MLB Grind Down: Saturday, August 23rd Page Three

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2014-08-23 15:31:54

Miami at Colorado

Miami					Colorado
Tom Koehler		Vegas Moneyline			Jordan Lyles		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT					RIGHT
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.217	0.596	0.271	19.80%	SP vs. Left	0.266	0.826	0.361	13.00%
SP vs. Right	0.253	0.748	0.333	17.30%	SP vs. Right	0.219	0.624	0.281	21.90%
Batter Splits	MIA BvP		MIA vs R		Batter Splits	COL BvP		COL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Tom Koehler – Koehler has put together an impressive season thus far, but he’s an extremely dangerous play today. First of all his home vs road splits are fairly drastic and he’ll be tasked with taking on the Rockies at Coors Field where he owns a 5.05 road ERA this season. Secondly, he’s been very prone to blowup innings; Batters are hitting just .215 off him with bases empty, but that jumps to .261 with runners on. The problem here is that batters tend to get on base at Coors Field and therefore a “blowup inning” tonight could be disasterous. It’s rarely wise to target pitchers at Coors Field, and things are no different tonight. Rating = 3.5

Salaries: $6600 FD, $13450 DD, $6600 DK, $NA FF, $17600 SS, $13450 FTD

• Jordan Lyles – For a pitcher throwing half of his innings at Coors Field, Lyles 6-1 record and 4.01 ERA are fairly impressive. However, he’s been far less effective since the All-Star break, posting a 6.06 ERA in three starts. He allowed four runs in fiv e innings of work against this Marlins team in Miami in his first start of the season and there are definitely better options on the board tonight. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6500 FD, $10950 DD, $6000 DK, $ FF, $15500 SS, $10950 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Miami

Garrett Jones – Lefties have posted a .361 wOBA against Lyles and Garrett Jones has crushed the right-hander in his career, going 9 for 16 with two doubles and two homeruns. He’s flourished at Coors Field in his career, posting a .396 average and 1.286 OPS and makes for a tremendous value play as he should find himself right in the heart of this Marlins order.

Additional Plays: Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna

Colorado

Nolan Arenado – Arenado was a perfect 4 for 4 from the plate last night and is now 8 for 12 over his last three games. He owns a 1.134 OPS during the month of August and a .929 OPS this season at Coors Field. Right handed batters have had far more success against Tom Koehler this season (.333 wOBA) and Arenado should once again find himself hitting cleanup for the Rockies tonight.

Additional Plays: Justin Morneau, Corey Dickerson, Charlie Blackmon, Wilin Rosario

Detroit at Minnesota

Detroit					Minnesota
Justin Verlander		Vegas Moneyline			Trevor May		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT					RIGHT
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.227	0.680	0.304	17.70%	SP vs. Left
SP vs. Right	0.324	0.865	0.379	16.10%	SP vs. Right
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

• Justin Verlander – Verlander was blasted in his last start, allowing four earned runs before being pulled after one inning of work against Pittsburgh. That start moved him to a 10-11 record, 4.76 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP on the season. He hasn’t pitched in nearly two weeks due to shoulder inflammation so trusting him tonight is not for the weak of heart. He pitched rather well in his only other meeting against the Twins this season, but does own a robust 5.05 ERA on the road this season. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7100 FD, $12800 DD, $6900 DK, $NA FF, $18700 SS, $12800 FTD

• Trevor May – After a terrific showing at AAA Rochester, May was called up to the big leagues with a little bit of hype. However, after three straight rough outings to open his MLB career, that hype has been silenced. May has yet to make it through five innings for the Twins and things won’t be easy for him again tonight as this Detroit team ranks #6 in MLB in wOBA against right-handed pitching. Rating = 3.5

Salaries: $5000 FD, $9850 DD, $4800 DK, $ FF, $13000 SS, $9850 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Detroit

Miguel Cabrera – Mr. Triple Crown appears to be heating back up, and that’s bad news for the right-handed youngster Trevor May. Miggy has flourished under the lights this season, where he owns a .341 batting average and .982 OPS in night games. He’s hitting .378 over the last 12 games and has scored 12 runs during that stretch. He’s been in a bit of an RBI drought lately, but we know that won’t last long.

Additional Plays: Victor Martinez, Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez

Minnesota

Kennys Vargas – Vargas leads MLB in wOBA against right-handed pitching by posting a .465 wOBA during his short MLB career and has racked up five hits (3 doubles and a homerun) over the last two games.

Additional Plays: Joe Mauer, Danny Santana

San Diego at Arizona

San Diego					Arizona
Andrew Cashner		Vegas Moneyline			Vidal Nuno		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT					LEFT
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.252	0.704	0.309	20.40%	SP vs. Left	0.217	0.674	0.301	20.90%
SP vs. Right	0.218	0.540	0.243	16.90%	SP vs. Right	0.274	0.806	0.350	17.90%
Batter Splits	SDP BvP		SDP vs L		Batter Splits	ARI BvP		ARI vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Andrew Cashner – Cashner will come off the DL to make his first start in over two months tonight in Arizona. He was terrific for the Padres prior to the injury, posting a 2.36 ERA in 12 starts. With that said, he only tossed 63 pitches in his last rehab start so he’ll likely still be on a limited pitch count in this one. Cashner has been slightly less effective away from Petco Park this year and was defeated by the Diamondbacks when they met earlier this season. While I’m optimistic he’ll finish the season strong, the potential for both a bit of “ring rust” and limited pitch count sway me away from using him tonight. Rating = 6

Salaries: $8000 FD, $13250 DD, $7300 DK, $NA FF, $23000 SS, $13250 FTD

• Vidal Nuno – While his current 4.79 ERA isn’t overly appealing, he’s been a much better pitcher since being shipped to the desert. He’s yet to record a win with the Diamondbacks, but he owns a 3.72 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in starts with his new team. He’ll take on a Padres team tonight who is dead last in nearly every major hitting catagory in MLB which makes him a feasable option on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6000 FD, $12150 DD, $6200 DK, $ FF, $15700 SS, $12150 FTD

Batter Grind Down

San Diego

There is not much to like about this San Diego offense and I will not be targeting anyone here.

Arizona

Arizona has only scored 30 total runs over their last 12 games. Cashner can be filthy so I’m not targeting anyone here other than perhaps Trumbo/Montero as GPP fliers.

LA Angels at Oakland

LA Angels					Oakland
C.J. Wilson		Vegas Moneyline			Jon Lester		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT					LEFT
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.215	0.610	0.280	22.30%	SP vs. Left	0.253	0.671	0.299	26.70%
SP vs. Right	0.269	0.769	0.343	20.20%	SP vs. Right	0.229	0.625	0.278	24.80%
Batter Splits	LAA BvP		LAA vs L		Batter Splits	OAK BvP		OAK vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• C.J. Wilson – Wilson has had a forgettable season, posting a 4.58 ERA through his first 23 starts. A main reason for his poor performance has been his spottty command as he’s averaging an unhealthy 4.06 BB/9 this season. Command issues and facing the highest scoring offense in baseball are not two things that usually result in success. Throw in the fact that he’s been dreadful on the road this year (3-6 record and 5.22 ERA) and terrible since the All-Star break (2-2 record and 6.16 ERA) and he’s tough to trust as anything more than a GPP flier. Rating = 4

Salaries: $7100 FD, $12900 DD, $6800 DK, $NA FF, $18400 SS, $12900 FTD

• Jon Lester – Lester took his first loss as a member of the Oakland A’s in his last start, but has posted a solid 3-1 record, 2.93 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in four starts with his new team. He’ll square off against an Angels team who ranks #2 in MLB in wOBA against left-handed pitchi ng (.341 wOBA) so this will be the toughest test so far in Oakland. Read into it what you will, but Lester has been terrific in front of his home crown (mostly at Fenway), posting a 1.88 ERA in 13 home starts. He owns 25.3% strikeout rate, so he’s a solid option regardless of the matchup. Rating = 7.5

Salaries: $10000 FD, $20650 DD, $11500 DK, $ FF, $30500 SS, $20650 FTD

Batter Grind Down

LA Angels

• Chris Iannetta – While I don’t like picking on Jon Lester much, it’s hard to ignore Iannetta’s success against left-handed pitching. He owns a .403 wOBA against southpaws this season and is hitting .293 away from Angel Stadium. He’s only faced Lester three previous times in his career, but reached base in two of those plate appearances. His .232 ISO against left-handed pitching makes him a nice, high-upside, catcher to target today.

Additional Plays: Mike Trout, Albert Pujols

Oakland

Derek Norris – With a struggling lefty on the hill for the Angels (C.J. Wilson), Norris leaps to the top of my catcher rankings today. He owns a .416 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season and has posted a .918 OPS at the Oakland Coliseum in 2014. He comes with a reasonable price-tag and should find himself right in the heart of this dangerous Oakland lineup.

Additional Plays: Josh Donaldson

NY Mets at LA Dodgers

NY Mets					LA Dodgers
Jacob Degrom		Vegas Moneyline			Zack Greinke		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT					RIGHT
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.247	0.690	0.311	21.50%	SP vs. Left	0.255	0.661	0.292	23.10%
SP vs. Right	0.234	0.628	0.280	24.00%	SP vs. Right	0.236	0.668	0.295	29.10%
Batter Splits	NYM BvP		NYM vs R		Batter Splits	LAD BvP		LAD vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Jacob deGrom – DeGrom will come off the DL any look to continue his breakout season tonight in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. He enters the game sporting an impressive 2.87 ERA and 8.43 K’s/9. While there may not be much to complain about after his first 16 starts this season, he has been much less effective away from Citi Field. Trying to secure a win in Dodger Stadium against Zack Greinke will be no easy task, and it’s not always a good idea to take a guy fresh off the DL, but deGrom is still in play today where he’s cheap or as a secondary option on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 5.5

Salaries: $8200 FD, $18550 DD, $9100 DK, $NA FF, $27900 SS, $18550 FTD

• Zach Greinke – Greinke was scheduled to pitch last night, but was given an extra day to rest his tender elbow which has raised concerns over his real health. With that said, the Dodgers have down played the seriousness of that injury. Grienke has been terrific at Dodger Stadium this year, posting a 6-2 record and 2.48 ERA in 11 home starts. The Mets rank #27th in MLB in OPS versus right-handed pitching (.295 wOBA) and the only thing holding Grienke back from a much higher rating are the resonating injury concerns. Rating = 7.5

Salaries: $9700 FD, $19450 DD, $10800 DK, $ FF, $29700 SS, $19450 FTD

Batter Grind Down

NY Mets

Lucas Duda – Duda owns an impressive .400 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and 22 of his 23 homeruns have come against righties. Picking on Greinke is rarely a profitable idea but Duda’s power makes him an intriguing GPP option.

Additional Plays: None

LA Dodgers

Carl Crawford – Lefties have had far better success against deGrom than righties this season and Crawford is hitting .467 over the last week. He’s swiped six bags over his last eight games Travis d’Arnaud has been abysmal at throwing out opposing base runners (20.8%)

Additional Plays: Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig