MLB Grind Down: Saturday, September 27th Page Three
Houston at NY Mets
| Houston | NY Mets | ||||||||
| ** | Vegas Moneyline | Rafael Montero | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| SP-HAND | NYM (-151) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | AVG | OPS | wOBA | K% | SP vs. Left | 0.272 | 0.895 | 0.389 | 14.30% |
| SP vs. Right | AVG | OPS | wOBA | K% | SP vs. Right | 0.232 | 0.758 | 0.339 | 28.80% |
| Batter Splits | HOU BvP  | HOU vs R | Batter Splits | NYM BvP | |||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Samuel Deduno – After being claimed off waivers by the Astros several weeks ago, Deduno will “audition” for a spot in next year’s starting rotation tonight against the New York Mets. He hasn’t been overly effective this season, posting a 4.66 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 96.2 innings of work. His 4.20 xFIP and 7.36 K’s/9 are reason for some hope here, but i’ll be avoiding him even considering the matchup against a feeble New York Met’s offense. Rating = 3.5
Salaries: $10600 FD, $19400 DD, $10800 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $19600 FTD
- Rafael Montero – In what essentially amounts to another audition, Montero will get a start tonight for the Mets. The 23 year old has amassed a 4.26 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in his first seven MLB starts but has allowed just one run over his last two starts. He just wrapped up a solid season at AAA Las Vegas where he posted a 6-4 record, 3.60 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 80 innings. The strikeout rate and the matchup are both nice here, but his control is an obvious issue (4.85 BB/9). He’s worth consideration as a GPP flier, but there are much safer options on the board for cash game use. Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $5300 FD, $9350 DD, $5900 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Houston
Dexter Fowler – Lefties own a .895 OPS off of Montero and Fowler will spin around to bat from the left-side of the plate in this one. He’s riding a seven game hitting streak and owns a .412 batting average over the last week.
Additional Plays: Jose Altuve, Jason Castro
NY Mets
Lucas Duda – Lefties own a .350 wOBA off of Deduno and Duda has hammered right-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .393 wOBA.
Additional Plays: Daniel Murphy, Curtis Granderson
Oakland at Texas
| Oakland | Texas | ||||||||
| Jeff Samardzija | Vegas Moneyline | Derek Holland | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | OAK (-148) | LEFT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.241 | 0.667 | 0.294 | 23.60% | SP vs. Left | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.219 | 0.615 | 0.273 | 21.90% | SP vs. Right | 0.230 | 0.585 | 0.259 | 18.30% |
| Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs L | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jeff Samardzija – After not allowing an earned run in any of his last three starts, Samardzija brings an impressive 2.88 ERA and 1.06 WHIP to the mound in Fort Worth tonight. He’ll look to duplicate the eight inning, 10 strikeout performance against this Rangers team from last week. The Rangers own just a .295 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and their lineups lately have resembled AAA teams. With the A’s still jockeying for playoff positioning and with Texas owning the worst record in the American League this season, the Shark is a top tier option in all formats. Rating = 8.5
Salaries: $9700 FD, $19300 DD, $10900 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $17550 FTD
- Derek Holland – Holland has proven the knee injury that cost him the first five months of the season is a thing of the past as he’s posted an extremely impressive 2-0 record and 1.31 ERA through his first five starts. He’ll face an Oakland lineup that was scorching hot earlier this season, but has posted just a .293 wOBA (26th in MLB) during the second half. Opposing Jeff Samardzija makes the outlook for a “W” a bit bleaker, but Holland is still a nice option specially on sites that don’t weight wins too heavily. Rating = 6.5
Salaries: $8400 FD, $14000 DD, $9500 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $7500 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Oakland
Josh Donaldson – Despite an injured knee, Donaldson continues to play hard as the Athletics are still fighting to secure a playoff spot. He’s absolutely crushed left-handed pitching his whole career and things have been no different this season as he’s posted a .428 wOBA and .358 ISO against southpaws. He’s 6 for 17 with a pair of doubles and a pair of homeruns off of Holland in their previous meetings.
Additional Plays: Derek Norris
Texas
Adrian Beltre is never a terrible option, but I’ll be avoiding all Rangers batters tonight against Samardzija
St. Louis at Arizona
| St. Louis | Arizona | ||||||||
| Lance Lynn | Vegas Moneyline | Wade Miley | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | STL (-148) | LEFT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.237 | 0.685 | 0.309 | 17.30% | SP vs. Left | 0.251 | 0.719 | 0.321 | 19.60% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.227 | 0.627 | 0.281 | 23.70% | SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.756 | 0.333 | 21.40% |
| Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs L | Batter Splits | ARI BvP | ARI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Lance Lynn – It might be the homer in me, but Lynn just doesn’t seem to get the credit he deserves. He sports a 15-10 record and a 2.73 ERA on the season and, with the Cards desperately trying to hold off the Pirates, should be very motivated in this one. With a 2.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over his last 15 starts, he’s a strong play in all formats against MLB’s worst team. Rating = 7.5
Salaries: $8400 FD, $18000 DD, $9700 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $17450 FTD
- Wade Miley – After back-to-back impressive campaigns in 2012 and 2013, Miley will wrap up a 2014 season that he’d like to forget. He was hammered in his last start (at Coors Field) but his struggles this season have mainly stemmed from his starts at Chase Field, where he owns a 3-7 record with a 5.72 ERA in his 15 home starts. His 4.41 BB/9 since the All-Star break is a big red flag and when you add in that St. Louis has a lot to play for and have hit left-handed pitching well this season (.319 wOBA) and you can safely avoid Miley tonight. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7200 FD, $12850 DD, $6900 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $13850 FTD
Batter Grind Down
St. Louis
- Matt Holliday – Holliday has carried this Cardinals team down the stretch, posting an .886 OPS since the All-Star break. He’s hammered left-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .438 wOBA and, with the Cardinals still battling for first place in the NL Central, should be extra motivated tonight.
Additional Plays: Jhonny Peralta, Yadier Molina
Arizona
I expect a nice outing from Lynn today and won’t be targeting any Arizona batters.
Colorado at LA Dodgers
| Colorado | LA Dodgers | ||||||||
| Eddie Butler | Vegas Moneyline | Dan Haren | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | COL (-148) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | SP vs. Left | 0.218 | 0.658 | 0.287 | 23.40% | ||||
| SP vs. Right | SP vs. Right | 0.275 | 0.776 | 0.335 | 13.80% | ||||
| Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs R | Batter Splits | LAD BvP | LAD vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Eddie Butler – Butler picked up his first career win in his last outing, making just one mistake (a solo homerun by Jake Lamb) in six innings of work. He ended last season ranked as the #24th best prospect in baseball according to Baseball America, so expectations are high for him and he’d like to finish the season off on a high note after somewhat disappointing results this year. If the Dodgers decide to get players some rest tonight than he could be worth a GPP flier, but the strikeouts just haven’t been there for him this season and that really holds down his rating. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6700 FD, $8150 DD, $4300 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Dan Haren – Much like Wei-Yen Chen, Haren is usually an acceptable option but the Dodger have no reason to leave him out there long and there’s a very real chance he doesn’t pitch long enough to qualify for a win. The matchup is certainly nice, but i’ll be avoiding him tonight. Rating = 3
Salaries: $7500 FD, $16500 DD, $8500 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $14300 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Colorado
A case can easily be made for a handful of Rockies tonight (Dickerson, Blackmon, Ynoa, Morneau) but I just don’t like paying their inflated salaries when they’re away from Coors Field. Not to mention the fact that trying to play matchups in this game could be a mistake as it may very well turn into a “bullpen game” by the Dodgers.
LA Dodgers
Hanley Ramirez – With the inexperienced Eddie Butler on the mound for the Rockies, Hanley Ramirez jumps to the top of the SS rankings today. He’s hitting .357 during the month of September and has a ceiling that no other shortstop (sans Tulo) can match. If you have the salary cap space to fit him, than do it and move on.
Additional Plays: Yasiel Puig, Adrian Beltre, Matt Kemp
LA Angels at Seattle
| LA Angels | Seattle | ||||||||
| C.J. Wilson | Vegas Moneyline | James Paxton | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | LAA (-111) | LEFT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.196 | 0.561 | 0.260 | 24.40% | SP vs. Left | 0.214 | 0.551 | 0.262 | 27.10% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.275 | 0.783 | 0.348 | 18.90% | SP vs. Right | 0.224 | 0.620 | 0.278 | 18.30% |
| Batter Splits | LAA BvP | LAA vs L | Batter Splits | SEA BvP | SEA vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- C.J. Wilson – Wilson was absolutely dreadful in his last start, but dominated these Mariners in the start prior (allowing just one hit in seven shutout innings). He owns an ugly 5.23 ERA since the All-Star break and has struggled away from home all season (5.62 road ERA). The does have the advantage of taking on a Seattle team this is very left-handed heavy and who owns just a .284 wOBA against left-handed pitching. He’s been extremely inconsistent and this game doesn’t mean much for Anaheim, so i’ll be staying away. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7600 FD, $13550 DD, $6800 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $12750 FTD
- James Paxton – That thud you heard Monday was Paxton getting smacked around by the Blue Jays which shot his ERA up nearly an entire point. Still, with a 6-4 record and 3.03 ERA, there is a lot to like about this young left-hander. He’s been lights out this season at Safeco Field, where he owns a 3-0 record and a 1.88 ERA in four home starts. The Mariners are still technically alive and fighting for the last playoff spot in the AL, so Paxton’s motivation is not in doubt. Rating = 6
Salaries: $6600 FD, $11650 DD, $8300 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $12750 FTD
Batter Grind Down
LA Angels
David Freese – Freese has at least one hit in 17 of his last 19 games and is now hitting .319 during the month of September. He’s has a reputation for hitting left-handed pitching well (.375 wOBA this season) and has had success against Paxton in the past (3 for 9 with a homerun).
Additional Plays: Mike Trout, Erick Aybar, Albert Pujols, Howie Kendrick
Seattle
Kendrys Morales – .Righties own a .348 wOBA off of C.J. Wilson this season, and Morales is one of the few right-handed bats in this lineup that has been hitting anything lately. He homered last night and now has three extra base hits over the last four games.
Additional Plays: Robinson Cano