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
Tigers hurlers Matt Manning and Alex Faedo shut down for season
With the Tigers likely out of contention for 2020, and with no minor league season for the young hurlers to participate in, the club has decided to shut down both Matt Manning and Alex Faedo for the remainder of the year. Neither pitcher was likely to contribute much this season, but both guys are important future pitching pieces for the club. Look for both pitchers to come back healthy for 2021 spring training.
Luis Alexander Basabe debuts for the Giants
Outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe made his major league debut yesterday when came into the Giants game as a pinch runner. Basabe, 24, might get some spot time in the San Francisco outfield this season due to his baserunning and defensive capabilities. He was DFA’d by the Chicago White Sox earlier this summer.
Carter Kieboom optioned to alternate site
In what comes as a bit of a shocker, the Nationals optioned young third baseman Carter Kieboom to the team’s alternate site. Kieboom, 22, has appeared in 17 games for the Nationals in 2020, posting a rough .200/.359/.200 triple slash line. Veteran Asdrúbal Cabrera slides in as the club’s everyday third baseman.
Red Sox Jay Groome Working his way back into top prospect conversation
Jay Groome took to the mound at Fenway Park in a simulated game on his 22nd birthday. Reports are he looked sharp, featuring a mid-90s fastball that Groome controlled to both sides of the plate. Groome was the Red Sox 1st round pick in the 2016 draft as a prep left-hander out of New Jersey. Look for Groome to get an opportunity to make the Red Sox club out of spring training in 2021.
Reliever Watch
Sam Selman plays key role in Giants victory
Giants left-handed reliever Sam Selman picked up the win against the Dodgers on Wednesday, pitching in a high leverage situation in extra innings. Selman, a 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft out of Vanderbilt, has posted a 2.45 ERA thus far in 2020. He has yet to allow a barrel over the course of 12 appearances.
Pirates Richard Rodriguez picks up second Save of the week
It was adventurous, but Richard Rodríguez picked up his second save of the week against the Cardinals yesterday. Rodríguez has taken over the closer role for an injured Keone Kela. If he continues locking down late innings for the Pirates, Rodríguez might find himself traded to a playoff contender in the coming days.
Pitching Matchup of the Day
Tyler Anderson (SFG) vs. Zac Gallen (ARI)
In a day filled with a lot of ‘TBA’ due to recent scheduling, a couple interesting hurlers square off in the NL West:
Both Tyler Anderson and Zac Gallen are relying on cut fastballs a good amount this year. Anderson has been a little unlucky with his, but a .347 xwOBA and 31.7% Whiff rate suggest its a strong complementary piece to his arsenal.
Gallen has been throwing his cutter a bunch this year, with his usage jumping up to 25.5% after 15.4% usage in 2019. Like Anderson, he’s been a bit unlucky with the pitch, posting a .344 wOBA despite a more effective .291 xwOBA underlying the cutter. Like Anderson, Gallen is using the cut fastball to generate whiffs, with a 33.3% Whiff rate giving him a genuine third out pitch this year.
Phil’s pick: I have yet to get one of these right, but I am going with Zac Gallen today. Let’s go Zac!
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. Robbie Erlin LHP (ATL)
Robbie Erlin has posted a career .355 xwOBA and .558 xSLG against the current Phillies lineup. However Erlin is a reverse leftie, so he neutralizes some of the RH batter platoon advantage (left-handed bats have fared better against him throughout his career).
J.T. Realmuto - c (PHI)
Realmuto trounces left-handed pitching, posting an excellent 210 sOPS+ against them so far in 2020. Lock him into your catcher slot.
vs. Max Scherzer RHP (WAS)
Max Scherzer is usually a ‘must avoid’ in daily leagues/DFS, but he’s not been his usual dominant self in 2020, allowing barrels at a Statcast-era high 7.6% clip. Left-handed bats are slugging .516 against him this year. Enter…
Mitch Moreland 1B (BOS)
Left-handed hitting Moreland has made a career out of beating up on right handed pitching, posting a .472 slugging average against righties in his career. He’s also feeling hot at the moment, with a +80 point rolling xwOBA over his last 50 PAs.
Alex Verdugo OF (BOS)
He’s nice and hot right now, with a +137 rolling xwOBA over his last 50 PAs. He’s posted an .815 OPS against right-handed pitching throughout his career.
vs. Mike Minor LHP (TEX)
Dodgers hitters have had success against Minor throughout his career, as he’s posted a .423 xwOBA and .669 xSLG against this current Dodgers lineup.
AJ Pollock OF (LAD)
He’s a lefty-crusher during his career, and has a .846 OPS and .533 SLG against lefties in 2020 so far.
vs. Danny Duffy LHP (KCR)
I’ve always liked Duffy as a pitcher, and he’s posted a nice 3.73 FIP so far this season. But he gives up flyballs, and this White Sox lineup is just death to LHP. The White Sox as a team have a 1.004 OPS against lefties so far in 2020. 7% of the team’s plate appearances against LHP in 2020 have ended up with a home run. Stack White Sox RHB liberally today.