MLB Grind Down: Friday, May 8 - Page Two
Kansas City at Detroit – 7:08 PM EST
| Kansas City | Detroit | ||||||||
 | Yordano Ventura |  | David Price | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| DET (-145) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.229 | 0.642 | 0.288 | 0.193 | SP vs. Left | 0.255 | 0.657 | 0.292 | 0.236 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.249 | 0.704 | 0.316 | 0.218 | SP vs. Right | 0.232 | 0.644 | 0.283 | 0.28 |
| Batter Splits | KC BvP | KC vs L | Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Yordano Ventura (FD: $7900, DK: $6800)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 4.15 — K Rate: 17.7% — K/9: 6.59 — BB Rate: 8.9% — GB Rate: 52.5%
2014: SIERA: 3.87 — K Rate: 20.3% — K/9: 7.82 — BB Rate: 8.8% — GB Rate: 47.6%
Detroit Tigers vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.329 (Rank: 8)
Strikeout Rate: 19.8% (Rank: 12)
Analysis: Ventura will be making his first start after being suspended for his involvement in the brawl against the White Sox. He picked a bad time to return to the mound though, as he has to face a talented Tigers’ lineup in Comerica. The Tigers are currently ranked 8th in wOBA against right-handed pitching. Ventura may also struggle to get run support, as the David Price is on the bump for Detroit.
Pitcher Rating:47.9
David Price (FD: $10900, DK: $10400)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 3.91 — K Rate: 19.6% — K/9: 7.2 — BB Rate: 6.1% — GB Rate: 39.8%
2014: SIERA: 2.72 — K Rate: 26.9% — K/9: 9.82 — BB Rate: 3.8% — GB Rate: 41.2%
Kansas City Royals vs. LH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.343 (Rank: 3)
Strikeout Rate: 12.8% (Rank: 1)
Analysis: In any other matchup, Price would be an elite fantasy option tonight. He is a large favorite at home in a game that features a low total of 8.5 runs. The issue here is that the Royals are not an offense that you want to mess around with when it comes to starting pitching. Kansas City is ranked 3rd in wOBA against left-handed pitching and they have the lowest strikeout rate of any team in baseball. He’s in play for tournaments, but there are better cash game options tonight.
Pitcher Rating:74.1
Batter Grind Down
Kansas City
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Lorenzo Cain (FD: $3500, DK: $3700)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.464 — ISO: 0.250 — OBP: 0.460
2014 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.362 — ISO: 0.157 — OBP: 0.357
Detroit
NONE – While I do like the Tigers in this spot, there seem to be better fantasy options at each of the respective positions of Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and Anthony Gose.
Secondary Plays:
Miguel Cabrera (FD: $5000, DK: $5200)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B/3B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.449 — ISO: 0.260 — OBP: 0.444
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.385 — ISO: 0.203 — OBP: 0.374
Victor Martinez (FD: $3300, DK: $4400)
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: 1B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.169 — ISO: 0.000 — OBP: 0.260
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.390 — ISO: 0.199 — OBP: 0.402
Anthony Gose (FD: $3100, DK: $3100)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.362 — ISO: 0.140 — OBP: 0.356
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.295 — ISO: 0.074 — OBP: 0.329
Texas at Tampa Bay – 7:10 PM EST
| Texas | Tampa Bay | ||||||||
 | Yovani Gallardo |  | Nate Karns | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| TBR (-110) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.233 | 0.637 | 0.287 | 0.189 | SP vs. Left | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.274 | 0.743 | 0.328 | 0.171 | SP vs. Right | ||||
| Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | Batter Splits | TB BvP | TB vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Yovani Gallardo (FD: $7000, DK: $6900)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 4.02 — K Rate: 18.4% — K/9: 7.29 — BB Rate: 8.2% — GB Rate: 51.4%
2014: SIERA: 3.78 — K Rate: 17.9% — K/9: 6.83 — BB Rate: 6.6% — GB Rate: 50.8%
Tampa Bay Rays vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.301 (Rank: 20)
Strikeout Rate: 21.3% (Rank: 23)
Analysis: Gallardo is having a very Gallardo-type of season. He has a mediocre SIERA of 4.02 with a mediocre K/9 of 7.3. He produces a high ground-ball rate which helps him limit his damage, but overall he’s not a pitcher that we target a whole lot in daily fantasy. He draws a favorable matchup against the Rays, but he’s not a pitcher that I’m looking at for cash games or tournaments tonight.
Pitcher Rating:60.3
Nate Karns (FD: $6500, DK: $5700)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 4.45 — K Rate: 21.0% — K/9: 7.83 — BB Rate: 12.3% — GB Rate: 48.3%
2014: SIERA: 3.24 — K Rate: 26.5% — K/9: 9.75 — BB Rate: 8.2% — GB Rate: 43.3%
Texas Rangers vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.280 (Rank: 27)
Strikeout Rate: 20.6% (Rank: 20)
Analysis: Karns is coming off of a strong start against the Orioles, but he only threw 66 pitches in five innings of work. He provides decent strikeout potential, but is typically a risky play in cash games. He draws a favorable matchup against the Rangers, but he’s nothing more than a cheap flier in tournament play tonight.
Pitcher Rating:58.6
Batter Grind Down
Texas
Adrian Beltre (FD: $3000, DK: $4200)
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.272 — ISO: 0.132 — OBP: 0.263
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.366 — ISO: 0.160 — OBP: 0.369
Analysis: Beltre’s BABIP continues to climb after a very unlucky start to the season. He has 13 hits in his last ten games, four of which went for extra bases. Beltre’s price is still cheap across the industry (especially on FanDuel) and he draws a favorable matchup against Nate Karns, who has given up a .371 wOBA to right-handed hitters this season.
Secondary Plays:
Shin-Soo Choo (FD: $2900, DK: $4100)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.274 — ISO: 0.200 — OBP: 0.254
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.329 — ISO: 0.140 — OBP: 0.348
Tampa Bay
Kevin Kiermaier (FD: $2200, DK: $3700)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.358 — ISO: 0.274 — OBP: 0.303
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.362 — ISO: 0.218 — OBP: 0.339
Analysis: It’s about time Kiermaier finally did something in the leadoff spot. He’s been a regular feature in the Grind Down and he finally paid off with a solo home run last night. He remains one of the better value plays on the board, as he is $2,200 on FanDuel and $3,700 on DraftKings.
Secondary Plays:
James Loney (FD: $2600, DK: $3500)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.276 — ISO: 0.154 — OBP: 0.250
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.337 — ISO: 0.103 — OBP: 0.355
David DeJesus (FD: $2500, DK: $3000)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.330 — ISO: 0.091 — OBP: 0.356
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.337 — ISO: 0.160 — OBP: 0.345
Minnesota at Cleveland – 7:10 PM EST
| Minnesota | Cleveland | ||||||||
 | Mike Pelfrey |  | Trevor Bauer | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CLE (-136) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.183 | 0.648 | 0.294 | 0.1 | SP vs. Left | 0.246 | 0.728 | 0.324 | 0.233 |
| SP vs. Right | SP vs. Right | 0.264 | 0.744 | 0.329 | 0.198 | ||||
| Batter Splits | MIN BvP | MIN vs R | Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Mike Pelfrey (FD: $6400, DK: $4900)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 4.62 — K Rate: 13.8% — K/9: 5.27 — BB Rate: 9.5% — GB Rate: 56.1%
2014: SIERA: 6.45 — K Rate: 8.4% — K/9: 3.80 — BB Rate: 15.1% — GB Rate: 43.7%
Cleveland Indians vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.306 (Rank: 17)
Strikeout Rate: 17.5% (Rank: 7)
Analysis: Pelfrey is one of the worst pitching options on the schedule tonight and that’s saying something, as we have a game being played in Coors Field. His numbers are better than they were last season, but a 4.62 SIERA and a K/9 of 5.3 aren’t exactly what we are looking for. He can safely be avoided tonight against the Indians.
Pitcher Rating:45.5
Trevor Bauer (FD: $8100, DK: $7000)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 4.31 — K Rate: 23.4% — K/9: 8.9 — BB Rate: 12.9% — GB Rate: 42.1%
2014: SIERA: 3.95 — K Rate: 21.6% — K/9: 8.41 — BB Rate: 9.1% — GB Rate: 35.3%
Minnesota Twins vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.299 (Rank: 22)
Strikeout Rate: 22.5% (Rank: 26)
Analysis: After dominating in his first three starts of the season, Bauer has come crashing back down to Earth. He has only struck out three batters in his last two starts while giving up a combined 14 hits and nine runs. Bauer still provides great strikeout potential, but he struggles with his command and tends to walk a lot of batters. He is strictly a tournament play tonight against the Twins.
Pitcher Rating:64.6
Batter Grind Down
Minnesota
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Brian Dozier (FD: $3300, DK: $4400)
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.293 — ISO: 0.134 — OBP: 0.308
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.335 — ISO: 0.161 — OBP: 0.349
Trevor Plouffe (FD: $2900, DK: $4100)
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.374 — ISO: 0.203 — OBP: 0.364
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.326 — ISO: 0.171 — OBP: 0.318
Cleveland
Michael Brantley (FD: $4200, DK: $5500)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.367 — ISO: 0.102 — OBP: 0.396
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.401 — ISO: 0.197 — OBP: 0.388
Analysis: Brantley often gets overlooked thanks to the abundance of options in the outfield and that should be the case again tonight, despite having a terrific matchup against Mike Pelfrey. Not only does Pelfrey struggle to get strikeouts, but he also struggles against left-handed hitters.
Secondary Plays:
Brandon Moss (FD: $3500, DK: $4900)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: 1B/OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.302 — ISO: 0.281 — OBP: 0.230
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.336 — ISO: 0.213 — OBP: 0.328
Jason Kipnis (FD: $3600, DK: $5200)
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.387 — ISO: 0.148 — OBP: 0.397
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.318 — ISO: 0.117 — OBP: 0.337
Cincinnati at Chicago White Sox – 8:10 PM EST
| Cincinnati | Chicago White Sox | ||||||||
 | Jason Marquis |  | Hector Noesi | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CHW (-117) | 9 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | SP vs. Left | 0.238 | 0.728 | 0.32 | 0.158 | ||||
| SP vs. Right | SP vs. Right | 0.304 | 0.834 | 0.367 | 0.182 | ||||
| Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs R | Batter Splits | CWS BvP | CWS vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Jason Marquis (FD: $6100, DK: $5000)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 3.56 — K Rate: 22.2% — K/9: 8.59 — BB Rate: 7.1% — GB Rate: 49.4%
Chicago White Sox vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.307 (Rank: 16)
Strikeout Rate: 20.0% (Rank: 13)
Analysis: Marquis has gotten off to a much better start than anyone could have expected, but I don’t think he’ll be able to keep up this pace for much longer. We’ve already seen him slow down in his last couple of starts. He draws a tough matchup tonight against a very capable White Sox offense in the hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field.
Pitcher Rating:50.4
Hector Noesi (FD: $6400, DK: $5300)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 5.06 — K Rate: 19.4% — K/9: 7.98 — BB Rate: 13.4% — GB Rate: 34.1%
2014: SIERA: 4.34 — K Rate: 16.8% — K/9: 6.42 — BB Rate: 7.6% — GB Rate: 38.0%
Cincinnati Reds vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.301 (Rank: 20)
Strikeout Rate: 20.1% (Rank: 14)
Analysis: Noesi’s strikeout rate is up this season, but so is his SIERA and walk rate. It doesn’t really matter who the opponent is because at the end of the day, he is still Hector Noesi. He can safely be avoided tonight against the Reds.
Pitcher Rating:43.3
Batter Grind Down
Cincinnati
Joey Votto (FD: $3900, DK: $4600)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.468 — ISO: 0.338 — OBP: 0.437
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.342 — ISO: 0.093 — OBP: 0.403
Analysis: Votto has gotten off to a great start this season, especially against right-handed pitching. He currently boasts a .468 wOBA with a .338 ISO against righties. He draws a favorable matchup tonight against Hector Noesi, who gives up a high wOBA to batters from both sides of the plate.
Secondary Plays:
Billy Hamilton (FD: $3500, DK: $4800)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.235 — ISO: 0.090 — OBP: 0.247
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.285 — ISO: 0.104 — OBP: 0.291
Todd Frazier (FD: $3800, DK: $5000)
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 1B/3B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.371 — ISO: 0.282 — OBP: 0.344
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.355 — ISO: 0.195 — OBP: 0.334
Jay Bruce (FD: $2900, DK: $4800)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.267 — ISO: 0.179 — OBP: 0.284
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.301 — ISO: 0.149 — OBP: 0.301
Chicago White Sox
Jose Abreu (FD: $3600, DK: $4800)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.387 — ISO: 0.247 — OBP: 0.363
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.394 — ISO: 0.250 — OBP: 0.364
Analysis: Even though he hasn’t started off the season that well, $3,600 on FanDuel is still WAY too cheap for Abreu. He would be in play against almost any pitcher at this price point, especially with that pitcher being Jason Marquis. The White Sox are a sneaky offense to stack tonight and Abreu deserves consideration in both cash games and tournaments.
Secondary Plays:
Melky Cabrera (FD: $2800, DK: $4500)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.389 — ISO: 0.077 — OBP: 0.432
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.358 — ISO: 0.151 — OBP: 0.355
Adam Eaton (FD: $2500, DK: $4200)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.251 — ISO: 0.049 — OBP: 0.284
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.344 — ISO: 0.119 — OBP: 0.358
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee – 8:10 PM EST
| Chicago Cubs | Milwaukee | ||||||||
 | Jason Hammel |  | Jimmy Nelson | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| MIL (-106) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.234 | 0.691 | 0.305 | 0.199 | SP vs. Left | 0.271 | 0.805 | 0.353 | 0.17 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.231 | 0.671 | 0.297 | 0.239 | SP vs. Right | 0.307 | 0.781 | 0.349 | 0.197 |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Jason Hammel (FD: $8100, DK: $7300)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 3.26 — K Rate: 21.4% — K/9: 7.76 — BB Rate: 1.6% — GB Rate: 39.4%
2014: SIERA: 3.50 — K Rate: 22.1% — K/9: 8.06 — BB Rate: 6.2% — GB Rate: 39.7%
Milwaukee Brewers vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.291 (Rank: 25)
Strikeout Rate: 22.8% (Rank: 27)
Analysis: Hammel takes the mound tonight against the Brewers in the hitter-friendly Chase Field. He has pitched well so far this season with a 3.26 SIERA and a K/9 of 7.8. He has only walked one batter all season long, which is impressive. Vegas has this game set as a pick ‘em with the total set at only 7.5 runs. The Brewers have really struggled to score runs this season, but given the fact that he’s not a favorite, Hammel is a better option in tournaments.
Pitcher Rating:70.3
Jimmy Nelson (FD: $6700, DK: $6200)
Pitching Stats:
2015: SIERA: 4.03 — K Rate: 21.1% — K/9: 7.45 — BB Rate: 9.7% — GB Rate: 51.3%
2014: SIERA: 3.76 — K Rate: 18.3% — K/9: 7.40 — BB Rate: 6.1% — GB Rate: 48.4%
Chicago Cubs vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.309 (Rank: 14)
Strikeout Rate: 24.9% (Rank: 30)
Analysis: Nelson may be inconsistent, but he does offer good upside for the price. Nelson has a decent strikeout rate and a good strikeout matchup against the Cubs, who have more strikeouts against right-handed pitching than any other team in baseball. Nelson has good splits at home in his career and is another pitcher that should be considered in tournaments.
Pitcher Rating:67.3
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
Kris Bryant (FD: $3700, DK: $4400)
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.400 — ISO: 0.096 — OBP: 0.471
Analysis: Bryant has yet to hit a home run in the big leagues, but he’s done just about everything else. He has been a consistent source of production, which is surprising given the fact that he is a rookie. He owns a .400 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and he sees a ballpark boost tonight playing in the hitter-friendly Miller Park.
Secondary Plays:
Anthony Rizzo (FD: $4600, DK: $5300)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.425 — ISO: 0.270 — OBP: 0.430
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.391 — ISO: 0.253 — OBP: 0.373
Dexter Fowler (FD: $3000, DK: $3900)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.316 — ISO: 0.128 — OBP: 0.326
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.333 — ISO: 0.116 — OBP: 0.361
Milwaukee
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Ryan Braun (FD: $3400, DK: $4700)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.307 — ISO: 0.192 — OBP: 0.286
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.335 — ISO: 0.169 — OBP: 0.329
Adam Lind (FD: $3300, DK: $4400)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.460 — ISO: 0.329 — OBP: 0.424
2014 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.410 — ISO: 0.179 — OBP: 0.409