(*) BATTERS: Platoon leaders

Fantasy owners are always looking for any sort of edge wherever they can get it. Those looking to boost their offensive numbers and have the roster flexibility required may want to consider utilizing platoons. This week we’ll focus on lower profile batters with the best platoon splits so far this season. Established higher profile batters will show up in each of these lists, but it is advised to leave those guys in the lineup and not try to play matchups with them. The goal here is to highlight some lower profile batters who can be spotted into lineups to take advantage of what they do best and in most cases benched at other times.

We will begin with the hitters who have excelled against right-handed pitching (minimum of 80 PA through games of 8/8):

Name               ABvsRHP   BAvsRHP   OPSvsRHP   TotalAB   TotalBA   TotalOPS
================   =======   =======   ========   =======   =======   ========
Adam Lind              149      .369      1.004       178      .320       .878
Yasiel Puig            315      .327       .982       401      .314       .932
Corey Dickerson        224      .330       .979       276      .322       .944
José Abreu             299      .301       .971       397      .302       .973
Andrew McCutchen       337      .323       .967       412      .311       .947
Edwin Encarnación      258      .283       .965       328      .277       .959
Michael Brantley       305      .348       .953       437      .320       .891
Mike Trout             314      .303       .953       430      .298       .958
Robinson Canó          262      .359       .946       424      .335       .873
Kevin Kiermaier        163      .313       .943       207      .290       .859
J.D. Martinez          176      .330       .943       257      .304       .915
Lucas Duda             284      .285       .942       351      .259       .847
A.J. Pollock           139      .338       .941       177      .316       .920
Devin Mesoraco         210      .290       .938       270      .289       .914
Troy Tulowitzki        237      .321       .930       315      .340      1.035
Justin Morneau         273      .341       .920       374      .316       .851
Seth Smith             284      .296       .904       319      .288       .882
Adam LaRoche           248      .290       .899       346      .272       .823
Matt Adams             291      .340       .895       370      .314       .835
Kyle Seager            268      .284       .894       421      .278       .823
Paul Goldschmidt       333      .282       .894       406      .300       .938
Conor Gillaspie        254      .343       .892       336      .313       .812
Miguel Cabrera         306      .320       .892       425      .306       .881
Josh Harrison          245      .318       .888       328      .314       .861
Giancarlo Stanton      345      .270       .888       429      .289       .939
Scooter Gennett        275      .331       .885       310      .306       .818
Adrián González        309      .298       .883       424      .264       .773
Josh Reddick           163      .294       .878       239      .255       .736
Juan Francisco         212      .255       .873       249      .233       .800
Delmon Young            92      .348       .872       152      .316       .797

Kevin Kiermaier (OF, TAM) wasn’t on the radar of many heading into the season, but he has been a very pleasant surprise. The 24-year-old had never hit more than six homers in a season prior to this year. He has struggled mightily in limited exposure to left-handed pitching (.529 OPS with 15 K in 45 AB), but the team typically benches him against southpaw starters. While the power numbers should fall off a bit, he could put up slightly more stolen bases over the balance of the season, provided he continues to use his 147 Spd as often as he did last month (17% SBO%).

Seth Smith (OF, SD) has been a bright spot on what has been the worst offense in the majors this season. The 31-year-old has long been a valuable asset in real-life baseball as a platoon player (Career: .853 OPS with 77 HR in 1,956 AB vs. RHP; .593 OPS with 8 HR and 100 K in 399 AB vs. LHP). He has shown very solid skills across the board so far in 2014 (80% ct%, 0.76 Eye, 122 HctX and 120 xPX) and should continue to produce against right-handed pitching.

Adam Lind (1B, TOR) is expected to return from the disabled list as soon as August 12. He has missed a good chunk of the season with various injuries, the latest being a non-displaced fracture in his right big toe. However, he has produced when in the lineup. The 30-year-old’s ct%, Eye, HctX, and FB% are all up from a year ago. With an .860 career OPS and 123 HR in 2,470 AB vs. RHP and .590 OPS in 825 career AB vs. LHP, it’s easy to see why he typically takes a seat against southpaws. It’s worth noting that Lind’s hr/f currently stands at a mere 8% which is well below the 19% he posted in 2013 and his 15% career mark. Meanwhile, his 129 xPX is 10 points better than his career 119.

Josh Harrison (2B/3B/OF, PIT) is in the midst of a breakout season. He has launched eight of his ten homers against same-sided pitching. He’s no slouch against southpaws either, slashing .314/.333/.465 with 2 HR and 12 K in 86 AB. Overall, a .283 xBA hints at some regression in batting average, but it’s tough to complain about a player who possesses an 83% ct%, 133 xPX, 129 HctX and 131 Spd, particularly one who can play multiple positions.

Josh Reddick (OF, OAK) has been plagued by numerous injuries over the past couple years. However, since coming off the disabled list July 21, he has been swinging the bat much better (.333 with 4 HR and 10 RBI in 60 AB). Over that span, he owns a 95% ct%, 0.67 Eye, 124 HctX and 109 xPX. All eight of his homers have come against right-handed pitching. He has managed a measly .429 OPS with 19 K in 76 AB vs. southpaws this season.

Now let’s take a look at those who feast on southpaws (minimum of 80 PA through games of 8/8)

Name                 ABvsLHP   BAvsLHP   OPSvsLHP   TotalAB   TotalBA   TotalOPS
==================   =======   =======   ========   =======   =======   ========
Troy Tulowitzki           78      .397      1.348       315      .340      1.035
José Bautista             89      .382      1.195       394      .297       .933
Giancarlo Stanton         84      .369      1.149       429      .289       .939
Victor Martínez          109      .367      1.117       383      .321       .940
Paul Goldschmidt          73      .384      1.115       406      .300       .938
Adam Jones               118      .364      1.097       469      .284       .791
Josh Donaldson           101      .277      1.080       436      .245       .790
Scott Van Slyke           72      .264      1.072       154      .247       .864
Drew Stubbs               97      .371      1.034       268      .306       .855
Derek Norris              99      .364      1.029       248      .294       .853
Justin Upton              77      .312      1.015       402      .281       .853
David Wright             101      .396       .996       437      .270       .712
Alex Rios                 95      .358       .990       420      .293       .735
Ben Zobrist              104      .385       .983       390      .282       .797
Jose Altuve              122      .418       .982       475      .333       .803
José Abreu                98      .306       .980       397      .302       .973
Mike Trout               116      .284       .972       430      .298       .958
Rajai Davis              115      .365       .959       315      .295       .755
Nelson Cruz              103      .320       .957       431      .258       .831
Khris Davis               92      .315       .951       381      .252       .781
Martín Prado              79      .354       .950       429      .268       .687
Steve Tolleson            82      .341       .944       131      .244       .700
Edwin Encarnación         70      .257       .938       328      .277       .959
Hanley Ramírez            78      .295       .934       354      .277       .822
Wilin Rosario             81      .296       .934       298      .255       .702
Chris Iannetta            92      .304       .930       212      .264       .784
Yan Gomes                102      .353       .927       354      .285       .812
Anthony Rizzo            121      .298       .923       422      .280       .887
Nolan Arenado             86      .314       .919       306      .284       .794
Adrián Béltre             87      .333       .916       386      .319       .875

Scott Van Slyke (OF, LAD) has not been able to earn an everyday job in the crowded Dodgers outfield, but he has carved out a nice niche as a guy who can bash left-handed pitching. In 162 career AB vs. southpaws, the 28-year-old has a .235/.354/.619 slash line with 12 HR, 25 RBI and a 0.65 Eye. He is expected to continue to start against lefties in place of Carl Crawford (OF, LAD) and occasionally at first base. As you can see, even against left-handers, he hasn’t offered much in the way of batting average, but the power is legit.

Rajai Davis (OF, DET) was a big winner in the recent trade of Austin Jackson (OF, SEA) to Seattle. Davis went from fourth outfielder to primary centerfielder. The 33-year-old has posted his lowest Spd (103) since 2006 and his lowest SBO% (42%) since 2010 while also posting his best ct% (82%) since 2010. Overall, he has still had a fine season and should continue to be a great asset for steals.

Drew Stubbs (OF, COL) has put up some very good numbers across the board so far this season. However, a 67% ct%, 0.19 Eye, 42% h% and .259 xBA put a bit of a damper on things looking forward. That being said, he can still be a useful player against lefties. Stubbs and Corey Dickerson (OF, COL) have formed a nice platoon for the Rockies. It will be interesting to see what happens when Mike Cuddyer (OF/1B, COL) returns from the disabled list. Cuddyer, who hasn’t played since suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left shoulder socket in early June, began a minor league rehab assignment on August 6 and hopes to return around mid-August. Carlos Gonzalez (OF, COL) was also placed on the disabled list recently.

Khris Davis (OF, MIL) got off to a slow start this season before rebounding with a strong May and June. However, he has cooled a bit over the past few weeks. Still, he has a 163 xPX, 132 HctX, 40% FB% and .275 xBA overall this season. The recent addition of Gerardo Parra (OF, MIL) could cut into the 26-year-old’s playing time just a bit, but he should continue to be a strong play against southpaws. Against same-sided pitching, Davis owns a .232/.288/.439 slash line with 12 HR, 36 RBI, 0.24 Eye and 74 K in 289 AB.

Dexter Fowler (OF, HOU), who has been out of action since late June with a right intercostal strain, began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 8 and hopes to be activated from the disabled list this week. He has always hit lefties well (.299/.390/.433 with 10 HR, 64 RBI, 20 SB in 776 career AB), but he has taken that to an even higher level so far this year. Though his 145 Spd is ten points better than a year ago, his current 9% SBO% is down 11% from a year ago.  The 28-year-old can be particularly useful in OBP leagues with a .377 OBP overall and .426 OBP vs. LHP.

 

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