I'm game for the game. I'm hip. I'm... struggling to say something witty. Why not just get to it. This article, passably written, deals with batter versus pitcher matchups for August 1st, 2014. Read it if you want to get a hand up on setting your lineup for Friday.
* NOTE: Players are listed in alphabetical order for the sake of making them easily sortable/findable. The matchups are also generated based on Batter vs. Pitcher data. Just because a player is not listed does not mean that he is a bad or good play. The players listed below are mentioned merely because of the BVP data for the matchup.
DISH DIAMONDS – The Best Hitting Matchups of the Day
Matt Carpenter has hit a homer and batted .417 over 12 at-bats against Wily Peralta. He's also walked three times leading to a .533 OBP.
Rajai Davis has four hits in seven at-bats against Franklin Morales. He's also stolen three bases and has an opening for daily playing time with Austin Jackson dealt away.
Paul Goldschmidt hits everyone. He's also a superstar. Combine those two facts together and you get a .500-1-4 line over 14 at-bats against Edinson Volquez.
Buster Posey is hitting .400 with a homer in 15 at-bats against Jonathon Niese. Dan Uggla, if he's still on the Giants and in the lineup, he's worth a look – maybe? Uggla has hit .303 with a .410 OBP over 39 plate appearances.
Aramis Ramirez kills it against Adam Wainwright. Kills it. In 50 at-bats he's hit .380 with a 1.076 OPS. He's gone deep twice, hit seven doubles, and driven in six runs.
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Josh Reddick has hit .316 against Jeremy Guthrie over 19 at-bats.
Ben Revere is a robust 7-for-18 against Doug Fister (.389). Surprisingly he hasn't attempted a steal.
Denard Span is batting .294 with a steal over 34 at-bats against Roberto Hernandez. How is Hernandez still holding a spot in the rotation?
DISH DISASTERS – Worst Hitting Matchups of the Day
Ryan Braun has 55 at-bats against Adam Wainwright. He's hit .200 with 15 strikeouts in the matchup. Rickie Weeks has been worse. He's hit .163 with 14 Ks in 43 at-bats. Carlos Gomez, in a bit of a slump, has three hits in 14 at-bats (.214).
Alberto Callaspo doesn't hit Jeremy Guthrie. He's hitting .158 over 19 at-bats. Nick Punto has one hit in 13 at-bats.
Robinson Cano has only four hits in 22 at-bats against Wei-Yin Chen. That .182 average though blows away what Kyle Seager has done – one hit in 14 at-bats.
Missing Hawaii... though I didn't see Karina there.
Freddie Freeman has one hit in nine at-bats when facing lefty Eric Stults.
Aaron Hill has one hit in 14 at-bats. Miguel Montero has hit .190 in 21 at-bats. Those numbers have been “generated” against Edinson Volquez.
Garrett Jones has four hits, and nine strikeouts, in 29 at-bats against Mat Latos. That's a .167 batting average.
Justin Morneau has hit .245 against Justin Verlander. He's also struck out 15 times in 49 at-bats.
Hunter Pence has three hits, and seven strikeouts, over 29 at-bats against Jonathon Niese. Michael Morse has hit .167 without a walk over 18 at-bats.
Josh Willingham is set to face Chris Sale. That's no bueno. He's hit .182 against Sale. No bueno. He's also struck out 12 times in 22 at-bats. Three strikes and you're out.
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Batter Versus Pitcher
Daily Projections – For every single day of the season.
MOUND MAVENS – Starting Pitchers to Target
Doug Fister faces the Phillies in Washington. Fister has picked up a “W” in each of his last four outings, and in his last six outings he's tossed five quality starts (the time he missed he allowed two runs in 5.2 innings). He's locked in.
Sonny Gray has allowed four earned runs in his last five outings. How about that? He has a 2.87 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 12 home starts. He has 70 Ks in those 78.1 innings. He's also won each of his last five outings. He faces the Royals Friday.
Mat Latos faces the Marlins. Remove the injured Rafael Furcal from the mix and the rest of the Marlins club has hit .242 over 66 at-bats. Latos hasn't picked up a “W” in three outings but he's still offered up two quality starts in that time. Moreover, Latos has permitted only two homers in his last six outings. He goes to Miami, an on the round this season (four starts) he has a 2.00 ERA and 0.63 WHIP.
Mike Minor allowed two homers in his last outing against the Padres. He faces the Padres in San Diego Friday. Petco suppresses homers, right? Minor has allowed only two homers in his last three outings. He's walked two of fewer batters in 8-straight starts. He allowed three runs over 6.2 innings in his last outing against the Padres.
Our DNA is full of “junk?” What the heck else is in there?
Chris Sale always starts. He's allowed three runs in his last four outings. He's also allowed seven earned runs in his last six outings. In 10 home starts he has a 1.90 ERA. In 15 career outings against the Twins he has a 2.08 ERA. There you go.
MOUND MESSES – Starting Pitchers to Avoid
Collin McHugh has lost each of his last six starts. He's gone seven outings without a win. He's posted a 4.75 ERA in eight starts on the road as he's gone 2-6. He faces the Blue Jays who leads baseball with a .784 OPS when a righty is on the bump.
Vidal Nuno faces the Pirates in Arizona. Vidal has failed to record 16 outs in two of his last three outings, and twice in his last 10 outings has he offered a quality start. He's also struck out five or fewer batters in eight of his last nine outings. Just nothing to see here.
Wily Peralta is on a roll allowing three earned runs in his last three starts. One of those starts was a seven inning shutout against the Cardinals. Still, in six outings against the Cardinals he's only posted a 4.98 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Those are not good numbers. Peralta also, despite his impressive last three outings, allowed 16 runs over 16.1 innings in his previous three starts. There's doubt here.
Eric Stults faces the Braves at home. Petco is a good place to pitch, right? Still avoid Stults. He's posted a mere 4.50 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in nine home starts. He's also coming off an outing, against those Braves, when he allowed six runs over six innings. Just not a good look for a guy who has one win in his last 10 starts.
Would you let someone do this to you?
Justin Verlander faces a beat up Rockies club in Detroit. At this point all that Verlander is good for right now is a quality start. Even since he's “improved” he's allowed three earned runs an a homer and three walks in each of his last two outings. That's good? He's also, shockingly, failed to strike out six batters in any of his last five outings. What's happened Mr. Verlander?
Looking for a quality start and nothing more? Look at Ryan Vogelsong. In his last outing against the Mets he allowed three runs in seven innings (4.29 ERA). Vogelsong has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts. At the same time his ERA during that time is just 3.48 while his WHIP is 1.34. In nine road starts this season he has a 5.44 ERA. Boring.
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