Should Davis Schneider Keep Getting More Reps Against Righties?

Davis Schneider started the season as a platoon player, mostly only batting against left-handed pitchers, but a strong August has allowed him to get more starts against right-handers as well. However, as the regular season nears its end, it doesn't seem like his stats fully warrant the change.

The utility player had a rough start to the season, going 1-for-11, and was soon sent down to Triple-A Buffalo. He was recalled on June 1, due to Daulton Varsho's hamstring injury, and finished the first half of the season, slashing .218/.344/.436 with a .780 OPS and a 122 wRC+. He hit five home runs, scored 14 times, knocked in 11, and walked 13 times, though he struck out at an excessive rate (31.2%) over 93 plate appearances.

Schneider's ability to play multiple positions has allowed him to earn more regular playing time, bouncing between left field and second base. A strong August also ensured that the 26-year-old would receive more at-bats, as he slashed .327/.377/.673, with a massive increase in OPS (1.051) and wRC+ (189). He hit five home runs, scored 10 runs, and drove in 16 over 53 plate appearances in the month. That said, he struggled to draw walks and continued striking out. His four walks in August are tied for his lowest in any individual month of his career, and he struck out more than 30% of the time.

So far in September, Schneider has fallen back down to earth, looking the worst he has since the opening of the season. He is slashing .194/.333/.278 with a .611 OPS and an 82 wRC+. The lone bright spot is that Schneider has been able to draw eight walks (17.8% walk rate) with only 11 strikeouts (24.4% strikeout rate). However, he has only produced one home run, scored four, and knocked in two. The decreased production has led to him being pinch-hit for against right-handed relievers later in games, even when he initially gets the start against a righty, as was the case on Tuesday.

With Schneider's return to a moderate platoon role, it may be worth pointing out that, surprisingly, he has hit better against right-handers this season. On the year, he's had 123 plate appearances against lefties (.223/.350/.379) compared to 96 against righties (.263/.375/.538), yet he's performed better against right-handers. The utility player has a .728 OPS and 111 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers compared to a .913 OPS and 153 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. Additionally, he has struck out 13 fewer times against right-handed pitchers (36 compared to 23) in 27 fewer plate appearances.

Another notable detail is that Schneider has hit better at home against left-handed pitchers but better on the road against right-handed pitchers (per FanGraphs). The samples are tiny in a split like this, but even if this isn't anything more than randomness, it's a fun statistical note:

Despite his recent struggles, Schneider has proven that he deserves the opportunity to face right-handed pitchers more often moving forward. That may happen in the postseason if Joey Loperfido, who has often been the lefty batter to substitute for Schneider later in games, is left off the postseason roster. Anthony Santander's performance over the next few days and Bo Bichette's health are two more factors to consider. 

So, it will be interesting to see how manager John Schneider uses his surname-sharing utility player in the postseason.