MLB Grind Down: Monday, July 7th Page Two
Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati
| Chicago Cubs | Cincinnati | ||||||||
| Edwin Jackson | Vegas Moneyline | Mike Leake | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | CIN (-170) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.299 | 0.819 | 0.368 | 19.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.274 | 0.735 | 0.328 | 13.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.264 | 0.731 | 0.327 | 18.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.254 | 0.672 | 0.305 | 17.9% |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP  | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Edwin Jackson – Jackson is just as likely to score 10+ FP’s on FanDuel as he is scoring negative FP’s on FanDuel. That kind of inconsistency is what I try to avoid in daily fantasy, unless of course you are playing in GPP’s. Jackson has a decent K-rate (8.3 per 9 innings), but a mediocre ERA (4.99) and WHIP (1.53). Tonight he has to pitch in the very HR-friendly Great American Ballpark. I see him as a deep GPP play, but nothing more. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6500 FD, $10288 DS, $12400 DD, $6500 DK, $52800 FF, $16000 SS, $12400 FTD
- Mike Leake – Leake should be a popular target on multi-pitcher sites tonight. He draws a favorable matchup against a Cubs’ offense that is ranked 28th in wOBA (.289) against RH pitching this season. The Cubs also strike out at a 22.0% clip against righties. The Cubs don’t care that much about winning this season as evidenced by trading away Samardzija. Leake should have another quality outing tonight. Rating = 6
Salaries: $8200 FD, $18033 DS, $14400 DD, $8300 DK, $104300 FF, $23600 SS, $14400 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
Anthony Rizzo – Rizzo is really the only Cubs’ hitter that I’ll have any exposure to tonight. He has a .377 wOBA against RH pitching and Leake has been vulnerable to batters from the left side of the plate.
Additional Plays: None
Cincinnati
Devin Mesoraco – Mesoraco has terrific power against RH pitching. In fact, 14 of his 15 HR’s this season have come off of RH pitchers. Meso’s chances of hitting another HR tonight have to be fairly good considering that this game will be played in the Great American Smallpark.
Additional Plays: Jay Bruce, Billy Hamilton
Houston at Texas
| Houston | Texas | ||||||||
| Jarred Cosart | Vegas Moneyline | Miles Mikolas | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TEX (-115) | RIGHT | 9.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.211 | 0.603 | 0.278 | 19.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.000 | 0.333 | 0.230 | 0.0% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.276 | 0.733 | 0.332 | 10.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.181 | 25.0% |
| Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs R | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jarred Cosart – After 9 straight outings without giving up more than 3 earned runs, Cosart gave up 6 to the Mariners in his last start. Tonight he travels to Arlington to take on the Rangers in the hitter-friendly Globe Life Park. With spotty run support and a tough matchup, I’ll be avoiding Cosart tonight. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6400 FD, $10495 DS, $11950 DD, $6600 DK, $86600 FF, $17100 SS, $11950 FTD
- Miles Mikolas – Mikolas had a major league debut. He gave up 3 hits and 3 earned runs over 5 innings of work against the Orioles. I typically like to see a much bigger sample size before targeting these young pitchers. The price is cheap enough that he could carry some value as a GPP play though. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5000 FD, $ DS, $8950 DD, $4500 DK, $67000 FF, $13800 SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Houston
George Springer – As usual with the Astros, I like Springer as a GPP play and I like Altuve as a cash game play. Springer has a .364 wOBA against RH pitching this season and is facing a rookie RH pitcher in Mikolas.
Additional Plays: Jose Altuve
Texas
Shin-Soo Choo – Choo is finally starting to heat up with 11 hits and 2 HR’s over his last 10 games. His numbers have been down all season long (he’s surprisingly struggled at home). He is cheap and has a favorable matchup against Cosart.
Additional Plays: Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, Alex Rios
Philadelphia at Milwaukee
| Philadelphia | Milwaukee | ||||||||
| Cole Hamels | Vegas Moneyline | Marco Estrada | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | MIL (-114) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.253 | 0.690 | 0.309 | 25.3% | SP vs. Left | 0.204 | 0.661 | 0.293 | 21.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.242 | 0.670 | 0.303 | 22.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.260 | 0.772 | 0.338 | 22.7% |
| Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Cole Hamels – Hamels is coming off of two subpar outings in a row against the Marlins. Maybe they just have his number. Tonight he travels to Milwaukee to take on a Brewers’ offense that is stacked with RH hitters. Hamels has a great K-rate and the ability to post a nice outing, but he’s going to have his hands full with Gomez, Lucroy, Braun, and Ramirez. For the price, I think there are better starting pitching options. Rating = 5
Salaries: $8700 FD, $19173 DS, $17050 DD, $10200 DK, $96600 FF, $27900 SS, $17050 FTD
- Marco Estrada – After a solid start to the season, Estrada’s production has taken a turn for the worse. He’s given up at least 2 earned runs in each of his last 9 starts which has increased his ERA to 4.94 on the season. Estrada’s ERA and his batting average allowed has increased each month so far. Keep avoiding him until he can get back to his early season form. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6900 FD, $12105 DS, $12500 DD, $7400 DK, $67700 FF, $18400 SS, $12500 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Philadelphia
Chase Utley – Utley is a solid cash game play tonight against Estrada. We’ve already touched on Estrada’s recent struggles and he has given up a .320 wOBA to LH hitters this season. Utley meanwhile, has a .342 wOBA against RH pitching.
Additional Plays: Marlon Byrd, Ryan Howard
Milwaukee
Jonathan Lucroy – This could be a situation where you may want to avoid Hamels and avoid the batters against him. That said, Lucroy does look like an interesting play. He has good numbers off of Hamels in his career and is sporting a .409 wOBA against LH pitching this season.
Additional Plays: Carlos Gomez
Pittsburgh at St. Louis
| Pittsburgh | St. Louis | ||||||||
| Charlie Morton | Vegas Moneyline | Adam Wainwright | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | STL (-200) | RIGHT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.271 | 0.678 | 0.333 | 18.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.233 | 0.611 | 0.276 | 24.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.236 | 0.587 | 0.282 | 17.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.235 | 0.589 | 0.264 | 22.0% |
| Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs R | Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Charlie Morton – Morton has been on fire. He’s posted quality fantasy outings in 5 of his last 6 starts and has lowered his ERA to 3.30 on the season. Morton also has the strikeouts working as he is boasting a career best 7.5 K’s per 9 innings. Run support will be hard to come by with Wainwright pitching opposite him, but Morton is in play on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7400 FD, $14622 DS, $14750 DD, $8200 DK, $84200 FF, $22900 SS, $14750 FTD
- Adam Wainwright – Wainwright and Strasburg are the two top aces on the mound tonight and it’s going to be hard to choose between the two. Wainwright owns a terrific 1.89 ERA with a WHIP of 0.89. He’s facing a Pirates’ offense that is right above the league average in wOBA vs. RH pitching (.323). I’m giving Wainwright a slight edge over Strasburg, but you really can’t go wrong with either option. Rating = 9
Salaries: $10900 FD, $24156 DS, $21350 DD, $11500 DK, $150900 FF, $30900 SS, $21350 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Pittsburgh
I’ll be avoiding all Pirates’ hitters tonight against Wainwright. Wainwright has held both LHB’s and RHB’s under a .280 wOBA since the start of 2013.
St. Louis
Yadier Molina – In the past, LH hitters were the ones to target against Morton, but that has changed this season as he has held them to a .277 wOBA. If you are targeting anyone here, target Molina who hits both LH and RH pitching well.
Additional Plays: None
San Diego at Colorado
| San Diego | Colorado | ||||||||
| Ian Kennedy | Vegas Moneyline | Tyler Matzek | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | SDP (-102) | LEFT | 10.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.254 | 0.774 | 0.340 | 23.8% | SP vs. Left | 0.333 | 0.800 | 0.345 | 26.7% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.254 | 0.706 | 0.324 | 21.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.294 | 0.648 | 0.296 | 8.1% |
| Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SDP vs L | Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Ian Kennedy – Kennedy has some decent numbers in Coors in his career, but that’s not enough to persuade me to take him tonight, even in GPP’s. Coors Field yields more runs than any ballpark in baseball and the Rockies are ranked 2nd in wOBA (.341) against RH pitching this season. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7000 FD, $14974 DS, $14750 DD, $8400 DK, $88200 FF, $22200 SS, $14750 FTD
- Tyler Matzek – Matzek is an easy avoid tonight. Not only is he a rookie making his 6th career start, but he is pitching in Coors Field. If this game were in Petco Park, it would be a different story, but I like the Padres’ side of this matchup. Rating = 3
Salaries: $5300 FD, $8053 DS, $13250 DD, $5800 DK, $59800 FF, $13700 SS, $13250 FTD
Batter Grind Down
San Diego
Tommy Medica – Medica leads the Padres with a .364 wOBA against LH pitching this season. He is extremely cheap and has great upside against Matzek in Coors. This could be a rare night to stack the Padres.
Additional Plays: Chris Denorfia, Chase Headley, Carlos Quentin
Colorado
Corey Dickerson – Dickerson is really coming into his own this season. He is leading the Rockies with a .466 wOBA against RH pitching. He’s always in play against righties, especially in the friendly confines of Coors Field.
Additional Plays: Troy Tulowitzki, Charlie Blackmon, Justin Morneau