MLB Grind Down: Monday, July 20th
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.
Remember, these writeups are done prior to lineups being released, so make sure to check our Starting Lineups page to ensure the recommended options are playing.
Note: For more info on DFS MLB scoring systems on the two largest sites, check out our DraftKings review and FanDuel review.
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NY Mets at Washington – 7:05 PM EST
| NY Mets | Washington | ||||||||
 | Matt Harvey |  | Gio Gonzalez | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| WAS (-111) | 7.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.232 | 0.744 | 0.323 | 26.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.230 | 0.627 | 0.279 | 22.30% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.223 | 0.591 | 0.259 | 22.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.249 | 0.703 | 0.312 | 23.40% |
| Batter Splits | NYM BvP | NYM vs L | Batter Splits | WAS BvP | WAS vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Matt Harvey : FD: $10,500 — DK: $11,100
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 111.1 — SIERA: 3.25 — K%: 24.3% — BB%: 5.8% — FB Rate: 38.0% — HR/FB: 12.4%
Last 30 Days: IP: 24.2 — SIERA: 4.43 — K%: 19.8% — BB%: 11.3% — FB Rate: 39.4% — HR/FB: 7.1%
Washington Nationals Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.316 (Rank: 12) — Strikeout Rate: 20.9% (Rank: 24)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.283 (Rank: 23) — Strikeout Rate: 24.6% (Rank: 30)
Pitchers per PA: 3.73 (Rank: 23)
Analysis: Harvey takes the mound for the Mets tonight, as they start their series against the Nationals. Harvey comes into tonight’s outing in arguably the worst form of his career. He has given up at least three earned runs in four of his last eight starts and he has a 4.43 SIERA over the last month of play. The good news is that he gets to face a Nationals’ offense that has been ice cold recently. Over the last two weeks, Washington is ranked 23rd in wOBA (.283) and 30th in strikeout rate (24.6%). This is a good spot for Harvey, but there are comparable pitching options that are considerably cheaper tonight.
Pitcher Rating:80.8
Gio Gonzalez : FD: $9,400 — DK: $8,100
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 253.1 — SIERA: 3.54 — K%: 23.2% — BB%: 8.7% — FB Rate: 30.6% — HR/FB: 7.1%
Last 30 Days: IP: 20.0 — SIERA: 3.32 — K%: 19.7% — BB%: 6.6% — FB Rate: 27.3% — HR/FB: 13.3%
New York Mets Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.295 (Rank: 23) — Strikeout Rate: 23.9% (Rank: 27)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.281 (Rank: 25) — Strikeout Rate: 21.9% (Rank: 21)
Pitchers per PA: 3.86 (Rank: 8)
Analysis: Gonzalez has been sharp in his recent starts, posting a 3.32 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 19.7% over the last month of play. He can lose his command at times, but that shouldn’t be a huge issue against the Mets, who have one of the worst offenses in all of baseball. On the season, New York is ranked 23rd in wOBA (.295) and 27th in strikeout rate (23.9%) against left-handed pitching. Run support may be an issue with Matt Harvey pitching opposite, but Gonzalez still comes in as the highest rated pitching option on the schedule tonight.
Pitcher Rating:85.1
Batter Grind Down
NY Mets
The Mets continue to struggle offensively. They have one of the most talented pitching rotations in the National League, but they just can’t seem to give their staff any run support. They do not hit left-handed pitching well as a team and they draw a difficult matchup tonight against Gio Gonzalez in the pitcher-friendly Nationals Park. They can safely be avoided in all league formats.
Elite Plays:
NONE
Secondary Plays:
NONE
Washington
Even though Matt Harvey hasn’t been in terrific form, he is still a very tough matchup for his opponents. The one weakness that he has had this season has been his vulnerability to left-handed hitters. He has given up a .323 wOBA to hitters from the left side of the plate. The Nationals can easily be avoided altogether, but Bryce Harper is worth a look in tournaments. We know the type of upside that he provides, regardless of who the opposing pitcher is.
Elite Plays:
NONE
Secondary Plays:
Bryce Harper : FD: $5,000 — DK: $5,700
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 531 — wOBA: 0.412 — ISO: 0.255 — wRC+: 166
Last 14 Days: PA: 32 — wOBA: 0.404 — ISO: 0.308 — wRC+: 160
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia – 7:05 PM EST
| Tampa Bay | Philadelphia | ||||||||
 | Matt Moore |  | David Buchanan | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| TBR (-152) | 8.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.346 | 0.993 | 0.424 | 10.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.241 | 0.656 | 0.296 | 10.90% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.292 | 0.795 | 0.355 | 13.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.297 | 0.000 | 0.368 | 15.40% |
| Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TB vs R | Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Matt Moore : FD: $6,400 — DK: $7,200
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 24.0 — SIERA: 5.27 — K%: 12.5% — BB%: 10.7% — FB Rate: 34.5% — HR/FB: 10.3%
Last 30 Days: IP: 14.0 — SIERA: 5.42 — K%: 11.8% — BB%: 10.3% — FB Rate: 39.2% — HR/FB: 10.0%
Philadelphia Phillies Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.311 (Rank: 11) — Strikeout Rate: 20.9% (Rank: 14)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.315 (Rank: 13) — Strikeout Rate: 22.2% (Rank: 23)
Pitchers per PA: 3.71 (Rank: 27)
Analysis: Moore’s first three starts haven’t exactly gone as planned, but rust was to be expected after missing more than a year after having Tommy John surgery. Through three starts, Moore has a 5.42 SIERA with a low strikeout rate of 11.8%. He draws a favorable matchup against the Phillies, but they are actually a decent hitting team against southpaws. They are ranked above the major league average in both wOBA and strikeout rate against left-handed pitching. I’d rather wait for a few quality starts from Moore rather than taking a chance on him tonight.
Pitcher Rating:46.3
David Buchanan : FD: $4,900 — DK: $4,200
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 147.1 — SIERA: 4.47 — K%: 13.4% — BB%: 7.3% — FB Rate: 30.7% — HR/FB: 9.5%
Last 30 Days: IP: 5.0 — SIERA: 4.21 — K%: 13.0% — BB%: 0.0% — FB Rate: 38.9% — HR/FB: 0.0%
Tampa Bay Rays Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.293 (Rank: 26) — Strikeout Rate: 22.0% (Rank: 25)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.261 (Rank: 29) — Strikeout Rate: 24.1% (Rank: 29)
Pitchers per PA: 3.85 (Rank: 10)
Analysis: Buchanan is an easy pitcher to avoid in daily fantasy baseball. He has an above-average SIERA (4.47) with a below-average strikeout rate (13.4%). The Rays do provide him with a favorable matchup, but he still has limited upside. The price point may be attractive, but he should be avoided in both cash games and tournaments.
Pitcher Rating:42.5
Batter Grind Down
Tampa Bay
The Rays may not hit right-handed pitching well as a team, but they do find themselves in a good spot tonight against David Buchanan. The right-handed hitters in this lineup will have the splits in their favor, as Buchanan has given up a .368 wOBA to right-handed hitters over the last two seasons. Hot-hitting John Jaso is also in play, as he is still underpriced on both FanDuel ($2,900) and DraftKings ($3,700).
Elite Plays:
John Jaso : FD: $2,900 — DK: $3,700
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: C
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 346 — wOBA: 0.361 — ISO: 0.182 — wRC+: 136
Last 14 Days: PA: 35 — wOBA: 0.449 — ISO: 0.200 — wRC+: 200
Evan Longoria : FD: $2,800 — DK: $4,000
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 810 — wOBA: 0.307 — ISO: 0.142 — wRC+: 101
Last 14 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.306 — ISO: 0.128 — wRC+: 100
Secondary Plays:
Logan Forsythe : FD: $2,900 — DK: $3,900
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 1B/2B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 440 — wOBA: 0.299 — ISO: 0.077 — wRC+: 95
Last 14 Days: PA: 40 — wOBA: 0.317 — ISO: 0.139 — wRC+: 108
James Loney : FD: $2,200 — DK: $3,000
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 604 — wOBA: 0.332 — ISO: 0.100 — wRC+: 118
Last 14 Days: PA: 41 — wOBA: 0.290 — ISO: 0.114 — wRC+: 89
Philadelphia
The Phillies’ offense doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence at this point, but they actually hit left-handed pitching fairly well. They draw a decent matchup against Matt Moore, who has struggled in his first three starts of the season. Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez (ALL HAIL CESAR!) are the top targets here, but both are secondary fantasy options at their respective positions.
Elite Plays:
NONE
Secondary Plays:
Maikel Franco : FD: $3,100 — DK: $4,000
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 89 — wOBA: 0.295 — ISO: 0.158 — wRC+: 86
Last 14 Days: PA: 43 — wOBA: 0.290 — ISO: 0.027 — wRC+: 82
Cesar Hernandez : FD: $2,800 — DK: $2,600
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B/SS
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 100 — wOBA: 0.334 — ISO: 0.044 — wRC+: 112
Last 14 Days: PA: 41 — wOBA: 0.234 — ISO: 0.000 — wRC+: 44
Seattle at Detroit – 7:08 PM EST
| Seattle | Detroit | ||||||||
 | J.A. Happ |  | Alfredo Simon | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| DET (-107) | 9.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.273 | 0.807 | 0.352 | 25.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.274 | 0.794 | 0.345 | 15.20% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.747 | 0.326 | 17.6% | SP vs. Right | 0.232 | 0.648 | 0.288 | 17.20% |
| Batter Splits | SEA BvP | SEA vs R | Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
J.A. Happ : FD: $6,500 — DK: $6,100
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 253.2 — SIERA: 3.94 — K%: 19.2% — BB%: 7.0% — FB Rate: 37.5% — HR/FB: 10.5%
Last 30 Days: IP: 22.0 — SIERA: 4.02 — K%: 18.6% — BB%: 7.2% — FB Rate: 35.2% — HR/FB: 8.0%
Detroit Tigers Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.338 (Rank: 2) — Strikeout Rate: 23.5% (Rank: 26)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.372 (Rank: 1) — Strikeout Rate: 18.9% (Rank: 9)
Pitchers per PA: 3.83 (Rank: 11)
Analysis: Happ is one of those pitchers that has good numbers, but never seems to find himself on any daily fantasy rosters. He owns a decent SIERA and a decent strikeout rate, but he isn’t particularly effective against hitters from either side of the plate. Happ also draws one of the worst matchups on the board, as the Tigers are ranked second in wOBA (.338) against left-handed pitching and first in wOBA (.372) over the last 14 days. He’s an easy avoid tonight in Detroit.
Pitcher Rating:56.6
Alfredo Simon : FD: $7,800 — DK: $5,500
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 295.2 — SIERA: 4.22 — K%: 16.1% — BB%: 7.1% — FB Rate: 32.3% — HR/FB: 10.7%
Last 30 Days: IP: 22.2 — SIERA: 4.52 — K%: 15.3% — BB%: 7.3% — FB Rate: 35.1% — HR/FB: 15.2%
Seattle Mariners Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.296 (Rank: 25) — Strikeout Rate: 22.1% (Rank: 27)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.325 (Rank: 7) — Strikeout Rate: 19.5% (Rank: 11)
Pitchers per PA: 3.88 (Rank: 7)
Analysis: Simon comes into tonight’s start in less than ideal form. Over the last month of play, he has a 4.52 SIERA with a low strikeout rate of 7.3%. If he was facing this Mariners’ team a month ago, he would see a sizable matchup boost, but Seattle has actually hit the ball well recently. Over the last two weeks, they are ranked seventh in wOBA (.325) as a team. This game has one of the highest run totals on the board and both pitchers should be avoided.
Pitcher Rating:54.1
Batter Grind Down
Seattle
The Mariners are finally FINALLY starting to produce offensively. They have a good chance to keep it going tonight against Alfredo Simon, who has given up a .345 wOBA to left-handed hitters over the last two seasons. In case you have been hiding under a rock this season, you should know that the Mariners’ lineup is chock-full of left-handed bats. Robinson Cano and Seth Smith are both elite plays at their respective positions.
Elite Plays:
Robinson Cano : FD: $3,300 — DK: $3,600
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 687 — wOBA: 0.357 — ISO: 0.164 — wRC+: 134
Last 14 Days: PA: 45 — wOBA: 0.365 — ISO: 0.256 — wRC+: 139
Seth Smith : FD: $2,300 — DK: $3,300
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 708 — wOBA: 0.351 — ISO: 0.190 — wRC+: 129
Last 14 Days: PA: 25 — wOBA: 0.421 — ISO: 0.190 — wRC+: 178
Secondary Plays:
Nelson Cruz : FD: $3,400 — DK: $4,800
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 808 — wOBA: 0.356 — ISO: 0.231 — wRC+: 130
Last 14 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.373 — ISO: 0.086 — wRC+: 145
Kyle Seager : FD: $2,900 — DK: $3,700
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 687 — wOBA: 0.356 — ISO: 0.202 — wRC+: 133
Last 14 Days: PA: 44 — wOBA: 0.456 — ISO: 0.231 — wRC+: 203
Brad Miller : FD: $2,300 — DK: $3,100
Position Eligibility: FD: SS — DK: SS
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 546 — wOBA: 0.325 — ISO: 0.170 — wRC+: 111
Last 14 Days: PA: 32 — wOBA: 0.248 — ISO: 0.036 — wRC+: 57
Detroit
The Tigers have one of the highest team totals on the board tonight, as they take on J.A. Happ at home. As mentioned above, Detroit is one of the best hitting teams against left-handed pitching. The Tigers will likely have 8-9 right-handed hitters in their lineup tonight and anyone batting in the top five or six of the order deserves consideration.
Elite Plays:
J.D. Martinez : FD: $4,300 — DK: $4,800
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 207 — wOBA: 0.402 — ISO: 0.291 — wRC+: 160
Last 14 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.432 — ISO: 0.351 — wRC+: 182
Rajai Davis : FD: $2,500 — DK: $3,500
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 236 — wOBA: 0.392 — ISO: 0.199 — wRC+: 153
Last 14 Days: PA: 13 — wOBA: 0.233 — ISO: 0.077 — wRC+: 42
Secondary Plays:
Victor Martinez : FD: $3,600 — DK: $3,800
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 212 — wOBA: 0.475 — ISO: 0.284 — wRC+: 211
Last 14 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.470 — ISO: 0.375 — wRC+: 208
Yoenis Cespedes : FD: $3,300 — DK: $4,300
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 233 — wOBA: 0.275 — ISO: 0.188 — wRC+: 74
Last 14 Days: PA: 45 — wOBA: 0.342 — ISO: 0.267 — wRC+: 118
Ian Kinsler : FD: $3,200 — DK: $3,800
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 261 — wOBA: 0.312 — ISO: 0.130 — wRC+: 97
Last 14 Days: PA: 41 — wOBA: 0.367 — ISO: 0.205 — wRC+: 136
LA Dodgers at Atlanta – 7:10 PM EST
| LA Dodgers | Atlanta | ||||||||
 | Brandon Beachy |  | Matthew Wisler | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| LAD (-147) | 8.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.167 | 0.453 | 0.147 | 14.3% | SP vs. Left | 0.277 | 0.892 | 0.383 | 13.00% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.400 | 0.000 | 0.515 | 8.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.246 | 0.664 | 0.290 | 20.60% |
| Batter Splits | LAD BvP | Batter Splits | ATL BvP | ATL vs R | |||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Brandon Beachy : FD: $5,700 — DK: $7,100
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 4.0 — SIERA: 6.56 — K%: 10.5% — BB%: 15.8% — FB Rate: 46.2% — HR/FB: 0.0%
Atlanta Braves Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.306 (Rank: 20) — Strikeout Rate: 17.2% (Rank: 3)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.306 (Rank: 17) — Strikeout Rate: 19.5% (Rank: 11)
Pitchers per PA: 3.78 (Rank: 20)
Analysis: Beachy gave up three earned runs in four innings of work in his first start back from Tommy John surgery. His fastball was between 88-91 MPH, which is close to where he was before the surgery. Rust and pitch count are both concerns for Beachy tonight, even though he does draw a decent matchup against the Braves. He is a sizable favorite tonight, but he may not pitch deep enough into the game to even be eligible for the win. He can be avoided tonight in Atlanta.
Pitcher Rating:38.0
Matthew Wisler : FD: $6,100 — DK: $7,900
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 29.0 — SIERA: 4.40 — K%: 17.2% — BB%: 7.4% — FB Rate: 42.5% — HR/FB: 8.1%
Los Angeles Dodgers Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.335 (Rank: 2) — Strikeout Rate: 19.8% (Rank: 16)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.320 (Rank: 12) — Strikeout Rate: 22.2% (Rank: 23)
Pitchers per PA: 3.88 (Rank: 5)
Analysis: Wisler has had a decent start to his major league career, posting a 4.40 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 17.2% in his first 29 innings of work. He will have his hands full tonight against the Dodgers, though. On the season, Los Angeles is ranked second in wOBA (335) against right-handed pitching. The Dodgers also average the fifth-most pitches per plate appearance, which drives up the opponent’s pitch count. Wisler is an easy avoid tonight in this difficult matchup.
Pitcher Rating:50.7
Batter Grind Down
LA Dodgers
The Dodgers’ offense has cooled off a bit in recent weeks, but they are still one of the best hitting teams against right-handed pitching. The left-handed hitters will have the splits in their favor tonight, as Matt Wisler has given up a .383 wOBA to hitters from that side of the plate. Justin Turner (DK – $3,400) and Howie Kendrick (FD – $2,900) are also in play at their discounted price points.
Elite Plays:
Adrian Gonzalez : FD: $3,800 — DK: $4,200
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 777 — wOBA: 0.390 — ISO: 0.249 — wRC+: 154
Last 14 Days: PA: 38 — wOBA: 0.483 — ISO: 0.485 — wRC+: 218
Joc Pederson : FD: $3,100 — DK: $3,800
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 336 — wOBA: 0.368 — ISO: 0.245 — wRC+: 139
Last 14 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.258 — ISO: 0.081 — wRC+: 63
Secondary Plays:
Justin Turner : FD: $3,200 — DK: $3,400
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 2B/3B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 416 — wOBA: 0.420 — ISO: 0.201 — wRC+: 175
Last 14 Days: PA: 37 — wOBA: 0.298 — ISO: 0.059 — wRC+: 91
Howie Kendrick : FD: $2,900 — DK: $3,800
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 800 — wOBA: 0.322 — ISO: 0.106 — wRC+: 110
Last 14 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.270 — ISO: 0.075 — wRC+: 72
Andre Ethier : FD: $2,400 — DK: $2,900
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 575 — wOBA: 0.340 — ISO: 0.163 — wRC+: 120
Last 14 Days: PA: 24 — wOBA: 0.419 — ISO: 0.056 — wRC+: 174
Atlanta
The Braves square off against Brandon Beachy tonight, but they will also see quite a few pitchers out of the bullpen so it’s hard to give an advantage to left or right-handed hitters. Kelly Johnson and Nick Markakis are the preferred targets here, but both players are better secondary options rather than elite plays.
Elite Plays:
NONE
Secondary Plays:
Kelly Johnson : FD: $3,400 — DK: $3,100
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: 3B/OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 417 — wOBA: 0.313 — ISO: 0.159 — wRC+: 98
Last 14 Days: PA: 33 — wOBA: 0.487 — ISO: 0.357 — wRC+: 218
Nick Markakis : FD: $3,000 — DK: $3,500
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 788 — wOBA: 0.336 — ISO: 0.113 — wRC+: 114
Last 14 Days: PA: 41 — wOBA: 0.261 — ISO: 0.105 — wRC+: 62
Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati – 7:10 PM EST
| Chicago Cubs | Cincinnati | ||||||||
 | Clayton Richard |  | Michael Lorenzen | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CIN (-110) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.267 | 0.580 | 0.264 | 12.5% | SP vs. Left | 0.314 | 1.004 | 0.431 | 16.40% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.367 | 0.000 | 0.416 | 9.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.207 | 0.671 | 0.293 | 14.50% |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Clayton Richard : FD: $5,500 — DK: $4,400
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 9.1 — SIERA: 4.24 — K%: 10.2% — BB%: 8.2% — FB Rate: 15.0% — HR/FB: 0.0%
Cincinnati Reds Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.315 (Rank: 10) — Strikeout Rate: 20.0% (Rank: 10)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.295 (Rank: 19) — Strikeout Rate: 16.7% (Rank: 3)
Pitchers per PA: 3.73 (Rank: 24)
Analysis: Richard is making his third start of the season, after posting a 4.24 SIERA and a 10.2% strikeout rate in his first two outings. I’d like to see a few quality starts from him before targeting him in any type of daily fantasy league. He can safely be avoided tonight against the Reds, who are ranked tenth in wOBA (.315) and strikeout rate (20.0%) against left-handed pitching this season.
Pitcher Rating:42.2
Michael Lorenzen : FD: $5,400 — DK: $4,600
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 71.1 — SIERA: 5.14 — K%: 15.3% — BB%: 12.7% — FB Rate: 31.5% — HR/FB: 17.6%
Last 30 Days: IP: 22.2 — SIERA: 4.66 — K%: 17.0% — BB%: 11.0% — FB Rate: 28.2% — HR/FB: 20.0%
Chicago Cubs Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.298 (Rank: 23) — Strikeout Rate: 24.6% (Rank: 29)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.265 (Rank: 28) — Strikeout Rate: 22.1% (Rank: 22)
Pitchers per PA: 3.98 (Rank: 1)
Analysis: There are a lot of subpar pitching options on the board tonight and unfortunately, Lorenzen finds his name on that list. He has a 5.14 SIERA with a low strikeout rate of 15.3% over the last two seasons. He draws a favorable matchup against the Cubs, but that’s not enough to overcome his extremely limited upside. Favor the Cubs’ offense in this one and avoid Lorenzen in all league formats.
Pitcher Rating:49.8
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have been one of the coldest offenses in all of baseball over the last month of play, dropping all the way down to 23rd in wOBA against right-handed pitching. The good news is that they draw a favorable matchup against Michael Lorenzen, who has given up a .431 wOBA to left-handed hitters over the last two seasons.
Elite Plays:
Anthony Rizzo : FD: $3,900 — DK: $5,100
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 733 — wOBA: 0.395 — ISO: 0.259 — wRC+: 152
Last 14 Days: PA: 38 — wOBA: 0.428 — ISO: 0.107 — wRC+: 175
Kyle Schwarber : FD: $2,600 — DK: $3,400
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: C/OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 23 — wOBA: 0.467 — ISO: 0.273 — wRC+: 202
Last 14 Days: PA: 5 — wOBA: 0.606 — ISO: 0.200 — wRC+: 297
Secondary Plays:
Kris Bryant : FD: $3,300 — DK: $4,800
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 280 — wOBA: 0.360 — ISO: 0.174 — wRC+: 128
Last 14 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.276 — ISO: 0.114 — wRC+: 70
Dexter Fowler : FD: $2,600 — DK: $4,300
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 679 — wOBA: 0.315 — ISO: 0.132 — wRC+: 100
Last 14 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.291 — ISO: 0.029 — wRC+: 81
Chris Coghlan : FD: $2,400 — DK: $3,200
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 590 — wOBA: 0.351 — ISO: 0.181 — wRC+: 122
Last 14 Days: PA: 21 — wOBA: 0.159 — ISO: 0.000 — wRC+: -10
Cincinnati
The Reds hit left-handed pitching well as a team. They draw a favorable matchup tonight against Clayton Richard, who has given up a .416 wOBA to right-handed hitters this season. Home Run Derby champion Todd Frazier aka The Toddfather is the top target here, while Joey Votto and Marlon Byrd are in play as a secondary options.
Elite Plays:
Todd Frazier : FD: $3,500 — DK: $4,900
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 1B/3B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 239 — wOBA: 0.362 — ISO: 0.248 — wRC+: 130
Last 14 Days: PA: 38 — wOBA: 0.160 — ISO: 0.056 — wRC+: -9
Secondary Plays:
Joey Votto : FD: $3,500 — DK: $4,700
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 176 — wOBA: 0.379 — ISO: 0.209 — wRC+: 142
Last 14 Days: PA: 39 — wOBA: 0.465 — ISO: 0.281 — wRC+: 201
Marlon Byrd : FD: $2,700 — DK: $3,800
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 235 — wOBA: 0.338 — ISO: 0.220 — wRC+: 115
Last 14 Days: PA: 32 — wOBA: 0.350 — ISO: 0.188 — wRC+: 122