322 wOBA against lefties this season.
Ian Desmond, TEX - He has a .212 ISO and a .413 wOBA against lefties in 2016.
Carlos Gonzalez, COL - He has a .271 ISO against lefties this year.
