MLB Top Hitters 6/25/24

Today’s MLB DFS slate is brimming with opportunities for hitters to shine. In this article, we’ll highlight the top three DFS hitters for today, as well as two under-the-radar plays that could provide great value. Let’s dive into the matchups and analyze why these players are prime targets for your lineups.

Top 3 DFS Hitters

1. Aaron Judge (Yankees) vs. David Peterson (Mets)

Key Insights:

• Matchup: David Peterson is a left-handed pitcher with a high strikeout rate (28.4%) but also struggles with control, issuing a 6.4% walk rate. Against right-handed hitters, his xwOBA is .349, indicating he can be vulnerable to powerful righties.
• Aaron Judge: Judge is a right-handed powerhouse with an xHR of .392 and an xwOBA of .479. He thrives against lefties, boasting a .392 ISO and 20.4% walk rate. His ability to get on base and hit for power makes him a top play against Peterson.

2. Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) vs. Chris Flexen (White Sox)

Key Insights:

• Matchup: Chris Flexen has struggled mightily against both left-handed and right-handed hitters, with an xwOBA of .334 and .376 respectively. His strikeout rate against righties is only 14.7%, making him a favorable target for powerful hitters.
• Shohei Ohtani: Ohtani, a left-handed hitter, has an xHR of .374 and an xwOBA of .458. His ability to hit for power and get on base (.374 ISO and 14.0% walk rate) makes him a prime candidate to exploit Flexen’s weaknesses.

3. Rafael Devers (Red Sox) vs. Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays)

Key Insights:

• Matchup: Kevin Gausman is a solid pitcher but can be vulnerable to left-handed power hitters, with an xwOBA of .338 against lefties. He strikes out a lot of batters but also gives up a fair amount of hard contact.
• Rafael Devers: Devers is a left-handed slugger with an xHR of .260 and an xwOBA of .405. He has a great track record against right-handed pitchers, making him a top play against Gausman. His ability to hit for power and make consistent contact puts him in an excellent position to succeed.

Under-the-Radar Plays

1. Mitch Garver (Rangers) vs. Bryse Wilson (Brewers)

Key Insights:

• Matchup: Bryse Wilson has an xwOBA of .370 against left-handed hitters, making him a target for hitters with power from the left side. Wilson’s high walk rate (12.2%) also suggests he struggles with control.
• Mitch Garver: While not as well-known as some of the top stars, Garver has solid stats against right-handed pitchers, with an xHR of .211 and an xwOBA of .355. His power and ability to take advantage of Wilson’s weaknesses make him a sneaky good play.

2. Jeimer Candelario (Reds) vs. Mitch Keller (Pirates)

Key Insights:

• Matchup: Mitch Keller has an xwOBA of .318 against left-handed hitters, indicating he can be hit by lefties. His strikeout rate against lefties is decent, but he still gives up a fair amount of hard contact.
• Jeimer Candelario: Candelario, a switch-hitter, has an xHR of .253 and an xwOBA of .308. While these numbers are not eye-popping, they suggest he has the potential to exploit Keller’s weaknesses. His versatility and ability to hit from both sides make him a valuable under-the-radar option.

These top hitters and under-the-radar plays offer a mix of power, consistency, and favorable matchups that can help you build a winning DFS lineup for today’s slate. Keep an eye on these players as you finalize your picks and look for opportunities to capitalize on their potential.