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
Oakland shuffles backup catchers—Austin Allen sent to alternate training site
Oakland had acquired backstop Austin Allen from the Padres in the offseason, but he’s struggled mightily in his time in the Majors. The 26 year-old Allen put up a rough .232 wOBA in 14 games this season. He’ll be replaced by Jonah Heim. Heim clocked in at the #28 prospect in the system in our offseason Top 30, and has a reputation as a strong defensive backstop.
Lux Launches Two Homers In Scrimmage
Dodgers top prospect Gavin Lux launched two home runs off Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin in a alternate site scrimmage Monday. Lux, our #5 overall prospect for dynasty leagues, got a late start to training camp earlier this summer due to COVID-19 and is working his way back toward appearing with the big club again. Look for his 2020 debut to come soon if he keeps hitting like this. Yesterday Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts said Lux could be back with the Dodgers “soon”.
A.J. Puk Facing Live Hitters, return soon?
It sounds like A.J. Puk’s shoulder is feeling healthy again, which is good news for Oakland. Sitting at 21-10, the Athletics are pushing for the best record in baseball this season. Puk is likely to fill a long-man/bullpen role for the A’s when he returns, as the team will likely manage his innings and pitch count giving his previous health issues.
Nick Madrigal homers, close to return
White Sox second-baseman Nick Madrigal homered in a sim game at the team’s alternate site in Schaumburg yesterday. White Sox manager Rick Renteria said that Madrigal is not quite ready to return to the lineup yet, needing a couple days work. Look for Madrigal to possibly be activated ahead of the team’s series against Kansas City this weekend.
Reliever watch
Dodgers’ caleb ferguson picks up hold
Dodgers’ lefty Caleb Ferguson retired four batters and picked up a hold in yesterday’s loss to the Giants, striking out three. Ferguson, 24, has been one of the top relievers in the MLB this year, lowering his ERA to 0.77. He’s a holds guy for now, but could be in line for saves if something happens to Kenley Jansen.
Michel Baez pitches two hitless innings for padres
Padres righty Michel Baez looked strong yesterday, pitching two no-hit innings and striking out 4 batters in the process. He’s been strictly fastball/changeup working out of the pen this season, with his lively fastball clocking in at 95 mph. He could work his way into high leverage work this season.
Nick Vincent Grabs save for Miami
Nick Vincent came in and got the save in the second game of the Marlins doubleheader against the Mets yesterday. Brandon Kintzler and Brad Boxburger are still ahead of him for closing opportunities, so Vincent doesn’t need to be added at this point. But keep him in the back of your mind in the event of injury.
Pitching matchup of the day
Gerrit cole (NYY) vs. Ian Anderson (ATL)
Yesterday’s scheduled game between the Yankees and Braves was bumped to the front-end of a double header today due to inclement weather. It’s a tasty matchup for prospect fans and pitching aficionados, as the Yankees new ace squares off against one of the game’s top pitching prospects.
Cole has been his usual electric self this season, getting batters to whiff at a 31.9% clip. You can see from his Whiff% heat map above that he’s generating a lot of these whiffs up at the top of the zone with his 4-seam fastball. He’s relying on that fastball more this season, with 56% fastball usage up from 51% in 2020.
Ian Anderson pitched in the 2019 MLB futures game, which is cool because that put him in front of the Statcast cameras. As MLB’s Mike Petriello noted in his Statcast report from that game, Ian Anderson is kind of a freak with his fastball extension. Although Anderson isn’t terribly tall at 6’3”, and his fastball isn’t terribly fast sitting 92-94 mph, the total package plays up due to his extension going over 7’. He will need every bit of it to navigate a tough Yankees lineup today.
Phil’s Pick: Gerrit Cole is simply too much for the Braves and young Aqualung to handle 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:
vs. Masahiro Tanaka (NYY) RHP
Tanaka has a career .411 xwOBA and 6.24 FIP against this Braves roster. He’s a very neutral pitcher in terms of handedness splits. A couple Braves LHB to consider are:
Freddie Freeman (ATL) LHB
192 sOPS+ (split vs. RHP relative to league average) in 2020 vs. righties. Freeman is also +97 points in xwOBA over his last 50 PAs.
Matt Adams (ATL) LHB
Assuming he gets the DH slot today for the Braves, Adams has an .809 career OPS vs. right handed pitching
vs. Trevor Richards (TBR) RHP
T-Rich has a .351 xwOBA and 4.05 FIP against the current Orioles roster.
Chance Sisco (BAL) LHB
Sisco has a career .731 OPS against RHP, and has the pop in his bat to make this play worth your while.
vs. John Lester (CHC) LHP
Lester has been brutal against right-handed batters this season, giving up an .820 OPS. The current Detroit Tigers have also been surprisingly effective against Lester as well, posting a .395 xwOBA against and a 7.91 FIP.
Jonathan Schoop (DET) RHB
Schoop has posted a .912 OPS and 140 sOPS+ against LHP this season. He’s also hot right now, with a +137 point rolling xwOBA in his last 50 PAs.
Jacoby Jones (DET) RHB
Jacoby has been raking against southpaws this year, posting a 208 sOPS+
Miguel Cabrera (DET) RHB
Miggy’s a career .980 OPS hitter vs. lefties. Sure, he’s a shell of his former self, but he got on base three times yesterday. Value play?