MLB DFS: Thursday Cheat Sheet

Thursday's slate of nine games features a home matchup for Max Scherzer against Philadelphia.
MLB DFS: Thursday Cheat Sheet
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Here's a quick glance at Thursday's slate(s).

Helpful Links

  • Today's MLB Lineups
  • MLB Optimizer
  • BvP Info
  • For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail [email protected].

    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
    Aaron NolaMax ScherzerNationals1009889105114987.0-1701:05 PM
    Adam PlutkoDavid PriceRed Sox11411278109105999.5-2101:05 PM
    James ShieldsMatt BoydTigers103981041031011049.0-1201:10 PM
    Madison BumgarnerJacob deGromMets909310190
    Here's a quick glance at Thursday's slate(s).

    Helpful Links

  • Today's MLB Lineups
  • MLB Optimizer
  • BvP Info
  • For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail [email protected].

    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
    Aaron NolaMax ScherzerNationals1009889105114987.0-1701:05 PM
    Adam PlutkoDavid PriceRed Sox11411278109105999.5-2101:05 PM
    James ShieldsMatt BoydTigers103981041031011049.0-1201:10 PM
    Madison BumgarnerJacob deGromMets909310190921066.5-1651:10 PM
    Joey LucchesiKyle FreelandRockies1381211171161188710.5-1703:10 PM
    Danny DuffyTyler GlasnowRays92959794901107.0-1957:10 PM
    Sean NewcombElieser HernandezMarlins84938691831038.01407:10 PM
    Anthony DeSclafaniCole HamelsCubs989988981141008:05 PM
    Trevor CahillKohl StewartTwins10510395105113939.51458:10 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%
    Matt Boyd (L)v CWS270.019.98.111.81.134.771.33$6,000$7,7009325.7
    Madison Bumgarner (L)at NYM196.721.36.614.71.143.201.18$7,500$9,0008426.6
    Trevor Cahill (R)at MIN170.723.89.714.11.164.011.32$9,200$8,0009721.5
    Jacob deGrom (R)v SF 369.329.96.423.50.882.701.08$11,900$12,0009422.7
    Anthony DeSclafani (R)at CHC74.321.16.314.81.824.121.18$8,000$7,00010520.2
    Danny Duffy (L)at TB 289.720.78.412.31.094.351.37$6,400$8,30010023.9
    Kyle Freeland (L)v SD 308.017.99.08.90.913.541.36$6,700$8,7009823.7
    Tyler Glasnow (R)v KC 136.724.713.611.01.385.731.62$8,400$6,3008421.6
    Cole Hamels (L)v CIN287.320.08.311.71.284.101.24$10,400$9,20011120.8
    Elieser Hernandez (R)v ATL56.716.09.17.01.275.081.43$4,100$5,5009820.3
    Joey Lucchesi (L)at COL92.725.28.716.51.463.791.31$5,100$6,50010921.2
    Sean Newcomb (L)at MIA235.022.611.810.70.923.981.42$7,800$7,2008421.5
    Aaron Nola (R)at WAS329.026.07.019.00.712.901.10$9,100$10,40010020.0
    Adam Plutko (R)at BOS48.717.86.111.72.224.621.15$4,100$5,90011917.9
    David Price (L)v CLE216.024.27.217.01.133.581.19$7,000$9,40010218.9
    Max Scherzer (R)v PHI375.334.46.627.80.942.330.90$11,500$12,20010423.4
    James Shields (R)at DET281.019.09.59.51.604.741.35$5,000$7,5007822.4
    Kohl Stewart (R)v OAK7.08.113.5-5.40.007.712.29$4,100$5,50010921.4

    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
    Matt Boyd (L)v CWS20.46.713.70.880.29719.88.111.71.340.329
    Madison Bumgarner (L)at NYM28.65.523.20.570.24423.76.417.31.200.292
    Trevor Cahill (R)at MIN23.211.711.50.850.30624.09.414.61.310.313
    Jacob deGrom (R)v SF 26.06.819.20.740.28530.25.824.41.030.271
    Anthony DeSclafani (R)at CHC21.15.415.71.990.35820.56.813.80.820.265
    Danny Duffy (L)at TB 26.94.222.70.520.22621.78.113.61.340.335
    Kyle Freeland (L)v SD 28.07.220.70.730.28514.89.55.30.960.329
    Tyler Glasnow (R)v KC 23.315.57.81.390.37925.511.513.91.220.332
    Cole Hamels (L)v CIN19.19.010.10.660.26422.08.613.51.330.324
    Elieser Hernandez (R)v ATL12.711.90.81.670.39319.76.013.70.910.287
    Joey Lucchesi (L)at COL27.18.218.80.000.28524.78.815.91.830.335
    Sean Newcomb (L)at MIA25.69.815.91.080.31521.612.59.10.870.316
    Aaron Nola (R)at WAS23.18.914.20.790.29228.14.823.40.690.268
    Adam Plutko (R)at BOS12.010.02.03.320.42322.63.519.11.470.277
    David Price (L)v CLE20.64.016.70.950.30325.06.818.21.200.306
    Max Scherzer (R)v PHI27.68.419.21.240.29739.64.335.30.850.208
    James Shields (R)at DET16.611.25.41.820.35119.38.211.11.680.346
    Kohl Stewart (R)v OAK0.013.0-13.00.000.37521.414.37.10.000.481

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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    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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