MLB Grind Down: Friday, April 18th - Page 3

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2014-04-18 18:47:18

h2=. Philadelphia at Colorado

Philadelphia					Colorado
Jonathan Pettibone		Vegas Moneyline			Tyler Chatwood		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		COL (-146)			RIGHT		10.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.309	0.806	0.366	14.6%	SP vs. Left	0.274	0.730	0.333	11.6%
SP vs. Right	0.267	0.732	0.333	16.2%	SP vs. Right	0.280	0.674	0.311	16.3%
Batter Splits	PHI BvP		PHI vs R		Batter Splits	COL BvP		COL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Jonathan Pettibone / Tyler Chatwood – Instead of reading an entire paragraph explaining why pitchers should be avoided in Colorado, I will sum in up in two words: Coors Field. Combined Rating = 0

Batter Grind Down

Philadelphia

• Chase Utley – The total for this game is set at 10.5 runs which is by far the highest run total of the night. Both teams are in great spots to put up runs tonight. While all Phillies’ bats are in play in Coors, Utley is my favorite. He is batting .462 on the season and Chatwood gave up a .333 wOBA to LH batters last season.

• Additional Plays: Ryan Howard, Ben Revere, Carlos Ruiz, Domonic Brown

Colorado

• Carlos Gonzalez – The Rockies are in a similar position as the Phillies in that all batters are in play tonight. Cargo is my top play though as Pettibone gave up a .366 wOBA to LH batters last season. Cargo crushes RH pitching and is my #1 ranked batter so if you can afford him, get him in your lineups.

• Additional Plays: Troy Tulowitzki, Justin Morneau, Wilin Rosario, Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado

Houston at Oakland

Houston					Oakland
Jarred Cosart		Vegas Moneyline			Sonny Gray		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		OAK (-210)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.186	0.522	0.245	20.9%	SP vs. Left	0.221	0.599	0.272	23.9%
SP vs. Right	0.259	0.745	0.338	6.2%	SP vs. Right	0.209	0.518	0.232	28.0%
Batter Splits	HOU BvP		HOU vs R		Batter Splits	OAK BvP		OAK vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Jarred Cosart – Cosart is a talented young RH pitcher, but comes into this game as the biggest underdog of the night. The A’s are a very good hitting team at home and are great against RH pitching. Not only that, but he pitches for the Astros and often receives little to no run support. Avoid Cosart tonight. Rating = 3

• Sonny Gray – Gray is an excellent pitcher to target tonight. This Astros lineup strikes out often and is also aggressive in counts which leads to low pitch counts for opposing pitchers. Gray posted a 1.99 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP at home last season and will likely be the most popular cash game play across the industry. Even though this is an obvious play, you should target him in all leagues. Rating = 10

Batter Grind Down

Houston

• Gray is excellent at home and boasts a high K-rate. There is nothing to mention here.

• Additional Plays: None

Oakland

• Yoenis Cespedes – Cosart is a reverse splits pitcher that gives up a much higher wOBA and OPS to RH batters. Cespedes makes a nice mid-range option in the OF tonight.

• Additional Plays: Brandon Moss

San Francisco at San Diego

San Francisco					San Diego
Matt Cain		Vegas Moneyline			Tyson Ross		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		SFG (-105)			RIGHT		6.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.211	0.627	0.286	21.6%	SP vs. Left	0.257	0.705	0.328	18.5%
SP vs. Right	0.245	0.719	0.319	19.6%	SP vs. Right	0.199	0.540	0.253	27.7%
Batter Splits	SFG BvP		SFG vs R		Batter Splits	SDP BvP		SDP vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Matt Cain – Cain looked very good in his last start against the Rockies and gets to face the Padres in Petco Park tonight. The total for this game is set at only 6.5 runs and both pitchers are in play here. Cain has an impressive K/9 of 7.7 and should be targeted in tournaments. Rating = 8

• Tyson Ross – I love targeting Ross when he is pitching at Petco. Last season he posted a 2.03 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP at home. He is also a high strikeout pitcher with a K/9 of 8.6. If you are entering a few teams in a GPP it may not be a bad idea to take Cain and Ross in two of the. Rating = 7

Batter Grind Down

San Francisco / San Diego

• In Coors Field I like to avoid pitchers and in Petco I like to avoid batters. There are much better plays in the other games tonight.

• Additional Plays: None

Arizona at LA Dodgers

Arizona					LA Dodgers
Wade Miley		Vegas Moneyline			Zack Greinke		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		LAD (-200)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.272	0.720	0.322	17.3%	SP vs. Left	0.254	0.718	0.323	20.4%
SP vs. Right	0.258	0.723	0.323	17.5%	SP vs. Right	0.218	0.569	0.260	22.7%
Batter Splits	ARI BvP		ARI vs R		Batter Splits	LAD BvP		LAD vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Wade Miley – Miley has a 5.04 ERA on the season with a 1.28 WHIP. The Dodgers are huge favorites in this one and it is going to be extremely tough for Miley to receive any run support with Greinke on the mound. Miley is not a recommended play in any leagues tonight. Rating = 2

• Zack Greinke – Greinke loves pitching in Dodger Stadium. Last season he posted a 2.11 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP and a K/9 of 8.1. While I think Gray is a slightly better value for cash games, I have Greinke ranked right behind him. Rating = 9

Batter Grind Down

Arizona

• Avoid all D-Backs against Greinke tonight.

• Additional Plays: None

LA Dodgers

• Yasiel Puig – Puig Mania has been quiet so far this season, but there is still a long season ahead. Miley gave up a .323 wOBA to RH batters last season and Puig hits LH pitching well.

• Additional Plays: Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez