MLB Daily Grind Down: Friday, September 27th Part 2

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2013-09-27 21:29:56

Philadelphia vs. Atlanta

7:30 PM	Philadelphia – ROAD					Atlanta – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.248	0.694	19.90%	0.52		0.252	0.731	22.40%	0.59
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.253	0.701	19.90%	0.41		0.242	0.705	22.10%	0.45
SP STATS	Lee – LHP					Medlen – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.04	2.93	8.78	13.64		1.25	3.24	7.14	10.55
LAST 14 DAYS	0.96	2.35	12.13	18.67		1.05	1.29	7.29	14.33
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	PHI vs R		PHI BvP			ATL vs L		ATL BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Cliff Lee – Lee is always in play because he is one of the few pitchers that could throw a complete game any time he takes the mound. I don’t think he will do that tonight against the Braves though because they will come in focused and motivated to win this game. Lee should pitch well, but will likely fall short of the win. Rating = 6

• Kris Medlen – Atlanta still has something to play for because they are currently tied with the Cardinals for the 1 seed. Home field advantage could prove to be the difference in a playoff series so the Braves will do everything they can to lock up that spot. Medlen has really pitched well at home this season with a 2.45 ERA. He is also picking up his K’s and has been pitching a lot like he did at the end of last season. Love the matchup tonight against the Phillies. Rating = 9

Batter Grind Down

PHI/ATL – Vegas has the total of this game set at 6.5 runs. Two of the better pitchers in baseball are taking the mound. Nothing against either of these offenses, but this will be a battle of the pitchers.

LA Angels vs. Texas

8:05 PM	LA Angels – ROAD					Texas – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.263	0.743	18.90%	0.61		0.262	0.740	16.80%	0.62
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.270	0.753	19.10%	0.48		0.266	0.751	17.50%	0.48
SP STATS	Wilson – LHP					Ogando – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.34	3.36	7.95	11.85		1.15	2.93	6.24	7.72
LAST 14 DAYS	1.09	2.82	8.55	14.70		0.46	0.57	7.70	7.80
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	LAA vs R		LAA BvP			TEX vs L		TEX BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• C.J. Wilson – Wilson has had a rough go against his former team this season. In two starts, he has only lasted a combined 10 innings and has an ERA over 8.00. Now is not the time to take a pitcher against the Rangers as they are still in must win mode. Rating = 3

• Alexi Ogando – The Rangers got lucky in their win last night against the Angels after a very sloppy game, especially on defense. Texas is a bigger favorite than I would have thought, but I guess the game means a lot more to them than it does the Angels. That said, comparing the pitchers, I would much rather have Wilson than Ogando. Rating = 3

Batter Grind Down

LAA – I like a couple bats from the Angels tonight, I think this game is going to be a shootout. Mike Trout is obviously in play, put him in a hitter’s park and watchout. I also like the former Rangers Mr. Josh Hamilton, he’s had his best month of the season batting .321 and has the lefty/righty matchup against Ogando.

TEX – If the Rangers are going to win this game, they are going to have to have a big night offensively. Ogando has pitched well this season, but is much better as a reliever than he is a starter. I think he will give up a few runs and the Rangers need a bit night from their bats. Luckily, Adrian Beltre, Alex Rios, and Ian Kinsler are all very good against left hand pitching.

NY Yankees vs. Houston

8:10 PM	NY Yankees – ROAD					Houston – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.246	0.685	19.40%	0.55		0.239	0.683	25.60%	0.54
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.249	0.688	19.60%	0.42		0.256	0.707	25.60%	0.42
SP STATS	Pettitte – LHP					Oberholtzer – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.36	3.88	6.29	9.07		1.10	2.71	5.58	8.59
LAST 14 DAYS	1.05	2.70	6.30	9.33		1.25	3.00	4.50	7.00
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	NYY vs L		NYY BvP			HOU vs L		HOU BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Adam Warren is getting the start tonight and even though it’s against the Astros, I don’t think he will pitch well enough to go deep into this game. He has very limited upside and could run into the Astros team that has a big night offensively. Rating = 3

• Brett Oberholtzer – Oberholtzer has quietly pitched very well this season. He has a 2.77 ERA and a K rate of 5.6 per 9 innings. Taking an Astros pitcher is a lot like taking a shot in the dark, but if you want to get creative with a GPP lineup, he’s not the worst play. Rating = 4

Batter Grind Down

NYY – Alfonso Soriano, Mark Reynolds, Alex Rodriguez, and Eduardo Nunez all hit lefties well. If you are targeting any Yankees bats, make sure to take one that bats from the right side of the plate.

HOU – The Astros knocked around Pettitte earlier in the season, but you never really know which Astros team will show up each night. Jose Altuve is their most consistent player and he’s probably the only guy I’m looking at on this team.

Cleveland vs. Minnesota

8:10 PM	Cleveland – ROAD					Minnesota – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.253	0.732	21.10%	0.63		0.241	0.698	22.20%	0.54
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.270	0.768	19.50%	0.52		0.237	0.692	22.40%	0.43
SP STATS	Kluber – RHP					Hernandez – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.23	3.61	8.30	10.24		1.73	6.05	4.58	4.46
LAST 14 DAYS	1.53	4.20	6.00	8.67		2.32	9.26	4.82	1.73
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	CLE vs L		CLE BvP			MIN vs R		MIN BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Corey Kluber – Kluber is usually only in play at home as his ERA is almost double on the road what it is at home. But against this Twins lineup, I think he could do enough to pick up a win. There are better options, but there may not be better value out there. He’s cheap and has a nice matchup. Rating = 5

• Pedro Hernandez – I’ve said a few times that I don’t like pitchers that have an ERA almost as high as their K rate. But Hernandez takes it to another level, he has an ERA that far exceed his K rate. Easy pitcher to avoid tonight. Rating = 1

Batter Grind Down

CLE – Twins are still only 1 game ahead of the Rangers so they need another win to stay ahead. I think they get that win pretty easily tonight against Hernandez who is giving up a .345 batting average to right hand hitters. Target Carlos Santana, Nick Swisher, Ryan Raburn, and Asdrubal Cabrera. All make good plays tonight and make a decent mini-stack.

MIN – Kluber has struggled on the road and these Twins are all dirt cheap. There is definitely some value to be had if you want to take a cheap player or two so that you can afford a few studs.

Kansas City vs. Chicago White Sox

8:10 PM	Kansas City – ROAD					Chicago White Sox – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.258	0.688	16.60%	0.54		0.251	0.683	19.30%	0.51
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.263	0.697	16.40%	0.41		0.251	0.682	19.50%	0.39
SP STATS	Shields – RHP					Sale – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.26	3.21	7.57	11.40		1.05	2.97	9.52	13.97
LAST 14 DAYS	0.91	1.23	7.77	15.33		1.04	2.95	9.38	13.37
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	KCR vs L		KCR BvP			CHW vs R		CHW BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• James Shields – Shields is pitching well of late and has had great success against these White Sox this season. In 5 starts against them he has a 2.18 ERA while pitching almost 7 innings per start. Love the matchup for him tonight, but a win will be a tall task against Sale. Rating = 7

• Chris Sale – Sale has 2.79 ERA at home with a WHIP under 1.00. This is another game where Vegas has the total set at 6.5 runs and both pitchers are in play. Sale will have a lot of lefty/lefty matchups which always helps. Only downside is that you can’t count on a win with Shields as the opposing pitcher. Rating = 7

Batter Grind Down

KC/CWS – This one is pretty easy, we have two of the best pitchers in baseball facing off. No one is going to be rostering anyone from either of these offenses and you shouldn’t either.

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