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
    James PaxtonLuis SeverinoYankees1039514299123927.5-2101:05 PM
    Rick PorcelloKyle GibsonTwins10510395105113938.51101:10 PM
    Steven MatzKyle FreelandRockies1381211171161188711.0-1503:10 PM
    Kevin GausmanMax ScherzerNationals1009889105114987.0-3157:05 PM
    Zack GodleyChad KuhlPirates969710110383948.0-1107:05 PM
    Kyle HendricksMatt HarveyReds104100119981081069.51407:10 PM
    Chris BassittLucas GiolitoWhite Sox9590122991101069.01258:10 PM
    Carlos MartinezBrent SuterBrewers105103131961081039.0-1208:10 PM
    Aaron SanchezTyler SkaggsAngels919691961021097.5-16010:07 PM
    Tyson RossMadison BumgarnerGiants90975310074997.5-15010:15 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%
    Chris Bassitt (R)at CWS11.018.44.114.30.822.451.09$6,300$6,8009225.1
    Madison Bumgarner (L)v SD 128.320.94.816.21.403.511.13$9,400$8,6009925.9
    Kyle Freeland (L)v NYM241.317.38.68.61.013.921.40$6,100$7,4008025.2
    Kevin Gausman (R)at WAS269.022.17.714.41.444.621.46$6,600$7,2009620.9
    Kyle Gibson (R)v BOS240.719.59.310.31.204.451.41$5,900$8,20011919.2
    Lucas Giolito (R)v OAK116.714.511.23.31.475.321.37$4,300$6,00010922.8
    Zack Godley (R)at PIT232.325.09.415.61.013.841.27$7,200$7,9009818.7
    Matt Harvey (R)v CHC155.016.19.46.71.976.391.57$4,700$5,60010721.0
    Kyle Hendricks (R)at CIN223.320.56.913.61.253.221.17$7,600$7,50010119.7
    Chad Kuhl (R)v ARI236.321.310.011.31.104.151.43$6,700$8,4008023.8
    Carlos Martinez (R)at MIL267.724.69.814.80.983.431.26$8,000$7,30010124.2
    Steven Matz (L)at COL132.018.48.210.21.574.701.39$4,700$6,40010521.3
    James Paxton (L)at NYY227.729.46.822.60.753.201.09$8,300$9,80013021.8
    Rick Porcello (R)at MIN295.721.25.415.81.404.351.32$9,400$8,8009620.5
    Tyson Ross (R)at SF 131.020.311.49.01.035.081.44$7,800$7,40010224.1
    Aaron Sanchez (R)at LAA114.717.312.35.01.104.321.56$6,400$7,70011319.5
    Max Scherzer (R)v BAL301.335.96.729.20.902.360.88$14,500$12,2008424.2
    Luis Severino (R)v SEA292.329.86.523.30.802.681.00$12,000$10,80011020.0
    Tyler Skaggs (L)v TOR165.023.27.515.81.153.711.31$10,700$9,0008921.2
    Brent Suter (L)v STL157.019.15.813.41.153.841.25$6,500$6,80010121.3

    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
    Chris Bassitt (R)at CWS18.48.010.30.860.26316.89.57.42.000.415
    Madison Bumgarner (L)v SD 28.85.323.50.670.22624.35.518.71.280.294
    Kyle Freeland (L)v NYM29.46.922.40.920.31113.69.24.41.030.334
    Kevin Gausman (R)at WAS23.08.414.61.210.31722.16.215.91.600.352
    Kyle Gibson (R)v BOS16.89.07.81.060.35319.38.910.41.330.326
    Lucas Giolito (R)v OAK12.313.0-0.61.660.36415.69.56.11.740.338
    Zack Godley (R)at PIT23.110.712.41.010.32723.37.216.11.260.313
    Matt Harvey (R)v CHC15.89.86.01.850.39618.46.711.71.240.323
    Kyle Hendricks (R)at CIN22.47.914.51.090.28920.95.315.50.930.267
    Chad Kuhl (R)v ARI20.810.710.11.380.36520.17.812.30.770.305
    Carlos Martinez (R)at MIL20.211.88.41.010.32426.86.520.20.700.260
    Steven Matz (L)at COL16.68.18.50.450.30722.26.615.61.500.325
    James Paxton (L)at NYY22.46.915.40.640.31028.15.922.20.740.275
    Rick Porcello (R)at MIN21.75.316.41.250.31020.74.016.71.150.306
    Tyson Ross (R)at SF 18.111.26.91.100.35822.410.911.60.890.305
    Aaron Sanchez (R)at LAA20.212.97.30.940.31718.26.611.60.770.286
    Max Scherzer (R)v BAL27.48.518.81.380.30541.44.237.20.700.198
    Luis Severino (R)v SEA28.38.120.20.970.28627.85.821.90.870.264
    Tyler Skaggs (L)v TOR23.45.517.90.650.28023.19.014.01.250.336
    Brent Suter (L)v STL14.67.17.60.950.29320.35.315.11.230.324

    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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