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Three Up, Three Down: MLB DFS Overview for Sat. July 13- Afternoon Games

By Juan Carlos Blanco

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 26: Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) looks on after hitting a home run during the MLB baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 26, 2019 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 26: Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) looks on after hitting a home run during the MLB baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 26, 2019 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Three Up for Saturday, July 13 – MLB DFS Afternoon Games

Best Pitcher

Brendan McKay at BAL

McKay has gotten his big-league career off to a solid start, allowing just three earned runs over his first 11 innings. The young left-hander hasn’t yet missed many bats, but he owns an impressive 0.82 BB/9 in the early going and posted 13.54 and 9.36 K/9 figures in his last two minor-league stops. Saturday, he draws an excellent matchup against an Orioles team that’s struggled to make consistent contact against southpaws all season.

Baltimore sports a 28.0 percent strikeout rate against left-handers at home this season, and a 28.3 percent figure (along with a middling .313 wOBA) against that handedness at Camden Yards over the last month specifically. McKay has yet to go past six innings in either of his first two starts, but the pinpoint control he’s displayed thus far has the potential to allow him more than enough time on the mound to put together a rewarding fantasy line.

One other factor in McKay’s favor, especially considering he’s pitching at hitter-friendly Camden Yards, is his ability to keep the ball in the park. The 23-year-old has allowed just four home runs over his last 77.2 innings between Double-A Montgomery, Triple-A Durham and his first pair of starts with the Rays.

Other pitchers to consider: Noah Syndergaard (at MIA)

Best Hitter

Kris Bryant vs. PIT

Bryant takes aim at a pitcher he’s enjoyed plenty of success against in the past in Pirates RHP Jordan Lyles. The Cubs slugger owns a .571 average against Lyles in eight career encounters, a sample that includes two doubles, a home run and only one strikeout. Bryant is also up to a .294 average, .384 wOBA and .212 ISO against right-handed pitching, with the wOBA rising to .399 when facing that handedness at Wrigley Field.

In turn, Lyles still has very effective numbers overall against right-handed hitters for the season, but he’s been firmly trending in the wrong direction in recent starts. The Pirates’ right-hander has an 8.05 ERA, .333 BAA, and .443 wOBA allowed in the 19 innings spanning his last four starts. Tellingly, he’s yielded a .320 average, .384 wOBA and 41.7 percent hard-contact rate to the 52 right-handed batters he’s faced during that span as well.

Finally, consider there’s a pitch split in Bryant’s favor as well when facing Lyles. While Lyles allows a .342 wOBA and .216 ISO when utilizing his most frequently thrown pitch, the four-seam fastball, Bryant is an elite fastball hitter who boasts a .319 average and .467 wOBA when facing the pitch this season.

Other hitters to consider: Aaron Hicks, D.J. LeMahieu, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge (all vs. TOR); Wilson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward (all vs. PIT); Pete Alonso, Wilson Ramos, Todd Frazier, Amed Rosario (at MIA)

Best Stack

Yankees vs. TOR (LHP Clayton Richard)

Blue Jays’ starter Clayton Richard has been inept on the road this season, allowing a 6.00 ERA, .321 average and .435 wOBA across his 15 away frames thus far. He’s especially struggled versus righty bats, as evidenced by the .366 BAA and .486 wOBA he’s yielded over a 50-batter sample to that handedness. That’s especially troublesome against a Yankees squad replete with several lethal right-handed hitters.

Additionally, the Yankees have been much better against left-handed pitching at home after starting slow against southpaws this season. New York posted a .351 wOBA and .224 ISO versus lefties at Yankee Stadium over the month prior to the All-Star break, and that was despite the albatross of a .259 BABIP. There’s also the matter of the successful history current Yankee hitters have against Richard. They own a collective .340/.434/.649 line against Richard over 97 career at-bats.

When Richard exits, the matchup remains enticing for the Yankees. The Blue Jays bullpen sported an AL-high .379 wOBA, a 6.00 ERA and allowed 24 extra-base hits (13 doubles, two triples, nine home runs) on the road over the last month before the All-Star break.

Other stacks to consider: Cubs (at PIT); NYM (at MIA)