With the increased number of leagues allowing for daily roster moves and the rise of daily fantasy sports, the amount of research you have to put in to be a successful fantasy player continues to increase. In the DFS game, the overall skill of those playing has increased tenfold over a short period of time and, as you can see by the ever-increasing paylines in simple 50/50 cash games, the competition is much stronger. Well, it works the same in the seasonal format as more and more fantasy owners are spending extra time on research and analysis and forcing the more casual players to either step up their game or relegate themselves to being annual donators. You don’t want to be THAT guy, do you? You don’t want to donate. You want to compete and win.

So with the month of May winding down and the season’s statistics normalizing and taking better shape, it’s time we re-visit the discussion on split stats. Looking ahead to the upcoming match-ups for both your hitters and pitchers has become vital these days and studying things like lefty/righty and home/away splits should be a major part of your process. It should help you play the match-ups better as you look ahead to future weeks.

The main statistic we’re going to organize by is wOBA. If you’re a stat junkie, you’ll understand why. If not and you’re more the casual player looking for a little edge, the reason is that wOBA is probably the best way to measure a hitter’s overall offensive performance. Batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage all measure offensive production, but each one is flawed, whether it’s treating all hits as equal or not including walks, etc. The wOBA stat weighs all hits, walks, HBP, etc. differently and therefore makes for a better measure. It works equally well for pitchers as the wOBA numbers for them are a measure of how the hitters are doing when facing them.

For those who are new to wOBA, it reads just like batting average, but here are the benchmarks:

RatingwOBA
Excellent0.400
Great0.370
Above Average0.340
Average0.320
Below Average0.310
Poor0.300
Awful0.290
  
*courtesy of Fangraphs.com 

Home/Away

Obviously, ballpark factors play an important role here as not all parks are created equal. Seeing a bunch of Rockies atop the home leaderboards is a no-brainer. Same with your Diamondbacks. While it’s not necessary to win with them on your roster, it’s always nice to have a slice of that action. Same with pitchers. Those who spend most of their time in a pitcher-friendly environment such as Los Angeles (either stadium), Detroit and Seattle should see an advantage to their home splits. Study up on them. Even a mediocre pitcher who calls Petco home can be a more advantageous contributor than a mid-tier guy who calls Arizona home.

And one final caveat for the hitters – the pitchers they routinely face, both at home and on the road plays an important factor. If Manny Machado faces Chris Sale and Dallas Keuchel at home one week but then gets Dylan Covey and Josh Tomlin on the road, his splits might be skewed the “wrong” way sometimes. That’s why the sample size is always so important. It’s still early in the season, but we’ve definitely got enough data to at least start the process.

Hitters – Home

NameTeamPAOBPSLGISOwOBA
Aaron JudgeYankees780.5130.9680.5810.585
Freddie FreemanBraves600.5330.8180.4550.541
Charlie BlackmonRockies960.4320.8280.4370.514
Paul GoldschmidtDiamondbacks1170.4870.6810.3190.480
Ryan ZimmermanNationals780.4360.7140.3290.478
Mike TroutAngels920.4240.7730.4530.476
Mark ReynoldsRockies900.4220.7050.3720.469
Marcell OzunaMarlins820.4390.6960.3480.467
Matt WietersNationals590.4580.6540.2690.463
Bryce HarperNationals880.4660.6530.3060.463
Yonder AlonsoAthletics610.3770.7590.4630.461
Brandon DruryDiamondbacks910.4400.6430.2500.459
Joey VottoReds930.4520.6860.3710.458
Justin TurnerDodgers700.4570.5670.1830.439
Starlin CastroYankees830.4100.6230.2600.438
Justin SmoakBlue Jays750.3870.6520.3480.433
Jose RamirezIndians750.4270.6000.2310.431
Ryon HealyAthletics660.3790.6390.3110.428
Brett GardnerYankees720.3940.6190.3020.428
Steven Souza Jr.Rays780.4290.5690.2460.426
Aaron HicksYankees560.4180.6000.3750.424
Justin BourMarlins770.3900.6270.3130.421
Francisco LindorIndians780.4030.5970.2840.419
Zack CozartReds810.4320.5510.1880.417
Eric ThamesBrewers900.4220.5690.2920.417
Josh ReddickAstros640.3930.6000.2550.417
Kevin PillarBlue Jays920.3910.5950.2500.416
Avisail GarciaWhite Sox650.3850.5900.2460.414
Nelson CruzMariners800.4130.5570.2140.413
David PeraltaDiamondbacks910.3960.5600.2140.408

No real surprises with some of the bigger names here on the leaderboard, especially those who play in parks like Coors Field, Chase Field, Great American Ballpark and Yankee Stadium. But we do have some interesting ones to note…

Freddie Freeman should have been a staple here as Sun Trust Park has proven to not only be hitter-friendly, but it also caters to left-handed hitting in a major way. Unfortunately, he's now out for eight weeks with a broken wrist. He'll be back in the second half and will eventually be okay, but for now, this is a huge bummer for fantasy owners. Keep an eye on that Toronto/Atlanta game tonight as benches cleared twice yesterday and the Braves are not happy with the seven hit-batsmen they've had to just one guy who barely got plunked for the Blue Jays.

Marcell Ozuna is off to a great start this season, but plays more like a gap-hitter than a true power guy which is probably why the spacious outfield at Marlins Park is helping drive his numbers north.

If you’re looking for a head-scratcher, then look no further than Matt Wieters. His home park is considered neutral, but he seems to connect better there than on the road.

Interesting to see a couple of A’s here in Yonder Alonso and Ryon Healy, but again, a spacious park like E.Coli Stadium or whatever they call it is certainly helping in the production. Alonso’s new swing may have him stroking for more power, but he’s still spraying the ball to all fields pretty well. Yeah, stroking and spraying both in the same sentence. You’re welcome, Alonso owners. Now go get a towel.

Hitters – Away

NameTeamPAOBPSLGISOwOBA
Bryce HarperNationals750.5200.8520.4430.553
Miguel SanoTwins630.4760.8650.5000.542
Eric ThamesBrewers640.4530.8550.4910.530
Jose AltuveAstros850.4940.7080.3060.501
Ryan ZimmermanNationals730.3970.8120.4490.499
Mike TroutAngels700.4860.7020.3330.486
Matt CarpenterCardinals700.4710.6540.3460.467
Zack CozartReds610.4430.6860.3530.467
Corey DickersonRays840.4050.7050.3460.463
Freddie FreemanBraves1050.4190.7140.3850.461
Matt KempBraves860.3950.6950.3290.457
Scott ScheblerReds710.3660.7140.4290.445
Michael ConfortoMets720.3750.7230.3850.444
Mookie BettsRed Sox780.3970.6620.3530.442
Buster PoseyGiants860.4300.6050.2500.441
J.T. RealmutoMarlins750.4400.5710.1710.431
Jayson WerthNationals680.4410.5590.2030.431
Nolan ArenadoRockies750.3870.6210.3030.421
Nelson CruzMariners880.3980.6200.3240.419
Daniel MurphyNationals830.3860.6130.2930.417
Kris BryantCubs860.4190.5620.2330.417
Justin UptonTigers730.3970.5740.2950.408
Matt HollidayYankees590.4580.4670.1560.407
Giancarlo StantonMarlins850.3530.6200.3160.405
Corey SeagerDodgers900.3890.5630.2500.402
Avisail GarciaWhite Sox870.4020.5250.1750.400
Nick MarkakisBraves1030.4560.4710.1030.399
Wil MyersPadres1010.3170.6530.3580.398
Xander BogaertsRed Sox640.4060.5250.1690.395
Neil WalkerMets800.4130.5150.1910.394

Miguel Sano is a sink-or-swim power guy and it’s all playing better away from spacious Target Field.

Corey Dickerson had some mad home/road splits when he was in Colorado and now that he calls pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field home, he’s obviously working on the reverse.

Seeing names like Nolan Arenado, Kris Bryant and Giancarlo Stanton should just be further evidence that they can club the ball with the best of them, regardless of location.

Pitchers – Home

NameTeamIPERAAVGOBPSLGwOBA
Jhoulys ChacinPadres27.00.670.1320.1940.1870.177
Chris SaleRed Sox37.01.950.1510.2090.2340.200
Dallas KeuchelAstros28.20.940.1550.2140.2290.201
Ty BlachGiants28.11.590.1780.2260.2400.210
Dan StrailyMarlins27.21.950.1210.2450.2200.217
Justin VerlanderTigers21.00.860.1620.2440.2300.219
Clayton KershawDodgers28.12.220.1840.2000.3140.219
Ervin SantanaTwins34.02.120.1300.2190.2780.224
Gerrit ColePirates27.01.670.1580.2120.3010.225
Noah SyndergaardMets20.01.800.2210.2340.3160.237
Jon LesterCubs25.01.440.1650.2600.2710.238
Michael PinedaYankees26.22.030.1920.2160.3430.240
Dylan BundyOrioles26.12.050.2080.2400.3260.246
Matt CainGiants22.21.190.2170.2780.2800.250
Jeremy HellicksonPhillies22.22.380.1900.2390.3370.251
Jason VargasRoyals30.22.050.2120.2700.2920.252
Chris ArcherRays33.22.940.2260.2730.2980.254
Lance LynnCardinals24.11.850.1890.2580.3150.255
Andrew TriggsAthletics27.23.250.2150.2840.2920.260
Marco EstradaBlue Jays25.02.520.2020.2720.3300.267
Zack GreinkeDiamondbacks38.12.820.1990.2380.3910.268
Yu DarvishRangers39.12.970.1900.2680.3500.270
Ian KennedyRoyals23.23.040.1880.2580.3650.272
Carlos MartinezCardinals32.13.060.2110.2780.3360.272
Kenta MaedaDodgers24.14.070.2200.2550.3820.273
Jake OdorizziRays25.02.880.1780.2320.4160.275
Lance McCullersAstros26.02.080.2110.2820.3510.276
Tanner RoarkNationals28.24.710.2360.2970.3210.276
Michael WachaCardinals24.22.920.2160.2690.3680.277
Hector SantiagoTwins24.12.590.2310.2930.3300.278

Well would you look at that…Jhoulys Chacin just needed to stay out of a hitter’s park AND get back to the National League to have some value. I scored with him in a GPP on Fanduel last night and I’m gonna ride this home-wave until it breaks.

Ervin Santana got off to a phenomenal start this year and there’s no question that Target Field is a big help to him. That low-pressure, pitcher-friendly environment suits him well.

Some hurlers who throw in a hitter-friendly park you may want to keep a close eye on include Michael Pineda, Jeremy Hellickson, Dylan Bundy, Marco Estrada and yes…Zack Greinke too.

Pitchers – Away

NameTeamIPERAAVGOBPSLGwOBA
Carlos CarrascoIndians26.21.350.1650.2000.2220.188
Mike LeakeCardinals20.02.250.1430.2000.2460.198
Ervin SantanaTwins20.00.450.1230.2360.1750.200
A.J. GriffinRangers26.01.380.1630.1980.2780.206
Chris SaleRed Sox21.22.490.1670.2260.2500.213
Max ScherzerNationals29.22.120.1490.2130.3000.226
Julio TeheranBraves25.10.710.1890.2730.2410.236
James PaxtonMariners17.12.600.2170.2500.2940.238
Luis SeverinoYankees19.02.370.1880.2330.3190.241
Michael FulmerTigers28.02.250.2000.2570.2860.243
Tyler SkaggsAngels17.13.120.2030.2610.2900.243
Andrew TriggsAthletics19.00.470.1970.2640.2730.244
Robbie RayDiamondbacks18.21.450.1640.2760.2620.248
Jesse HahnAthletics38.02.840.2140.2760.2810.249
Kyle HendricksCubs24.12.960.1860.2550.3060.249
Alex WoodDodgers20.12.210.2110.2860.2890.250
Josh TomlinIndians17.25.090.2500.2710.3180.255
Wei-Yin ChenMarlins18.02.500.2120.2780.2880.256
Dallas KeuchelAstros35.02.570.2060.2560.3360.260
Jason VargasRoyals18.02.000.2390.2650.3330.261
Madison BumgarnerGiants21.02.570.2290.2670.3540.270
Andrew CashnerRangers17.13.120.1940.3150.2580.270
Stephen StrasburgNationals25.22.810.2080.2960.3160.271
Clayton KershawDodgers34.12.100.2280.2630.3780.276
Yu DarvishRangers19.12.330.2090.2970.3180.277
Brandon McCarthyDodgers18.23.860.2460.3060.3180.277
Lance McCullersAstros28.13.180.2240.2930.3430.281
Adam ConleyMarlins16.12.200.1940.2900.3500.282
Antonio SenzatelaRockies18.02.500.2240.2780.3910.283
Eduardo RodriguezRed Sox30.03.300.1980.2880.3690.283

Yes, you’ll have to watch Ervin Santana closer here.

Julio Teheran is one of the best examples for home/road splits with the way Sun Trust Park is playing. He was traditionally better at home than on eht road and we’ve seen a massive shift in that this year.

Names here that I’m not buying for the long-haul include Josh Tomlin, Wei-Yin Chen, Jason Vargas and Adam Conley. You probably shouldn’t either.

Lefty/Righty

Hitters – vs Lefties

NameTeamPAOBPSLGISOwOBA
Eric ThamesBrewers380.5000.9350.5480.576
Nolan ArenadoRockies530.4720.9180.4900.572
Kris BryantCubs380.5530.8520.4810.557
Justin SmoakBlue Jays360.4720.8330.4330.527
Adam DuvallReds360.4440.8130.4380.518
Ryon HealyAthletics380.4210.7500.3610.489
Aaron AltherrPhillies330.4240.7500.4290.482
Avisail GarciaWhite Sox360.4720.6570.2000.481
Aaron JudgeYankees330.4550.7200.4400.480
Andrew McCutchenPirates490.4290.7380.4050.480
Matt HollidayYankees350.4570.6670.3330.463
Buster PoseyGiants570.4560.6400.2600.461
Kevin PillarBlue Jays430.4190.6840.3160.456
Trevor StoryRockies380.3680.7500.5000.453
James McCannTigers310.3550.7410.4810.447
Miguel SanoTwins420.4290.6570.3430.446
Eduardo EscobarTwins330.3940.6670.3330.446
Jose AbreuWhite Sox360.4440.5940.2190.444
Aaron HicksYankees410.4150.6180.2940.430
Corey DickersonRays510.4120.5960.2340.427
Josh HarrisonPirates470.4040.5850.2680.422
Odubel HerreraPhillies380.3950.5710.2290.413
Chris OwingsDiamondbacks500.4000.5530.1910.407
Yunel EscobarAngels430.4420.4630.0490.398
Cameron RuppPhillies320.4060.5360.2140.395
Hunter RenfroePadres470.4040.5250.2250.394
DJ LeMahieuRockies590.4240.4730.0910.393
Starlin CastroYankees410.4150.4860.1350.392
Mike TroutAngels350.4290.5170.2070.390
Brian DozierTwins380.4210.4840.1940.388

The sample size is obviously a little small, but Eric Thames raking against lefties is very promising. It’s obvious he’s learned something about hitting, so perhaps we won’t have to worry too much about his lefty/righty match-ups too much moving forward.

Switch-hitting Justin Smoak does a lot better when he’s on the right side of the plate as evidenced by his numbers against left-handed pitching. This is for the overall production. His home run totals are pretty equal for right now, but his ISO is much better here against southpaws.

We’re seeing a number of players whose isolated power marks are through the roof here, but don’t let the fact that D.J. LeMahieu, Yunel Escobar and even Cameron Rupp don’t hit for a ton of power concern you. You need guys who can remain productive and help balance out your batting average and OBP as well.

Hitters -- vs Righties

NameTeamPAOBPSLGOPSISOwOBA
Mike TroutAngels1270.4570.8061.2630.4560.504
Bryce HarperNationals1320.4770.7551.2320.4060.498
Freddie FreemanBraves1380.4710.7551.2260.4180.494
Ryan ZimmermanNationals1270.4170.7181.1350.3500.474
Aaron JudgeYankees1150.4170.7201.1370.3900.467
Mark ReynoldsRockies1050.4190.6911.1110.3400.465
Paul GoldschmidtDiamondbacks1290.4500.6451.0940.3080.461
Miguel SanoTwins1010.4260.6381.0630.3630.442
Charlie BlackmonRockies1030.3860.6631.0490.3260.436
Zack CozartReds1150.4350.5831.0180.2500.430
Robinson CanoMariners1180.4070.6321.0390.2920.429
Justin TurnerDodgers970.4580.5230.9820.1280.428
Jedd GyorkoCardinals1020.4020.6091.0110.2720.427
Michael ConfortoMets1150.4000.6461.0460.3230.427
Jake LambDiamondbacks1200.4170.6211.0380.2910.427
Yonder AlonsoAthletics1110.4050.6281.0330.3300.427
Eric ThamesBrewers1160.4140.6151.0280.3230.426
Jay BruceMets1180.3810.6311.0120.3400.424
Joey VottoReds1350.4220.5931.0150.2870.419
Tyler FlowersBraves880.4890.4290.9170.0710.416
Matt CarpenterCardinals1190.4290.5380.9670.2750.414
Matt KempBraves1110.3780.6000.9780.2570.414
Salvador PerezRoyals1070.3550.6260.9810.3130.410
Wil MyersPadres1360.3460.6480.9940.3280.410
Corey DickersonRays1200.3700.6130.9820.2880.409
Yasmani GrandalDodgers930.3980.5600.9570.2140.407
Corey SeagerDodgers1080.4170.5320.9490.2020.406
Nelson CruzMariners1380.3840.5880.9720.2690.405
Starlin CastroYankees1220.3770.5640.9410.2140.402
Brett GardnerYankees1200.3950.5350.9300.2380.397

Really no surprises here, but it should be worth noting that Starlin Castro is hanging out in the top 30 against both lefties and righties. Career-wise, he offers more solid overall totals against southpaws, but his isolated power spikes more against the right-handers.

When it comes to the pitchers, obviously the majority of them thrive against same-handed hitters. But as you’re scrolling through the lists below, make a special note of which hurlers have that funky reverse split. There are plenty of them here and we’ll re-visit again sometime around mid-season when the sample size increases, but it’s definitely worth noting.

What you should make sure you do each day is go to the Pitching Coach data table, click on the Advanced Stats tab and sort the table by the wOBA splits. That should help you out in a major way when deciding which hurlers to start for the day and which to avoid based on the opposing lineup.

Pitchers -- vs Lefties

NameTeamIPERAAVGOBPSLGwOBA
Dallas KeuchelAstros12.21.420.1160.1400.1900.146
Andrew TriggsAthletics21.21.660.1350.2200.1760.189
Jose UrenaMarlins16.00.560.1430.2260.1790.193
Michael FulmerTigers31.01.450.1570.2160.2150.197
Chris DevenskiAstros12.23.550.0950.1740.2860.201
Ervin SantanaTwins30.02.100.1400.1960.2800.210
Trevor CahillPadres18.21.930.1430.2600.1900.213
Joe BiaginiBlue Jays13.02.770.1880.2350.2500.218
Noah SyndergaardMets14.21.840.2000.2410.2960.226
Stephen StrasburgNationals27.02.000.1980.2450.2830.229
Ian KennedyRoyals18.01.500.1880.2970.2190.247
Patrick CorbinDiamondbacks13.04.850.1910.2240.3700.250
Charlie MortonAstros20.11.330.1870.3070.2300.252
Jeremy HellicksonPhillies21.22.910.1690.2500.3200.252
Matt AndrieseRays20.21.310.1890.2770.2840.256
Luis SeverinoYankees19.23.200.1970.2500.3650.265
Mike LeakeCardinals23.22.280.2280.2830.3190.266
Dan StrailyMarlins18.03.500.1720.3030.2810.266
Jameson TaillonPirates16.21.620.2310.2960.3080.271
Yovani GallardoMariners25.04.680.2040.2910.3150.273
Zack GreinkeDiamondbacks29.02.480.2220.2650.3680.274
Kyle HendricksCubs20.23.050.1890.2800.3420.277
Jesse ChavezAngels22.13.630.2180.2910.3330.278
Yu DarvishRangers26.23.040.2040.2840.3510.280
Jesse HahnAthletics19.22.750.2000.3110.3120.281
Marco EstradaBlue Jays27.23.250.2160.2620.3960.283
Lance McCullersAstros26.02.770.2500.3150.3330.286
Clayton RichardPadres14.01.930.2550.3270.3130.288
Jacob deGromMets23.14.240.2390.3090.3520.289
Michael PinedaYankees21.22.080.2290.2970.3610.291

Pitchers – vs Righties

NameTeamIPERAAVGOBPSLGwOBA
Max ScherzerNationals27.22.600.1180.1560.2610.181
Chris SaleRed Sox51.21.920.1520.2090.2110.192
Alex WoodDodgers25.20.700.1790.2280.2420.202
Lance LynnCardinals28.00.960.1300.2120.2220.202
Carlos CarrascoIndians29.20.910.1700.2240.2630.217
Ervin SantanaTwins24.00.750.1130.2580.1920.222
Clayton KershawDodgers51.11.930.1910.2210.2910.223
Julio TeheranBraves23.01.960.2350.2560.2650.224
Luis PerdomoPadres23.03.130.2050.2620.2600.236
Dylan BundyOrioles28.12.220.2040.2410.3040.238
James PaxtonMariners32.01.690.2000.2670.2710.239
Tanner RoarkNationals25.03.600.2200.2860.2330.240
Jason VargasRoyals40.02.030.2010.2550.2870.242
Jhoulys ChacinPadres30.22.050.2120.2700.2830.245
Ivan NovaPirates30.02.400.2220.2390.3360.248
Jeff SamardzijaGiants27.03.000.2200.2520.3160.248
Jesse HahnAthletics28.03.210.2210.2750.2770.248
Hector SantiagoTwins40.22.430.2080.2760.2820.253
Dallas KeuchelAstros51.01.940.2000.2590.3130.254
Jerad EickhoffPhillies19.14.660.2410.2770.3040.257
A.J. GriffinRangers21.12.110.1730.2350.3650.258
Gerrit ColePirates30.21.760.2000.2610.3270.259
Mike LeakeCardinals29.21.820.2020.2270.3830.259
Matt CainGiants24.13.700.2170.2500.3480.259
Zack WheelerMets22.22.380.2140.2900.2860.262
Dan StrailyMarlins25.03.600.1510.2400.3600.263
Yu DarvishRangers32.02.530.1890.2700.3300.266
Michael WachaCardinals21.22.910.2340.2560.3680.269
Lance McCullersAstros28.12.540.1860.2610.3600.271
Chris ArcherRays35.03.090.2170.2840.3260.271