Daily Fantasy Baseball is so different from full season leagues. A lot of players you wouldn’t touch in season long leagues are gold in daily leagues due to a matchup against the starting pitcher on any given day. Here is a look at platoon players that will give your daily rosters a good boost at a likely very cheap price (which will allow you to roster more high price players at other positions) against lefty starting pitchers:
[the_ad id=”384″]Chris Young, OF, Boston Red Sox – Young is only 1 for 10 (.100 avg., .282 OPS) with 2 runs scored against lefty pitchers so far this year. Young has been moved into the lineup full time for now until Jackie Bradley returns from the D.L. Make sure you consider Young against lefty starting pitchers even though he has struggled against them so far this year. He is 339 of 1,274 (.266 avg., .843 OPS) with 219 runs scored, 56 homers and 165 RBI against lefty pitchers so far in his career.
Trey Mancini, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles – Mancini is a platoon player for now, but if he keeps raking like he is so far this year, he could be the starting left fielder in no time for the Orioles. He is 6 for 20 (.300 avg., .833 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBI against lefty pitchers so far this year. In his career so far, Mancini is 9 for 26 (.346 avg., 1.255 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 4 homers and 7 RBI against lefty pitchers.
Evan Gattis, C/1B, Houston Astros – The Astros improved the roster over the winter and it is squeezing Gattis for playing time. When he does play, he still rakes against lefty pitching. Gattis is 3 for 10 (.300 avg., .917 OPS) with 1 run scored, 0 homers and 4 RBI against lefty pitchers so far this year. Gattis is now 145 of 531 (.273 avg., .821 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 28 homers and 87 RBI against lefty pitchers in his career. If his name is in the lineup against a lefty starting pitcher, it should be in your lineup too!
Brandon Guyer, OF, Cleveland Indians – Guyer is a pure platoon player, as his splits are much better against lefties so far in his career. Guyer is only 3 for 18 (.167 avg., .377 OPS) with 1 run scored against lefties so far this year. But, he is 135 of 475 (.284 avg., .843 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 17 homers, 50 RBI against lefties so far in his career. He is always in the starting lineup for the Tribe when they are facing a lefty starting pitcher.
Josh Phegley, C, Oakland A’s – Phegley has been platooning with Stephen Vogt behind the plate for the A’s the last couple of years. He is only 1 for 7 (.143 avg., .286 OPS) against lefty pitchers so far this year. He is now 56 of 215 (.260 avg., .735 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 8 homers and 24 RBI against lefties so far in his career.
Rickie Weeks, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays – Weeks is platooning at 1B for the Rays with lefty swinging Logan Morrison. Weeks is only 1 for 9 (.111 avg., .717 OPS) against lefty pitchers so far this year but he has scored 2 runs, whacked a homer and he has 2 RBI. Weeks is 306 of 1,175 (.260 avg., .838 OPS) with 233 runs scored, 50 homers and 120 RBI against them (lefty pitchers) so far in his career.
Steve Pearce, 1B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays signed Pearce over the winter with the idea of platooning him at first base with Justin Smoak. Do to the massive rash of injuries to the Jays, Pearce has been playing every day and it has hurt his effectiveness. He is only 1 for 14 (.071 avg., .143 OPS) against lefty pitchers so far this year. But, he is 163 of 617 (.264 avg., .837 OPS) with 89 runs scored, 31 homers and 99 RBI against lefties so far in his career.
Javier Baez, 2B, Chicago Cubs – Baez has a big bat, but he’s much better against lefty pitchers so far in his career in the show. He is only 2 for 12 (.167 avg., .452 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 2 RBI against lefty pitchers so far this year. He is 55 for 200 (.275 avg., .787 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 7 homers and 28 RBI so far in his career against lefty pitchers.
Enrique Hernandez, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers – Hernandez is a pure platoon player and you should have him in your lineup (he is always cheap) in Daily Fantasy Baseball. He is 5 for 20 (.250 avg., .998 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBI against lefty pitchers so far this year. Hernandez is now 65 of 246 (.264 avg., .839 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 10 homers and 28 RBI so far against lefties in his career. Get him in your lineup when the Dodgers face a lefty and you will be smiling at the end of the night!
[the_ad id=”693″]Scott Van Slyke, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers – So far in his career, Van Slyke is known more for being the son of Andy Van Slyke than anything he has done. The younger Van Slyke is 3 for 17 (.176 avg., .745 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBI against lefty pitchers so far this year. He is now 88 of 343 (.257 avg., .830 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 17 homers, 47 RBI against lefty pitchers so far in his career in the show.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers – Gutierrez is currently on the disabled list. He was signed to mash lefty pitchers, so when he gets healthy, get him back into your daily lineups against them. He is 3 for 12 (.250 avg., .724 OPS) with 1 run scored against lefty pitchers so far this year. He is now 306 of 1,061 (.288 avg., .844 OPS) with 156 runs scored, 50 homers and 150 RBI against lefty pitchers so far in his career.
Wilmer Flores, 3B, New York Mets – Flores is my favorite player on this list, as he crushes left handed pitchers. He is 5 for 13 (.385 avg., 1.275 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers and 3 RBI against lefty pitchers so far this year. He is now 83 of 304 (.273 avg., .848 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 20 homers and 51 RBI against lefty pitchers so far in his career. He should be in your Daily Fantasy Baseball lineup whenever the Mets face a lefty starting pitcher, period!