MLB Daily Notes - April 2nd
There are so many things I want to add to the notes all at once right now, but it’s Sunday morning and my two-year son is lying awake in his crib right now waiting for me to come get him.
I did find the time this morning to add a whiffs leaderboard and the SP streamer picks for the day, so you’ll see that below.
There will be a ton more in these notes by the end of this week, I get new ideas every day I just need to find the time to execute them. I will be putting the things I find most valuable behind the paywall, just so you’re warned!
I plan to add the minor league performances of the day to the notes below, and I’m also willing to take recommendations. If there’s anything you’d like to see below every day, let me know in the comments and I’ll consider it.
The new whiffs leaderboard is in honor of my man Nick Lodolo, who racked up 22 swings and misses against the Pirates while striking out nine in five innings. The Reds let him throw 109 pitches, which was really surprising to me. I had planned him for less than 90 in the projection model, so that led to a bad projection on my part.
I have been a big Clarke Schmidt guy this draft season, so yesterday’s short outing was disappointing. However, the numbers under the hood look good:
Have to like the 17% SwStr% and the great marks on the cutter and sweeper. He gave up some barrels as you see there, but contact allowed is pretty random, as we know, so I’m actually pretty encouraged by the start.
Justin Steele was also great against the Brewers. The projections had him as the top SP to play on DraftKings since his price was so low, and he certainly made us look good there. Six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and a very nice 16% SwStr% with a 75% GB%.
I talked down Steele this offseason since most of his late-season breakout came against soft competition. One start shouldn’t ever change our minds too much, but it couldn’t have gone much better for Steele.
On the hitting side we saw Trayce Thompson hit three bombs on three barrels, and Adam Duvall added two bombs and three barrels of his own.
Duvall is going to play every day, so I think he’s worth an add where available - the batting average will be bad and the steals won’t be there, but we know the power he has. As for Thompson, it seems like he’s on the bad end of a platoon, which keeps him on the bench more often than not. But hey, maybe hitting three homers will get him some looks against right-handers in the short term. Neither of those guys’ power production is in question, so you can roll with them when they’re in the lineup - and they make for pretty great DFS upside plays.
Alright, that’s all the time I have, talk to you again tomorrow!
Whiffs Leaders - Yesterday
1. Nick Lodolo (CIN): 22 Whiffs (109 Pitches)
2. Zack Wheeler (PHI): 17 Whiffs (94 Pitches)
3. Brandon Woodruff (MIL): 17 Whiffs (97 Pitches)
4. Spencer Strider (ATL): 16 Whiffs (96 Pitches)
5. Logan Gilbert (SEA): 15 Whiffs (85 Pitches)
6. Justin Steele (CHC): 14 Whiffs (84 Pitches)
7. Zach Eflin (TB): 13 Whiffs (74 Pitches)
8. Tylor Megill (NYM): 13 Whiffs (93 Pitches)
9. Clayton Kershaw (LAD): 13 Whiffs (76 Pitches)
10. Clarke Schmidt (NYY): 13 Whiffs (76 Pitches)
CSW% Leaders - Yesterday
1. Clayton Kershaw (LAD): 17.1 SwStr%, 44.7 CSW%
2. Tyler Alexander (DET): 12.1 SwStr%, 39.7 CSW%
3. Nick Lodolo (CIN): 20.2 SwStr%, 39.4 CSW%
4. Brandon Woodruff (MIL): 17.5 SwStr%, 38.1 CSW%
5. Logan Gilbert (SEA): 17.6 SwStr%, 36.5 CSW%
6. Justin Steele (CHC): 16.7 SwStr%, 35.7 CSW%
7. Alex Cobb (SF): 10.5 SwStr%, 35.5 CSW%
8. Chris Sale (BOS): 17.6 SwStr%, 35.1 CSW%
9. Shintaro Fujinami (OAK): 23.6 SwStr%, 34.5 CSW%
10. Dean Kremer (BAL): 14.3 SwStr%, 33.9 CSW%
Top Pitcher JA Scores - Yesterday
1. Nick Lodolo - 5.0 IP - 83.25 JA Points
2. Brandon Woodruff - 6.0 IP - 76.0 JA Points
3. Clayton Kershaw - 6.0 IP - 72.75 JA Points
4. Justin Steele - 6.0 IP - 69.25 JA Points
5. Logan Gilbert - 6.0 IP - 66.75 JA Points
6. Zack Wheeler - 4.33 IP - 59.5 JA Points
7. Spencer Strider - 6.0 IP - 53.25 JA Points
8. Tyler Alexander - 3.33 IP - 47.25 JA Points
9. Zach Eflin - 5.0 IP - 44.75 JA Points
10. Alex Cobb - 3.67 IP - 44.25 JA Points
Pitcher JA Scores - Season
1. Blake Snell (SD) - 1.0 GS - 84.81 JA Points
2. Nick Lodolo (CIN) - 1.0 GS - 83.25 JA Points
3. Zack Wheeler (PHI) - 1.0 GS - 68.65 JA Points
4. Brandon Woodruff (MIL) - 1.0 GS - 63.33 JA Points
5. Logan Webb (SF) - 1.0 GS - 62.29 JA Points
6. Pablo Lopez (MIN) - 1.0 GS - 60.7 JA Points
7. Gerrit Cole (NYY) - 1.0 GS - 60.0 JA Points
8. Dylan Cease (CWS) - 1.0 GS - 59.8 JA Points
9. Justin Steele (CHC) - 1.0 GS - 57.71 JA Points
10. Logan Gilbert (SEA) - 1.0 GS - 55.62 JA Points
Velo Changes - Yesterday
Sonny Gray's FC velo (14 pitches) UP 4.1mph to 87.5
Jose Urquidy's CU velo (14 pitches) UP 2.8mph to 80.9
Adam Oller's CU velo (28 pitches) UP 2.0mph to 82.5
Dean Kremer's FC velo (11 pitches) UP 1.9mph to 89.9
Jordan Lyles's FF velo (39 pitches) DOWN -1.5mph to 90.3
Logan Gilbert's FF velo (41 pitches) DOWN -1.5mph to 94.6
Lucas Giolito's SL velo (29 pitches) DOWN -1.5mph to 82.9
Nick Lodolo's FF velo (50 pitches) DOWN -1.5mph to 92.9
Madison Bumgarner's FC velo (28 pitches) DOWN -1.6mph to 85.8
Chris Sale's CH velo (15 pitches) DOWN -1.7mph to 86.5
Tyler Alexander's FC velo (17 pitches) DOWN -1.7mph to 83.8
Madison Bumgarner's CH velo (20 pitches) DOWN -1.8mph to 83.7
Patrick Sandoval's CU velo (11 pitches) DOWN -1.9mph to 76.7
Madison Bumgarner's CU velo (15 pitches) DOWN -1.9mph to 76.7
Michael Wacha's FF velo (24 pitches) DOWN -1.9mph to 91.1
Rich Hill's FF velo (35 pitches) DOWN -1.9mph to 86.6
Nathan Eovaldi's CU velo (12 pitches) DOWN -2.0mph to 76.3
Madison Bumgarner's FF velo (21 pitches) DOWN -2.1mph to 89.1
Jose Urena's CH velo (25 pitches) DOWN -2.2mph to 88.0
Michael Wacha's FC velo (18 pitches) DOWN -2.3mph to 86.5
Jack Flaherty's FF velo (43 pitches) DOWN -2.3mph to 91.0
Jack Flaherty's SL velo (37 pitches) DOWN -2.4mph to 81.4
Nick Lodolo's CU velo (44 pitches) DOWN -2.4mph to 79.1
Tylor Megill's SL velo (38 pitches) DOWN -2.5mph to 82.7
Tylor Megill's CU velo (11 pitches) DOWN -3.2mph to 77.2
Michael Wacha's CH velo (27 pitches) DOWN -3.4mph to 80.9
Pitch Mix Changes - Yesterday
Aaron Civale's FF usage (21.2%) up 12.1 points
Adam Oller's CU usage (34.6%) up 21.6 points
Alex Cobb's SI usage (56.1%) up 14.1 points
Brandon Woodruff's FF usage (51.5%) up 13.1 points
Dean Kremer's FF usage (48.1%) up 14.9 points
Edward Cabrera's FF usage (34.1%) up 13.9 points
Jack Flaherty's SL usage (38.9%) up 12.1 points
Jordan Lyles's FF usage (56.5%) up 13.2 points
Jordan Lyles's CU usage (29.0%) up 10.8 points
Jose Urena's CH usage (35.2%) up 18.9 points
Jose Urquidy's CU usage (28.0%) up 10.8 points
Josiah Gray's CU usage (38.6%) up 13.0 points
Justin Steele's SL usage (51.2%) up 20.2 points
Kevin Gausman's FF usage (63.3%) up 13.6 points
Madison Bumgarner's CH usage (23.5%) up 12.2 points
Nathan Eovaldi's FC usage (25.6%) up 15.5 points
Nick Lodolo's FF usage (45.9%) up 13.8 points
Sonny Gray's CH usage (16.9%) up 15.9 points
Tylor Megill's SL usage (40.9%) up 20.4 points
Zach Eflin's FC usage (25.7%) up 10.9 points
Multiple Barrels
Trayce Thompson (LAD) 4 PA, 8 Swings, 3 Barrels, 3 HR
Adam Duvall (BOS) 5 PA, 7 Swings, 3 Barrels, 2 HR
C.J. Cron (COL) 4 PA, 5 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
Josh Naylor (CLE) 4 PA, 10 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
Kerry Carpenter (DET) 4 PA, 11 Swings, 2 Barrels, 0 HR
Matt Olson (ATL) 4 PA, 5 Swings, 2 Barrels, 2 HR
Mitch Garver (TEX) 5 PA, 8 Swings, 2 Barrels, 2 HR
Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL) 5 PA, 10 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
New Max Launch Velos
Alec Burleson, Yesterday: 110.4 Previous High: 109.2
Anthony Volpe, Yesterday: 100.4 Previous High: 91.4
Blake Sabol, Yesterday: 98.9 Previous High: 95.1
Brent Rooker, Yesterday: 110.5 Previous High: 108.4
Jordan Walker, Yesterday: 111.9 Previous High: 103.4
Kerry Carpenter, Yesterday: 108.3 Previous High: 107.3
Top Hitter JA Scores - Yesterday
1. Adam Duvall - 5.0 PA - 77.0 JA Points
2. Trayce Thompson - 4.0 PA - 76.0 JA Points
3. Mitch Garver - 5.0 PA - 65.0 JA Points
4. Mark Canha - 5.0 PA - 61.0 JA Points
5. Matt Olson - 4.0 PA - 61.0 JA Points
6. Yandy Diaz - 5.0 PA - 55.0 JA Points
7. C.J. Cron - 4.0 PA - 54.0 JA Points
8. Anthony Rizzo - 5.0 PA - 51.0 JA Points
9. Enrique Hernandez - 4.0 PA - 50.0 JA Points
10. Xander Bogaerts - 5.0 PA - 45.0 JA Points
Hardest Hit Balls
Giancarlo Stanton (NYY) - 115.4mph - grounded_into_double_play
Yandy Diaz (TB) - 112.8mph - home_run
Giancarlo Stanton (NYY) - 112.3mph - home_run
Jordan Walker (STL) - 111.9mph - nan
C.J. Cron (COL) - 111.8mph - home_run
Spencer Torkelson (DET) - 111.7mph - single
Kyle Schwarber (PHI) - 111.7mph - nan
Joc Pederson (SF) - 111.7mph - home_run
Matt Olson (ATL) - 111.4mph - home_run
Giancarlo Stanton (NYY) - 111.3mph - fielders_choice
Today's SP Streamer Picks
Ross Stripling (37%) Owned: Projected 7.33IP 2.78ER 5.86SO 1.64BB 18.01FPts
Seth Lugo (4%) Owned: Projected 5.66IP 1.83ER 5.57SO 1.25BB 17.7FPts
Bailey Falter (5%) Owned: Projected 6.16IP 2.17ER 5.46SO 1.24BB 17.0FPts
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