MLB Grind Down: Saturday, April 26th - Page 2
Cleveland at San Francisco
| Cleveland | San Francisco | ||||||||
| Zach McAllister | Vegas Moneyline | Tim Lincecum | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | SFG (-110) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.254 | 0.742 | 0.332 | 17.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.243 | 0.680 | 0.312 | 23.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.254 | 0.686 | 0.309 | 17.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.761 | 0.341 | 22.8% |
| Batter Splits | CLE BvP  | CLE vs R | Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SFG vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Zach McAllister – McAllister is what he is; a steady, yet unspectacular starting pitcher. He’s been better than usual so far this season, posting a 3-0 record with an impressive 2.28 ERA. He won’t strike out a ton of batters, but his K/9 rate is respectable and he’ll at least have the added benefit of having Tim Lincecum step into the batters box a couple of times this afternoon. Rating = 5.5
- Tim Lincecum – Timmy has turned himself into a GPP only option over the last few years, as he still possesses a high ceiling yet is very prone to completely disasterous starts. His strikeout rate makes him tempting, but he’s also been very hittable and has allowed at least one long-ball in each of his first four starts this season. Rating = 5
Batter Grind Down
Cleveland
Michael Brantley – Brantley has already racked up 19 RBI’s this season and is proving to be a tough out in the middle of the Indians lineup.
- Additional Plays: Jason Kipnis
San Francisco
Brandon Belt – Belt has been putting it all together so far this season and makes for a very solid (and relatively cheap) play at first base against a rather hittable right-handed pitcher.
- Additional Plays: Angel Pagan
Kansas City at Baltimore
| Kansas City | Baltimore | ||||||||
| Jeremy Guthrie | Vegas Moneyline | Wei-Yin Chen | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | BAL (-135) | LEFT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.326 | 0.895 | 0.393 | 11.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.269 | 0.752 | 0.332 | 18.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.229 | 0.622 | 0.283 | 13.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.284 | 0.766 | 0.337 | 17.9% |
| Batter Splits | KCR BvP | KCR vs L | Batter Splits | BAL BvP | BAL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jeremy Guthrie – Guthrie has success against the Orioles last season, winning both starts while posting a 1.50 ERA over 12 innings. With that said, he’s simply not an appealing fantasy option considering his terrible strikeout rate and general lack of effectiveness. Lefties hit .331 against him last season and the Orioles have plenty of guys who can do damage from the left-side of the plate. Score = 3.5
- Wei-Yin Chen – Chen is a high floor, low ceiling option best suited for the sites that force you to roster multiple starting pitchers. He has a couple of things going in his favor in this one; 1) He was much better at Camden Yards last season, 2) He’s tough on lefties which should bode well for him today against a Royals team whose best hitters predominately swing the bat from the left side of the plate, and 3) He has a very nice chance for solid run support. Rating = 5
Batter Grind Down
Kansas City
Billy Butler – Butler is off to a slow start this season, but he’s hit .305 against left-handed pitching over the last three years and has crushed Chen in the past (7 for 12 with two doubles, a triple and two homeruns)
- Additional Plays: Salvador Perez
Baltimore
Chris Davis – As mentioned above, Guthrie has really struggled against left-handed batters and Davis is one of the most dangerous lefties in MLB. UPDATE: Chris Davis is likely out with an oblique injury
- Additional Plays: Matt Wieters, Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz
Tampa Bay at Chicago White Sox
| Tampa Bay | Chicago White Sox | ||||||||
| Cesar Ramos | Vegas Moneyline | John Danks | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | CWS (-110) | LEFT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.280 | 0.714 | 0.324 | 20.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.276 | 0.777 | 0.341 | 12.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.233 | 0.656 | 0.301 | 16.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.762 | 0.334 | 15.8% |
| Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TBR vs L | Batter Splits | CHW BvP | CHW vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Cesar Ramos – There isn’t much to think about here; Ramos hasn’t been sufficiently “stretched-out” yet for starting pitcher duty and was pulled after 53 pitches in his last start despite pitching rather well. On some sites, getting a “W” from your pitcher is very important and there’s no guarantee that Ramos makes it through five innings. Rating = 3
- John Danks – Danks has been very solid in each of his last two outings and pitched well against the Rays in their only meeting last season. With that said, his fantasy value is hurt by his low strikeout totals. Rating = 5
Batter Grind Down
Tampa Bay
Evan Longoria – It’s not a well kept secret that Longo hits left-handed pitching quite well (.949 OPS last season)
- Additional Plays: Desmond Jennings, Sean Rodriguez
Chicago White Sox
Dayan Viciedo – Viciedo has been swinging a hot bat lately, bringing a seven game hitting streak into today’s game. He posted a .318 batting average against left-handed pitching over the last three years and is a terrific value option anywhere he’s still cheap.
- Additional Plays: Alexei Ramirez, Adam Dunn
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee
| Chicago Cubs | Milwaukee | ||||||||
| Travis Wood | Vegas Moneyline | Marco Estrada | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | MIL (-150) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.210 | 0.574 | 0.269 | 22.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.205 | 0.619 | 0.278 | 23.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.232 | 0.649 | 0.294 | 17.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.252 | 0.707 | 0.311 | 21.7% |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Travis Wood – In not sure how he’s doing it, but Wood has been excellent this season. While his upper 80’s fastball may not be intimidating, he’s getting batters to swing and miss with his cutter. He’s averaging 10.08 K’s/9 so far this season and has pitched very well against the Brewers over the past few years. With that said, a regression is likely inevitable and the Brew Crew have plenty of bats that feast on left-handed pitching. Rating = 5
- Marco Estrada – Estrada was impressive in his last outing, holding the Pirates to just one run over six innings while fanning six batters (and issuing zero walks). Tonight he’ll take on a fairly weak hitting Chicago Cubs team who he pitched admirably against last season (2-0 record with a 3.6 ERA and 17 K’s in 20 innings). He’s averaged nearly a strikeout per inning over the last 2+ years, but it’s certainly worth noting that he was rather terrible at Miller Park last season (6.62 ERA). Rating = 5.5
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have really struggled to score runs on the road this season and there are plenty of better options.
Milwaukee Brewers
Ryan Braun – Braun is one of the top hitting choices of the day as he has a long history of punishing left-handed pitching and has really beaten up on Travis Wood in his career (7 for 19 with four doubles and a homerun).
- Additional Plays: Carlos Gomez, Khris Davis, Jonathan Lucroy, Aramis Ramirez
Oakland at Houston
| Oakland | Houston | ||||||||
| Dan Straily | Vegas Moneyline | Dallas Keuchel | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | OAK (-160) | LEFT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.247 | 0.733 | 0.327 | 17.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.285 | 0.774 | 0.346 | 29.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.224 | 0.605 | 0.282 | 22.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.296 | 0.805 | 0.358 | 15.5% |
| Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs L | Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Daniel Straily – Despite the fact that he hasn’t looked all that sharp early in the season, With a matchup against the Houston Astros on tap, Straily is likely going to be a highly owned player today. He dominated the Astros last season, winning both meetings while posted a 1.32 ERA to go along with 18 strikeouts in just 13.2 innings. The Astros led the league in strikeouts last season and are right near the top again so far in 2014. Rating = 7.5
- Dallas Keuchel – Keuchel has been impressive so far in 2014, but we’re still talking about a guy pitching for the Houston Astros who owns a career 5.03 ERA. Oakland batters knocked him around last season, putting 38 guys on base in just 21.1 innings. Oakland owned the 3rd highest OPS in baseball last season against left-handed pitching and soft-tossing lefties are rarely a recipe for fantasy success. I’m staying far away. Rating = 2.5
Batter Grind Down
Oakland
Josh Donaldson – Donaldson posted a 1.065 OPS versus southpaws last season and he’s launched three homeruns over the last two games.
- Additional Plays: Derek Norris
Houston
Jason Castro – I’ll likely be avoiding Houston hitters today, but if I’m going to target one than it’s Castro. He hits right handed pitching very well and posted an OPS of .904 at Minute Maid Park last season.