That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies Opposition Roadblock: St. Louis Cardinals

By Mike Azzalina

Jun 7, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) reacts after hitting a double against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) reacts after hitting a double against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 10, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Jedd Gyorko (3) connects for a two run RBI single during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Jedd Gyorko (3) connects for a two run RBI single during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Position Player: Jedd Gyorko

The Cardinals have eight players with over 100 at-bats through the first week of June. Of those eight, only two of them are hitting over .275 and three with an OBP above .350 at this point. They are getting disappointing offensive seasons from Yadier Molina, Matt Carpenter, and newcomer, Dexter Fowler.

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Truly, their best player has been underrated third baseman, Jedd Gyorko. He currently leads the Cards in average (.307) and OPS (.872). While Carpenter is leading the team in homers and RBI, he has not been as consistent as Gyorko this season.

He is hitting .287 at home with season with nine extra-base hits. Over the last week, he has cooled off a bit (4-20) with a run and one RBI. Over his time in the league, he has gone 1-12 off Jeremy Hellickson and Aaron Nola but has not faced Nick Pivetta yet. It will be interesting to see how the 28-year-old fairs this weekend against the Phillies trio of arms.

He has a .303/.378/.485 career line against the Phils, however. In those 18 appearances against Philadelphia, he has mustered three homers, three doubles, and has struck out 12 times. His career numbers against them are not dynamic but are also not terrible at all.

Gyorko seems like he would be a dead fastball hitter. He has been feasting off right-hander’s fastballs this season. However, a closer look at his performance against righties showed that he crushes breaking and off-speed pitches in the lower part of the zone. He has been feasting on righties this season (.314/.365/.533 with six homers), and the Phils hope to cool him down in that area.

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