MLB Grind Down: Friday, September 5th
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
Kansas City at NY Yankees
| Kansas City | NY Yankees | ||||||||
| James Shields | Vegas Moneyline | Michael Pineda | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | NYY (-125) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.272 | 0.745 | 0.328 | 18.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.222 | 0.651 | 0.282 | 20.40% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.251 | 0.721 | 0.316 | 18.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.211 | 0.533 | 0.235 | 15.30% |
| Batter Splits | KCR BvP  | KCR vs R | Batter Splits | NYY BvP | NYY vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- James Shields – Shields takes the mound tonight with a 3.38 ERA and a K/9 of 7.0. He’s coming off of a very nice month of August where he posted a 2.95 ERA while holding batters to a .295 batting average. I’m not a huge fan of his matchup tonight though. The Yankees hit for contact and strike out at a very low rate. Plus, this game will be played in Yankee Stadium so the short porch in right may come into play for the LH hitters of the Yankees. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $8300 FD, $16200 DD, $8700 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Michael Pineda – Despite all of the controversy surrounding him this season, Pineda has really pitched well. He owns a 2.09 ERA with a K/9 of 6.2. While the Royals don’t strike out often, they are still below the league average in wOBA vs. RH pitching. Pineda isn’t my favorite play of the night, but he’s in play on multi-pitcher sites and in GPP’s. Rating = 6
Salaries: $5700 FD, $13850 DD, $8600 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Kansas City
Alex Gordon – On a night with a full slate of games, Gordon will likely go overlooked tonight in the OF. That said, he’s a solid option against Pineda with the short porch in right. He’s shown some nice power with 3 HR’s over his last 10 games.
Additional Plays: Salvador Perez
NY Yankees
Mark Teixeira – Teix is a very streaky player and after his game tying HR in the bottom of the 9th yesterday, I think we see him start to heat up as we near the end of the regular season. He doesn’t have great numbers against Shields in the past, but I have a feeling he gets a hold of one tonight.
Additional Plays: Brett Gardner
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland
| Chicago White Sox | Cleveland | ||||||||
| Chris Sale | Vegas Moneyline | T.J. House | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | CWS (-137) | LEFT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.150 | 0.361 | 0.171 | 37.7% | SP vs. Left | 0.258 | 0.651 | 0.290 | 19.60% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.213 | 0.609 | 0.273 | 28.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.318 | 0.873 | 0.384 | 15.80% |
| Batter Splits | CHW BvP | CHW vs L | Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Chris Sale – Sale is a great GPP play tonight, but if you are playing cash games, I think Strasburg is the much safer play of the two. Plus, Strasburg is a bit cheaper. That said, Sale is in a great spot tonight against the Indians who are ranked 25th in wOBA vs. LH pitching. Sale owns a 2.11 ERA with a K/9 of 10.8. He has the potential to put up double-digit strikeouts every time he takes the mound. Rating = 8.5
Salaries: $11200 FD, $21150 DD, $13000 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- T.J. House – House has pitched pretty well in his rookie season. He owns a 3.92 ERA (3.32 xFIP) with a K/9 of 6.7. He’s kept his walks and his HR’s down, but he has struggled against RH hitters as he has given up a .373 wOBA to batters from the right side of the plate. I like his cheap price tag, but he’ll likely see little to no run support with Sale on the mound. For that reason, he is a tournament play at best tonight. Rating = 5
Salaries: $5700 FD, $9400 DD, $6500 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Chicago White Sox
Jose Abreu – Abreu is a solid option basically every night. He hit RH and LH pitching well, he can hit for average, and he can hit for power. As mentioned above, House has really struggled with hitters from the right side of the plate and Abreu looks like the top overall option at 1B.
Additional Plays: Alexei Ramirez
Cleveland
Avoid the Indians offense tonight against Chris Sale.
Philadelphia at Washington
| Philadelphia | Washington | ||||||||
| Jerome Williams | Vegas Moneyline | Stephen Strasburg | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | WAS (-235) | RIGHT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.300 | 0.820 | 0.362 | 16.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.231 | 0.669 | 0.294 | 24.30% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.253 | 0.685 | 0.307 | 15.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.722 | 0.317 | 30.80% |
| Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | Batter Splits | WSN BvP | WSN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jerome Williams – Williams is not a recommended fantasy option tonight. On the season he owns a 5.23 ERA with a pedestrian K/9 of 6.2. He’s one of the biggest underdogs on the board and will have a tough time getting run support with Strasburg on the mound. Rating = 3
Salaries: $6000 FD, $8850 DD, $6400 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Stephen Strasburg – Strasburg will likely be the highest owned pitcher on the board tonight and for good reason. He has been dominant at Nationals Park this season with a 2.96 ERA and 120 K’s over 96 innings of work. He’s a huge favorite and he’s quite a bit cheaper than Sale on FD. If you are playing cash games, you should start your lineup with Strasburg. Rating = 9.5
Salaries: $9900 FD, $20500 DD, $11100 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Philadelphia
Avoid all Phillies hitters against Stephen Strasburg.
Washington
Bryce Harper – It took a while, but we are finally starting to see Harper look like the 2013 version. He has been swinging a hot bat with 13 hits and 5 HR’s over his last 10 games and he draws a terrific matchup against Jerome Williams who has given up a .362 wOBA to LH hitters this season.
Additional Plays: Denard Span, Anthony Rendon, Adam LaRoche
San Francisco at Detroit
| San Francisco | Detroit | ||||||||
| Jake Peavy | Vegas Moneyline | Rick Porcello | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | DET (-125) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.258 | 0.810 | 0.353 | 18.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.253 | 0.684 | 0.302 | 12.60% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.258 | 0.728 | 0.320 | 19.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.243 | 0.646 | 0.284 | 17.70% |
| Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SFG vs R | Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jake Peavy – Peavy has bene very sharp over his last 4 starts. He has only given up a combined 4 earned runs while striking out 24 batters. He really looks comfortable in the National League. The problem is that he has to face an American League team tonight under AL rules. The Tigers are one of the best offenses in baseball and are ranked 4th in wOBA vs. RH pitching. I’m steering clear of Peavy tonight. Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $7600 FD, $14450 DD, $7600 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Rick Porcello – Porcello continues to have a terrific season and no one seems to be noticing. He owns a 3.10 ERA on the season with a K/9 of 5.5. He’s cut down on his walks and his HR’s and always seems to give his team a chance to win. He is throwing a lot of strikes this season which has allowed him to get quick outs and pitch deep into games. I think he pitches well tonight against the Giants, but his price is a bit too high for his somewhat limited upside. Rating = 6
Salaries: $8200 FD, $14900 DD, $8000 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
San Francisco
Pablo Sandoval – Pablo has been swinging a hot bat with 12 hits over his last 10 games. He’ll have the splits in his favor tonight against Porcello who has historically struggled with LH hitters.
Additional Plays: Hunter Pence
Detroit
Miguel Cabrera – Cabrera had an off night last night, but still has 8 hits over his last 4 games. He also has a nice track record against Peavy going 15/47 with 5 XBH’s.
Additional Plays: Victor Martinez
Atlanta at Miami
| Atlanta | Miami | ||||||||
| Aaron Harang | Vegas Moneyline | Jarred Cosart | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | MIA (-123) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.303 | 0.797 | 0.352 | 15.40% | SP vs. Left | 0.265 | 0.712 | 0.324 | 14.90% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.237 | 0.664 | 0.295 | 19.00% | SP vs. Right | 0.243 | 0.618 | 0.276 | 14.00% |
| Batter Splits | ATL BvP | ATL vs R | Batter Splits | MIA BvP | MIA vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Aaron Harang – Harang has been a very serviceable pitcher for the Braves this season. He owns a 3.64 ERA with a K/9 of 6.7. Those numbers are probably better than you would have guessed huh? Tonight he faces the Marlins in Miami in what is a pretty average matchup. While the Marlins do strike out at a very high rate, they are also a very good hitting team at home. With a full slate of games, Harang probably won’t be making any of my lineups. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $6500 FD, $13650 DD, $6300 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Jarred Cosart – Cosart is one of my favorite value plays at pitcher tonight. He has been very sharp in his last 4 starts as he has only given up a combined 2 earned runs while striking out 20 batters. He’ll have the big Marlins Park behind him tonight which means he can afford to be a little more aggressive with hitters. He also has a nice matchup against a Braves offense that is ranked 27th in wOBA vs. RH pitching this season. I love Cosart as a #2 on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 7
Salaries: $6600 FD, $11500 DD, $6300 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Atlanta
Avoid all Braves batters tonight. Jarred Cosart is in terrific form and the Braves have not hit RH pitching well as a team this season.
Miami
Christian Yelich – I love targeting Yelich in cash games because he has a very high floor. He always seems to be producing on some level and tonight he draws a favorable matchup against Harang who has given up a .352 wOBA to LH hitters this season.
Additional Plays: Giancarlo Stanton