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Never has the platoon been more popular than it is in the 2023 season. Sure-fire everyday players are becoming an endangered species as clubs continually attempt to exploit any given matchup at any given time.
Advanced analytics certainly plays its part, however, you don't have to dig too deep to find certain players that feast off a certain pitcher's handedness. Exploiting lefty/righty splits isn't exactly a new science, however, as this type of information has long been utilized by MLB teams and coaches. That being said, teams are now arming themselves with a strict game plan in mind when deciding who to include on their 26-man roster out of spring training.
The growing platoon usage gains entertainment value when it comes to fantasy baseball. There's a chunk of lightly-owned players that usually make fantastic streaming options in a given matchup. Let's take a look at some of the names that are being utilized in a platoon and enjoying great success in that role this season.
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Streamers Versus LHP
Chris Taylor, UTIL, Dodgers
It's been a sluggish season for Chris Taylor who dug himself a big batting-average hole early in the season while he sits with a .210 average on the campaign. Despite striking out in 35% of his plate appearances, Taylor has powered up to the tune of 10 homers, six doubles, and a triple across 157 trips to the plate, good for a fantastic .266 isolated power.
Despite extremely narrow career splits (.786 OPS vs. LHP, .753 vs. RHP), Taylor has gone the bulk of his damage off of Southpaws in 2023. The versatile veteran is hitting .255 with a massive .436 ISO and .979 OPS versus a .182 average, .159 ISO, and a .591 OPS off of same-handed pitching. Seven of Taylor's 10 long balls have come off a lefty despite seeing 37 more plate appearances versus right-handers.
He's still getting reps against right-handers but Taylor has certainly had his way with lefties this season.
Connor Joe, OF, Pirates
It's been a fine season for Connor Joe in his first tour with the Pirates but an even finer one against left-handed pitching.
Overall, Joe is hitting .251 with six homers, a .821 OPS, and a .356 wOBA on the campaign across 196 trips to the plate. However, the righty-swinging outfielder is hitting .313 with a .297 ISO and 1.030 OPS off of left-handed pitching. Compare that to a .215 average with a .178 ISO and .693 OPS against righties and we have a full-blown lefty masher on our hands.
Four of Joe's six home runs on the season have come at the expense of a lefty despite appearing at the plate 44 more times versus a righty.
Keep Joe in mind with a southpaw toeing the rubber.
Rob Refsnyder, OF, Red Sox
Once a highly-regarded youngster with the rival Yankees, Rob Refsnyder has revitalized his career in a platoon role with the Red Sox over the last two seasons.
The 32-year-old had been posting numbers far below the league average from 2016-2021 but posted a 146 wRC+ with the Red Sox in 57 appearances last season and is trending in the same direction this time around.
Unlike Taylor and Joe before him, Refsnyder is seeing more plate appearances versus lefties than he has righties, essentially making him your strict platoon outfielder. It's easy to see why as Refsnyder has hit lefties for a whopping .364 average versus a paltry .147 clip against righties. He doesn't hit for much power, but his .109 ISO off southpaws is nearly double his .059 mark off righties. His .950 OPS off lefties is towering over his .547 mark off righties.
Looking at wRC+, his bat has been 71% better than the league average off of lefties and 31% worse off of righties. Considering he usually starts out of the two-hole against lefties, Refsnyder is a nice streaming and DFS option against southpaw pitchers.
Yan Gomes, C, Cubs
If you are a seasoned fantasy baseball/DFS participant, this one should come as no surprise as Yan Gomes has long mashed left-handed pitching and that has not changed in the slightest this season.
For his career, the 35-year-old backstop has hit .282 with a .211 ISO and .822 OPS versus a .232 average, .154 ISO, and 665 OPS off of same-handed pitching. The gap is far bigger this season, however, as Gomes is hitting .333 with a .354 ISO and 1.040 OPS versus lefties compared to a .225 average, .075 ISO, and .547 OPs off of right-handers.
Five of Gomes' seven home runs on the campaign have come against a lefty while both of his doubles have also come against a lefty despite making 34 fewer trips to the plate against them than he has righties.
Streamers Versus RHP
Jack Suwinski, OF, Pirates
Jack Suwinski is currently enjoying his breakout season as he has 11 home runs, six stolen bases, and a .820 OPS across 193 trips to the plate, thanks almost entirely to his work against right-handed pitching.
The lefty-swinging 24-year-old has scuffled against left-handed pitching but has mashed righties for a monstrous .317 ISO and .932 OPS, even if he's punched out in 30.3% of his plate appearances against them (41.7% versus lefties). All of 11 of his homers and five of his seven doubles have come against a righty as he's logged zero homers and just two doubles in 48 trips to the plate versus lefties.
Such production makes a platoon with the aforementioned Connor Joe a fine arrangement for the Pirates. It's also a fine arrangement for your fantasy baseball roster.
Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Rays
Leave it to the pixie dust in Tampa Bay to produce a monstrous season from a previously struggling, little-known player.
Luke Raley is absolutely tattooing the baseball this season as he has 11 homers, seven stolen bases, a .884 OPS, and a .394 wOBA across 161 trips to the plate. For good measure, he ranks in the 96th percentile or better in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, xwOBA, xSLG, and barrel rate to this point in the season.
What's interesting about Raley is that he almost never sees a left-handed pitcher but is 4-for-14 (.286) with two homers against them. However, his 147 plate appearances against righties have also produced big-time results. Raley owns a massive .317 ISO, .925 OPS, and a .391 wOBA against right-handed pitching, even if he's struck out in 30.6% of his plate appearances against them.
You'll never see Raley start against a lefty but he is an elite streaming option against righties.
Kevin Kiermaier, OF, Blue Jays
Long known for his glove, Kiermaier has been using his bat to do major damage against right-handed pitching in his first season with the Blue Jays.
Overall, the veteran outfielder is hitting .296 with four homers, five stolen bases, and a .839 OPS across 52 games this season. His work against righties includes a .302 average, .225 ISO, and a .891 OPS across 143 trips to the plate. Of his 18 extra-base hits, 17 have come against a right-handed pitcher, including all four of his home runs and AL-best four triples.
Add it up and you could do a lot worse than Kevin Kiermaier versus a right-handed pitcher.
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