MLB Grind Down: Wednesday, September 17th Page Three

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2015-02-05 18:55:19

Texas at Oakland

Texas					Oakland
Derek Holland		Vegas Moneyline			Jeff Samardzija		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		OAK (-200)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left					SP vs. Left	0.242	0.673	0.296	23.70%
SP vs. Right	0.232	0.545	0.239	21.40%	SP vs. Right	0.224	0.637	0.282	21.40%
Batter Splits	TEX BvP		TEX vs R		Batter Splits	OAK BvP		OAK vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Derek Holland – In his first 3 starts of the season, Holland has a 0.86 ERA with a K/9 of 7.3. He’s always had a respectable strikeout rate, but his xFIP of 3.11 does suggest some regression. Tonight he is facing an A’s offense that is ranked 23rd in wOBA vs. LH pitching (which is a far cry from where they were earlier in the season). Holland is one of the biggest underdogs on the board, but has a pretty favorable matchup. Rating = 5

Salaries: $8400 FD, $14500 DD, $8900 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Jeff Samardzija – The shark takes the mound tonight in what is one of the better pitching matchups on the board. Samardzija’s strikeouts have been down since coming over to the American League, but he seems to have cured that with 34 strikeouts over his last 4 starts. He is producing a 49% ground ball rate and has kept his walks and HR’s down this season. He draws an outstanding matchup against the Rangers who are ranked 25th in wOBA vs. RH pitching. It may not be “Shark Week,” but it could be “Shark Night” at the O.co Coliseum tonight. Rating = 8.5

Salaries: $9000 FD, $18500 DD, $10300 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Texas

Avoid all Rangers against Jeff Samardzija who has held LH and RH hitters under a .300 wOBA this season.

Oakland

Josh Donaldson – I’m going with the chalk on this one. Donaldson has mashed LH pitching this season to the tune of a .450 wOBA. In fact, 25 of his 41 hits against LH pitching have gone for extra bases. You have to love his upside tonight against Derek Holland.

Additional Plays: Derek Norris

Seattle at LA Angels

Seattle					LA Angels
James Paxton		Vegas Moneyline			C.J. Wilson		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		LAA (-122)			LEFT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.205	0.542	0.259	26.70%	SP vs. Left	0.208	0.589	0.271	23.50%
SP vs. Right	0.211	0.582	0.261	18.10%	SP vs. Right	0.279	0.790	0.350	19.10%
Batter Splits	SEA BvP		SEA vs L		Batter Splits	LAA BvP		LAA vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• James Paxton – Paxton is a nice upside play, but draws a tough matchup against the Angels who are ranked 3rd in wOBA vs. LH pitching this season. On the season, Paxton has a 1.83 ERA and a K/9 of 7.0, but there is no reason to take him tonight against a red hot Angels ball club. Rating = 4

Salaries: $7000 FD, $13250 DD, $8600 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• C.J. Wilson – Wilson is a big favorite in tonight’s game, but buyer beware. In his last 4 starts, he has given up 13 earned runs while only striking out 18 batters. Wilson has one of the highest walk rates in baseball as he is walking 4.2 batters per 9 innings. He may be in line for the win, but I don’t see a dominant performance coming from him tonight. Rating = 5.5

Salaries: $7500 FD, $13150 DD, $7000 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Seattle

Austin Jackson – It’s been a while since Jackson has made a spot in the featured plays of the Grind Down, but he draws a nice matchup tonight against C.J. Wilson who has given up a .350 wOBA to RH hitters this season.

Additional Plays: Kendrys Morales

LA Angels

Mike Trout – Once again, Trout is in play basically every single night, especially when he is facing a lefty. Trout has a .284 batting average with a .411 wOBA against LH pitching this season and is one of the few players with the ability to hit a HR and steal a base in the same game.

Additional Plays: David Freese, Albert Pujols

Philadelphia at San Diego

Philadelphia					San Diego
Cole Hamels		Vegas Moneyline			Eric Stults		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		PHI (-135)			LEFT		6.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.213	0.653	0.299	20.40%	SP vs. Left	0.285	0.792	0.346	12.30%
SP vs. Right	0.238	0.651	0.289	24.80%	SP vs. Right	0.274	0.803	0.350	15.00%
Batter Splits	PHI BvP		PHI vs L		Batter Splits	SDP BvP		SDP vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Cole Hamels – There are some great pitching options on the mound tonight which should make for a very interesting night of baseball. Hamels deserves consideration as one of the top plays as he gets to face a weak Padres offense in the most pitcher-friendly ballpark in all of baseball. Hamels is boasting a 2.51 ERA with a K/8 of 8.8 on the season. The Padres are ranked dead last in baseball vs. LH pitching. Hamels could very well pitch a complete game tonight. Rating = 8.5

Salaries: $9600 FD, $19950 DD, $10600 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Eric Stults – Stults has had a season to forget, but he has actually pitched pretty well since the start of August. During that stretch, he has an ERA right around 2.90. Tonight he gets to face a struggling Phillies offense in Petco. While you may feel like throwing up the second you decide to roster Stults, he is in play for GPP’s and as a #2 starter on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 6

Salaries: $6200 FD, $10800 DD, $5800 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Philadelphia

Carlos Ruiz and Marlon Byrd both hit LH pitching well, but the tough hitter’s park makes them average plays at best. Avoid the Phillies hitters tonight against Eric Stults.

San Diego

Avoid all Padres tonight against Cole Hamels who has held LH and RH hitters under a .300 wOBA this season.