For those who are unfamiliar with my thought process, I aim to add as many home run hitters as possible to my daily fantasy baseball lineups. One way of doing that is to look at a player's isolated power numbers (ISO). The ISO statistic removes singles and provides a larger weight for each extra-base hit.
I also use the weighted on-base average (wOBA) metric. This stat takes every positive outcome into consideration.
Last year, the league average was a .150 ISO and a .313 wOBA. So, when you see me list a player's ISO or wOBA, you know why I do it.
5 Things to Watch:
1. Here are the three highest over/unders for Friday, provided by OddsShark...
2. Unfortunately, while the Rockies' game has the highest projected run total, rain is also in the forecast. Keep tabs on the weather developments closer to lineup lock.
3. Gerrit Cole and the Pirates have the strongest odds for tonight (-173). This season, Cole is 2-4 at home but has a 2.94 ERA at PNC Park. Also, the Marlins have scored only 29 runs in the past week (fifth-fewest).
4. Steven Matz was the scheduled starter for the Mets on Friday, but he will not make that appearance due to a shoulder issue. Seth Lugo is slated to take Matz's place against the Giants.
5. For the BvP readers: Jose Altuve is 11-for-18 (.611) with four extra-base hits against Wade Miley ... Bryce Harper is 12-for-28 (.429) with five home runs against Julio Teheran ... Also, Joe Mauer is 11-for-24 (.458) against Edinson Volquez.
Yesterday's recap:
Hopefully, you listened to John Halpin on Thursday and avoided Jacob deGrom (5 IP, 8 ER) against the Giants.
Must-Start of the day: Joc Pederson, LAD
He leads the Dodgers with a .272 ISO against righties and is 10-for-23 with six extra-base hits in the past week. Throw-in LA's odds (-160) and Tim Adleman's small sample size of allowing lefties to bat .324 with three homers this season and we have a must-start option in the outfield.
Deal of the day: Tommy Pham, STL
For FanDuel, Pham carries a low $2,400 price tag. That is a bargain for a player who could bat leadoff for the Cardinals and has a .298 ISO against lefties this year.
Avoid of the day: Wil Myers, SD
He is 2-for-19 (.105) with five strikeouts against Zack Greinke.
Stack of the day: Los Angeles Dodgers
For a Coors Field pivot, look to LA. The Dodgers have four quality bats who have a .226 ISO, or better, against right-handed pitchers. The price is right, too. Yasmani Grandal, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson, and even Josh Reddick could present a decent stack for Friday night.
Starting pitchers:
Cole Hamels, TEX - He's struck out at least six batters in three of the past four starts. Hamels has also allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his past six outings.
Zack Greinke, ARI - The last start was rough (1.2 IP, 9 ER), but Greinke gets the Padres this time. San Diego has the third-most Ks in 2016 and the most punch-outs in the past week.
Gerrit Cole, PIT - (See "5 Things")
Catchers:
Yasmani Grandal, LAD - He has a .272 ISO against righties this season.
Stephen Vogt, OAK - He has a .330 wOBA against righties this year.
First basemen:
Anthony Rizzo, CHC - He has a .267 ISO against southpaws this season.
Edwin Encarnacion, TOR - He has a .283 ISO against righties this year.
Justin Morneau, CWS - He has a .208 ISO against righties this year.
Second basemen:
Jose Altuve, HOU - (See "5 Things")
Matt Carpenter, STL - He has a .366 wOBA against lefties this year.
Jason Kipnis, CLE - He has a .440 AVG (11-for-25) with five extra-base hits in the past week.
Third basemen:
Kris Bryant, CHC - He has a .318 ISO and a .431 wOBA against lefties this season.
Danny Valencia, OAK - He has a .322 wOBA agains righties in 2016 and a .429 AVG in the past week.
Ryon Healy, OAK - He has a .215 ISO against righties and a .381 AVG in the last seven days.
Shortstops:
Javier Baez, CHC - He has a .198 ISO against lefties this year.
Corey Seager, LAD - He has a .226 ISO against righties in 2016.
Troy Tulowitzki, TOR - He has a .222 ISO against righties this season.
Outfielders:
Bryce Harper, WAS - (See "5 Things")
Khris Davis, OAK - He has a .263 ISO against righties this year.
Charlie Blackmon, COL - He has a .256 ISO against righties this season.
Stephen Piscotty, STL - He has a .280 ISO against lefties this year.
Brandon Guyer, CLE - He has a .247 ISO and a .453 wOBA against southpaws in 2016.
Adam Eaton, CWS - He is 10-for-24 (.417) with two homers in the past seven days.
Tommy Pham, STL - "Deal of the day."
