MLB Grind Down: Monday, June 23rd
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
Chicago White Sox at Baltimore
| Chicago White Sox | Baltimore | ||||||||
| Chris Sale | Vegas Moneyline | Wei-Yin Chen | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | CWS (-126) | LEFT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.129 | 0.317 | 0.167 | 31.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.271 | 0.724 | 0.323 | 17.0% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.236 | 0.640 | 0.290 | 26.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.276 | 0.762 | 0.334 | 18.2% |
| Batter Splits | CHW BvP  | CHW vs L | Batter Splits | BAL BvP | BAL vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Chris Sale – Sale is one of the best pitchers in baseball and is proving that again this season with a 2.20 ERA and a very impressive 0.75 WHIP. He is basically unhittable against LHB’s as he has held them to a .129 batting average since the start of 2013. Sale also boasts a high K-rate as he is averaging 10.4 strikeouts per 9 innings. A matchup against the Orioles isn’t necessarily a favorable one (11th against LH pitching), but his upside overrides the matchup. Rating = 8
Salaries: $10100 FD, $23787 DS, $21600 DD, $11800 DK, $130400 FF, $31900 SS, $21600 FTD
- Wei-Yin Chen – Chen is quietly having a nice season for the Orioles. Through 14 starts, he has a 3.78 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a K/9 of 6.5. Tonight he is facing a White Sox offense that is ranked 23rd against LH pitching this season (.301 wOBA). The Sox are also striking out at a 23% clip against southpaws. Chen is cheap and has a nice matchup; target him on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 6
Salaries: $6400 FD, $12300 DS, $13100 DD, $7100 DK, $88600 FF, $19600 SS, $13100 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Chicago White Sox
Jose Abreu – Abreu is an extra-base hit machine. In fact, 57% of his hits against lefites this season have gone for extra bases. I like the matchup for him tonight against Chen who has given up a .334 wOBA to RHB’s.
Additional Plays: Alexei Ramirez
Baltimore
Even though Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones both have a wOBA above .500 this season against lefties, I will be avoiding all Orioles’ tonight against Sale. He’s held both LHB’s and RHB’s under a .290 wOBA since the start of 2013.
Miami at Philadelphia
| Miami | Philadelphia | ||||||||
| Nathan Eovaldi | Vegas Moneyline | Roberto Hernandez | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | MIA (-104) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.279 | 0.748 | 0.339 | 15.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.285 | 0.847 | 0.382 | 14.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.238 | 0.638 | 0.285 | 20.2% | SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.704 | 0.327 | 20.0% |
| Batter Splits | MIA BvP | MIA vs R | Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Nathan Eovaldi – Eovaldi has been very inconsistent this season. Over his last 7 starts, he has held opponents to 2 or less earned runs 4 times, but has also given up at least 5 earned runs 3 times. It’s basically been boom or bust with Eovaldi lately. Eovaldi has great velocity, but that doesn’t always equate to strikeouts as his K/9 is barely over 7.0 this season. He does draw a nice matchup against the Phillies (27th against RH pitching), but is probably a better GPP play than a cash game play. Rating = 6
Salaries: $6500 FD, $12561 DS, $13400 DD, $7600 DK, $74200 FF, $21000 SS, $13400 FTD
- Roberto Hernandez – Hernandez has been an easy avoid for me all season long. If you pull up his game logs, he has really only had 1 good fantasy outing in his last 10 starts. Even though he is facing a Marlins’ offense that is a much different team on the road, I don’t think I’ll be using Hernandez tonight. The price is extremely cheap, but so is the potential for him to get blown up again. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5200 FD, $9689 DS, $9400 DD, $6000 DK, $50200 FF, $13000 SS, $9400 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Miami
Giancarlo Stanton – Stanton, like most of this Marlins’ offense, has been much better at home this season, but he draws a terrific matchup against Hernandez tonight. Hernandez has given up a .364 wOBA to RHB’s this season.
Additional Plays: Garrett Jones, Jarrod Saltalamachhia
Philadelphia
Chase Utley – Utley has cooled off since the start of the season, but still has a batting average over .300 and a wOBA of .363 against RH pitching this season. Utley has a favorable matchup against Eovaldi who has given up a .334 wOBA to RHB’s since the start of 2013.
Additional Plays: Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins
NY Yankees at Toronto
| NY Yankees | Toronto | ||||||||
| Chase Whitley | Vegas Moneyline | Marcus Stroman | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | NYY (-102) | RIGHT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.280 | 0.701 | 0.314 | 17.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.348 | 0.949 | 0.417 | 11.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.200 | 0.446 | 0.222 | 15.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.283 | 0.696 | 0.306 | 26.3% |
| Batter Splits | NYY BvP | NYY vs R | Batter Splits | TOR BvP | TOR vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Chase Whitley – Whitley has been incredibly consistent in his rookie season. In each of his first 7 starts, he has allowed less than 9 hits and less than 4 earned runs. The Yankees are starting to stretch him out more too which should boost his fantasy value moving forward. The issue here is his matchup. The Blue Jays are one of the best teams in baseball against RH pitching this season (.338 wOBA) and this game will be played in the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. Pass on Whitley tonight, but keep your eye on him moving forward. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5100 FD, $11202 DS, $11950 DD, $6800 DK, $93000 FF, $17800 SS, $11950 FTD
- Marcus Stroman – Stroman struggled in his last start and it just so happened to be against this Yankees team. Stroman couldn’t make it out of the 4th inning and now has to face them again in the Rogers Centre which is even more of a hitter’s park than Yankee Stadium. The total is set at 9.0 runs and you can avoid both starting pitchers in this one. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5000 FD, $11154 DS, $9750 DD, $5600 DK, $73000 FF, $13800 SS, $8950 FTD
Batter Grind Down
NY Yankees
Jacoby Ellsbury – Ellsbury has always hit RH pitching well and is currently riding a nice little 5 game hitting streak. 14 of his 21 stolen bases this season have come against RH pitching and I like his chances of stealing a base tonight against the RHP Stroman.
Additional Plays: Brett Gardner, Brian McCann
Toronto
Edwin Encarnacion – E5 has been one of the few Blue Jays’ hitters that is not in a slump. Over his last 8 games he has 12 hits (4 HR’s) and 9 RBI’s. He has hit 20 of his 24 HR’s against RH pitching and will be facing the rookie righty tonight.
Additional Plays: Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Dioner Navarro
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay
| Pittsburgh | Tampa Bay | ||||||||
| Edinson Volquez | Vegas Moneyline | Alex Cobb | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TBR (-145) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.280 | 0.809 | 0.359 | 17.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.224 | 0.641 | 0.287 | 23.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.261 | 0.731 | 0.330 | 17.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.232 | 0.626 | 0.289 | 22.1% |
| Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs R | Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TBR vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Edinson Volquez – Right when Volquez finally starts to look like an attractive fantasy option again, he goes out and gives up 8 earned runs in less than 3 innings in his last starts. At this point, there is more downside than upside with Volquez and he may have a hard time getting any run support with Cobb pitching opposite him. Rating = 3
Salaries: $5500 FD, $10464 DS, $11150 DD, $6600 DK, $56300 FF, $16500 SS, $10900 FTD
- Alex Cobb – Cobb has been dominant in each of his last 2 starts. He’s only given up a combined 1 earned run while striking out 17 batters. Tonight he faces a Pirates’ offense that is pretty average against RH pitching (.319 wOBA). Cobb’s price is likely to go way up after this start and I highly suggest targeting him in ALL leagues tonight. Rating = 9
Salaries: $7600 FD, $16332 DS, $14250 DD, $8700 DK, $101900 FF, $23300 SS, $14250 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Pittsburgh
Cobb is one of my favorite pitchers on the board tonight and I’ll be avoiding all Pirates’ hitter against him. Cobb has held both LHB’s and RHB’s under a .290 wOBA since the start of 2013.
Tampa Bay
Kevin Kiermaier – Kiermaier is one of the best value plays on the board tonight. He is facing Volquez who has given up a .359 wOBA to LHB’s since the start of 2013. Kiermaier has been terrific against RH pitching this season with a .478 wOBA.
Additional Plays: Matt Joyce, Evan Longoria
Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs
| Cincinnati | Chicago Cubs | ||||||||
| Alfredo Simon | Vegas Moneyline | Jeff Samardzija | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | CHC (-112) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.231 | 0.708 | 0.320 | 14.7% | SP vs. Left | 0.264 | 0.762 | 0.338 | 22.9% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.215 | 0.543 | 0.264 | 17.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.241 | 0.646 | 0.297 | 23.3% |
| Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs R | Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Alfredo Simon – Simon continues to pitch well for the Reds and no one outside of Cincinnati really seems to be noticing. Through 14 starts, he has a 3.05 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a K/9 of 5.6. He’s been an extremely reliable fantasy option, but is rarely targeted in daily fantasy baseball. I think that will change tonight, at least on my end. He is facing a Cubs’ offense that is ranked 29th against RH pitching this season. Rating = 6
Salaries: $7100 FD, $14403 DS, $14500 DD, $8000 DK, $90700 FF, $22500 SS, $14500 FTD
- Jeff Samardzija – Samardzija has really managed to put up great numbers this season despite constant trade rumors floating around. He is sporting a 2.60 ERA with a K/9 of 8.3. He’s also been extremely efficient at home with a 1.64 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He offers a nice upside play tonight against the Reds who are ranked 16th against RH pitching this season (.310 wOBA). Rating = 7
Salaries: $7800 FD, $17560 DS, $15800 DD, $8900 DK, $79200 FF, $25000 SS, $15800 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Cincinnati
Todd Frazier – Frazier has shown great power against both LH pitching and RH pitching this season. He has a .368 wOBA against righties and has already taken Samardzija deep twice in only 22 career at-bats.
Additional Plays: Jay Bruce
Chicago Cubs
Anthony Rizzo – While I’m not crazy about the Cubs’ offense tonight (rarely am I suppose), I don’t mind Rizzo as a GPP play. He has great power against RH pitching and Simon has been susceptible to LHB’s.
Additional Plays: Starlin Castro