MLB Grind Down: Saturday, July 26th Page Three
NY Mets at Milwaukee
| NY Mets | Milwaukee | ||||||||
| Jonathon Niese | Vegas Moneyline | Wily Peralta | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | MIL (-155) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.245 | 0.637 | 0.289 | 19.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.281 | 0.777 | 0.346 | 17.0% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.281 | 0.734 | 0.330 | 16.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.242 | 0.629 | 0.291 | 16.6% |
| Batter Splits | NYM BvP  | NYM vs R | Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jonathon Niese – Niese struggled in his first start since coming off the DL last week, allowing four runs on eleven hits in six innings of work against the Mariners. Despite that, he still owns an impressive 3.13 ERA through 18 starts this season. He’ll face a Milwaukee team that is loaded with lefty killers however he dominated them when they met earlier this season. The ballpark/matchup scares me away from him in cash games but he certainly has the stuff to throw a gem anytime he takes the mound. Rating = 5
Salaries: $6900 FD, $NA DS, $12250 DD, $7000 DK, $75800 FF, $19000 SS, $12250 FTD
- Wily Peralta – Peralta has bounced back from a disastrous outing in a big way as he has been dominant in his last two starts, allowing just one run and six hits in 14 innings. He cruised to an easy victory against the Mets back in June and owns a 7-1 record in his last nine starts. Despite forcing a ton of groundballs, Peralta has been burned by the longball this season (1.15 HR/9), but that risk should be diminished since the Mets rank near the bottom of the league in homeruns this season. Rating = 6.5
Salaries: $7300 FD, $ DS, $13900 DD, $6800 DK, $92300 FF, $22600 SS, $13900 FTD
Batter Grind Down
NY Mets
Lucas Duda – Lefties have posted a .362 wOBA against Peralta this season, and Duda has now homered in two straight games (and 3 of the last 4). He owns a .937 OPS against right-handed pitching this season and owns a 1.091 OPS since the All-Star break.
Additional Plays: David Wright
Milwaukee
Jonathan Lucroy – Lucroy owns a .399 wOBA against left-handed pitching and should once again find himself hitting right in the heart of this Milwaukee order once again tonight. He’s had multiple hits in three straight games and has homered three times in his last three starts. He possesses the most upside of any catcher on the board today.
Additional Plays: Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, Khris Davis, Aramis Ramirez
Oakland at Texas
| Oakland | Texas | ||||||||
| Sonny Gray | Vegas Moneyline | Nick Tepesch | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | OAK (-179) | RIGHT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.215 | 0.585 | 0.268 | 22.8% | SP vs. Left | 0.286 | 0.802 | 0.357 | 15.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.224 | 0.573 | 0.262 | 22.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.248 | 0.693 | 0.316 | 18.7% |
| Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs R | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Sonny Gray – Gray is on quite a roll, winning all four of his July starts while posting a 0.95 ERA in the process. He’ll take on a Texas Rangers team that owns the leagues worst record and who he’s manhandled in three starts already this season (1.96 ERA in three starts). The Rangers only own a .299 wOBA versus right-handed pitching which firmly lands Gray as one of the best starting options of the day today. Rating = 8
Salaries: $9300 FD, $NA DS, $18650 DD, $9100 DK, $145600 FF, $27800 SS, $18950 FTD
- Nick Tepesch – Tepesch has really fallen apart lately and has seen his ERA skyrocket from 3.65 to 4.87 over his last four outings. Oakland owns a .327 team wOBA against right-handed pitching on the season and smacked Tepesch around when they squared off earlier this season. Avoid him today. Rating = 2.5
Salaries: $5000 FD, $ DS, $9000 DD, $4700 DK, $40000 FF, $13000 SS, $9000 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Oakland
Brandon Moss – Brandon Moss owns a .375 wOBA against right-handed pitching and is currently riding a nine game hitting streak. He’s posted a .912 OPS away from the Oakland Coliseum this season and has had success against Tepesch in their brief history.
Additional Plays: Stephen Vogt, Yoenis Cespedes, John Jaso, Jed Lowrie, Josh Donaldson
Texas
Sonny Gray is locked in right now and this Rangers offense has gone ice-cold. I’ll be looking elsewhere.
Pittsburgh at Colorado
| Pittsburgh | Colorado | ||||||||
| Jeff Locke | Vegas Moneyline | Tyler Matzek | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | PIT (-143) | LEFT | 10.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.257 | 0.626 | 0.299 | 11.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.190 | 0.513 | 0.227 | 36.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.239 | 0.674 | 0.304 | 18.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.320 | 0.837 | 0.368 | 9.8% |
| Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs L | Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jeff Locke – Locke has pitched very well for the Pirates this season, owning a 3.05 ERA and 1.03 WHIP through his first nine starts. He just defeated this Rockies team in his last start, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings of work. However, with the scene shifting to Coors Field, his fantasy value takes a huge hit. He doesn’t offer huge strikeout potential and I’ll be avoiding him today entirely even with Tulo out of the lineup for the Rockies. Rating = 3.5
Salaries: $5700 FD, $NA DS, $13350 DD, $7100 DK, $87500 FF, $20100 SS, $13350 FTD
- Tyler Matzek – Matzek has been servicable to begin his MLB career, posting a 4.91 ERA through his first eight starts. However, he hasn’t quite mastered the art of pitching at Coors Field, owning a 1-3 record and a 5.92 ERA. The Pirates may own the leagues 27th worst wOBA against left-handed pitching, but they have several key players that hit lefties very well. There are better options on the board in his price range. Rating = 3
Salaries: $5300 FD, $ DS, $13250 DD, $4800 DK, $52700 FF, $13400 SS, $13250 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Pittsburgh
Andrew McCutchen – Andrew McCutchen against an inexperienced lefty in Coors Field? Yes please. McCutchen owns a .403 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season and owns a 1.015 career OPS at Coors Field. He’s hitting .338 since the beginning of June and is one of the best options in the OF today.
Additional Plays: Neil Walker, Jordy Mercer, Gaby Sanchez, Josh Harrison
Colorado
Wilin Rosario – Rosario had a pair of hits last night and now owns a .961 OPS this season against left-handed pitching. He’s hitting .110 points higher at home this season (.290 home average versus just .180 on the road) and can be rostered for a very reasonable price.
Additional Plays: Drew Stubbs, Nolan Arenado, Josh Rutledge
LA Dodgers at San Francisco
| LA Dodgers | San Francisco | ||||||||
| Clayton Kershaw | Vegas Moneyline | Ryan Vogelsong | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | LAD (-171) | RIGHT | 6.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.165 | 0.442 | 0.203 | 37.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.283 | 0.748 | 0.332 | 18.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.203 | 0.536 | 0.242 | 25.8% | SP vs. Right | 0.288 | 0.800 | 0.364 | 16.5% |
| Batter Splits | LAD BvP | LAD vs R | Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SFG vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Clayton Kershaw – The best pitcher in MLB takes the bump once again inside AT&T Park where he owns a ridiculous 6-2 career record to go along with a 0.78 ERA and 0.85 WHIP 69.2 innings in nine career starts. Over his last nine starts he owns an 8-0 record, 1.05 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and has racked up 88 strikeouts in just 68 innings. He’s the top option on the board and should be well worth his high asking price. Rating = 9.5
Salaries: $11900 FD, $NA DS, $22250 DD, $13400 DK, $170000 FF, $33000 SS, $23200 FTD
- Ryan Vogelsong – While he’s admittedly not the most exciting fantasy option, Vogelsong has proven to be conistently solid for the Giants, especially at AT&T Park where he owns a 3.04 ERA this season. He’s pitched quite well against the Dodgers in three starts this season (3.12 ERA in 17.1 innings) but has yet to record a “W” against them. His strikeout rate has jumped this season to a respectable 7.75 K’s/9 so he’s in play today on the sites that don’t heavily weight a win. Rating = 6
Salaries: $5900 FD, $ DS, $12500 DD, $6900 DK, $59500 FF, $18700 SS, $12500 FTD
Batter Grind Down
LA Dodgers
Dee Gordon – Lefties are hitting .300 off of Vogelsong this season and Dee Gordon has worn him out in the past, going 10 for 26. He had three hits last night and is now hitting .369 since the All-Star break.
Additional Plays: Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp
San Francisco
I will not be targeting any SF Giants players against Kershaw.
Detroit at LA Angels
| Detroit | LA Angels | ||||||||
| Justin Verlander | Vegas Moneyline | Matt Shoemaker | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | LAA (-113) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.238 | 0.664 | 0.300 | 21.3% | SP vs. Left | 0.289 | 0.797 | 0.350 | 23.3% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.297 | 0.785 | 0.348 | 20.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.240 | 0.692 | 0.300 | 26.6% |
| Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs R | Batter Splits | LAA BvP | LAA vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Justin Verlander – Verlander’s disappointing season continues tonight when he’ll take on a very dangerous Anaheim lineup at Angels Stadium. His fastball that once could flirt with triple digits has dipped to an average of 92.5 MPH this season, and concerns that he’ll never regain his MVP form are certainly warranted. This is a tough matchup for Verlander, and therefore he’s really only an option as a potentially upside GPP target. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7400 FD, $NA DS, $14300 DD, $6600 DK, $76300 FF, $18400 SS, $14300 FTD
- Matt Shoemaker – Shoemaker posted his second double-digit strikeout performance in his last outing against Baltimore, but was also tagged for four runs in just 5.2 innings of work. He brings a 7-3 record and a respectable 4.54 ERA into tonight’s battle with a Detroit team that has crushed right-handed pitching all season (.334 team wOBA). While the matchup is scary, Shoemaker is the owner of fairly drastic home vs road splits this season, and luckily for him this game is at Angels Stadium where he sports a 3.30 ERA (versus 6.66 ERA on the road). The matchup removes him from cash game consideration for me, but he’s shown his high strikeout potential and therefore is an intriguing GPP option. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7000 FD, $ DS, $12650 DD, $6600 DK, $88200 FF, $19500 SS, $12650 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Detroit
Victor Martinez – Lefties have posted a .361 wOBA against Shoemaker this season, and V-Mart will spin around to bat from the left-side of the plate today. He’ll bring a six game hitting streak into tonight’s game and has really flourished on the road this season where he owns a 1.028 OPS.
Additional Plays: J.D. Martinez, Miguel Cabrera
LA Angels
Albert Pujols – Pujols has heated up with the weather, posting a .322 batting average so far during the month of July. He’s punished Justin Verlander in their brief history, going 5 for 8 with a pair of doubles and four walks.
Additional Plays: Mike Trout, Kole Calhoun, Howie Kendrick, Josh Hamilton, Erick Aybar