MLB Daily Grind Down: Friday, September 6th

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2013-09-06 18:17:52

The RotoGrinders MLB Grind Down article will give you an in-depth analysis into the MLB schedule. This article will break down the numbers for every single game and give you analysis on which trends you can exploit. While matchups are a major factor in daily fantasy baseball, there are plenty of other factors to consider such as injuries, weather, and salaries.

The analysis should point you in the right direction, but it is still up to you to decipher the information and make your own selections. No sport has more variance than baseball. The best choice is not always the right choice but following the trends will win you money over time.

Note: Any Fantasy Point Average Listed Uses FanDuel Scoring. For more info on FanDuel’s MLB Scoring System, check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review

• FPAB – Fantasy Points Per At Bat
• K% – Strikeout Percentage
• K/9 – Strikeouts Per 9 IP

Milwaukee vs. Chicago Cubs

2:20 PM	Milwaukee – ROAD					Chicago Cubs – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.254	0.714	19.70%	0.57		0.240	0.702	20.10%	0.54
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.261	0.718	22.00%	0.42		0.244	0.707	19.40%	0.44
SP STATS	Lohse – RHP					Rusin – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.20	3.32	5.71	8.97		1.30	2.74	5.32	7.90
LAST 14 DAYS	1.70	4.67	3.68	6.37		1.53	2.12	4.24	7.00
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	MIL vs L		MIL BvP			CHC vs R		CHC BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Kyle Lohse – This is the only day game today so if you are really itching to get into leagues, you might as well play someone from this game. Lohse has had another good season with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He doesn’t get the respect from Vegas though, he is a slight underdog against Rusin and the Cubs. Lohse has really pitched well since after the All-Star game and I like him to pitch well again today. Starter Rating = 7

• Chris Rusin – Rusin is a very good young pitcher, but he hasn’t been able to get as many K’s as some people were expecting. This Brewers team he is facing finally has a lineup that looks pretty decent and a few players on the Brew Crew can really mash against lefties. I think there is some value here, but of the two, I like Lohse better. Starter Rating = 6

Batter Grind Down

MIL – Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez, and Aramis Ramriez all hit lefties well and Ramirez has a little extra motivation playing against his old team.

CHC – I know the Cubs have some power bats in Rizzo, Murphy, and Navarro, but those guys are also guys that can pad the strikeout stats for an opposing pitcher. I like Lohse in this one so I would stay away from the Cubs bats.

NY Mets vs. Cleveland

7:05 PM	NY Mets – ROAD					Cleveland – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.239	0.683	22.20%	0.54		0.253	0.732	21.10%	0.63
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.245	0.693	22.60%	0.41		0.248	0.723	21.70%	0.48
SP STATS	Wheeler – RHP					Kazmir – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.30	3.36	7.81	10.86		1.35	4.36	8.24	8.92
LAST 14 DAYS	1.05	3.15	6.75	12.00		1.55	4.09	9.82	9.00
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	NYM vs L		NYM BvP			CLE vs R		CLE BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Zack Wheeler – Wheelers hits, innings pitched, and earned runs have looked almost identical over his last 5 starts, but his K’s have ranged anywhere from 3-12. Wheeler has good upside but does face a tough lineup in the Indians. The biggest problem with this matchup is that Wheeler has struggled with left hand bats and the Indians have a lot of them to throw at him. Starter Rating = 5

• Scott Kazmir – You’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t. That’s how I feel about Kazmir, everytime I take him he gets lit up and when I don’t take him, everyone else has him and he pitches well. I like the matchup against the Mets who are really bad against lefties, but something is telling me to stay away as he’s given up at least 4 earned runs in three of his last four starts. Starter Rating = 6

Batter Grind Down

NYM – Josh Satin and Juan Lagares are two sleeper picks that I am considering tonight against Kazmir. Satin is batting .343 against lefties on the season and Lagares has 13 XBH’s against lefties.

CLE – The Indians have never faced Wheeler before so this game could go either way. The Indians are a lot like the A’s in that their offense as a team is good, but it’s always hard to single out one player to take.

Atlanta vs. Philadelphia

7:05 PM	Atlanta – ROAD					Philadelphia – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.252	0.731	22.40%	0.59		0.248	0.694	19.90%	0.52
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.247	0.715	21.70%	0.46		0.230	0.670	20.80%	0.40
SP STATS	Minor – LHP					Lee – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.07	3.08	8.00	11.79		1.08	3.09	8.25	12.78
LAST 14 DAYS	0.93	3.21	5.14	10.50		1.35	2.25	7.65	12.00
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	ATL vs L		ATL BvP			PHI vs L		PHI BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Mike Minor – Minor has been very average in his last few starts, but he has been excellent on the road all season long and is facing a Phillies team that is only batting .227 on the season against lefties. I like Minor on multi-pitcher sites today, but if you really need a win from your pitcher it’s going to be tough for him with Lee on the mound. Starter Rating = 7

• Cliff Lee – Lee has had pretty good success against the Braves this season. In three starts, he is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA and has 20 K’s over 19 innings pitched. Lee is always a pitcher that is a threat to reach double digit K’s and the Braves are a team that strikes out a lot. Really like the upside for Lee. Starter Rating = 8

Batter Grind Down

ATL – Justin Upton and Brian McCann are really the only Braves with a good history against Lee, but neither is a very intriguing option tonight. Upton strikes out a lot and McCann has a lefty/lefty matchup.

PHI – The Phillies are not great against lefties, but they do have Carlos Ruiz who has always crushed lefties in his career. Avoid all of the left handed bats such as Asche, Utley, and Brown.

Boston vs. NY Yankees

7:05 PM	Boston – ROAD					NY Yankees – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.273	0.780	20.40%	0.68		0.246	0.685	19.40%	0.55
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.254	0.726	20.90%	0.46		0.249	0.681	18.90%	0.41
SP STATS	Doubront – LHP					Pettitte – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.39	3.89	7.97	9.93		1.40	4.01	6.06	8.96
LAST 14 DAYS	1.05	3.44	6.96	11.03		1.11	1.42	4.26	11.00
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	BOS vs L		BOS BvP			NYY vs L		NYY BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Felix Doubront – Doubront sure has some bad innings. He can be cruising along with a great game going and then a walk or a hit will rattle him and he will unravel. I don’t like the matchup tonight because the Yankees are a team that can definitely put up big innings, as shown by their 6 run inning last night. Starter Rating = 3

• Andy Pettitte – What a heartbreaking loss last night as Mariano blow another save. Now it’s up to Andy Pettitte to try and slow these Red Sox team down and keep his team in the race for the Wild Card. Pettitte has a 2.14 ERA in 3 starts against them this season, but I don’t really think you can bank on him pitching that well again tonight. I think the Yankees may find a way to win, but not because of Pettitte. Starter Rating = 4

Batter Grind Down

BOS – These games always turn into shootouts. That means you should avoid the hitters and take some of the bats. I know Dustin Pedroia doesn’t have great BvP against Pettitte, but I still think it’s a good spot for him. I also like both Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino.

NYY – It seems like Alfonso Soriano hits a HR every time he faces a lefty these days. He is really locked in, even when he gets out, he is hitting the ball hard. I really think he is worth his price tag tonight. Another guy to watch is Alex Rodriguez, it feels weird taking him but he has been good against lefties.

Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore

7:05 PM	Chicago White Sox – ROAD					Baltimore – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.251	0.683	19.30%	0.51		0.264	0.755	18.10%	0.63
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.253	0.691	19.30%	0.40		0.251	0.708	19.10%	0.44
SP STATS	Danks – LHP					Feldman – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.24	4.35	6.05	8.47		1.19	3.75	6.67	9.76
LAST 14 DAYS	1.53	3.32	4.26	9.67		1.17	1.50	8.25	12.50
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	CHW vs R		CHW BvP			BAL vs L		BAL BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• John Danks – Danks has a very inconsistent nature about him. He is one of the few guys in the league that has as good of a chance to give up 6 earned as he does to throw 8 scoreless innings. You just never know what to expect from him and I do not like to take a guy like that against a high-powered offense. Starter Rating = 2

• Scott Feldman – Feldman has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last 4 starts and will try to make it 5 in a row tonight. I don’t love the White Sox lineup, but somehow they keep scoring runs. I think Feldman is in play thanks to the run support he should get. Starter Rating = 6

Batter Grind Down

CWS – Feldman has kept his batting average against lefties and righties down this season. There aren’t any splits that really jump out at me. I think it’s safe to avoid the White Sox bats.

BAL – Three right hand bats that all hit lefties pretty well: Manny Machado, Matt Wieters, and Adam Jones. All three of them should be in your lineups tonight against Danks.

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