Daily Fantasy Strategy — June 28 — For Draftstreet

For the most part, I’m a positive person. At least I try to be. That’s why I usually focus on guys who are performing well. It just feels better to highlight someone’s success. Today, though, let’s talk about how bad Eric Stults has been this season.

He was decent in 2012; pretty good in 2013; and he’s been atrocious, so far, in 2014. His strikeouts are down some, but his walks are basically where they were last season. He’s never missed bats, so when he’s pitching well, he’s getting by off of weak contact, especially considering he’s a flyball pitcher. Well, he hasn’t been able to outrun a .323 babip this season after being fortunate enough to squeak past a .302 number last season. He’s stranding the same amount of runners, so what gives? Dingers. Lots of them.

Stults has allowed 15 home runs so far. He allowed 18 total last season. And we can’t exactly blame luck, because the majority of them can be blamed solely on poor location. Nine of the fifteen home runs Stults has given up have came off of fastballs. Eight of those fastballs have been at least belt high. When your fastball averages 87 mph, you can’t really miss up in the zone, unless you’re Chris Young (maybe?).

After roughly 290 innings in San Diego with a HR/FB rate around 7%, Stults’ rate is currently 14.6%. Will it stay that high? Maybe not, but I still like the Diamondbacks tonight. Paul Goldschmidt, anyone?

Probables Chart

We have two doubleheaders today. Atlanta and Philadelphia will play two. So will Washington and Chicago (NL). And on the injury front, Gerrit Cole is back today. I’m not sure if he’ll have a pitch count limit, but generally I stay away from guys in their first start back.

Matt Cain and Jhoulys Chacin have both been bad this season, and they’re both on the mound today. Matt Garza is facing off with Chacin, therefore, he’s facing off with the potent Rockies’ lineup.

Josh Collmenter and Josh Tomlin are both on the mound, although, Tomlin is the better target considering how inept the Padres’ offense (Collmenter’s opponent) is.

Lastly, Erik Bedard is back in Baltimore. He’ll be facing a team with a fair amount of right handed thump.

Early edit: Dallas Keuchel was scratched last night, so Oberholtzer will start in his place. Stack away using Detroit. I am away from my computer, though, so I’m not able to update the chart. 

The Daily Five

Paul Goldschmidt – $7,949

See above.

Mariners stack

Robinson Cano – $8,210
Kyle Seager – $6,922
Logan Morrison – $4,997

I really like Cano and Seager. I’m not crazy about LoMo, but he’s likely going to be directly behind our first two choices.

Jeff Samardzija – $17,033

Not exactly going on a limb here, but oh well. The Nationals’ offense hasn’t been very good versus right handed pitching, posting a .297 wOBA.

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