Welcome back to another PrizePicks MLB Wednesday!
There are plenty of games scattered throughout the day, but let’s focus on a few opportunities in the later window.
Anthony Santander more than 1.5 Hits, Runs & RBIs
You never know which Yusei Kikuchi you’re going to get. He’s coming off two great starts, but he has proven to be one of the most inconsistent pitchers in baseball.
Overall, the lefty is yielding a .198 ISO, a 49% hard-hit rate and a 9.8% barrel rate this season.
Many of these Baltimore Orioles hitters mash left-handed pitching.
It’s a similar setup as Tuesday night for the Orioles, but Kikichi is more talented of a pitcher than Hyun Jin Ryu at this point in their respective careers.
None of that changes the fact that Kikuchi has thrown 45% of fastballs to right-handed batters across the last year – and that number is up another 7% over the last 30 days.
Anthony Santander owns a .237 ISO, 62% hard-hit rate and a 12% barrel rate against left-handed pitching since the beginning of 2022.
He’s swinging a hot stack and has tallied more than 1.5 hits, runs and RBIs in three of his last four games.
I’m also confident in this talented O’s lineup to keep the train moving.
Bryce Harper less than 1.5 Hits, Runs & RBIs
Bryce Harper is looking more like himself over the past couple of weeks, but this doesn’t seem like the best matchup for him.
Lefty Braxton Garrett takes the bump for the Miami Marlins, who have fared much better against left-handed hitters compared to righties in 2023.
Garrett owns a subpar .336 ISO, 61% hard-hit rate, and an 11% barrel vs. right-handed hitters this season.
But those numbers are drastically better against lefties – .149 ISO, 30% K-rate, 4.8% barrel rate and just an 11% fly-ball rate. I’m looking for the young left to keep Harper out of the box score tonight.
Aledmys Diaz less than 0.5 Hitter Strikeouts
I didn’t expect to see this one on the board. Don’t get me wrong, this Oakland Athletics lineup is bad, but Aledyms Diaz is a veteran who doesn’t strike out often.
He owns just a 19% K rate vs. right-handed pitchers this season.
On the flip side, Tony Gonsolin doesn’t have the juice this year and his strikeout rate is down considerably from 2022.
That doesn’t mean he won’t have his way with the rest of the Oakland lefties, but he is punching out just 16% of RHB this season, which bodes well for Diaz.
The other angle here is the possibility that Diaz doesn’t play the entire game.
If he doesn’t start, he could be a pinch hitter – and if he starts, there is a possibility he is yanked later in the game.
As long as he checks into the game, the less he plays, the better.
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Mookie Betts more than 9.0 Hitter Fantasy Score
Death, taxes and Mookie Betts against lefties this season.
Hogan Harris has held his own as a pro, but it’s going to be a tough draw against Mookie.
Harris is punching out just 19% of right-handed batters with a .184 ISO and a 52% hard-contact rate.
Betts is destroying left-handed pitching this season, sporting a 65% hard-hit rate, 15% barrel rate and a massive .398 ISO with just a 25% ground-ball rate.
Even when Harris gets yanked, the Oakland bullpen is absolutely atrocious.
That puts Betts in a smash spot Wednesday evening.
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