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MLB DFS HItters: Simmering Sluggers: Week of 7/15-7/21

By Juan Carlos Blanco

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 19: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies circles the bases after hitting a RBI home run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on April 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 19: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies circles the bases after hitting a RBI home run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on April 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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MLB DFS Hitters: Simmering Sluggers: Week of 7/15- 7/21- C, 1B, 2B

CATCHER

Yasmani Grandal, MIL

  • Line-Drive Rate since 7/1: 26.3 percent
  • Hard-Contact Rate since 7/1: 57.9 percent
  • BABIP since 7/1: .167
  • Total Plate Appearances since 7/1: 40

Grandal currently sports career bests in on-base percentage (.370), slugging percentage (.509) and hard-contact rate (50.2 percent). He’s on pace to establish new high-water marks in home runs and RBI as well. However, despite that success, the veteran backstop has been in a funk thus far in July, hitting just .129 (4-for-31).

No matter, his LD, HC and BABIP all point toward an imminent breakout. The good news for Grandal the rest of this week is that he’ll see plenty of the right-handers he thrives against. That starts with the Braves’ Bryse Wilson on Tuesday and also includes Merrill Kelly, Zack Greinke (five career extra-base hits against) and what could be two more D-Backs right-handed spot starters in slots currently open in their rotation.

ALSO CONSIDER: Gary Sanchez (NYY)

FIRST BASE 

Freddie Freeman, ATL

  • Line-Drive Rate since 7/1: 24.1 percent
  • Hard-Contact Rate since 7/1: 34.5 percent
  • BABIP since 7/1: .192
  • Total Plate Appearances since 7/1: 42

Freeman’s season numbers are just fine, and in fact, it’s highly likely he exceeds his career-high of 34 home runs this season as long as he remains healthy. As customary, Freeman is hitting both handedness of pitcher effectively and sported a career-low 18.4 percent strikeout rate entering the week. His current 49.5 percent hard-contact rate and .280 ISO also rank as career-best figures, so there’s little doubt Freeman is squaring up consistently.

The hard contact has been down a bit thus far in July, but Freeman is still boasting an impressive line-drive rate during the month, one that would normally lead to a lot more success than the .211 average he’s mustered during that span. Given his vast talent, look for that unsustainable .192 BABIP to start rising as Freeman takes hacks against five right-handers over the next six games. Granted, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer will be two of them, but the outlook isn’t necessarily bad for Freeman against the former — he owns a .340/.413/.679 line with 10 extra-base hits (six doubles, four home runs) over 53 career at-bats against Strasburg.

SECOND BASE

Joey Wendle, TAM

  • Line-Drive Rate since 7/1: 25.0 percent
  • Hard-Contact Rate since 7/1: 28.6 percent
  • BABIP since 7/1: .250
  • Total Plate Appearances since 7/1: 38

Following back-to-back .300 seasons, Wendle has endured a nightmarish 2019 thus far. Injury has played a significant part in that, however, as a broken wrist cost him nearly 40 games. That certainly served to disrupt Wendle’s timing at the plate, but given his prior body of work, there’s no question he has the talent to significantly improve his current .185/.256/.241 line.

In fact, Wendle has been better since late June, but he’s still hitting just .206 thus far in July. However, Wendle’s 25.0 percent line-drive rate this month is actually even better than his career-best, season-long 22.1 percent figure. Then, he’ll face four right-handers in the next six games (all on the road). That’s relevant when considering Wendle, who sports a .301 average and .331 wOBA in his career against righties when traveling.