Taking Advantage of Platoon Splits in MBL DFS

MLB DFS is all about finding value. We have to balance the production we expect to get from the players we want to roster with their cost on the DFS site we are playing on. Though DFS sites set salaries in slightly different ways, there’s no doubt that a whole lot goes into the process. While DraftKings and Fanduel take many factors into account, I still believe there are ways we can find to get the most out of our rosters. One of those advantages comes through exploiting the extreme platoon splits we see from many players across baseball.

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Exploiting Platoon Splits in MLB DFS

While some players are renowned for their extreme platoon splits, you’d be surprised at how many established stars we thought were almost perfect perform much better against either left-handed or right-handed pitchers. While some of these stars are still fair game in DFS, for others you may not want to use them except when they are facing pitchers from their favored side.

Hitters to Use Against Left-Handed Pitchers

The players below are much more attractive in MLB DFS when they are facing left-handed pitchers. Conversely you need to think twice before using them against right-handed pitchers. I included all players from 2022 who had a .200 or more OPS differential with the advantage coming against left-handed pitchers.

A small warning. This is the pure data. I included ALL players from 2022. Use Albert Pujols and Rhys Hoskins (for different reasons) at your own peril.

I was surprised at how extreme Paul Goldschmidt’s platoon splits and I might avoid using him in my DFS lineups when he faces a right-handed pitcher. I think it’s in the lesser players on this list where you might be able to find useful bats early in the 2023 season though. Players like David Villar and Alec Bohm will have very affordable salaries early this year and would make allow you to spend more money at other slots.

Hitters to Use Against Right-Handed Pitchers

This is the other side of the MLB DFS coin. Take a long hard look at these hitters when they are facing right-handed pitchers. As you might expect, this list included many of the lefty power hitters you might expect like Daniel Vogelbach, David Peralta, and Kyle Schwarber. There are actually quite a few right-handed hitters on this list. Sometimes it’s with these reverse-platoon splits that you can find the best values.