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).

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 support@rotowire.com.

    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
    Andrew HeaneyRyan CarpenterTigers103981041031011049.51751:10 PM
    Ryne StanekDaniel MengdenAthletics9697849787967.5-1453:35 PM
    Sonny GrayAndrew CashnerOrioles1061031141011219410.51507:05 PM
    Jose QuintanaSeth LugoMets909310190921068.01457:10 PM
    Trevor WilliamsJack FlahertyCardinals911029710082958.5-1507:15 PM
    Tanner RoarkSean NewcombBraves1021061169881988.5-1257:35 PM
    Aaron NolaClayton KershawDodgers909511396901036.5-1707:35 PM
    Drew PomeranzLance McCullersAstros8393109941091019.0-1958:10 PM
    Shane BieberJake OdorizziTwins10510395105113939.51008:10 PM
    Wei-Yin ChenJordan LylesPadres92978597971037.5-1459:10 PM
    Mike MinorWade LeBlancMariners919610594971048.0-15010:10 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%
    Shane Bieber (R)at MIN0.00.00.00.000.000.00$7,300$6,0008922.0
    Ryan Carpenter (L)v LAA8.79.57.12.43.128.311.73$5,400$5,7008819.4
    Andrew Cashner (R)v NYY227.014.39.74.61.033.851.41$4,800$5,90012123.8
    Wei-Yin Chen (L)at SD 62.317.38.88.51.444.481.20$6,100$6,2009826.6
    Jack Flaherty (R)v PIT50.724.89.215.51.243.911.24$9,200$7,70010018.8
    Sonny Gray (R)at BAL212.021.69.312.31.064.121.33$6,700$7,3008525.4
    Andrew Heaney (L)at DET68.326.78.917.82.114.351.35$10,700$7,90011017.7
    Clayton Kershaw (L)v PHI219.029.14.724.41.232.420.99$11,800$11,0009921.9
    Wade LeBlanc (L)v TEX108.019.15.413.71.173.831.16$5,500$6,5009624.9
    Seth Lugo (R)v CHC134.021.06.015.01.074.161.28$4,000$5,50011419.8
    Jordan Lyles (R)v MIA112.019.17.411.61.856.271.49$7,100$7,1008122.8
    Lance McCullers (R)v BOS182.026.08.417.50.694.151.26$8,900$9,00012718.5
    Daniel Mengden (R)v TB 109.316.63.413.10.992.961.00$9,100$8,10010621.9
    Mike Minor (L)at SEA132.025.46.319.21.023.821.14$5,000$6,90011619.5
    Sean Newcomb (L)v WAS155.724.712.312.30.753.761.46$8,100$8,8009722.2
    Aaron Nola (R)at LAD239.326.06.819.20.833.161.14$11,100$9,50010222.0
    Jake Odorizzi (R)v CLE202.721.710.011.81.873.911.25$7,700$7,50010323.0
    Drew Pomeranz (L)at HOU205.723.09.913.11.093.851.43$6,400$6,30011621.2
    Jose Quintana (L)at NYM241.325.28.616.61.164.291.28$7,500$8,3007726.0
    Tanner Roark (R)at ATL246.721.78.013.61.094.271.24$7,900$8,60010620.2
    Ryne Stanek (R)at OAK28.330.813.117.72.545.081.69$4,000$5,50010123.2
    Trevor Williams (R)at STL213.317.98.19.80.893.881.26$7,000$6,7009523.3

    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
    Shane Bieber (R)at MIN0.00.00.00.000.0000.00.00.00.000.000
    Ryan Carpenter (L)v LAA9.10.09.13.380.4509.79.70.03.000.424
    Andrew Cashner (R)v NYY17.611.85.81.420.35114.78.16.60.860.329
    Wei-Yin Chen (L)at SD 21.33.318.00.770.30817.96.711.31.730.332
    Jack Flaherty (R)v PIT17.610.86.91.480.33231.77.724.01.030.274
    Sonny Gray (R)at BAL20.78.811.90.800.30220.08.911.11.510.340
    Andrew Heaney (L)at DET21.34.916.40.610.29328.19.019.12.560.361
    Clayton Kershaw (L)v PHI31.22.528.71.060.23929.74.025.80.890.243
    Wade LeBlanc (L)v TEX15.93.312.61.290.32420.85.615.11.550.299
    Seth Lugo (R)v CHC18.28.59.70.920.29621.44.816.61.160.310
    Jordan Lyles (R)v MIA13.410.82.61.570.37718.96.512.41.310.338
    Lance McCullers (R)v BOS30.99.021.90.590.28924.110.513.60.710.325
    Daniel Mengden (R)v TB 18.35.412.90.900.29318.97.111.91.180.320
    Mike Minor (L)at SEA32.16.026.10.260.21723.26.416.91.300.332
    Sean Newcomb (L)v WAS24.610.813.80.720.33224.712.811.90.760.309
    Aaron Nola (R)at LAD21.39.212.10.760.30229.94.025.80.880.276
    Jake Odorizzi (R)v CLE23.58.415.01.450.27920.38.711.61.780.337
    Drew Pomeranz (L)at HOU24.29.414.80.520.31424.69.714.91.310.307
    Jose Quintana (L)at NYM24.64.520.10.530.26523.38.215.11.220.316
    Tanner Roark (R)at ATL19.610.09.61.080.31622.36.515.80.790.270
    Ryne Stanek (R)at OAK34.08.026.00.000.25528.816.312.54.410.454
    Trevor Williams (R)at STL15.07.87.20.960.32520.58.312.21.030.304

    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,.
    RotoWire Community
    Join Our Subscriber-Only MLB Chat
    Chat with our writers and other RotoWire MLB fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
    Join The Discussion
    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).
    MLB FAAB Factor: More Than the NFL Draft Happening
    MLB FAAB Factor: More Than the NFL Draft Happening
    Mound Musings: Their Stock Is on the Rise
    Mound Musings: Their Stock Is on the Rise
    Los Angeles Dodgers-Washington Nationals, Expert MLB Picks for Thursday, April 25
    Los Angeles Dodgers-Washington Nationals, Expert MLB Picks for Thursday, April 25
    MLB Picks: PrizePicks Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 25
    MLB Picks: PrizePicks Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 25
    MLB DFS: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 25
    MLB DFS: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 25
    MLB DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 25
    MLB DFS Picks: FanDuel Plays and Strategy for Thursday, April 25