This article is part of our Umpire Analysis series.
For those interested in viewing how an umpire performs on a game-to-game basis, I recommend StatFox, which can function for our purposes as a box score for officials, tracking how many walks, strikeouts and runs an umpire has registered in a specific contest. This information could be helpful in order to wade past starts that were fluky, or featured elite competition, which could work to skew overall results.
Last Week's Picks
Tuesday
Game: MIA at LAD
Umpire: Bob Davidson
Player Recommendation:Dan Haren, RHP: 4.1 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 4 K
A disappointing result here, as we seemed to have an umpire and a ballpark conducive to a low-scoring affair. The Dodgers put 11 runs on the board in this one, but Davidson is still looking like an umpire we can turn to, as he has tallied an 8.0 K/9 rate while seeing just 2.4 BB/9 in 123 innings.
Game: TOR at BAL
Umpire: Bruce Dreckman
Player Recommendation:Adam Jones, OF: 0-For-3, BB
Our second consecutive one-sided contest saw the Blue Jays put up 10 runs, and while our pick was something of a bust, an offensive stack here likely yielded some satisfied customers. Dreckman now sports a 5.12 ERA over his first 109 innings behind the plate, but his K:BB ratio suggests that that number may come down a bit in the future.
Wednesday
Game: NYY at TB
Umpire: Dan Iassogna
Player Recommendation:Jacoby Ellsbury, OF: 1-for-4, BB, run scored
We were counting on Iassogna's tight zone to wear down Nathan Karns, and though he lasted just five innings and threw 92 pitches, he performed well, striking out six batters while allowing two free passes. Iassogna has been calling a pitcher-friendly zone of late, tallying just 2.6 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 over 177 innings.
Game: CWS at MIL
Umpire: Mark Ripperger
Player Recommendation:Jimmy Nelson, RHP: 6.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Nelson gave up three runs in the first inning before settling down, but the performance still left much to be desired. Ripperger called just three walks in nine innings, however, and even with Nelson's shaky outing boasts a 2.07 ERA while seeing 1.7 free passes per game over 113.3 frames.
Thursday
Game: KAN at TEX
Umpire: Chris Conroy
Player Recommendation:Lorenzo Cain, OF: N/A
Despite the fact that he would have faced a weak lefty, Cain was one of the players that manager Ned Yost decided to rest for the day game after a night game. The Royals still managed to score six of the nine runs that crossed the plate, contributing to a 4.40 ERA for Conroy in six games this season.
This Week's Picks
Tuesday
Game: MIL at DET
Umpire: Tripp Gibson
Player Recommendation:Anibal Sanchez, RHP
Gibson's rate stats have not been as pitcher-friendly this season as they were last year, but he has kept a 2.81 ERA through 112 innings, which makes him a nice target in Comerica Park, as it does not give an advantage to hitters.
Game: LAA at TOR
Umpire: Sean Barber
Player Recommendation:Russell Martin, C
Hector Santiago has worked his way back to fantasy relevance early this season, tallying a 2.41 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 41 innings, but he has allowed 18 free passes during that stretch, which may not mesh with Barber's 3.2 BB/9 this season. Martin is sporting a walk rate above 10 percent this season, which could allow him to see his share of hitter's counts in a friendly environment.
Wednesday
Game: STL at NYM
Umpire: Doug Eddings
Player Recommendation:Matt Adams, 1B
Eddings seems ripe for the picking, as he has paired a high ERA (4.67) with one of the lowest strikeout rates in the league (6.5/9) through his first 106 innings. Bartolo Colon has looked awfully hittable this season when he isn't racking up the punch outs, and he could be in for a long day if Eddings is hesitant to call the third strike.
Game: MIL at DET
Umpire: Brian Gorman
Player Recommendation:Shane Greene, RHP
Greene will make the start despite being removed from his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals after five scoreless innings due to an elbow issue. The 26-year-old seems ready to go after throwing a bullpen session Monday, and should be around the plate fairly often, as Gorman has notched just a 2.5 BB/9 rate in 121.3 innings.
Thursday
Game: ARI at MIA
Umpire: Tom Hallion
Player Recommendation:David Peralta, OF
While Marlins Park is not traditionally a place you think of for offense, there is plenty to like about this matchup, including an umpire who has a K:BB ratio of 1.96 and a 4.24 ERA in 123 innings this season. Both Archie Bradley and Mat Latos have walked too many batters in 2015, which could keep the bases occupied for most of the contest if Hallion's zone stays consistent.
