MLB Daily Grind Down: Monday, September 2nd Part Two

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2013-09-02 15:46:53

Minnesota vs. Houston

2:10 PM	Minnesota – ROAD					Houston – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.241	0.698	22.20%	0.54		0.239	0.683	25.60%	0.54
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.238	0.695	22.00%	0.43		0.246	0.697	26.30%	0.42
SP STATS	Albers – LHP					Clemens – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	0.87	2.92	3.16	9.20		1.42	5.81	6.72	2.36
LAST 14 DAYS	1.30	5.49	4.22	5.40		1.00	1.50	3.00	7.00
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	MIN vs R		MIN BvP			HOU vs L		HOU BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Andrew Albers – Albers has given up 12 earned runs while only striking out 9 batters in his last 3 starts. Those type of numbers do not inspire any confidence and even though he faces an Astros team that loves to strikeout, I don’t think he provides much value today. Starting Rating = 3
• Paul Clemens – Clemens is making his second career start after spending most of the season in the bullpen. He has a 5.8 ERA that balloons to over 7 at home. The Twins lineup looks rather tempting to take a pitcher against, but don’t take that chance today. Starting Rating = 2

Batter Grind Down

HOU – The Astros bats have actually been heating up, for the first time all season, they finished a month with an OPS over .700. I think Jason Castro and Chris Carter both have a good shot to homer today.

MIN – Even though this Twins lineup is full of a bunch of no-names, I think there is plenty of value to be had. I have no faith in Clemens so when there lineup comes out, find the value and run with it.

Pittsburgh vs. Milwaukee

2:10 PM	Pittsburgh – ROAD					Milwaukee – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.245	0.705	22.40%	0.55		0.254	0.714	19.70%	0.57
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.241	0.696	22.10%	0.41		0.251	0.713	18.90%	0.43
SP STATS	Morton – RHP					Thornburg – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.29	3.14	6.18	9.64		1.29	1.99	5.60	4.63
LAST 14 DAYS	1.23	1.27	4.69	12.37		1.94	5.40	2.90	0.70
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	PIT vs R		PIT BvP			MIL vs R		MIL BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Charlie Morton – Morton has had good success against the Brew-Crew this season. He has thrown 8 scoreless innings and struck out two batters. He has a 2.88 ERA at home and makes a decent option if you are looking to save on pitching. Starting Rating = 6
• Tyler Thornburg – Thornburg is a young pitcher that has decent upside. I’m excited to see how he pitches the rest of the season. I don’t like the matchup against this gritty Pirates team though. Starting Rating = 3

Batter Grind Down

PIT – I think Andrew McCutchen is in play almost any day that he isn’t facing an Ace. He always gives you the double threat of HR’s and stolen bases. I think Marlon Byrd could be a cheap option in OF too.

MIL – The Brewers offense is finally looking healthy and Morton certainly isn’t an overpowering pitcher. Something tells me that Carlos Gomez is going to have a good game.

Miami vs. Chicago Cubs

2:20 PM	Miami – ROAD					Chicago Cubs – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.231	0.623	19.80%	0.43		0.240	0.702	20.10%	0.54
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.226	0.634	21.30%	0.35		0.244	0.707	19.40%	0.44
SP STATS	Alvarez – RHP					Wood – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.23	3.90	5.19	7.38		1.11	3.09	6.38	9.89
LAST 14 DAYS	1.52	6.59	6.82	4.40		1.11	3.79	6.16	9.33
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	MIA vs L		MIA BvP			CHC vs R		CHC BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Henderson Alvarez – Alvarez is exactly what we don’t want in a starting pitcher: he has an average ERA, a low K rate, and plays on a team that doesn’t give him consistent run support. Even though the matchup against the Cubs is decent, why take the risk? Starting Rating = 4
• Travis Wood – We were finally seeing the real Travis Wood, or at least that’s what I thought, and then he came out in his last start and threw 7 scoreless innings against the Dodgers. He’s a decent favorite in a very low scoring game. Could be some value here. Starting Rating = 6

Batter Grind Down

CHC – Alvarez is giving up a .309 batting average to lefties this season so I think Anthony Rizzo and Nate Schierholtz will both be on my radar when making lineups. If Rizzo is cheap, take him.

MIA – I’m always wrong about the Marlins, whenever I think they are going to have a good game offensively, they just don’t. I think they have a tough matchup today though, so maybe they will show up.

San Francisco vs. San Diego

3:40 PM	San Francisco – ROAD					San Diego – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.259	0.692	16.90%	0.51		0.247	0.693	20.90%	0.54
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.261	0.701	16.80%	0.40		0.254	0.734	21.30%	0.47
SP STATS	Zito – LHP					Kennedy – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.74	5.81	5.88	5.22		1.42	5.10	7.93	8.51
LAST 14 DAYS	2.56	12.46	5.49	0.40		1.81	6.19	10.13	9.00
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	SFG vs R		SFG BvP			SDP vs L		SDP BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Barry Zito – The Zito conundrum strikes once again. Even though Zito has an ERA close to 10 on the road this season, he is pitching in one of the most pitcher friendly parks in baseball in Petco. Not only that but he has actually pitched well against the Padres this year and has a 3.44 ERA against them. He is about as cheap as you will ever see a starting pitcher too. I think he’s worth a shot on multi-pitcher sites. Starting Rating = 5
• Ian Kennedy – Kennedy had been very good for the Padres since coming over for the D-Backs. That was until he had to go back to Arizona and face his old team. Luckily today he doesn’t have to face them again and gets to pitch in Petco. Kennedy has a 3.32 ERA against the Giants this season and makes a good play today. Starting Rating = 6

Batter Grind Down

SD – Two schools of thought here: Zito is absolutely terrible so take a lot of hitters against him. Or that Zito has a good matchup in a hitter’s park so take your chance with Zito. I will let you decide, I think they are both good options.

SF – Buster Posey is 10/27 with 3 doubles against Kennedy, just make sure that he is in the lineup. The rest of the Giants team isn’t worth your research time.

Baltimore vs. Cleveland

4:05 PM	Baltimore – ROAD					Cleveland – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.264	0.755	18.10%	0.63		0.253	0.732	21.10%	0.63
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.271	0.777	17.70%	0.53		0.248	0.723	21.70%	0.48
SP STATS	Norris – RHP					Masterson – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.47	4.13	7.08	8.82		1.21	3.49	9.00	12.83
LAST 14 DAYS	2.11	6.89	11.25	8.73		1.34	2.66	7.61	11.70
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	BAL vs R		BAL BvP			CLE vs R		CLE BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Bud Norris – Norris is a very risky pitcher. He can have big games thanks to his K rate of 7 per 9 innings, but he can also get rocked. Today he faces the Indians on the road and I’m having a hard time seeing him pitch a great game. The Indians are an up and down offense, but you don’t want to catch them when they are up. Starting Rating = 5
• Justin Masterson – Masterson is usually matchup-proof when he is pitching at home, but this Orioles offense is of a different breed. Masterson struggled in his start against the Orioles earlier in the year and while I think he pitches better in this one, all it takes is one swing from Chris Davis to turn his good start into a bad one. Starting Rating = 5

Batter Grind Down

CLE – Norris is a pitcher that is going to give up some runs. He is giving up a .310 batting average to lefties with an OPS close to .900. This could be a great spot for the Indians as they are loaded with left hand bats.

BAL – Masterson’s Achilles heel has always been against left hand hitters. He’s done a much better job against them this year, but they are still hitting for almost 200 points higher than righties when it comes to OPS. Chris Davis, Chris Davis, Chris Davis!

Grind Down: Page 2 – Page 3