MLB Grind Down: Saturday, June 14th

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2014-06-14 21:55:49

The RotoGrinders MLB Grind Down article will give you an in-depth analysis into the MLB schedule. This article will break down the numbers for every single game and give you analysis on which trends you can exploit. While matchups are a major factor in daily fantasy baseball, there are plenty of other factors to consider such as injuries, weather, and salaries.

The analysis should point you in the right direction, but it is still up to you to decipher the information and make your own selections. No sport has more variance than baseball. The best choice is not always the right choice but following the trends will win you money over time.

Note: Any Fantasy Point Average Listed Uses FanDuel Scoring. For more info on FanDuel’s MLB Scoring System,check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review

Kansas City at Chicago White Sox

Kansas City					Chicago White Sox
Danny Duffy		Vegas Moneyline			Hector Noesi		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		KCR (-105)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.164	0.394	0.194	16.7%	SP vs. Left	0.287	0.837	0.369	18.7%
SP vs. Right	0.214	0.649	0.305	18.9%	SP vs. Right	0.333	0.915	0.401	16.4%
Batter Splits	KCR BvP		KCR vs R		Batter Splits	CHW BvP		CHW vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Danny Duffy – After stumbling in two starts to close out the month of May, Duffy has bounced back with consecutive solid outings. He’s been nearly unhittable against left-handed batters this season (only two hits allowed to lefties all season) which bodes well for him against a somewhat lefty heavy Chicago team. His inconsistencies make him a risky cash game option, but a matchup against the incredibly strikeout prone White Sox makes him a nice, high-upside GPP option. Rating = 5.5

Salaries: $5400 FD, $11589 DS, $8750 DD, $6000 DK, $73900 FF, $14400 SS, $8750 FTD

• Hector Noesi – Noesi is already playing for his third team this season, but he seems to have finally settled in a bit in Chicago. After an abysmal start to the season, he’s actually pitched rather well lately, posting a 2-0 record to go along with a 3.24 ERA over his last four starts. The Royals rank near the bottom of MLB in team OPS versus right-handed pitching, but I still just don’t trust Noesi at this point. Rating – 3.5

Salaries: $6000 FD, $10500 DS, $9550 DD, $5800 DK, $54300 FF, $15600 SS, $9550 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Kansas City

Alex Gordon – Gordon leads this Royals team in wOBA against right-handed pitching (.361) and has posted a 1.061 OPS so far during the month of June.

• Additional Plays: Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain

Chicago White Sox

Jose Abreu – Abreu has mashed the ball all season at U.S. Cellular Field, posting a 1.023 home OPS. He sports a very respectable .352 wOBA against left-handed pitching and possesses multi homerun power.

Additional Plays: Dayan Viciedo

Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia

Chicago Cubs					Philadelphia
Edwin Jackson		Vegas Moneyline			David Buchanan		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		CHC (-101)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.299	0.814	0.366	19.8%	SP vs. Left	0.275	0.676	0.311	16.3%
SP vs. Right	0.261	0.719	0.322	18.1%	SP vs. Right	0.293	0.847	0.374	14.8%
Batter Splits	CHC BvP		CHC vs R		Batter Splits	PHI BvP		PHI vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Edwin Jackson – Jackson has had an up-and-down season and his inconsistencies remove him from cash game consideration for me. He has however pitched better lately and is averaging nearly a strikeout per inning this season. With that said, he’s been terrible away from home all season, posting a 1-5 road record with an ugly 6.10 ERA and was blasted by this Phillies team the only time they met last season. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6900 FD, $12600 DS, $13850 DD, $7500 DK, $67200 FF, $20700 SS, $13850 FTD

• David Buchanan – Buchanan has had a rough start to his MLB career and frankly wasn’t all that effective for AAA Lehigh prior to his promotion. While I’m certainly not high on him, he does have a few things going in his favor today; 1) The Chicago Cubs rank 29th in MLB in OPS versus right-handed pitching, 2) Buchanan has shown improved command and recorded six strikeouts in each of the last two outings, and 3) He’s pitched fairly well in both career home starts. I’ll be staying away, but he’s an intriguing GPP option if the price is right. Rating = 4

Salaries: $4100 FD, $9369 DS, $8250 DD, $5800 DK, $59600 FF, $13000 SS, $8250 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Chicago Cubs

Anthony Rizzo – Rizzo is swinging a hot bat right now and has posted a 1.099 OPS so far in June.

Additional Plays: Junior Lake, Starlin Castro

Philadelphia

Chase Utley – Lefties are hitting .313 off of Jackson so far this season and Utley has beat up on him in the past (6 for 11 with a double and a homerun). Utley sports a very impressive .381 wOBA against righties this season.

• Additional Plays: Ryan Howard, Marlon Byrd, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz

Colorado at San Francisco

Colorado					San Francisco
Christian Bergman		Vegas Moneyline			Ryan Vogelsong		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		SFG (-155)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.286	0.730	0.351	11.1%	SP vs. Left	0.275	0.756	0.335	18.1%
SP vs. Right	0.235	0.471	0.209	17.6%	SP vs. Right	0.290	0.815	0.370	16.0%
Batter Splits	COL BvP		COL vs R		Batter Splits	SFG BvP		SFG vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Christian Bergman – Bergman was solid in his debut, holding the Braves to just two runs over six innings at Coors Field. He was solid for Colorado Springs prior to his MLB promotion, posting a 3.84 ERA in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League. His opponent, the San Francisco Giants, own the best record in baseball so he’ll be hard pressed to walk away with a “W” here. Rating = 4

Salaries: $3000 FD, $10841 DS, $6650 DD, $5200 DK, $67000 FF, $14800 SS, $6650 FTD

• Ryan Vogelsong – Vogelsong has been in a nice groove before being roughed for six earned runs against the Nationals in his last outing. The Rockies absolutely blasted him earlier this season, putting five runs on the board in just 1.1 innings pitched at Coors Field. However, Vogelsong has pitched quite well at AT&T Park this season (3.09 ERA) and this Rockies lineup loses some of it’s muscle at sea-level. He racked up decent strikeout numbers and he’s a good bet to record a win, so he’s definitely in play today. Rating = 6

Salaries: $6000 FD, $14681 DS, $14700 DD, $9000 DK, $81300 FF, $22800 SS, $14700 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Colorado

Corey Dickerson – Dickerson owns a rather ridiculous .474 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and has had success against Vogelsong in the past (3 for 4).

Additional Plays: Troy Tulowitzki (check his status), Charlie Blackmon

San Francisco

Michael Morse – Morse is hitting .331 this season versus right-handed pitching and has racked up 7 hits over the last three games.

Additional Plays: Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford

Toronto at Baltimore

Toronto					Baltimore
R.A. Dickey		Vegas Moneyline			Bud Norris		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		TOR (-109)			RIGHT		9.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.250	0.741	0.330	17.4%	SP vs. Left	0.295	0.837	0.371	15.4%
SP vs. Right	0.235	0.699	0.315	20.0%	SP vs. Right	0.236	0.627	0.290	21.9%
Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs R		Batter Splits	BAL BvP		BAL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• R.A. Dickey – Dickey probably won’t recapture the magic of his 2012 season, but he has been pitching better lately than his 4.20 ERA this season may indicate. Over his last nine starts he owns a 3.29 ERA and a respectable 44 K’s in 56.2 innings. He’ll head into Camden Yards to take on a dangerous Orioles team, and unfortunately for him, his knuckleball appears to dance a bit better in Toronto (5.74 road ERA in 2014). He pitched admirably against the O’s ealier this season, but they beat him up in three meetings last season. You never know what you’re going to get from him which makes him a risky cash game play, but he still possesses the high ceiling you look for in GPP’s. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7300 FD, $12610 DS, $13100 DD, $7600 DK, $77900 FF, $18900 SS, $13100 FTD

• Bud Norris – Norris dominated Boston in his last outing, but had been struggling a bit prior to that performance. He’s been excellent at home all season, posting a 3-1 record, 2.38 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He’s already pitched well against the Blue Jays twice this season, and the last time they came to Camden Yards he tossed seven shutout innings. For all the good, here’s the bad; his strikeout rate has dipped to a career low (6.09 K’s/9), his advanced stats point to a regression on his 3.94 ERA, and the Blue Jays rank 2nd in MLB in OPS versus right-handed pitching this season. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6500 FD, $10820 DS, $11800 DD, $6500 DK, $80600 FF, $16500 SS, $11800 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Toronto

Adam Lind – Lind brings a very impressive .440 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and is hitting .360 on the road this season.

Additional Plays: Jose Reyes, Edwin Encarncion, Jose Bautista, Juan Francisco

Baltimore

Chris Davis – Davis has been struggling, but this is a guy who posted a 1.143 OPS versus right-handed pitching last season and who has the power to reach the warehouse in right-field if he gets a hold of one of Dickey’s knucklers.

Additional Plays: Nelson Cruz, Adam Jones

Cleveland at Boston

Cleveland					Boston
T.J. House		Vegas Moneyline			Jake Peavy		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		BOS (-135)			RIGHT		9.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.313	0.781	0.339	15.6%	SP vs. Left	0.241	0.743	0.325	20.5%
SP vs. Right	0.310	0.925	0.421	13.4%	SP vs. Right	0.260	0.721	0.319	18.4%
Batter Splits	CLE BvP		CLE vs R		Batter Splits	BOS BvP		BOS vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• T.J. House – Through his first four MLB starts, House sports a very mediocre 5.24 ERA and 1.57 WHIP. He was really roughed up by Texas in his last start and failed to get through four innings before surrendering six runs. Pitching in Fenway isn’t easy and the Red Sox are armed with several lefty killers in their lineup, so there are better options. Rating = 3.5

Salaries: $5000 FD, $9000 DS, $8150 DD, $5000 DK, $58000 FF, $NA SS, $8150 FTD

• Jake Peavy – Peavy seems to be running out of gas already as he’s posted a 6.69 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and only 22 K’s over his last six starts (37.2 innings). He’ll do battle with the same Indians team that knocked him around last week and that ranks 3rd in MLB in OPS versus right-handed pitchers. Peavy has struggled with left-handed batters this season and the Indians are able to load up from that side of the plate, so I’ll be staying far away. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6500 FD, $12660 DS, $11300 DD, $7200 DK, $69600 FF, $16600 SS, $11300 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Cleveland

Michael Brantley –

• Additional Plays: Lonnie Chisenhall, Michael Bourn, Jason Kipnis

Boston

Dustin Pedroia – Righties own a .955 OPS off of House during his short career and Pedroia is notorious for crushing left-handed pitching (.313 career batting average). His slower than usual start to the season has kept his asking price reasonable across the indusry.

• Additional Plays: Xander Bogaerts, Mike Napoli, Johnny Gomes

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2