Welcome to Wake and Rake!
Each weekday, I’ll wake up and rake through some news and highlights with the help of the newsfeeds on our Discord server. Then, I’ll look ahead to some of the key matchups and storylines for today’s games. This is a new idea I’m trying out, so send me any and all feedback you have, including the type of content you’d want to see on Wake and Rake each morning!
Newsfeed
Tarik Skubal more aggressive in second start
Tarik Skubal, our #53 overall prospect for dynasty leagues, struck out 5 Cleveland batters in 2.1 innings of work yesterday. Four of his five Ks came with the fastball, which manager Ron Gardenhire described as a really good pitch with jump and life at the end. Figure that the Tigers will continue to be cautious with the young left-hander for the remainder of the shortened 2020 season.
Riley Greene Adjusting to tougher pitching at alternate site
The Detroit Tigers added 19-year-old OF prospect Riley Greene to their alternate site roster in Toledo to get him live action this season. Greene noted that the alternate site pitching is more advanced than the arms he faced in the low minors last season:
“They throw strikes on the first pitch, and in any count they want to throw a strike. It’s definitely more challenging on the pitching side. But I’m taking it in, learning a lot.”
Greene, a cerebral hitter, figures to be a cornerstone piece in the Tigers rebuild. He’s our #22 overall prospect for dynasty leagues.
Will Benson Homers Twice In Indy Ball
With the minor league season officially shelved for 2020, Cleveland Indians’ prospect Will Benson has been playing for “Team Texas” in the Independent Constellation Energy League. Benson has struggled early on, but his two home run effort yesterday should get him back on the right track. We have Benson ranked as the #322 overall prospect for dynasty leagues after he posted a 22 HR/27 SB breakout in 2019.
Cal Raleigh Hit In Head, Needs Stitches
Seattle Mariners’ top catching prospect Cal Raleigh was hurt after getting hit in the head with a backswing during yesterday’s intersquad game. Hopefully he’s not dealing with more than a contusion and some stitches. Raleigh is our #201 overall prospect for dynasty leagues. He hit 27 home runs between A+ and AA ball in 2019.
Reliever Watch
Baltimore’s Tanner scott picks up first Career save
Unexpected! But his fastball/slider combo has been electric this year. Keep your eye on him.
Oakland’s Liam Hendricks picks up the win
Oakland notched it’s 20th win of the season yesterday, and standout reliever Liam Hendricks has been involved in 11 of them (9 saves, 2 wins). Hendricks totes an outstanding 7.0 K/BB ratio, 2.37 xFIP, and 0.77 WHIP on the season in 14 appearances.
Brandon Workman picks up first save with new club
Brandon Workman held on for the save in what was a nail-biting finish to the Phillies-Braves showdown yesterday. Workman blew a save and took a loss on Saturday in his first appearance since being traded to Philadelphia by the Red Sox. But Phillies Manager Joe Girardi went back to the well on Sunday, and Workman was able to hang on and close out the game (with a little help from a perfect relay throw and expert plate blocking by his teammates).
pitching matchup of the day
Kenta Maeda (MIN) vs. Aaron Civale (CLE)
It’s the battle of the six-pitch pitchers! Both Kenta Maeda and Aaron Civale rely heavily on command of a deep arsenal of weapons to keep hitters off balance.
Maeda has been working the 4-Seamer to his gloveside, tunneling well with his slider and changeup to righties. Against lefties, he’s pounding them down and away with his changeup, locating the 4-seamer all over the zone, and then keeping them off-balance with back-foot sliders. The result is an excellent .257 xwOBA against so far this season.
Civale has been deploying a new toy this season--an unfairly effective cut fastball. He’s up to 26% usage on the cutter, which he’s locating supremely well on the outside black against right-handers, garnering a 30.3% whiff-rate. His overall control and command have been impeccable so far this season, as evidenced by a miniscule 2.3% BB-rate.
Phil’s Pick: Civale keeps his under-the-radar Cy Young campaign rolling, picking up the win over Minnesota today.
Play-toons
What the hell are “Play-Toons”? Good question! They are hitters with excellent platoon matchups today. Use liberally in DFS and daily lineups leagues:
Randal Grichuk (TOR) vs. Blake Snell (TBR)
Grichuk is one of the hottest hitters in baseball at the moment, with a +206 rolling xwOBA over his last 50 plate appearances. He’s “death to lefties” as well, posting a .515 wOBA against them in 2020. Snell is obviously a former Cy Young pitcher, but righties have given him trouble this season, posting a 125 sOPS+, showing that right handers are batting 25% better than league average against Snell this season.
Teoscar Hernández (TOR) vs. Blake Snell (TBR)
See above! Teoscar sports a .471 wOBA against lefties so far in 2020. He is also hot right now, hitting a tater and stealing two bags yesterday.
Juan Soto (WAS) vs. Pablo López (MIA)
Pablo López has been fantastic this season for the Marlins, but in his career left-handed hitters have slugged .452 against him. Juan Soto is one of the best hitters in baseball, and his .523 wOBA against righties is the best in baseball this season.
Ian Happ (CHC) vs. Casey Mize (DET)
Mize is a fantastic pitching prospect, but the switch-hitting Happ has posted a .464 wOBA against righties this year. His career OPS against right-handers is .880.
Austin Meadows (TBR) vs. Tanner Roark (TOR)
Meadows .444 wOBA against righties is the 17th-best mark in baseball this season. Roark has historically struggled against left-handed hitters, giving up an additional 110 points of OPS against them as opposed to right-handers.