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MLB DFS: Bulletproof Bashers- Sat. Aug. 17 Evening Slates

By Juan Carlos Blanco

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 31: Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals looks on after hitting against the New York Mets during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 31, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 31: Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals looks on after hitting against the New York Mets during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 31, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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MLB DFS
MLB DFS /

Bulletproof Bashers- Sat. Aug. 17 Evening Slates- C, 1B

CATCHER:

Mitch Garver, MIN

Opposing Starting Pitcher: RHP Ariel Jurado, TEX

Rangers starter Ariel Jurado has been abysmal against right-handed hitters all season. He’s allowed a .341 average, .390 wOBA and 1.82 WHIP to that handedness in his hitter-friendly home stadium of Globe Life Park. In turn, Garver has 14 of his 23 homers on the season versus right-handed pitching, along with a .364 wOBA and .366 ISO versus that handedness on the road.

Jurado is also giving up a .410 CXwOBA and 48.9 percent hard-contact rate on the fastball sinker, the pitch he throws most often to righty bats, and a .424 CXwOBA on his second-most frequent offering to right-handed hitters, the slider. Garver has particularly thrived versus the sinker, as evidenced by the .614 wOBA and .457 average he owns against the pitch this season.

Finally, Garver will still be in a highly favorable matchup when Jurado exits the game. Rangers relievers entered Friday night’s action having allowed a 7.63 ERA and .404 wOBA to the 140 hitters they’d faced over the prior 10 days.

FIRST BASE: 

Jose Abreu, CWS

Opposing Starting Pitcher: LHP Jose Suarez, LAA

Abreu has made a living off lefties this season, which does not bode well for Angels starter Jose Suarez. Abreu entered Friday night’s action with a .352 average versus southpaws for the season, and a .440 wOBA when facing them on the road. Suarez has struggled versus right-handed hitters also, surrendering a .354 average, .433 wOBA and 12 of the 15 homers he’s yielded this season.

Given those numbers, it’s little surprise Suarez is allowing a .468 wOBA and .347 ISO on the low-90s fastball that qualifies as his most frequently thrown pitch to right-handed hitters. Abreu counters with a .444 wOBA, .444 CXwOBA, and 45.8 percent hard-contact rate against that speed of fastball, along with a minuscule 13.0 percent strikeout rate. What’s more, he’s just as lethal against Suarez’s second-favorite pitch against righty bats, the changeup. That’s an offering Abreu boasts a .442 wOBA, .488 CXwOBA and .340 ISO against this season.

When Lopez hits the showers, the going continues good for Abreu. Angels relievers entered Friday night’s action in a funk over the last 10 days, allowing a 6.42 ERA and .371 wOBA to a 189-batter sample during that stretch while also working the seventh-most innings (41.2).