MLB

3 FanDuel MLB Hitters to Avoid on 9/23/16

Jordan Sharp  —  @TehSharp Sep 23rd, 2016
Justin Upton has been hot, but he is up against Danny Duffy tonight, making Upton a landmine candidate against the Royals' southpaw

As is the case in most daily fantasy sports, finding information on players you might want to roster is a lot easier than finding players to avoid.

While you can get away with a zero from a hitter in daily fantasy, you certainly don't want to target guys whose matchups aren't enticing.

Here are three hitters you may want to lessen your exposure to or even fade altogether on Friday.

Justin Upton, OF, Detroit Tigers

FanDuel Price: $3,600

Justin Upton has been an RBI monster this week. He has nine RBI in his last six games with four homers. However, Upton and the Detroit Tigers are up against another red-hot player in Danny Duffy, and Upton’s troubles with lefties this season make him a landmine candidate here on Friday night.

Upton has a .308 wOBA and .296 BABIP against southpaws this season. His strikeout rate goes up to 30.1%, while his isolated power falls to .184 against left-handed pitching.

Duffy has been much better against lefties this season, but righties have had their own troubles. Righties have a .310 wOBA against Duffy this season, and when the Kansas City Royals’ southpaw pitches on the road this season, his wOBA against drops to .280. Righties own a 25.0% strikeout rate against him, leading to Upton being avoidable tonight after his recent hot streak.

Whit Merrifield, 2B, Kansas City Royals

FanDuel Price: $2,900

Whit Merrifield has cooled off since his four-game smoke session against the Chicago White Sox last weekend, and tonight he might be in danger of another zero in daily fantasy. He and the Royals are up against the young Tigers’ righty, Michael Fulmer, who has been great against righties so far in his young career.

Righties own a .294 wOBA and 22.8% strikeout rate against the young Tiger over 289 hitters faced this season. He has also been great at home, posting a .274 wOBA in Detroit, and that number drops to .250 when at home against righties.

While Merrifield’s sample size isn’t that big either due to his rookie status, over 219 plate appearances against righties this season, he has just a .276 wOBA and 21.9% strikeout rate. His hard-hit rate falls to 28.1% against righties as well, making him a bad target tonight against Fulmer.

Yonder Alonso, 1B, Oakland Athletics

FanDuel Price: $2,500

Yonder Alonso has taken over everyday first base duties in Oakland after the release of Billy Butler, and tonight that may work against him against lefty Cole Hamels. While Alonso hasn’t faced many lefties this season, his overall numbers make him a huge landmine candidate against the Texas Rangers tonight.

Alonso owns just a .247 wOBA over 67 plate appearances against southpaws this season. His career wOBA against them is only .287, and with a career 18.3% strikeout rate and 25.6% hard-hit rate against lefties, Alonso should be left off your rosters Friday night.

Hamels, on the other hand, has held left-handed hitters to a .266 wOBA over 163 hitters faced this season. Their fly-ball rate is also only 25.7%, which has led to Hamels allowing only four homers to lefties this season.