MLB Grind Down: Tuesday, July 22nd Page Two
San Diego at Chicago Cubs
| San Diego | Chicago Cubs | ||||||||
| Eric Stults | Vegas Moneyline | Kyle Hendricks | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | CHC (-116) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.227 | 0.617 | 0.275 | 14.6% | SP vs. Left | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.301 | 0.796 | 0.351 | 14.5% | SP vs. Right | ||||
| Batter Splits | SDP BvP  | SDP vs R | Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Eric Stults – Stults takes the mound for the Padres tonight and is hoping to have a much better 2nd half of the season. Despite having his highest GB% in his career, Stults is sporting a 4.98 ERA with a K/9 of only 5.35. That’s pretty awful considering the fact that half of his starts come in the pitcher’s paradise that is Petco Park. Even though the Cubs offense struggles to score runs, they are surprisingly ranked 5th in wOBA vs. LH pitching this season. Rating = 3
Salaries: $5700 FD, $NA DS, $9350 DD, $6600 DK, $56800 FF, $14100 SS, $9000 FTD
- Kyle Hendricks – Hendricks is a young RH pitcher that will be making his 2nd career major league start tonight. The Cubs have yet to announce who their 5th starter is going to be moving forward and Hendricks could potentially be that guy if he pitches well here. While Hendricks isn’t the safest cash game option, I really like the matchup against the Padres and I think he gets plenty of run support to help his cause. He makes a nice tournament play. Rating = 5
Salaries:
Batter Grind Down
San Diego
There are very few times that I’ve targeted Padres hitters this season. Seth Smith makes a decent play as he has been terrific against RH pitching, but with a full slate of games, I will likely be looking elsewhere.
Chicago Cubs
Starlin Castro – I think the Cubs are in a very sneaky spot tonight. They hit LH pitching surprisingly well as a team and Stults struggles have been well documented this season. Castro is sporting a .351 wOBA against lefties and has decent speed and power.
Additional Plays: Anthony Rizzo, Justin Ruggiano
UPDATE: The wind is blowing out in Wrigley and the total has moved up to 9.5. Give a boost to hitters from both teams in this one.
Cleveland at Minnesota
| Cleveland | Minnesota | ||||||||
| Danny Salazar | Vegas Moneyline | Yohan Pino | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | CLE (-129) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.234 | 0.653 | 0.299 | 31.5% | SP vs. Left | 0.316 | 0.778 | 0.339 | 7.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.284 | 0.859 | 0.370 | 25.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.222 | 0.583 | 0.255 | 25.0% |
| Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | Batter Splits | MIN BvP | MIN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Danny Salazar – Salazar came into the season as one of the Indians top pitchers, but that quickly changed after he struggled to start the season and then had a triceps injury. The Indians have kept him at the Triple-A level, but will call him up for tonight’s game against the Twins. Salazar has great stuff and can strike out a ton of batters (K/9 of 10.4 this season). I think he’s worth a flier as a GPP play. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7000 FD, $11950 DD, $7200 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Yohan Pino – Pino has been pretty mediocre in his first 5 major league starts. He’s posted a 4.39 ERA with a 6.41 WHIP. Tonight he faces a tough Indians offense that is ranked 4th in wOBA vs. RH pitching this season. His $3,000 price tag on FanDuel may be tempting, but the matchup isn’t good enough for me to take the bait. Rating = 4
Salaries: $3000 FD, $10400 DD, $6200 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $8150 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Cleveland
Michael Brantley – The sample size is extremely small, but Pino has given up a .384 wOBA to LH hitters this season. That bodes well for the Indians lineup that is littered with LH hitters. Brantley has a .418 wOBA against RH pitching this season.
Additional Plays: Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, Lonnie Chisenhall
Minnesota
Josh Willingham – Salazar has had some glaring reverse splits. Since the start of 2013, he has given up a .370 wOBA to RH batters while holding lefties to a .299 wOBA. Willingham has nice power against righties and makes a nice contrarian play in the OF.
Additional Plays: Brian Dozier
Kansas City at Chicago White Sox
| Kansas City | Chicago White Sox | ||||||||
| Bruce Chen | Vegas Moneyline | Scott Carroll | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | KCR (-110) | RIGHT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.268 | 0.739 | 0.326 | 14.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.303 | 0.829 | 0.370 | 8.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.243 | 0.675 | 0.305 | 18.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.286 | 0.687 | 0.328 | 14.5% |
| Batter Splits | KCR BvP | KCR vs R | Batter Splits | CHW BvP | CHW vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Bruce Chen – Chen is making another spot start tonight which is typically not the best situation to target pitchers in. Chen has a 6.46 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP this season. The good news for Chen is that his peripheral stats look much better (3.99 xFIP) and he is facing a White Sox offense that is ranked 27th in wOBA vs. LH pitching. That said, I will not be targeting him tonight as I doubt he will pitch very deep into this game. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6000 FD, $9850 DD, $5700 DK, $70400 FF, $13000 SS, $8000 FTD
- Scott Carroll – Carroll was everyone’s favorite pitcher to stack against until his last two starts as he’s shutout both the Red Sox and the Indians. I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid just yet though, especially when you factor in his extremely low K/9 of 4.70. Strikeouts are king in daily fantasy baseball and his low K-rate really limits his upside. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5000 FD, $10550 DD, $5900 DK, $64500 FF, $14200 SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Kansas City
Alex Gordon – As always, the Royals are not going to be a popular play tonight, but I think Gordon deserves roster consideration. Carroll has given up a .370 wOBA to LH hitters this season, while Gordon is sporting a .349 wOBA vs. RH pitching.
Additional Plays: Salvador Perez
Chicago White Sox
Jose Abreu – Abreu is near the top of the majors in ISO which measures raw power. He’s already hit 29 HR’s on the season and will look for number 30 tonight against Chen and the Royals. Additionally, Abreu is having his best month of his season with a .343 wOBA.
Additional Plays: Alexei Ramirez, Dayan Viciedo
Cincinnati at Milwaukee
| Cincinnati | Milwaukee | ||||||||
| Homer Bailey | Vegas Moneyline | Jimmy Nelson | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | MIL (-130) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.277 | 0.762 | 0.342 | 20.3% | SP vs. Left | 0.083 | 0.383 | 0.203 | 19.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.220 | 0.604 | 0.274 | 24.8% | SP vs. Right | 0.172 | 0.398 | 0.188 | 25.8% |
| Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs R | Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Homer Bailey – Bailey has been one of my top targets over the last month or so. I always like to buy low and sell high and that’s been the case with Bailey. However, we’ve finally reached a point where Bailey’s salary has met his recent level of production. There aren’t many pitching options tonight, but I do think you can find better value at his price point. In his last 9 starts against the Brewers, Bailey has posted a 5.37 ERA while averaging just over 4 K’s per 9 innings. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $8900 FD, $15800 DD, $8700 DK, $95400 FF, $23100 SS, $6850 FTD
- Jimmy Nelson – Nelson will take the mound again tonight against the Reds in what will be his 4th major league start. The Brewers top pitching prospect has been dominant in the minors this season (1.46 ERA with a K/9 of 9.1) and is expected to make some noise in the majors as well. I typically like to use a wait and see approach with these young pitchers, but a depleted Reds lineup and a cheap price tag may be too good to pass up. Rating = 6
Salaries:
Batter Grind Down
Cincinnati
Billy Hamilton – Hamilton’s fantasy production is directly linked to his ability to steal bases. With young Nelson on the mound, I have to think that keeping runners at bay will be one of the last things on his mind. Hamilton could use that to advantage if he can find a way to reach base.
Additional Plays: None
Milwaukee
Ryan Braun – As mentioned above, the Brewers have had Bailey’s number over the years. Braun, Davis, Weeks, and Gennett all have a nice track record against Bailey. Braun provides nice upside and he may be flying under the radar as some of the other games have higher run totals.
Additional Plays: Scooter Gennett
Tampa Bay at St. Louis
| Tampa Bay | St. Louis | ||||||||
| Jake Odorizzi | Vegas Moneyline | Adam Wainwright | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | STL (-160) | RIGHT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.257 | 0.719 | 0.319 | 26.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.236 | 0.613 | 0.277 | 23.5% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.238 | 0.663 | 0.300 | 22.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.228 | 0.568 | 0.257 | 21.8% |
| Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TBR vs R | Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jake Odorizzi – Odorizzi has proven that his double-digit K/9 is not a fluke. He has major league stuff and it’s starting to show this season. He owns a 4.01 ERA with a 3.58 xFIP and a K/9 of 10.34. He’s not a recommended cash game option, but will fly under the radar in tournaments as he is a huge underdog with Wainwright pitching opposite him. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7100 FD, $14900 DD, $8000 DK, $81900 FF, $21700 SS, $0 FTD
- Adam Wainwright – It’s tough to find anything bad to say about Wainwright. He’s sporting a 1.83 ERA with a 7.50 WHIP. He doesn’t walk many batters, he has a 3.4 WAR, and he’s only giving up HR’s on 3.3% of all fly balls. He’s easily the top pitching option tonight if you can find a way to squeeze him into your lineups. This Rays’ offense isn’t scaring anyone. Rating = 9
Salaries: $10700 FD, $22100 DD, $10800 DK, $136200 FF, $29800 SS, $17000 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Tampa Bay
The Rays will likely be another victim on Wainwright’s campaign for the Cy Young award. Avoid them tonight.
St. Louis
Matt Adams – I expect this to be one of the lowest scoring games on the schedule tonight and I’m tempted to avoid both offenses completely. That said, Adams is in a nice spot as he has a .403 wOBA against RH pitching and Odorizzi hasn’t been particularly great against LH hitters.
Additional Plays: Matt Carpenter