MLB Grind Down: Monday, June 9th
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 Cubs at Pittsburgh
| Chicago Cubs | Pittsburgh | ||||||||
| Edwin Jackson | Vegas Moneyline | Charlie Morton | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | PIT (-150) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.298 | 0.811 | 0.365 | 19.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.273 | 0.686 | 0.338 | 17.7% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.262 | 0.715 | 0.321 | 17.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.239 | 0.590 | 0.283 | 16.5% |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP  | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Edwin Jackson – Jackson isn’t the most reliable pitcher, but he has given up 3 or less earned runs in 5 of his last 6 starts. On the season he has a 4.59 ERA with a K/9 of 8.6. Tonight he faces a Pirates’ offense that is ranked 13th against RH pitching and this game will be played in the pitcher friendly PNC Park. Jackson has nice upside for the price, but is best suited as a GPP play. Rating = 5
Salaries: $6700 FD, $12395 DS, $14100 DD, $8300 DK, $77300 FF, $21100 SS, $12100 FTD
- Charlie Morton – Morton has really pitched well at home this season. In 6 starts at PNC Park, he owns a 2.39 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and a K/9 of 6.6. He has a favorable matchup tonight against the Cubs who are ranked 29th against RH pitching this season while striking out at a 22.9% clip. Morton makes a great play on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 6
Salaries: $5700 FD, $13645 DS, $13550 DD, $7900 DK, $78900 FF, $19000 SS, $12800 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
Anthony Rizzo – Morton has always struggled against LHB’s and this season is no different. He has given up a .338 wOBA to batters from the left side. Rizzo on the other hand has nice power against RH pitching with a .369 wOBA this season.
Additional Plays: Luis Valbuena
Pittsburgh
Andrew McCutchen – There are a lot of reasons to like Cutch tonight. He has a favorable matchup against Jackson who has given up a .321 wOBA to RHB’s, he has a .396 wOBA against RH pitching thise season, and he has a great track record against Jackson in the past (10/23 with 2 HR’s).
Additional Plays: Pedro Alvarez
Boston at Baltimore
| Boston | Baltimore | ||||||||
| Jake Peavy | Vegas Moneyline | Bud Norris | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | BAL (-127) | RIGHT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.237 | 0.728 | 0.319 | 20.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.298 | 0.844 | 0.374 | 15.5% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.262 | 0.724 | 0.320 | 17.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.241 | 0.638 | 0.295 | 21.7% |
| Batter Splits | BOS BvP | BOS vs R | Batter Splits | BAL BvP | BAL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jake Peavy – During his time with the Red Sox, Peavy has really struggled on the road. Since the start of 2013, his road ERA is well over 5.00. Tonight he faces a tough Orioles’ lineup that is ranked 7th against RH pitching this season. Peavy has given up 24 earned runs over his last 5 starts and can be safely avoided tonight. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6400 FD, $12309 DS, $12700 DD, $6800 DK, $60300 FF, $15800 SS, $12100 FTD
- Bud Norris – Norris hasn’t been much better in his last 5 starts as he has given up 18 earned runs over that stretch. On the season he has a 4.41 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP. While the Red Sox haven’t been great against RH pitching, the high total and Norris’ current form make me want to stay far away from him tonight. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6100 FD, $9781 DS, $10900 DD, $6400 DK, $70200 FF, $16500 SS, $10800 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Boston
David Ortiz – Ortiz hit a HR to propel the Red Sox over the Tigers last night and draws another favorable matchup tonight against the RHP Norris who has given up a .374 wOBA to LHB’s this season. Ortiz has always been good against RH pitching and is in a great spot tonight.
Additional Plays: Brock Holt, A.J. Pierzynski, Grady Sizemore
Baltimore
Nelson Cruz – Cruz is typically only targeted against LH pitching, but he is no slouch against RH pitching either. On the season he has a .406 wOBA against righties and he’s enjoyed some success in a small sample size against Peavy in the past.
Additional Plays: Chris Davis, Manny Machado, Adam Jones
Minnesota at Toronto
| Minnesota | Toronto | ||||||||
| Ricky Nolasco | Vegas Moneyline | R.A. Dickey | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TOR (-189) | RIGHT | 9.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.276 | 0.767 | 0.342 | 17.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.251 | 0.742 | 0.329 | 17.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.696 | 0.310 | 20.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.234 | 0.692 | 0.313 | 20.0% |
| Batter Splits | MIN BvP | MIN vs R | Batter Splits | TOR BvP | TOR vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Ricky Nolasco – Nolasco has not pitched well in a Twins’ uniform. He is sporting a 5.65 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP. I’ve been avoiding him all season and that will continue tonight against the Blue Jays in the Rogers Centre which is the AL’s version of Coors Field. Nolasco is a +180 underdog in a game that features a total of 9.5 runs. Rating = 2
Salaries: $5400 FD, $9330 DS, $10200 DD, $6100 DK, $63400 FF, $14100 SS, $9800 FTD
- R.A. Dickey – Dickey is still susceptible to giving up those big innings that kill his fantasy outings, but he’s been pretty consistent over his last 9 starts. On the season he owns a 4.25 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP and a K/9 of 7.5. That said, this game will be played in the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre and he faces a Twins’ offense that is above average against RH pitching. He should be used as a GPP-only play tonight. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7500 FD, $15591 DS, $14050 DD, $8000 DK, $82600 FF, $19800 SS, $13000 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Minnesota
Josh Willingham – Willingham has been swinging a hot bat this season. Against RH pitching he has a wOBA of .439. Tonight he faces Dickey whose command is not always there. I like him as a value play in the OF.
Additional Plays: Joe Mauer, Brian Dozier, Oswaldo Arcia
Toronto
Juan Francisco – As you can see below, I love the Blue Jays’ bats tonight. Not only is this game at the Rogers Centre, but the Blue Jays are also ranked #1 in baseball against RH pitching with a team .344 wOBA. Juan-Fran has a .428 wOBA against RH pitching this season and has great home splits as well.
Additional Plays: Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Adam Lind, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista
LA Dodgers at Cincinnati
| LA Dodgers | Cincinnati | ||||||||
| Dan Haren | Vegas Moneyline | Tony Cingrani | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | CIN (-116) | LEFT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.253 | 0.714 | 0.315 | 19.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.195 | 0.560 | 0.260 | 29.5% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.284 | 0.774 | 0.344 | 19.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.225 | 0.740 | 0.328 | 25.2% |
| Batter Splits | LAD BvP | LAD vs L | Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Dan Haren – Haren has given up 3 or more earned runs in 6 of his last 7 starts. On the season he owns a 3.50 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and a K/9 of 6.3. Even though the Reds are still missing Joey Votto, I’m not a huge fan of targeting pitchers against them at the Great American Ballpark. The total is set at 8.0 runs, but I think these teams easily reach that total. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7300 FD, $15297 DS, $14800 DD, $8100 DK, $71500 FF, $19700 SS, $14600 FTD
- Tony Cingrani – Cingrani is a very interesting play tonight. While he hasn’t been great this season, he is still a high strikeout pitcher (close to 1 K per inning pitched) and he faces a Dodgers’ offense that is ranked 28th against LH pitching this season with a team .282 wOBA. I like the upside that he offers and think that he is in play on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 6
Salaries: $7500 FD, $15003 DS, $15200 DD, $7700 DK, $67700 FF, $18700 SS, $13900 FTD
Batter Grind Down
LA Dodgers
Hanley Ramirez – Han-Ram has a .396 wOBA against LH pitching this season and draws a favorable matchup against Cingrani who has given up a .328 wOBA to RHB’s. Tulo is the only SS that I have ranked ahead of Hanley tonight.
Additional Plays: Matt Kemp, Scott Van Slyke
Cincinnati
Jay Bruce – Haren is a fly-ball pitcher that will be pitching in the very HR-friendly Great American Ballpark. Great American has given up the 2nd most HR’s of any ballpark this season and this could be a great spot to target the power bats of the Reds.
Additional Plays: Todd Frazier, Devin Mesoraco, Billy Hamilton
Cleveland at Texas
| Cleveland | Texas | ||||||||
| T.J. House | Vegas Moneyline | Nick Martinez | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | CLE (-110) | RIGHT | 10.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.333 | 0.833 | 0.362 | 16.7% | SP vs. Left | 0.314 | 0.931 | 0.407 | 10.7% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.279 | 0.782 | 0.375 | 16.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.279 | 0.742 | 0.321 | 10.8% |
| Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- T.J. House – House has pitched pretty well in his first 3 big league starts. He has a 3.79 ERA with 13 K’s over 19 innings of work. His price across the industry is cheap, but I will not be using him against the Rangers who are the 4th best team in baseball against LH pitching with a team .341 wOBA. Rating = 3
Salaries: $4800 FD, $9555 DS, $8450 DD, $6000 DK, $65200 FF, $NA SS, $9700 FTD
- Nick Martinez – Tonight’s game is a battle between 2 rookie pitchers and it doesn’t look like Vegas has faith in either of them. The total is set at 10.0 runs and neither pitcher is favored. Martinez has a low K-rate and can safely be avoided tonight against the Indians who are ranked 5th against RH pitching. Rating = 3
Salaries: $4200 FD, $8695 DS, $8500 DD, $5900 DK, $59900 FF, $13000 SS, $9500 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Cleveland
Lonnie Chisenhall – I like all of the LHB’s in this lineup, but Chisenhall is typically one of the cheaper bats on the Indians. He has a .391 wOBA against RH pitching this season and gets to face a rookie pitcher in a hitter’s park.
Additional Plays: Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Carlos Santana, Asdrubal Cabrera
Texas
Alex Rios – For whatever reason, Rios always seems to be under-owned in DFS. Hopefully that’s the case again tonight as Rios is in a terrific spot. He has a .508 wOBA against LH pitching this season and is facing a rookie who has given up a .375 wOBA to RHB’s.
Additional Plays: Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, Shin-Soo Choo