MLB Grind Down: Saturday, April 11th Page Two

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2015-04-11 15:07:48

Detroit at Cleveland

Pitcher Grind Down

David Price – Price was one of the ace pitchers you wanted to have on opening day, as he turned in a stellar performance going 8.2 innings, scattering five hits and striking out five batters. Price is coming off a year where he pitched a career high 248.1 innings, but was also able to match that with career highs in K/9 with a 9.82 as well as a career low xFIP at 2.76. He makes for a difficult matchup today against a lefty-heavy Indians squad and makes a great option. Rating = 8

Corey Kluber – The ace of the squad is stepping up today to face Price in what should be a very fun pitching duel to tune into. Kluber started 2015 just how he left off last year with a great performance against Houston with 7.1 strong innings giving up two earned runs, while striking out his usual seven batters. The strikeouts are really what separates Kluber from the pack as he had a 10.27 K/9 rate in 2014. This is a very tough matchup against a strong Tigers squad, and I would give the pitching edge to Price slightly, but Kluber could win you tournaments today if he pitches well. Rating =7

Batter Grind Down

Detroit

Miguel Cabrera (FD: $4700, DK: $4700)
BA: 0.320 / wOBA: 0.405 / ISO: 0.243
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.415 / ISO: 0.244

Analysis: Miggy is still looking for his breakout game in this first week of the season and many people will be off of him due to the matchup. I will refrain from quoting BvP too much in these articles, but Miggy is 16/30 with four career homeruns against Kluber. Miggy’s price is at a point, especially at DK, where you will not see it this low for most likely the rest of the season.

Secondary Plays:

Victor Martinez (FD: $4100, DK: $4400)
vs LH pitching wOBA: .370/ISO: .183

Cleveland

No elite plays.

Secondary Plays:

Carlos Santana (FD: $3500, DK: $3900)
vs LH pitching wOBA: .375/ISO: .184

Toronto at Baltimore

Pitcher Grind Down

Aaron Sanchez – Injuries have forced Aaron Sanchez into the Blue Jays rotation instead of possibly closing games for the Blue Jays. Sanchez is a highly touted prospect for the Blue Jays and pitched very well over the last few weeks of the season in the Majors last year. He came in and over 33 innings pitched, only allowed 4 earned runs and struck out 27 batters. He should do a great job of keeping the ball in the ballpark as he sported a 65.8-groundball rate to go along with all his other great numbers. He should pitch well this year, but as always with young pitchers, you never know exactly what you are going to get especially in a first start. Proceed with caution, but the upside is clearly there. Rating = 6

Ubaldo Jimenez – Ubaldo Jimenez landed the fifth starter spot for the Orioles and gets a very difficult matchup in his first game against the Blue Jays. Last year, Ubaldo had a poor season with an ERA of 4.81 and xFIP of 4.48. He did, however, sport a high 8.33 K/9 rate that could get you some value, but not in this game today against the Blue Jays who could run him out of the game quickly tonight. Rating = 4

Batter Grind Down

Toronto

Jose Reyes (FD: $3700, DK: $4900)
BA: 0.291 / wOBA: 0.336 / ISO: 0.143
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.335 / ISO: 0.147

Analysis: Reyes is another do it all daily fantasy player that can get you points in a variety of ways. He has had a decent start of the season, but today is where you may see this Blue Jays offense really pour it on. Ubaldo has a wOBA of .354 against lefties, which Reyes should take advantage of today.

Secondary Plays:

Edwin Encarnacion (FD: $4800, DK: $5500)
vs RH pitching wOBA: .356/ISO: .219

Jose Bautista (FD: $4300, DK: $5400)
vs RH pitching wOBA: .367/ISO: .229

Baltimore

No elite plays.

Secondary Plays:

Chris Davis (FD: $3600, DK: $4900)
vs RH pitching wOBA: .362/ISO: .250

Alejandro De Aza (FD: $3100, DK: $4200)
vs RH pitching wOBA: .329/ISO: .140

Washington at Philadelphia

Pitcher Grind Down

Doug Fister – Doug Fister will look to make his first start of the year against a Phillies squad tonight. Fister is coming off a huge year career wise as he dropped his ERA to 2.41 and had a decent xFIP of 3.85. He did have a major drop in strikeout rate as it was never high to begin with, but now went to a 5.38 K/9. The strikeout rate is a bit troubling as he does not provide huge upside, but should keep the runs low tonight and should pitch well enough to be a second starter for your lineups. Rating = 7

Cole Hamels – Cole Hamels pitched poorly on opening day against a solid Red Sox offense that should do what they did to a lot of left handed pitchers this year. The matchup today is a bit easier against a Nationals squad that will be without some of its regulars. I expect a bit of a bounce back game here in what should be a pitchers duel in Philly since they will be without two major righty bats (Rendon and Werth) that make this lineup a lot tamer against lefties. Rating = 7

Batter Grind Down

Washington

Ian Desmond (FD: $4000, DK: $4200)
BA: 0.269 / wOBA: 0.326 / ISO: 0.162
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.336 / ISO: 0.172

Analysis: With Werth and Rendon out of the lineup, Desmond becomes are go to RH option on this Nationals squad. He had a wOBA of .341 against LH pitchers last year and an ISO of .167. He will look to continue that this year against Hamels who will have Desmond as his toughest out.

Secondary Plays:

None

Philadelphia

Chase Utley (FD: $3300, DK: $4100)
BA: 0.285 / wOBA: 0.370 / ISO: 0.202
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.373 / ISO: 0.206

Analysis: Although Utley has started off the season cold, the Phillies need him to step it up in the three spot if they are going to compete this year. I expect him to start swinging a better bat here soon and it could start against Fister. Utley has a career wOBA of .373 against RH pitching and a very respectable .206 ISO.

Secondary Plays:

None

Pittsburgh at Milwaukee

Pitcher Grind Down

Vance Worley – Although a lot of us went after Worley throughout the year last season, he never pitched as poorly as we thought he would after his awful 2013 with the Twins. Last year, Worley had a 2.85 ERA and a 3.54 xFIP to back it up. His low K/9 of 6.42 does not add a whole lot in terms of value and the matchup/park are not the best settings either. I think he pitches decently, but there are better plays on the board tonight. Rating = 5

• Jimmy Nelson – Jimmy Nelson came in last year touted pretty highly, but had a big league eye opener as he pitched poorly in 12 starts. Nelson did not have the big time strikeout numbers he produced in the minors and had a 4.93 ERA as well. He will look to improve this year as the potential is clearly there, but I will not be using him until I see him on the field prove success. Rating = 4

Batter Grind Down

Pittsburgh

Gregory Polanco (FD: $3400, DK: $4500)
BA: 0.238 / wOBA: 0.293 / ISO: 0.103
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.323 / ISO: 0.117

Analysis: Polanco has had one of the best starts of this Pirates lineup. He is getting to bat in the second hole and is has a great matchup against another young player in Nelson. Nelson struggled against both righty and lefty hitters last year, and had a wOBA of .353 to LH batters last year. I expect Polanco to be a big part of this offense today.

Secondary Plays:

Andrew McCutchen (FD: $4800, DK: $5600)
vs RH pitching wOBA: .371/ISO: .186

Pedro Alvarez (FD: $3500, DK: $4500)
vs RH pitching wOBA: .347/ISO: .227

Milwaukee

Adam Lind (FD: $3700, DK: $4600)
BA: 0.275 / wOBA: 0.344 / ISO: 0.194
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.370 / ISO: 0.218

Adam Lind is racking right now for a Brewers squad who other than him, are doing nothing. He is a ridiculous 8/13 at the plate so far this year with four walks as well. He crushes RH pitching and I think he is a take him while he is on a heater play today.

Secondary Plays:

Ryan Braun (FD: $4000, DK: $5100)
vs RH pitching wOBA: .378/ISO: .225

NY Mets at Atlanta

Pitcher Grind Down

Dillon Gee – Dillon Gee continues to roll along as a back end of the rotation starter who puts up innings, but subpar numbers. In 2014, Gee had a 4.00 ERA with a 4.22 xFIP as well as a low 6.16 K/9. He does have a decent matchup against a depleted Braves squad, but they still do have some lefty power that could get to Gee tonight. He is a tournament play only. Rating = 6

Julio Teheran – Julio Teheran had a decent opening day start for the Braves who need him to continue pitching like that if they want to win games this year. He scattered eight hits over six innings while striking out four batters and giving up one earned run. A lot of people are worried about Teheran and a drop in stuff this year, as his xFIP was almost a full point higher than his ERA this year. While this could happen over the course of the season, he has a great matchup against the Mets tonight in what should be a low scoring game. Run support is going to be a problem all year long and that should continue tonight, but I think Teheran makes a good play. Rating = 7

Batter Grind Down

NY Mets

No elite plays.

Secondary Plays:

None

Atlanta

Freddie Freeman (FD: $3800, DK: $4800)
BA: 0.287 / wOBA: 0.362 / ISO: 0.178
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.380 / ISO: 0.197

Freeman is most likely going to be the lone bright spot for this Atlanta Braves squad and he has began the season just that way. He has six hits including two doubles in just seventeen at bats this year and should be able to get on base against Gee who is not an overpowering pitcher. I expect a solid outing from Freeman.

Secondary Plays:

None

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