MLB

3 FanDuel MLB Hitters to Avoid on 8/5/16

Jordan Sharp  —  @TehSharp Aug 5th, 2016
Curtis Granderson is a player to avoid in a tough matchup against Justin Verlander. Who else should you avoid?

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.

Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Mets

FanDuel Price: $3,000

Curtis Granderson has posted two straight very good fantasy days after homering on Wednesday and hitting a double and scoring on Thursday. However, here on Friday, Granderson has to face off against Justin Verlander in Detroit, and the Tigers’ ace has been very good against left-handed hitters this season and in his career.

Lefties have a .268 wOBA against Verlander this season, which has been the story of his career. This season, he is piling on even more against left-handers. They have a 28.9 percent strikeout rate and just a 21.1 percent hard hit rate over 273 batters faced this season.

Granderson has hit righties better than lefties but not enough to overcome the matchup against Verlander. He does have a .341 wOBA against them, and 14 of his 17 homers have come against righties, but the rejuvenated Verlander presents a tougher battle than the average right-hander.

Stephen Vogt, C, Oakland Athletics

FanDuel Price: $2,600

Stephen Vogt got a day off on Thursday, and now he is heading into Friday’s matchup with Jon Lester and the visiting Cubs. However, Vogt is far from a good value against one of the tougher lefty pitchers in the game right now.

Lester has owned lefties this season, who have a .254 wOBA against him. He has a 28.1 percent strikeout rate and a just a 23.3 percent fly ball rate against lefties, so Vogt’s odds of putting up a strong fantasy night are slim.

Vogt is hitting just .209 in 43 at-bats against lefties this season. He got the night off last night against a right-hander, so I would be surprised if he sits out again tonight. Either way, he has a career .273 wOBA and a 24.3 percent hard hit rate against lefties, so against Lester, don’t roster Vogt.

Howie Kendrick, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers

FanDuel Price: $2,500

Another inter-league battle that has a hitter to avoid is between the Red Sox and Dodgers. Howie Kendrick hasn’t been a bad play over the last week, but tonight he is facing off against knuckleballer Steven Wright.

Kendrick has not hit the knuckleball well so far this season with -6.28 runs above average per 100 pitches, per FanGraphs. He also has not hit righties well with a .299 wOBA against them in 2016.

Wright, on the other hand, has been good against hitters of both handedness. While he has been better against left-handers, the 345 righties he has faced this season own a .297 wOBA. Wright has a 20.3 percent strikeout rate against them as well, so with Kendrick struggling already, it is still a matchup to avoid.