MLB Grind Down: Friday, April 11th - Page 3
LA Dodgers at Arizona
| LA Dodgers | Arizona | ||||||||
| Hyun-Jin Ryu | Vegas Moneyline | Brandon McCarthy | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | LAD (-120) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.270 | 0.735 | 0.329 | 18.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.283 | 0.715 | 0.317 | 16.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.245 | 0.629 | 0.283 | 20.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.310 | 0.783 | 0.353 | 10.0% |
| Batter Splits | LAD BvP  | LAD vs R | Batter Splits | ARI BvP | ARI vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Hyun-Jin Ryu – Ryu is making his third start of the season and he has had mixed results thus far. He threw 12 scoreless innings in his first two starts and then got rocked by the Giants for 6 earned runs in only 2 innings of work. Tonight he travels to Arizona to take on the D-Backs in the hitter friendly Chase Field. Ryu’s numbers took a dip on the road last season and the D-Backs hit LH pitching well. Rating = 4
- Brandon McCarthy – McCarthy has struggled in his first two starts of the season and doesn’t appear to be anywhere close to his 2012 form with the A’s. The Dodgers lineup is full of tough outs and I’m not going to be using one of my SP picks on McCarthy. Rating = 3
Batter Grind Down
Los Angeles
- Adrian Gonzalez – Gonzalez is a terrific cash game play at 1B tonight. McCarthy gave up a .317 wOBA to LH batters last season and Chase Field was A-Gon’s favorite ballpark last season. He hit for a .424 batting average and an OPS of 1.23 in 33 at-bats at Chase Field last season.
- Additional Plays: Hanley Ramirez
Arizona
- Paul Goldschmidt – In case you weren’t aware, Goldy is pretty good against LH pitching. Last season Goldy had a .986 OPS against LH pitching and is 8/16 with 2 HR’s off of Ryu in his career.
- Additional Plays: Aaron Hill, Martin Prado
NY Mets at LA Angels
| NY Mets | LA Angels | ||||||||
| Dillon Gee | Vegas Moneyline | Tyler Skaggs | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | LAA (-155) | LEFT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.288 | 0.817 | 0.359 | 16.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.242 | 0.710 | 0.318 | 17.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.252 | 0.649 | 0.293 | 17.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.254 | 0.785 | 0.351 | 22.2% |
| Batter Splits | NYM BvP | NYM vs L | Batter Splits | LAA BvP | LAA vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Dillon Gee – Gee really struggled away from Citi Field last season. He posted a 4.41 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP on the road and has to face a tough Angels lineup tonight. One of the biggest struggles with taking Mets’ pitchers is their lack of run support. He likely won’t get enough of it tonight and may end up stuck with the loss. Rating = 4
- Tyler Skaggs – The D-Backs tried to change Skaggs’ mechanics during his time in Arizona, but that led to a decreased velocity. The Angels suggested that Skaggs go back to his old mechanics and what do you know, the velocity is back. Skaggs pitched well in his first start of the season and has a nice matchup against the Mets who do not hit LH pitching well. Skaggs is one of the cheapest favorites on the schedule and makes an interesting play if you want to spend more on hitting. Rating = 6
Batter Grind Down
New York
- David Wright – Skaggs gave up a .351 wOBA to RH batters last season and Wright has always been very good against LH pitching. His price is affordable for what he brings to the table.
- Additional Plays: None
Los Angeles
- Make sure to avoid Josh Hamilton tonight as he was placed on the 15-day DL with a thumb injury.
- Albert Pujols – Pujols has been a streaky hitter over the last two years and right now he is locked in. Pujols has 2 HR’s and 4 RBI’s in his last 2 games and was actually much better against RH pitching than LH pitching last season.
- Additional Plays: Kole Calhoun
Oakland at Seattle
| Oakland | Seattle | ||||||||
| Tommy Milone | Vegas Moneyline | Felix Hernandez | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | SEA (-170) | RIGHT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.298 | 0.790 | 0.345 | 14.3% | SP vs. Left | 0.251 | 0.668 | 0.297 | 25.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.247 | 0.720 | 0.316 | 20.2% | SP vs. Right | 0.232 | 0.604 | 0.270 | 27.5% |
| Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs R | Batter Splits | SEA BvP | SEA vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Tommy Milone – Milone will be making his first start of the 2014 season. Last year he posted a 4.14 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP and a K/9 of 7.3. He was much better at home than he was on the road and he faces a Mariners’ offense that has drastically improved since last season. Milone will also have an extremely tough time picking up the win with Hernandez pitching opposite him. Rating = 3
- Felix Hernandez – King Felix is a pitcher that can dominate any lineup in baseball. He’s one of the few pitchers that I don’t mind taking against a good offense. Last season Felix faced this A’s team 3 times and posted a 1.31 ERA while striking out 22 batters over 20 innings pitched. Felix has always been dominant at Safeco and makes a great play tonight. I have him ranked right behind Chris Sale and Yu Darvish. Rating = 9
Batter Grind Down
Oakland
- This A’s lineup has not been able to figure out King Felix and I’m not expecting them to anytime soon. Avoid all A’s tonight.
- Additional Plays: None
Seattle
- Robinson Cano – Milone is one of those rare reverse split pitchers as last season he gave up a much higher wOBA and OPS to LH batters. Cano has always been a good hitter against all pitchers and makes a solid play tonight, especially on sites that factor in splits in their pricing (Cano is only $5,434 on DS).
- Additional Plays: Corey Hart, Abraham Almonte
Detroit at San Diego
| Detroit | San Diego | ||||||||
| Rick Porcello | Vegas Moneyline | Andrew Cashner | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | DET (-101) | RIGHT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.303 | 0.809 | 0.362 | 15.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.251 | 0.699 | 0.310 | 18.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.237 | 0.592 | 0.264 | 23.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.217 | 0.565 | 0.261 | 17.6% |
| Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs R | Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SDP vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Rick Porcello – Petco Park can make an average run of the mill pitcher look great. Petco surrendered the fewest number of runs last season and if you are playing in late leagues tonight, it may not be a bad idea to take both SP’s in this game on sites that allow more than 1 SP. The total is set at only 6.5 runs and both pitchers are nice fantasy options. Porcello had a 7.2 K/9 last season and is one of my favorite tournament plays tonight. Rating = 7
- Andrew Cashner – Cashner was dominant at home last season with a 1.95 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. While the Tigers have a nice offense, Cashner held RH batters to a .261 wOBA last season and should pitch well here. He had a 6.6 K/9 last season and he will likely improve on that this year. Rating = 7
Batter Grind Down
Detroit/San Diego
- I don’t like to target batters in games with low run totals (6.5) and I really don’t like to target batters in games that are played in Petco. Target the pitching here and move on.
- Additional Plays: None
Colorado at San Francisco
| Colorado | San Francisco | ||||||||
| Jorge De La Rosa | Vegas Moneyline | Madison Bumgarner | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | SFG (-160) | LEFT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.200 | 0.508 | 0.235 | 22.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.161 | 0.472 | 0.217 | 36.0% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.286 | 0.755 | 0.344 | 14.2% | SP vs. Right | 0.215 | 0.592 | 0.275 | 21.7% |
| Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs L | Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SFG vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jorge De La Rosa – It’s crazy to think that if this game was in Coors Field, the total would probably be set at 10.0 runs. That’s not the case though as this game will be played at AT&T Park with a total of 7.0 runs. De La Rosa was surprisingly much better at Coors last season than he was on the road. In 16 road starts, he posted a 4.19 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP. The Giants hit LH pitching well and Bumgarner is a tough pitcher to pick up a win against. Rating = 3
- Madison Bumgarner – Bumgarner was untouchable at home last season with a 2.33 ERA and a very impressive 1.00 WHIP with a 9.4 K/9. Bumgarner will likely be overlooked tonight with all of the incredible pitching options available, but he has just as much upside as anyone. The Rockies are a much different offensive team away from home. Rating = 8
Batter Grind Down
Colorado
- If this game was at Coors Field, it may be a different story, but I will be avoiding all Rockies’ batters tonight against Bumgarner.
- Additional Plays: None
San Francisco
- Hunter Pence – Buster Posey is the obvious play here, but he could get the day off to rest after playing 3 straight days. De La Rosa gave up a .344 wOBA to RH batters last season and Pence has always hit LH pitching well.
- Additional Plays: Pablo Sandoval, Angel Pagan