MLB Grind Down: Saturday, August 29 - Page Two

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2015-08-29 15:54:39

Colorado at Pittsburgh – 7:05 PM EST

Colorado					Pittsburgh
			Chris Rusin					J.A. Happ
			LEFT					LEFT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			PIT (-222)					8
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.317	0.861	0.368	0.143	SP vs. Left	0.28	0.825	0.358	0.244
SP vs. Right	0.314	0.856	0.368	0.156	SP vs. Right	0.263	0.744	0.326	0.178
Batter Splits	COL BvP		COL vs L		Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Chris Rusin

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. LH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.318 (Rank: 10)
Strikeout Rate: 21.8% (Rank: 20)

Rusin gets a boost tonight by not having to pitch at Coors, yet it shouldn’t put him in contention for a spot on any rosters tonight. He has a 5.27 SIERA on the season and his xFIP is actually half a run higher on the road then it is at home. Avoid him tonight against the Pirates. Rating = 4

Salaries: $4,800 FD, $4,700 DK

J.A. Happ

Colorado Rockies vs. LH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.289 (Rank: 28)
Strikeout Rate: 23.4% (Rank: 27)

Happ has been decent since being traded to the Pirates and is an average fantasy starter, as he sports a season long 4.10 SIERA and 18.7% strikeout rate. He has a matchup against the Rockies, who are terrible against left-handed pitching – they are in the bottom third of the league in both wOBA and K rate. Happ is a solid, cheap SP2 tonight. Rating = 6.5

Salaries: $6,900 FD, $7,700 DK

Batter Grind Down

Colorado

The Rockies have solid bats in their lineup, but possess one of the lower team totals of the day (3.33). Happ has allowed a wOBA of .324+ from both sides of the plate, but the Rockies are still secondary plays tonight.

Elite Plays:

None

Secondary Plays:

Nolan Arenado
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.281— ISO: 0.126

Charlie Blackmon
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.287 — ISO: 0.112

Carlos Gonzalez
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.222 — ISO: 0.076

Pittsburgh

The Pirates are in a great spot tonight as they are huge favorites against Rusin, who has allowed a wOBA of .357+ from both sides of the plate this year. The Pirates have the fifth highest wOBA in the league over the last month of play.

Elite Plays:

Andrew McCutchen
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.435 — ISO: 0.233

Jung-ho Kang
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.342 — ISO: 0.160

Starling Marte
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.344 — ISO: 0.196

Secondary Plays:

Francisco Cervelli
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.429 — ISO: 0.216

Aramis Ramirez
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.280 — ISO: 0.125

Neil Walker

Miami at Washington – 7:05 PM EST

Miami					Washington
			Tom Koehler					Jordan Zimmermann
			RIGHT					RIGHT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			WAS (-220)					7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.24	0.684	0.305	0.189	SP vs. Left	0.271	0.712	0.311	0.197
SP vs. Right	0.248	0.718	0.317	0.172	SP vs. Right	0.235	0.606	0.268	0.226
Batter Splits	MIA BvP		MIA vs R		Batter Splits	WAS BvP		WAS vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Tom Koehler

Washington Nationals vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.314 (Rank: 14)
Strikeout Rate: 21.5% (Rank: 24)

Koehler is a below average starter that lacks any upside for fantasy purposes. He has a 4.56 SIERA on the season, with a below average 16.8% strikeout rate. He gets a matchup against the Nationals, who are middle of the road against right-handed pitching, but do have a high team total against Koehler (4.43). Avoid him tonight. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6,600 FD, $7,000 DK

Jordan Zimmermann

Miami Marlins vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.289 (Rank: 30)
Strikeout Rate: 19.2% (Rank: 9)

Zimmerman has been a bit frustrating this season. Every time he has a solid matchup, he seems to not deliver. His advanced statistics on the season are decent, as he sports a 3.82 SIERA and a 19.2% strikeout rate. His matchup against the Marlins is solid, as they are ranked last in the league in team wOBA against righties (.289). He is in a good spot tonight and should be looked at as one of the better starting options of the night slate. Rating = 7

Salaries: $8,700 FD, $9,500 DK

Batter Grind Down

Miami

The Marlins are not an offense to heavily target tonight. Zimmerman has struggled a bit against lefty bats (.337 allowed), which puts Justin Bour in play due to price and order in the lineup as well as Dee Gordon, but they are secondary plays only.

Elite Plays:

None

Secondary Plays:

Justin Bour
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.341 — ISO: 0.201

Dee Gordon
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.332 — ISO: 0.081

Washington

This Nationals squad is in a great spot against Koehler, as they have a solid team total and great matchup against Koehler, who has allowed a wOBA of .303+ from both sides of the plate. Bryce Harper is clearly in play as one of the top offensive options of the night.

Elite Plays:

Bryce Harper
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.475 — ISO: 0.338

Jayson Werth
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.276 — ISO: 0.086

Secondary Plays:

Anthony Rendon
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.315 — ISO: 0.118

Ian Desmond
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.279 — ISO: 0.144

Cincinnati at Milwaukee – 7:10 PM EST

Cincinnati					Milwaukee
			Keyvius Sampson					Matt Garza
			RIGHT					RIGHT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			MIL (-135)					8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.313	0.921	0.393	0.241	SP vs. Left	0.256	0.737	0.325	0.164
SP vs. Right	0.278	0.802	0.348	0.153	SP vs. Right	0.249	0.713	0.312	0.182
Batter Splits	CIN BvP		CIN vs R		Batter Splits	MIL BvP		MIL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Keyvius Sampson

Milwaukee Brewers vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.308 (Rank: 19)
Strikeout Rate: 20.7% (Rank: 21)

Sampson has had a rough last two starts, allowing nine earned runs in 7.1 innings pitched. He is still young and has not put together a full solid start and is a bit too risky unless you want to take a tournament flyer due to his low price point and decent matchup against the Brewers. Rating = 3

Salaries: $5,200 FD, $4,500 DK

Matt Garza

Cincinnati Reds vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.304 (Rank: 23)
Strikeout Rate: 19.5% (Rank: 12)

Garza has struggled a lot this year (4.57 SIERA) and provides very low upside, as he is posting a career low K % of 16.1%. His 1.41 HR/9 rate makes him vulnerable to the big inning, so he is not in play tonight. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6,000 FD, $5,600 DK

Batter Grind Down

Cincinnati

This Reds offense is in a great spot against Garza, who has given up a 1.41 HR/9 rate as well as a wOBA of .338+ from both sides of the plate. Votto and Frazier are clear elite plays tonight.

Elite Plays:

Joey Votto
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.421 — ISO: 0.247

Todd Frazier
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.335 — ISO: 0.211

Secondary Plays:

Jay Bruce
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.325 — ISO: 0.227

Eugenio Suarez
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.332 — ISO: 0.167

Milwaukee

The Brewers have a good matchup as well against Sampson, who has struggled mightily against left-handed bats (.393 wOBA). Lind and Gennett are elite options in this game that should be high scoring from both sides.

Elite Plays:

Adam Lind
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.376 — ISO: 0.216

Scooter Gennett
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.308 — ISO: 0.143

Secondary Plays:

Ryan Braun
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 03457 — ISO: 0.210

Jonathan Lucroy
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.322 — ISO: 0.139

Seattle at Chicago White Sox – 7:10 PM EST

Seattle					Chicago White Sox
			Hisashi Iwakuma					Jeff Samardzija
			RIGHT					RIGHT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			SEA (-110)					8
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.267	0.71	0.31	0.19	SP vs. Left	0.253	0.726	0.316	0.212
SP vs. Right	0.208	0.597	0.261	0.239	SP vs. Right	0.243	0.664	0.292	0.202
Batter Splits	SEA BvP		SEA vs R		Batter Splits	CHW BvP		CWS vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Hisashi Iwakuma

Chicago White Sox vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.306 (Rank: 22)
Strikeout Rate: 20.1% (Rank: 16)

Iwakuma was rocked in his last start for seven runs against the Athletics. Prior to this start, Iwakuma held a 2.81 SIERA in the month of August, while allowing six runs in his last four starts. During this span, Iwakuma posted a solid 23.9% strikeout rate and now faces a White Sox squad that is not exactly an offense to fear (.306 wOBA against righties). He is a solid option tonight. Rating = 7.5

Salaries: $8,700 FD, $10,000 DK

Jeff Samardzija

Seattle Mariners vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.308 (Rank: 18)
Strikeout Rate: 21.5% (Rank: 25)

Samardzija has not exactly been the pitcher the White Sox hoped for, especially recently. During the month of August, the Shark has a 9.00 ERA (4.50 SIERA), while allowing seven home runs over five starts. His matchup is not terrible against the Mariners, who rank towards the bottom of the league against right-handed pitching, but the Shark is tough to trust in the form he is in. Rating = 5

Salaries: $8,600 FD, $8,300 DK

Batter Grind Down

Seattle

Samardzija has really struggled this year with left-handed bats, as he has allowed a wOBA of .342 to them this season. This puts Seager and Cano into an elite category tonight.

Elite Plays:

Robinson Cano
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.344 — ISO: 0.174

Kyle Seager
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.309 — ISO: 0.165

Secondary Plays:

Nelson Cruz
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.400 — ISO: 0.269

Seth Smith
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.342 — ISO: 0.202

Chicago White Sox

This White Sox squad has the lowest team total of the day against Iwakuma. Abreu seems to always be in play at the moment as he has been hot lately with 10 doubles and six home runs in the month of August. Yet, he is just a secondary play tonight.

Elite Plays:

None

Secondary Plays:

Jose Abreu
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.390 — ISO: 0.245

Adam Eaton
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.353 — ISO: 0.171

Houston at Minnesota – 7:10 PM EST

Houston					Minnesota
			Mike Fiers					Mike Pelfrey
			RIGHT					RIGHT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			HOU (-140)					8
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.215	0.621	0.273	0.243	SP vs. Left	0.265	0.748	0.334	0.118
SP vs. Right	0.227	0.692	0.3	0.257	SP vs. Right	0.309	0.781	0.342	0.103
Batter Splits	HOU BvP		HOU vs R		Batter Splits			MIN vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Mike Fiers

Minnesota Twins vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.301 (Rank: 25)
Strikeout Rate: 21.4% (Rank: 23)

Fiers put up a monster complete game, no-hitter with 10 strikeouts in his last start. Although a repeat of this performance is unlikely, over his last two months of starts, Fiers has posted a 3.93 SIERA and a solid 22.4% strikeout rate. His matchup against the Twins is a good one as they struggle against right-handed pitching with a team wOBA of .301 and a high strikeout rate (21.4%). Fiers makes a great SP2 tonight with a lot of tournament upside. Rating = 7

Mike Pelfrey

Houston Astros vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.316 (Rank: 12)
Strikeout Rate: 24.0% (Rank: 30)

Pelfrey has been notoriously a pitcher to ignore for daily fantasy purposes, as he is just an average to below average starting pitcher. He has posted a 4.58 SIERA on the year and his 11.6% strikeout rate is one of the lowest of any regular starters in the league. While he may get a slight boost to the K rate against the Astros, he is not in play tonight. Rating = 4

Salaries: $5,900 FD, $5,700 DK

Batter Grind Down

Houston

The Astros are in a great spot against Pelfrey, who has allowed a .344 wOBA to lefties and a .308 wOBA to righties. Lowrie was hitting much higher in the order yesterday and has a great price for the matchup as well as Rasmus.

Elite Plays:

Jed Lowrie
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.270 — ISO: 0.118

Colby Rasmus
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.315 — ISO: 0.229

Secondary Plays:

Jose Altuve
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.304— ISO: 0.103

Evan Gattis
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.328 — ISO: 0.237

Luis Valbuena
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.334 — ISO: 0.229

Minnesota

The Twins bats are not good against righties on the year and that takes us away from targeting them on a big slate like this. Sano does need a mention as a secondary play, as he has posted eight home runs and seven doubles in August. (Check the news, since he is dealing with a hamstring injury)

Elite Plays:

None

Secondary Plays:

Miguel Sano
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.453 — ISO: 0.360

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