MLB Grind Down: Saturday, April 5th - Page 3
LA Angels at Houston
| LA Angels | Houston | ||||||||
| Tyler Skaggs | Vegas Moneyline | Dallas Keuchel | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | LAA (-145) | LEFT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.242 | 0.710 | 0.318 | 17.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.275 | 0.738 | 0.332 | 27.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.254 | 0.785 | 0.351 | 22.2% | SP vs. Right | 0.304 | 0.825 | 0.366 | 15.0% |
| Batter Splits | LAA BvP  | LAA vs L | Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Tyler Skaggs – Skaggs has improved his velocity this season. A change in mechanics has him “throwing harder than he has in a long time.” Skaggs is cheap across the industry and is one of my favorite value pitchers today. With an improved velocity, he should see a spike in strikeouts. Skaggs should also receive some good run support in this one and has a great chance of picking up a win. Rating = 7
- Dallas Keuchel – Keuchel has posted an ERA over 5.00 and a WHIP over 1.50 in each of the last two seasons. Those are not promising numbers as far as the Astros are concerend. Keuchel has an extremely tough matchup tonight against this stacked Angels’ offense and is a big underdog (+145) in a game featuring a high total (9.0 runs). Rating = 2
Batter Grind Down
Los Angeles
- Mike Trout – Trout is going to make my list of suggested plays any time that he is not facing top tier pitching. Keuchel certainly is not a top tier pitcher and Trout absolutely crushes LH pitching. Plus he gives you the rare combination of speed and power.
- Albert Pujols – Keuchel gave up a .366 wOBA to RH batters last season and this is a great time to target Pujols because he is flying under the radar. He is only 3/17 to start the season, but has always been good against LH pitching.
- Additional Plays: David Freese, Howie Kendrick, Josh Hamilton (GPP)
Houston
- Jose Altuve – Skaggs gave up a .351 wOBA average to RH batters last season and Altuve hit for a .287 batting average against lefties last season. He’s a nice punt option at 2B.
- Additional Plays: Dexter Fowler
Milwaukee at Boston
| Milwaukee | Boston | ||||||||
| Wily Peralta | Vegas Moneyline | Clay Buchholz | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | BOS (-175) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.259 | 0.745 | 0.336 | 16.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.187 | 0.536 | 0.245 | 23.7% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.269 | 0.673 | 0.312 | 15.6% | SP vs. Right | 0.216 | 0.553 | 0.255 | 22.3% |
| Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs R | Batter Splits | BOS BvP | BOS vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Wily Peralta – This game features two solid pitchers that face off in a hitter’s ballpark. Peralta’s numbers weren’t great last season, but he got off to a very slow start. He should be in for a much better season, but unfortunately he has a very tough matchup in front of him tonight. You should rarely take pitchers against the Red Sox in Fenway. Rating = 4
- Clay Buchholz – Buchholz had a terrific season with a 1.74 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He has looked good in his Spring starts and I think he gets off to a hot start this season. With Ryan Braun complaining of a thumb injury (again), this Brewers lineup just doesn’t pack that same punch. Buchholz is a big favorite tonight and will likely be under-owned with Fernandez and Strasburg both pitching. He makes a terrific tournament play. Rating = 8
Batter Grind Down
Milwaukee
- Buchholz is a tough customer. There are plenty of teams with better matchups. No need to waste any roster spots on the Brew Crew bats.
- Additional Plays: None
Boston
- David Ortiz – Peralta gave up a .336 wOBA to LH batters last season and Ortiz makes pitchers pay for any little mistake that they make. Ortiz hit .339 with 23 HR’s against RH pitching last season.
- Additional Plays: Grady Sizemore, Dustin Pedroia
Texas at Tampa Bay
| Texas | Tampa Bay | ||||||||
| Nick Martinez | Vegas Moneyline | David Price | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TBR (-176) | LEFT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | SP vs. Left | 0.189 | 0.483 | 0.220 | 23.3% | ||||
| SP vs. Right | SP vs. Right | 0.271 | 0.708 | 0.311 | 19.5% | ||||
| Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs L | Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TBR vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Nick Martinez – Martinez is making his major league debut tonight. We don’t know much about Martinez other than he posted a 2.50 ERA with 128 K’s over 151 innings pitched in A and AA ball last season. Martinez should be avoided in cash games and is likely too risky to take even in a GPP. Rating = 1
- David Price – Price looked good in his first start and if it wasn’t for a late HR, he would have had himself a shutout on opening day. Price has always been dominant at Tropicana Field and pitched well against the Rangers in his one and only start against them last season. Price posted a K/9 of 7.3 last season and makes a terrific play tonight if you are looking to save a little money and don’t want to spend up for Fernandez or Strasburg. Rating = 8
Batter Grind Down
Texas
- Alex Rios – I don’t recommend Rios as a cash game play, but he has had Price’s number in the past. In 27 career at bats, he has 11 hits off of Price, 6 of those going for extra bases.
- Additional Plays: None
Tampa Bay
- Evan Longoria – Longo against a rookie pitcher just seems like a great idea. Longo is off to a hot start this season going 8/18 with a HR and 4 RBI’s. Use him heavily in your lineups tonight. A Rays stack is looking like an attractive play against the rookie.
- Additional Plays: Desmond Jennings, James Loney, Wil Myers
San Diego at Miami
| San Diego | Miami | ||||||||
| Andrew Cashner | Vegas Moneyline | Jose Fernandez | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | MIA (-144) | RIGHT | 6.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.251 | 0.699 | 0.310 | 18.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.188 | 0.540 | 0.256 | 25.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.217 | 0.565 | 0.261 | 17.6% | SP vs. Right | 0.175 | 0.483 | 0.224 | 29.4% |
| Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SDP vs R | Batter Splits | MIA BvP | MIA vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Andrew Cashner – Cashner makes a very interesting play tonight. He’s not a household name, but he is an excellent young pitcher and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pitch step for step with Fernandez tonight. Cashneer posted a 3.09 ERA last season and is off to a nice start this season. He has nice upside with a K/9 of 6.6. If you want a contrarian pitcher tonight, Cashner is your man. Rating = 7
- Jose Fernandez – Fernandez and Strasburg are the two top pitching options on the board today, but it may be tough to give anyone the edge over Fernandez, especially considering his matchup against the powerless Padres lineup. Fernandez posted a K/9 of 9.8 last season and was close to unhittable at home. If you can afford him, get him in your cash game lineups. Rating = 10
Batter Grind Down
San Diego/Miami
- This game features two of the best young pitchers in baseball. The total is set at 6.0 runs which is the lowest on the schedule. There figures to be very little offense in this one. Avoid all batters here.
Arizona at Colorado
| Arizona | Colorado | ||||||||
| Brandon McCarthy | Vegas Moneyline | Jorge De La Rosa | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | COL (-136) | LEFT | 9.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.283 | 0.715 | 0.317 | 16.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.200 | 0.508 | 0.235 | 22.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.310 | 0.783 | 0.353 | 10.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.286 | 0.755 | 0.344 | 14.2% |
| Batter Splits | ARI BvP | ARI vs L | Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Brandon McCarthy – I could break down McCarthy’s struggles on the road last season, but either way, even if he had great numbers, I wouldn’t target him tonight in Coors Field which surrendered the most runs of any ballpark last season. If you are new to daily fantasy baseball, you will quickly learn that pitchers and Coors Field are not a great combination. Rating = 1
- Jorge De La Rosa – De La Rosa was actually very solid at home last season with a 2.76 ERA. That said, he got crushed by the Marlins lineup in his first start and I will continue to avoid pitchers at Coors. Rating = 2
Batter Grind Down
Arizona
- Paul Goldschmidt – This is a game that will be a popular stack option tonight. We have two below average pitchers in a very hitter friendly ballpark. Goldschmidt had an OPS of .986 against LH pitching.
- Mark Trumbo – Trumbo already has 3 HR’s on the season including a solo shot in Coors during yesterday’s game. Trumbo hit for an OPS of .923 last season against LH pitching and has a great shot of hitting another bomb tonight.
- Additional Plays: Aaron Hill, Chris Owings
Colorado
- Carlos Gonzalez – Cargo is off to a hot start and is in play anytime he is facing a RH pitcher. McCarthy gave up a .317 wOBA to LH bats last season and Cargo should be targeted in all leagues as he hit for an OPS over 1.00 against RH pitching last season.
- Troy Tulowizki – Tulo and Coors are a match made in heaven. McCarthy gave up a .353 wOBA to RH batters last season and Tulo is the top SS on the board.
- Additional Plays: Wilin Rosario, Charlie Blackmon, Michael Cuddyer