MLB Grind Down: Saturday, April 26th

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2014-04-26 15:10:06

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

LA Angels at NY Yankees

LA Angels					NY Yankees
Hector Santiago		Vegas Moneyline			Vidal Nuno		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		NYY (-110)			LEFT		9.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.236	0.643	0.313	22.3%	SP vs. Left	0.292	0.838	0.389	17.2%
SP vs. Right	0.244	0.736	0.336	20.3%	SP vs. Right	0.239	0.735	0.318	15.6%
Batter Splits	LAA BvP		LAA vs L		Batter Splits	NYY BvP		NYY vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Hector Santiago – Santiago has yet to find his name in the win column this season, but he’s actually pitched very well in each of his last two starts (allowing just one earned run over 12 2/3 innings). He’s averaged nearly a strikeout per inning during his short career which gives him a nice upside for GPP use. However, the matchup in Yankee Stadium is not ideal and that combined with his questionable control makes him a bit risky for use in cash games. Rating = 5

• Vidal Nuno – A quick look at his two appearances this season pretty much sums things up for Nuno; he was absolutely rocked by the Orioles (7 earned in 3.1 innings) but followed it up with a gem against the Rays. With a limited pitch count and inconsistent results, he shouldn’t be trusted for cash games but could potentially be considered as an “off-the-wall” GPP play. Rating = 4.5

Batter Grind Down

Anaheim Angels

Albert Pujols – The Albert of old looks to be back as he currently leads the league in homeruns (at nine) and has strung together three consecutive multi-hit games. He owns a career 1.054 OPS versus left-handed pitching.

• Additional Plays: Mike Trout, David Freese, Chris Iannetta

New York Yankees

Alfonso Soriano – Soriano is still a very viable option versus lefties, as he posted a .904 OPS versus lefties last season. He’s owned Santiago in the past; going 3 for 7 with a pair of homeruns against the southpaw.

• Additional Plays: Mark Teixeira

San Diego at Washington

San Diego					Washington
Andrew Cashner		Vegas Moneyline			Tanner Roark		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		WAS (-110)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.244	0.684	0.304	20.2%	SP vs. Left	0.289	0.751	0.341	14.0%
SP vs. Right	0.216	0.563	0.258	17.6%	SP vs. Right	0.185	0.421	0.200	22.8%
Batter Splits	SDP BvP		SDP vs R		Batter Splits	WSN BvP		WSN vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Andrew Cashner – Cashner has taken a bit of velocity off of his fastball since the beginning of last season, resulting in an improved BB/9 rate and subsequently much better pitching success. His last outing (@Milwaukee) was the first time since last years all-star break in which he allowed more than three runs and since that time he owns a 2.19 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 97 K’s in 115 innings. He can still throw in the upper 90’s when necessary and is becoming a top-of-the-rotation pitcher for the Padres. He gets an added boost if Bryce Harper thumb keeps him out of the lineup. Rating = 7.5

• Tanner Roark – Roark has been nearly unhittable in his short career when pitching at Nationals Park; posting a 3-0 record and a 0.47 ERA over 19 innings. Roark pitched well in his last outing (vs LAA) and I expect him to have another solid performance against a Padres team that’s last in the league in runs scored this season. Rating = 6

Batter Grind Down

San Diego Padres

There just aren’t many appealing fantasy option in this Padres lineup. Look elsewhere.

Washington Nationals

Denard Span – Span looks to be back into his grove, scoring four runs and knocking five singles over the last three games. He’s had success against Cashner in the past and is always a threat to do damage on the basepaths.

Boston at Toronto

Boston					Toronto
Clay Buchholz		Vegas Moneyline			Brandon Morrow		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		TOR (-110)			RIGHT		9.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.213	0.590	0.269	23.2%	SP vs. Left	0.296	0.980	0.416	18.2%
SP vs. Right	0.256	0.658	0.295	20.6%	SP vs. Right	0.252	0.675	0.300	22.2%
Batter Splits	BOS BvP		BOS vs R		Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Clay Buchholz – Buchholz was dreadful in his last start, failing to get through three innings against the Orioles and allowing six earned runs. His once mid 90’s fastball was rarely unable to top 90 MPH and it’s safe to be concerned that a DL trip in imminent. We’ve seen him pitch fantasy gems in the very recent past, but a trip to Toronto to take on a dangerous Blue Jays lineup makes him a very high-risk/high reward type option that should only be considered for GPP use. Rating = 4.5

• Brandon Morrow – Morrow offers a fantastic strikeout rate, but is also extremely prone to blow-up outings. His high strikeout numbers also tend to drive his pitch count way up, forcing him exit games way earlier than his fantasy owners would prefer. He was knocked around in both of his starts versus the Orioles last year and is nothing more than a high upside GPP option today. Rating = 5

Batter Grind Down

Boston Red Sox

David Ortiz – Morrow was crushed by left-handed batters last season to the tune of a 1.014 OPS. Big Papi is 7 for 17 with three homeruns against him in their past.

• Additional Plays: Dustin Pedroia, Grady Sizemore, A.J. Pierzynski

Toronto Blue Jays

Melky Cabrera – Melky brings an eight game hitting streak into today’s game and has hit .320 from the left-side of the plate over the last three years.

• Additional Plays: Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes

Detroit at Minnesota

Detroit					Minnesota
Anibal Sanchez		Vegas Moneyline			Phil Hughes		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		DET (-155)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.245	0.663	0.299	26.6%	SP vs. Left	0.289	0.841	0.368	19.3%
SP vs. Right	0.203	0.546	0.246	27.5%	SP vs. Right	0.307	0.823	0.363	18.9%
Batter Splits	DET BvP		DET vs R		Batter Splits	MIN BvP		MIN vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Anibal Sanchez – Sanchez saw plenty of the Twins last season, and the results were fantastic; a 1.78 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 30 innings pitched. He has struggled with his command a bit this season which has forced him out of games earlier than we’re used to, but he seemed to get back on track in his last start. He has elite strikeout potenial and, considering the favorable matchup, makes for a solid play in both GPP’s and cash games. Rating = 8.5

• Phil Hughes – I’ll spare your time this morning and make this short; Phil Hughes is not good and Detroit punished him the two times they saw him last season. Avoid. Rating = 2

Batter Grind Down

Detroit Tigers

Miguel Cabrera – He’s one of my favorite plays of the day and can be had at a discount on most sites due to his slow start to the 2014 campaign. He has absolutely OWNED Phil Hughes in his career, going 14 for 25 with five homeruns.

• Additional Plays: – Victor Martinez, Torii Hunter,

Minnesota Twins

Joe Mauer – There are certainly better pitcher to pick on today than Anibal Sanchez, but Mauer has had decent success against him in the past and has had a pair of hits in each of the last two games.

Pittsburgh at St. Louis

Pittsburgh					St. Louis
Francisco Liriano		Vegas Moneyline			Tyler Lyons		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		STL (-110)			LEFT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.143	0.359	0.167	28.2%	SP vs. Left	0.230	0.613	0.289	29.9%
SP vs. Right	0.248	0.689	0.310	23.3%	SP vs. Right	0.248	0.740	0.332	16.3%
Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs L		Batter Splits	STL BvP		STL vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Francisco Liriano – Liriano absolutely dominated the St. Louis Cardinals last season, winning all three starts and posting a 0.75 ERA to go along with 20 strikeouts in 24 innings. While the Cardinals lineup may scare some DFS’ers away, it’s well worth noting that they sport the league’s worst OPS versus Left-handed pitching this season (and weren’t that much better last year). I prefer to run with Liriano when he’s pitching at PNC Park, but he’s well worth consideration today regardless. Rating = 8

• Tyler Lyons – Lyons was solid in his first start of the year, striking out 7 Mets over six innings. He got his feet wet with the big club last season, and produced rather mediocre results. More of the same can be expected this year and he’s nothing more than an GPP flier tonight against a Pittsburgh team loaded with guys who mash left-handed pitching. Rating = 5

Batter Grind Down

Pittsburgh Pirates

Andrew McCutchen – McCutchen absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching last season, posting 1.129 OPS last season. He’s only faced Tyler Lyons three times in the past, but has already taken him deep.

• Additional Plays: Starling Marte, Jordy Mercer

St. Louis Cardinals

Matt Holliday – Holliday was 3 for 3 last night and posted a .978 OPS at Busch Stadium last season. He’s had decent success against Liriano in the past.

• Additional Plays: Mark Ellis, Jhonny Peralta

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2