MLB Preview Thursday 6/6/24

Welcome to today’s MLB DFS Preview for June 6, 2024! We have an exciting slate ahead, featuring both early and main games packed with intriguing pitching matchups and game dynamics.

This article will focus on a comprehensive preview of today’s MLB DFS slate, emphasizing pitching matchups and key insights for each game. Let’s dive into the details.

Early Slate – 3 Games

Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays – 1:07 PM EDT – Rogers Centre

Pitching Matchup:

• Orioles: Cade Povich (LHP)
• Blue Jays: Yusei Kikuchi (LHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Baltimore Orioles:
  • Offense against LHP: .354 wOBA vs LHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Strong left-handed hitting makes this lineup dangerous against lefties.
  • Key Stats: Orioles’ lineup features a .263 wOBA vs. left-handed pitchers this season, which can be challenging for Kikuchi.
• Toronto Blue Jays:
  • Kikuchi’s Stats: 3.48 xERA, 3.75 SIERA, 25% K-rate.
  • Offense against LHP: .299 wOBA vs LHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: The Blue Jays have been consistent against left-handed pitchers, providing a balanced attack.

Key Points:

• Kikuchi’s Ability: Kikuchi’s ability to control the game with his strikeout potential.
• Orioles’ Lineup: Orioles’ potent lineup against left-handed pitching.

Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Guardians – 1:10 PM EDT – Progressive Field

Pitching Matchup:

• Royals: Brady Singer (RHP)
• Guardians: Tanner Bibee (RHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Kansas City Royals:
  • Offense against RHP: .325 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: The Royals’ lineup will need to be sharp against Bibee’s solid metrics.
• Cleveland Guardians:
  • Bibee’s Stats: 3.87 xERA, 3.97 SIERA, 25% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .34 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Guardians’ offense has shown strength against righties, which could challenge Singer.

Key Points:

• Bibee’s Control: Bibee’s effective control and strikeout capabilities.
• Royals’ Offense: Royals’ need for their offense to step up against a disciplined pitcher like Bibee.

Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics – 3:37 PM EDT – Oakland Coliseum

Pitching Matchup:

• Mariners: Bryan Woo (RHP)
• Athletics: JP Sears (LHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Seattle Mariners:
  • Offense against LHP: .312 wOBA vs LHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Mariners’ balanced lineup can exploit left-handed pitchers.
  • Woo’s Stats: 2.08 xERA, 4.05 SIERA, 24% K-rate.
• Oakland Athletics:
  • Sears’ Stats: 4.12 xERA, 4.65 SIERA, 20% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .321 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Athletics need to capitalize on any mistakes from Woo.

Key Points:

• Woo’s Dominance: Woo’s impressive expected stats and potential to dominate.
• Athletics’ Struggles: Athletics’ struggle against right-handed pitching needs to be addressed.

Main Slate – 7 Games

Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates – 6:40 PM EDT – PNC Park

Pitching Matchup:

• Dodgers: Walker Buehler (RHP)
• Pirates: Bailey Falter (LHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Los Angeles Dodgers:
  • Offense against LHP: .353 wOBA vs LHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Dodgers’ lineup is potent against lefties, making Falter’s job difficult.
  • Buehler’s Stats: 4.06 xERA, 3.74 SIERA, 23% K-rate.
• Pittsburgh Pirates:
  • Falter’s Stats: 4.72 xERA, 4.72 SIERA, 17% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .309 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Pirates need a strong offensive showing to support Falter.

Key Points:

• Buehler’s Performance: Buehler’s steady performance and ability to keep the Pirates’ offense in check.
• Dodgers’ Firepower: Dodgers’ offensive firepower against a struggling left-hander.

Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals – 6:45 PM EDT – Nationals Park

Pitching Matchup:

• Braves: Reynaldo Lopez (RHP)
• Nationals: Mitchell Parker (LHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Atlanta Braves:
  • Offense against LHP: .33 wOBA vs LHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Braves’ offense has been dominant, particularly against left-handed pitchers.
  • Lopez’s Stats: 3.71 xERA, 3.79 SIERA, 27% K-rate.
• Washington Nationals:
  • Parker’s Stats: 3.46 xERA, 3.72 SIERA, 21% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .295 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Nationals need to find ways to get on base and challenge Lopez.

Key Points:

• Lopez’s Suppression: Lopez’s ability to suppress hits and maintain a low ERA.
• Braves’ Offense: Braves’ high-powered offense looking to exploit Parker.

Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees – 7:05 PM EDT – Yankee Stadium

Pitching Matchup:

• Twins: Pablo Lopez (RHP)
• Yankees: Marcus Stroman (RHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Minnesota Twins:
  • Offense against RHP: .314 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Twins’ lineup needs to stay disciplined against Stroman.
  • Lopez’s Stats: 2.99 xERA, 3.28 SIERA, 29% K-rate.
• New York Yankees:
  • Stroman’s Stats: 4.32 xERA, 4.31 SIERA, 20% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .314 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Yankees’ lineup has the power to challenge Lopez.

Key Points:

• Lopez’s Strikeout Rate: Lopez’s impressive strikeout rate and low xERA.
• Yankees’ Power: Yankees’ ability to generate runs against right-handed pitching.

Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds – 7:10 PM EDT – Great American Ball Park

Pitching Matchup:

• Cubs: Javier Assad (RHP)
• Reds: Hunter Greene (RHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Chicago Cubs:
  • Offense against RHP: .303 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Cubs need to capitalize on any mistakes from Greene.
• Cincinnati Reds:
  • Greene’s Stats: 2.88 xERA, 3.79 SIERA, 29% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .325 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Reds’ potent lineup needs to support Greene’s efforts.

Key Points:

• Greene’s Strikeouts: Greene’s elite strikeout capabilities and dominance on the mound.
• Cubs’ Consistency: Cubs’ need for offensive consistency against a tough pitcher.

Colorado Rockies at St. Louis Cardinals – 7:45 PM EDT – Busch Stadium

Pitching Matchup:

• Rockies: Cal Quantrill (RHP)
• Cardinals: Sonny Gray (RHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Colorado Rockies:
  • Offense against RHP: .325 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Rockies’ offense must find ways to challenge Gray.
• St. Louis Cardinals:
  • Gray’s Stats: 3.05 xERA, 3.63 SIERA, 26% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .271 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Cardinals’ lineup is set to exploit Quantrill’s weaknesses.

Key Points:

• Gray’s Consistency: Gray’s consistency and ability to suppress hard contact.
• Rockies’ Adaptability: Rockies’ need to adapt against one of the league’s top pitchers.

Boston Red Sox at Chicago White Sox – 8:10 PM EDT – Guaranteed Rate Field

Pitching Matchup:

• Red Sox: Tanner Houck (RHP)
• White Sox: Jake Woodford (RHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Boston Red Sox:
  • Offense against RHP: .296 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Red Sox lineup should have an advantage against Woodford.
  • Houck’s Stats: 3.36 xERA, 3.79 SIERA, 23% K-rate.
• Chicago White Sox:
  • Woodford’s Stats: 7.15 xERA, 5.32 SIERA, 14% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .274 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: White Sox need to find ways to support Woodford.

Key Points:

• Houck’s Metrics: Houck’s solid metrics and ability to limit runs.
• Red Sox’s Potential: Red Sox’s offensive potential to dominate a struggling pitcher.

Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres – 9:40 PM EDT – Petco Park

Pitching Matchup:

• Diamondbacks: Slade Cecconi (RHP)
• Padres: Randy Vasquez (RHP)

Game Breakdown:

• Arizona Diamondbacks:
  • Offense against RHP: .343 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Diamondbacks’ offense is capable of challenging Vasquez.
• San Diego Padres:
  • Vasquez’s Stats: 5.41 xERA, 4.68 SIERA, 18% K-rate.
  • Offense against RHP: .286 wOBA vs RHP in the past two seasons.
  • Key Players: Padres need to capitalize on Cecconi’s inexperience.

Key Points:

• Cecconi’s Proving Ground: Cecconi’s need to prove himself against a strong Padres lineup.
• Padres’ Opportunity: Padres’ opportunity to exploit Cecconi’s weaknesses.

This comprehensive preview sets the stage for today’s MLB DFS slate, focusing on pitching matchups and key insights for each game. Stay tuned for our analysis of the top hitters and stacks later today.