Welcome to Ronnie’s 3 Ups and 3 Downs! This column looks at some fascinating matchups and facts that might pique the interest of the reader as that day’s games are reviewed. This is my attempt at creating compelling thought on any given day.
Ups
Rowdy Tellez
Over the last 10 days, Tellez is leading the Major Leagues with 68.3% HC. He also owns a 31.8% LD in those 29 PA. That great contact has lead to a .402 wOBA for Tellez. Today he faces Los Angeles hurler Griffin Canning. The Angel righty is making his MLB debut tonight. For his career Tellez is hitting .309/.350/.627 against right handed pitching with a 126 tOPS+.
Yandy Diaz
Another hitter on fire over the last 10 days in Yandy Diaz. In his last 33 PA, Diaz owns a .460 wOBA thanks in large part to 39.1% HC. He hits the fastball well (2.6 wFA), but also is above average against the sinker (1.0 wSI). Perhaps most impressive is his 2.0 wSL. Today Diaz faces Jakob Junis of the Royals. The KC pitcher throws primarily a fastball (25.6%), sinker (26.2%), and slider (43.3%).
Blake Snell
Snell is always a great play. The Tampa Bay lefty is building on his Cy Young campaign with a 2.59 SIERA and a 37.5% K in his first 28.1 innings this year. His matchup today is a great one for Snell as he takes the hill against the Kansas City Royals. The KC club is the third worst in the AL with a 73 wRC+ against lefties. They are also second in the AL with a 45.9% GB against southpaws and second in the Majors with a very high 22.7% SC. Snell should be a home run (pun intended) in this game.
Downs
Carlos Santana
Santana starting the season on fire, through April 18th the Indians first baseman was hitting .389/.515/.537 with a 174 wRC+. He rode 55..6% HC and a 26.7% LD to some pretty lofty numbers. Since then, however, Santana is hitting just .167/.268/.250, good for a 41 wRC+. In that time he has a 7.4% LD and a 59.3% GB. His bat has gone quiet so it would be best to avoid the streaky slugger until he starts to make a little better contact.
Tim Beckham
The Mariner infielder appears to be in the beginnings of what might finally be a breakout season for the 29 year old, that is if a 29 year old is still capable of having a breakout season. Hitting .286/.359/.533 with a .377 wOBA and a .248 ISO, the former number one overall pick is on quite a tear to start the 2019 season. Over his last 10 days, however, Beckham has experienced a bit of a backslide. In 30 PA he’s striking out at a 46.7% rate and is walking at just a 3.3% clip. He making just 21.4% HC in that time and has a 25.0% IFFB.
Cole Hamels
Enjoying a nice bounce back season after a disappointing 2018, Hamels is not the best play today. On the year he is going well with 8.6 K/9 and 3.3 K/BB through his first 31.1 innings pitched, good enough for a 142 ERA+. His opponent today is the Seattle Mariners. The Pacific Coast juggernaut has the second best wRC+ (146) against lefties in the Majors. The Mariners as a team have a 26.4% LD and a league best .255 ISO against southpaws on the season.
