MLB Grind Down: Saturday, June 28th
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
Chicago White Sox at Toronto
| Chicago White Sox | Toronto | ||||||||
| Chris Sale | Vegas Moneyline | Marcus Stroman | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | CWS (-108) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.129 | 0.317 | 0.167 | 31.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.348 | 0.949 | 0.417 | 11.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.236 | 0.640 | 0.290 | 26.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.283 | 0.696 | 0.306 | 26.3% |
| Batter Splits | CHW BvP  | CHW vs R | Batter Splits | TOR BvP | TOR vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Chris Sale – Sale didn’t bring his “A” game to the mound in his last outing, allowing 11 hits and only fanning three batters over six innings against Baltimore. Despite that somewhat forgetable performance, he still owns a rediculous 2.27 ERA, .86 WHIP and 9.81 K’s/9 on the season. Toronto possesses a very dangerous lineup, but they’ve been far less dangerous versus left-handed pitching this season. He’s dominated these Blue Jay’s batters in a limited sample size and is a solid pitching option today. Rating = 7.5
Salaries: $9800 FD, $21909 DS, $20400 DD, $11000 DK, $118200 FF, $29800 SS, $20400 FTD
- Marcus Stroman – Stroman dominated the Yankees his last time on the mound, and the highly touted rookie has been rather successful since moving into the starting rotation. In five starts, he owns a 3-2 record with a very impressive 2.43 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. He’s racked up 7.89 K’s/9 as a starter and this White Sox team ranks near the top of MLB in strikeouts this season. Securing a “W” will be tough with Chris Sale opposing him, but Stroman is still an option if the price is right. Rating = 6
Salaries: $6300 FD, $11156 DS, $11250 DD, $7300 DK, $78000 FF, $17800 SS, $9750 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Chicago White Sox
Adam Eaton – Lefties own a .353 wOBA off of Stroman this season and Eaton was the owner of a 12 game hitting streak prior to being pulled from Friday’s game. He’s hitting .322 during the month of June and can wreak havoc from the leadoff spot of the Chicago order. Be sure to check his status first as he sat out yesterday with a leg issue.
Additional Plays: Jose Abreu, Alejandro De Aza
Toronto
With Bautista banged up (and quite likely to be out once again today) the Blue Jays lineup takes a big hit. Sale can be filthy and I won’t be targeting anyone against him today.
LA Angels at Kansas City
| LA Angels | Kansas City | ||||||||
| Hector Santiago | Vegas Moneyline | Yordano Ventura | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | KCR (-125) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.249 | 0.670 | 0.320 | 20.3% | SP vs. Left | 0.244 | 0.681 | 0.303 | 20.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.241 | 0.723 | 0.330 | 21.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.243 | 0.666 | 0.297 | 20.0% |
| Batter Splits | LAA BvP | LAA vs R | Batter Splits | KCR BvP | KCR vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Hector Santiago – Santiago enters today’s game looking for his first win of the season. Despite his 0-7 record, he hasn’t pitched terribly (4.41 ERA) this season and posted back-to-back seasons with an ERA near 3.50. He dominated the Royals in two starts last season, posting a 1.53 ERA over 17.2 innings. The Royals rank 28th in MLB in OPS versus left-handed pitching (.650 OPS) but, with all that said, Santiago is still a bit too risky for my liking for use in cash games. Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $5500 FD, $12656 DS, $9800 DD, $6200 DK, $58600 FF, $13000 SS, $9800 FTD
- Yordano Ventura – After a rather forgettable month of May, Ventura looks to be back in a groove for the Royals as he owns a 3-1 record with a 2.67 ERA in June. However, despite possessing a fastball that can reach the upper 90’s, his strikeout rate has inexplicably dropped dramatically recently (just 14 K’s in 27 innings this month). He’ll do battle with an Angels team that owns a very respectable .324 wOBA against right-handed pitching so there are red flags here and that makes him a better GPP option than a cash game one. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7700 FD, $15402 DS, $14500 DD, $7000 DK, $100800 FF, $21100 SS, $14500 FTD
Batter Grind Down
LA Angels
C.J. Cron – Cron owns a .415 wOBA versus right-handed pitching on the season and has gone deep five times during his current six game hitting streak.
Additional Plays: Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun
Kansas City
Salvador Perez – He’s struggled a bit versus left-handed pitching so far this season, but he’s a .322 career hitter versus southpaws. He racked up three hits last night and now owns a .360 batting average during the month of June.
Additional Plays: Danny Valencia (if healthy), Lorenzo Cain, Billy Butler
Minnesota at Texas
| Minnesota | Texas | ||||||||
| Phil Hughes | Vegas Moneyline | Yu Darvish | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TEX (-175) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.261 | 0.748 | 0.328 | 20.7% | SP vs. Left | 0.224 | 0.659 | 0.299 | 28.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.302 | 0.781 | 0.343 | 18.8% | SP vs. Right | 0.175 | 0.524 | 0.243 | 36.7% |
| Batter Splits | MIN BvP | MIN vs R | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Phil Hughes – Hughes looks like he may finally be developing into the highly touted prospect the Yankees had hoped for years ago as he owns a 8-3 record and a 3.40 ERA after 15 starts. He was roughed up a bit in his last start, but he’s been particulatrly successful on the road posting a 5-1 record and 2.06 ERA. He pitched decently against the Rangers earlier this season and owns a respectable 7.74 K’s/9 this season, but with Darvish on the opposing mound he’ll have his hands full trying to secure a “W”. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7100 FD, $15558 DS, $15150 DD, $8600 DK, $88200 FF, $24000 SS, $15750 FTD
- Yu Darvish – With a home matchup against the Twins on tap today, Darvish is one of the best pitching options on the board. Not only does he offer elite strikeout potential (11.07 K;s/9) but he’s also been terrific at home this season, posting a 2.12 ERA in 51 innings. He’s been knocked around a bit in each of his last two starts, but I’m expecting a very strong bounce-back performance today. Rating = 9
Salaries: $11300 FD, $25897 DS, $20100 DD, $12200 DK, $119700 FF, $30800 SS, $20100 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Minnesota
Darvish is one of my favorite pitching options on the board today, so I will not be recommending anyone on the Twins today.
Texas
Adrian Beltre – Beltre is officially heating up as he’s hitting .524 over the last seven days and .379 during the month of June. Righties are hitting .325 off of Hughes this season and Beltre owns a .361 batting average at home.
Additional Plays: Shin-Soo Choo, Leonys Martin
Tampa Bay at Baltimore
| Tampa Bay | Baltimore | ||||||||
| Erik Bedard | Vegas Moneyline | Wei-Yin Chen | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | BAL (-125) | LEFT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.301 | 0.822 | 0.367 | 19.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.271 | 0.724 | 0.323 | 17.0% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.245 | 0.720 | 0.322 | 20.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.276 | 0.762 | 0.334 | 18.2% |
| Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TBR vs L | Batter Splits | BAL BvP | BAL vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Eric Bedard – Bedard has really been inefficient with his pitches lately, and subsequently has struggled to even make it five innings in many of his starts. He hasn’t pitched poorly, but his ERA sits at 4.88 during the month of June and he’ll take on a Baltimore team that includes both Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz, both of whom have been destroying left-handed pitching. His solid strikeout rate makes him a viable GPP flier, but the matchup and inability to pitch deep into games make him easy for me to avoid in cash games. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5200 FD, $10555 DS, $11100 DD, $6600 DK, $70200 FF, $15500 SS, $11100 FTD
- Wei-Yin Chen – Chen enters todays game with a very solid 7-2 record and 3.84 ERA. He has pitched extremely well during June, posting a 2-0 record and a 2.61 ERA in five starts. He’ll face a Tampa Bay team that ranks near the bottom of MLB in runs per game and who he’s already pitched very well against twice this season. With a 3.31 ERA at Camden Yards this season, he’s not a bad option today. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $6300 FD, $13387 DS, $12800 DD, $7000 DK, $89900 FF, $18700 SS, $12800 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Tampa Bay
James Loney – I almost never advice a lefty vs lefty matchup, but this is an odd case. Loney doesn’t own dramatic splits and Chen has allowed lefties to hit .345 off of him this season. He homered last night and is hitting .375 over his last eight games.
Additional Plays: Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist, Desmond Jennings
Baltimore
Adam Jones – Jones owns a ridiculous .535 wOBA versus left-handed pitching this season and a 1.013 OPS during the month of June. He’s also had tremendous success against Bedard in the past, going 6 for 13 with a pair of doubles.
Additional Plays: Nelson Cruz, Steve Pearce, Manny Machado
NY Mets at Pittsburgh
| NY Mets | Pittsburgh | ||||||||
| Jonathon Niese | Vegas Moneyline | Gerrit Cole | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | PIT (-164) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.242 | 0.629 | 0.286 | 18.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.257 | 0.668 | 0.304 | 22.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.274 | 0.717 | 0.323 | 16.8% | SP vs. Right | 0.254 | 0.664 | 0.303 | 20.3% |
| Batter Splits | NYM BvP | NYM vs R | Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jonathon Niese – Niese has somewhat quietly been fantastic for the Mets this season and now owns a 2.78 ERA through 15 starts. He pitched admirably against the Pirates in their only other meeting this season, but was absolutely blasted by them in their only meeting last season. He’s not a terrible option, but the Pirates lineup features several lefty killers and i’ll be looking elsewhere. Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $7400 FD, $14468 DS, $12900 DD, $7600 DK, $79500 FF, $20600 SS, $12900 FTD
- Gerrit Cole – After missing nearly a month with a shoulder injury, Cole makes his return from the DL today and finds himself in a nice spot. The Mets ranked 26th in the league in wOBA versus right-handed pitching (.296 wOBA) and Cole has been excellent at PNC Park this season. He’s not expected to be limited at all in this start, so he’s definitely in play but, considering his fairly high asking price, it may be wise to let him get a start or two under his belt before depolying him into your lineups. Rating = 6.5
Salaries: $8300 FD, $18259 DS, $15850 DD, $9500 DK, $102700 FF, $23700 SS, $15850 FTD
Batter Grind Down
NY Mets
Lucas Duda – Duda brings a five game hitting streak into today’s game and he’s homered three times in that same span. He owns a very strong .382 wOBA versus right-handed pitching this season and owns a .915 OPS on the road.
Additional Plays: David Wright Edit: David Wright has been ruled out for Saturday’s game due to a shoulder injury.
Pittsburgh
Andrew McCutchen – McCutchen rides a seven game hitting streak into today’s battle with Jonathon Niese, and he’s in a great spot to extend it further. He’s crushed left-handed pitching during his career and things are no different this season as he owns a .472 wOBA against them. He’s had success against Niese in the past and is well worth his high asking price today.
Additional Plays: Starling Marte, Jordy Mercer, Josh Harrison