MLB Grind Down: Saturday, April 19th - Page 2

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2014-04-19 16:50:03

Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs

Cincinnati					Chicago Cubs
Tony Cingrani		Vegas Moneyline			Carlos Villanueva		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		CIN (-142)			RIGHT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.179	0.502	0.231	29.9%	SP vs. Left	0.280	0.766	0.343	18.1%
SP vs. Right	0.197	0.669	0.301	28.2%	SP vs. Right	0.251	0.717	0.321	19.6%
Batter Splits	CIN BvP		CIN vs R		Batter Splits	CHC BvP		CHC vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Tony Cingrani – Cingrani has “top of the rotation” stuff and has proven it so far this season as he has posted a 2.60 ERA and racked up 20 strikeouts through his first 17 innings this season. His control is a concern (9 walks issued already) and has driven up his pitch count, preventing him from pitching deeper into games. With that said, he Cubs lineup is far from intimidating and their hitters are not known for their patience at the plate. Rating = 7

• Edwin Jackson – Jackson had an ERA of almost 5 last season in 31 starts, and things have been even worse so far this season. He’s allowed 11 ER’s in just 16 innings in his first three starts of the season, and it’s likely his struggles continue today against the Reds. Rating = 3

Cincinnati

• Joey Votto – Votto is an on-base machine and posted a .977 OPS versus right-handed pitching last season. He’s 6 for 16 with a two longballs in his career against Jackson.

• Additional Plays: – Jay Bruce, Billy Hamilton

Chicago

• Junior Lake – There aren’t many good reasons to like the Cubs hitters today, but Junior Lake has handled the bat very well versus left-handed pitching so far in his young career (.377 average)

Houston at Oakland

Houston					Oakland
Brett Oberholtzer		Vegas Moneyline			Scott Kazmir		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		OAK (-210)			LEFT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.257	0.655	0.291	15.4%	SP vs. Left	0.230	0.573	0.253	24.2%
SP vs. Right	0.221	0.621	0.275	17.0%	SP vs. Right	0.259	0.743	0.331	24.3%
Batter Splits	HOU BvP		HOU vs L		Batter Splits	OAK BvP		OAK vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Brett Oberholtzer – Oberholtzer has pitched very well so far this year, but it’s hardly ever advisable to recommend a Houston pitcher in DFS. While he’s admitadly an underrated player, he’s still an easy avoid. Rating = 4

• Scott Kazmir – Kazmir has won each of his first three starts this season and, with a battle versus the Houston Astros in Oakland on tap, is in perfect position to move to 4-0. He puzzled Seattle hitters in his last start, allowing just two hits while striking out nine in six shutout innings. The Astros are one of the more strikeout prone teams in the league and, price considered, Kazmir is one of the best choices on the board. Rating – 8

Houston

• Chris Carter – Carter has been ice-cold at the plate but could make for an interesting GPP play today against his old team.

• Additional Plays: – Jose Altuve

Oakland

• Josh Donaldson – Anytime he’s facing a lefty he becomes on of my favorite third basemen to target. He posted a 1.043 OPS last season versus LHP and also destroyed this Houston pitching staff (24 for 67)

• Additional Plays: – Yoenis Cespedes, Derek Norris

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh

Milwaukee					Pittsburgh
Matt Garza		Vegas Moneyline			Wandy Rodriguez		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		MIL (-110)			LEFT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.268	0.721	0.323	21.4%	SP vs. Left	0.264	0.777	0.358	7.6%
SP vs. Right	0.233	0.671	0.303	20.1%	SP vs. Right	0.250	0.751	0.330	20.9%
Batter Splits	MIL BvP		MIL vs L		Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Matt Garza – Garza was terrific in his Brewers debut but has regressed a bit in his last two starts. He sports solid strikeout numbers and has the ability to shut teams down, but this price is a bit higher than I’d like it to be on most sites and there are safer options for cash games. Rating = 5.5

• Wandy Rodriguez – Wandy has been a very solid pitcher in the past, but he’s really struggled to put things together this season. The Brewers have a handful of guys who make their living punishing left-handed pitching which makes Wandy a fairly easy fade for me today. Rating = 4.5

Milwaukee

• Ryan Braun – The Hebrew Hammer is one of the top plays of the day. He not only crushes left-handed pitching, but he also owns insane BvsP numbers against Wandy.

• Additional Plays: – Aramis Ramirez, Jonathan Lucroy

Pittsburgh

• Pedro Alvarez – He’s a bit of a boom or bust pick, but he’s in the right spot to really go BOOM today. He’s far better versus right handed pitching and he’s had success against Garza in the past (6 for 13 with a bomb)

• Additional Plays: – Andrew McCutchen

NY Yankees at Tampa Bay

NY Yankees					Tampa Bay
Ivan Nova		Vegas Moneyline			Chris Archer		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		TBR (-130)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.274	0.655	0.313	16.7%	SP vs. Left	0.260	0.757	0.338	21.2%
SP vs. Right	0.265	0.706	0.323	21.3%	SP vs. Right	0.201	0.501	0.236	17.1%
Batter Splits	NYY BvP		NYY vs R		Batter Splits	TBR BvP		TBR vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Ivan Nova – I keep waiting for Nova to “take the next step” and it may be coming, but he continues to be prone to peridoic blow-ups. That hasn’t changed this season as he’s pitched very well in two starts but failed to get out of the 4th inning in the other. He kept the Rays guessing last year, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.54 ERA in three starts. Don’t get too excited with those numbers though, because he also pitched much better at Yankee Stadium rather than on the road. Rating = 5

• Chris Archer – Archer had immediate success in the MLB upon getting called up last season, posting a very impressive 3.22 ERA over 128 innings as a rookie last season. That success got the “hype machine” working coming into this season and he didn’t disappoint in his first two starts. However, the wheels fell of a bit in his last start; where he was slammed for seven earned runs in five innings versus the Orioles. He still offers solid strikeout numbers and should bounce back tonight, but there are safer options on the board for cash games. Rating = 5.5

New York

• Jacoby Ellsbury – Ellsbury will find is way on to the roster of many of my cash game lineups today. He wreaks havoc at the top of the Yankees lineup and is always a threat for stolen bases. He’s clearly not fooled by Chris Archer delivery as he’s 6 for 7 (with a pair of stolen bases) off of him in their short history.

• Additional Plays: – Brian McCann, Brett Gardner

Tampa Bay

• James Loney – Loney is a solid “punt” option today at 1B. He’s reached base 9 times in 13 career plate appearances versus Ivan Nova and should find himself right in the heart of the batting order.

• Additional Plays: – Evan Longoria, David DeJesus

Atlanta at NY Mets

Atlanta					NY Mets
Ervin Santana		Vegas Moneyline			Bartolo Colon		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		ATL (-125)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.243	0.663	0.297	18.6%	SP vs. Left	0.262	0.702	0.306	14.2%
SP vs. Right	0.221	0.633	0.284	20.8%	SP vs. Right	0.278	0.679	0.298	16.2%
Batter Splits	ATL BvP		ATL vs R		Batter Splits	NYM BvP		NYM vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

• Ervin Santana – The Braves could not have hoped for more than they’ve gotten from Santana so far this season, as he appears to clearly love the move to the National League. He’s been nearly unhittable in each of his first two starts and has struck out 17 batters in is 14 innings. The Mets lineup is far from intimidating and Santana is a nice pitcher to target tonight. Rating = 8

• Bartolo Colon – Colon is tough to figure out. He posted a 18-6 record with a 2.65 ERA last season, but was absolutely demolished by the Angels in his last start. He’s been dealing with back pain recently which makes him very tough to trust in your lineup. Rating = 4.5

Atlanta

• Freddie Freeman – Freeman posted a .958 OPS versus right handed pitchers last season. He went deep last night and now has three homeruns over the last six games.

• Additional Plays: – Evan Gattis, Jayson Heyward

New York Mets

• Eric Young – Young has been a pest in the leadoff spot for the Mets so far this season. He’s already stolen 9 bases in the first 15 games and could easily do damage on the basepaths against the battery of Santana/Gattis

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