MLB Daily Grind Down: Sunday, September 22nd

by Ethan Haskell (Ethan) Last Updated 2013-09-22 15:03:12

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

Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit

1:05 PM	Chicago White Sox – ROAD					Detroit – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.251	0.683	19.30%	0.51		0.282	0.785	16.90%	0.65
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.251	0.682	19.50%	0.39		0.293	0.796	16.20%	0.53
SP STATS	Johnson – RHP					Sanchez – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.71	2.87	7.70	9.07		1.15	2.51	9.84	13.63
LAST 14 DAYS	1.74	1.86	11.74	11.60		1.24	1.31	11.14	16.73
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	CHW vs R		CHW BvP			DET vs R		DET BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Erik Johnson – Johnson was impressive in his last start versus Minnesota, fanning 8 batters over 6 scoreless innings. The matchup in Detroit is scary and we simply don’t know that much about this kid yet. Pitcher Rating: 4 out of 10

• Anibal Sanchez – Sanchez has been fantastic this season for Detroit and comes into this game on the heels of back-to-back 10 strikeout games (one of which was against this same Chicago team). He’s 8-2 at Comerica Park and has a 1.93 ERA versus the White Sox on the season. Pitcher Rating: 9 out of 10

Batter Grind Down

Alejandro De Aza is 4 for 6 with a pair of doubles off of Anibal Sanchez.

Prince Fielder is 3 for 3 off of Johnson, with one of those hits leaving the yard.

San Francisco vs. NY Yankees

1:05 PM	San Francisco – ROAD					NY Yankees – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.259	0.692	16.90%	0.51		0.246	0.685	19.40%	0.55
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.260	0.689	17.30%	0.39		0.245	0.694	19.80%	0.42
SP STATS	Petit – RHP					Pettitte – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.11	3.08	9.00	13.17		1.40	3.93	6.23	9.00
LAST 14 DAYS	0.94	3.05	6.68	12.07		1.37	3.32	7.58	9.33
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	SFG vs L		SFG BvP			NYY vs R		NYY BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Yusmeiro Petit – Petit has pitched fairly well for the Giants since being called up. He owns a very impressive 3.08 ERA and had also struck out a batter per inning. With that said, I don’t think he’s anything more than a potential GPP flier with a matchup in Yankee Stadium. Pitcher Rating: 5 out of 10

• Andy Pettitte – Pettitte annouced his retirement on Friday, but has shown that he still has the stuff to be a solid major league pitcher. He’s posted a 3.30 ERA since the All-Star break, but has struggled a bit at Yankee Stadium. Pitcher Rating: 6 out of 10

Batter Grind Down

Petit versus Pettitte? You can’t make this stuff up.

Alfonso Soriano has roughed up Petit; going 5 for 8 with three doubles and a homerun.

Right handed batters are hitting .315 of off Pettitte (while lefties are hitting just .199)

Houston vs. Cleveland

1:05 PM	Houston – ROAD					Cleveland – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.239	0.683	25.60%	0.54		0.253	0.732	21.10%	0.63
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.239	0.679	25.20%	0.41		0.270	0.768	19.50%	0.52
SP STATS	Bedard – LHP					Kluber – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.52	4.60	7.83	6.83		1.23	3.62	8.26	10.09
LAST 14 DAYS	1.25	4.50	6.75	5.00		1.55	4.30	5.70	8.07
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	HOU vs R		HOU BvP			CLE vs L		CLE BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Erik Bedard – It’s rarely a wise move to use a Houston starting pitcher in daily fantasy baseball and Bedard doesn’t give me any reason to alter that advice today. He owns a 5.75 road ERA on the year and failed to get through five innings the last time he squared off versus Cleveland. Pitcher Rating: 3 out of 10

• Corey Kluber – Kluber has a 3.02 ERA since the break and has been excellent at home all season (2.71 ERA). A matchup versus the terrible Astro’s makes him a very attractive play today. Pitcher Rating: 8 out of 10

Batter Grind Down

Carlos Santana crushed left handed pitching in general and has had solid success versus Bedard in the past (3 for 7.

Miami vs. Washington

1:35 PM	Miami – ROAD					Washington – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.231	0.623	19.80%	0.43		0.247	0.700	20.20%	0.54
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.230	0.613	19.70%	0.31		0.234	0.669	20.50%	0.40
SP STATS	Flynn – LHP					Haren – RHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	2.36	9.64	6.43	3.00		1.26	4.88	8.12	8.56
LAST 14 DAYS	2.40	10.80	7.20	3.00		1.00	3.60	10.20	10.00
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	MIA vs R		MIA BvP			WSN vs L		WSN BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Brian Flynn – Brian Flynn has proven to be very hittable in the rare instances when he manages to throw strikes. With a 9.64 ERA and 10 walks in 14 innings, you’d be wise to look elswhere. Pitcher Rating: 1 out of 10

• Dan Haren – Haren has been fantastic in back-to-back starts but has been extremely inconsistent this season. The Marlins have roughed him up a bit this year and he has pitched rather poorly at home. Pitcher Rating: 5 out of 10

Batter Grind Down

Bryce Harper is hitting .340 in September but has struggled versus left-handed pitching (although lefties are hitting .500 off of Flynn in a very small sample size)

Giancarlo Stanton is 3 for 7 with a walk off of Dan Haren.

NY Mets vs. Philadelphia

1:35 PM	NY Mets – ROAD					Philadelphia – HOME
TEAM BATTING	AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB		AVG	OPS	K%	FPAB
SEASON	0.239	0.683	22.20%	0.54		0.248	0.694	19.90%	0.52
VS. LEFT/RIGHT	0.241	0.678	23.20%	0.39		0.253	0.701	19.90%	0.41
SP STATS	Torres – RHP					Lee – LHP
	WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG		WHIP	ERA	K/9	FPPG
SEASON	1.09	3.39	7.53	3.87		1.03	2.95	8.73	13.66
LAST 14 DAYS	1.08	6.00	12.00	6.67		0.67	1.88	12.38	21.33
BATTER SPLITS	Note: Batter Splits Below Open in Pop Up Window
	NYM vs L		NYM BvP			PHI vs R		PHI BvP

Pitcher Grind Down

• Carlos Torres – Torres was randomly asked to pitch out of the bullpen a few days ago and that break in his routine is a bit of a concern for me. He’s pitched decently as a starter for the Mets, but has struggled on the road. There are just too many better options today. Pitcher Rating: 4 out of 10

• Cliff Lee – Lee has been dominant this month; pitching 8 innings in all three starts and striking out 33 batters in those 24 innings. He’s faired very well versus the New York Mets and is a top notch option on the mound today. Pitcher Rating: 9 out of 10

Batter Grind Down

David Wright traditionally crushes left handed pitching, but he’s only 8 for 28 with 7 strikeouts against Cliff Lee.

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