MLB Grind Down: Saturday, June 8th Page Three

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2014-06-08 15:41:15

NY Mets at San Francisco

NY Mets					San Francisco
Zack Wheeler		Vegas Moneyline			Tim Lincecum		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		SFG (-146)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.267	0.762	0.343	20.6%	SP vs. Left	0.251	0.706	0.324	21.5%
SP vs. Right	0.231	0.619	0.286	21.4%	SP vs. Right	0.259	0.743	0.333	23.9%
Batter Splits	NYM BvP		NYM vs R		Batter Splits	SFG BvP		SFG vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Zach Wheeler – Mets fans are hoping that Wheeler is the second coming of Matt Harvey, and based on the last three starts, it looks like they may get their wish. The last three starts have seen him post a 1.45 ERA, .80 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. Wheeler owns a 3.18 career ERA on the road and should benefit from pitching in the very spacious AT&T Park. He still carries some degree of risk, but it’s hard to ignore his recent success. Rating = 6.5

Salaries: $7200 FD, $15736 DS, $NA DD, $8300 DK, $92800 FF, $22600 SS, $12600 FTD

• Tim Lincecum – A look at his last two starts tells pretty much the whole story of what Lincecum has become these days. He was shelled for eight earned runs in 4.1 innings against the Reds his last time out, but tossed five shutout (and hitless) inning against the Cubs the start before. He’s the ultimate GPP option at this point because you simply never know which Lincecum is going to show up. The matchup is nice and he’s been much better at home this year, but I still struggle to recommend him for use in cash games. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6600 FD, $14940 DS, $ DD, $8800 DK, $65300 FF, $22000 SS, $12600 FTD

Batter Grind Down

NY Mets

Daniel Murphy – Lefties are hitting .304 off of Lincecum so far this season and Murphy has had success off of him in the past.

Additional Plays: Lucas Duda, David Wright, Curtis Granderson

San Francisco

Brandon Crawford – I don’t love the spot these Giants are in today, but if you’re looking for a value shortstop, than give Crawford a look. He’s reached base nine times over the last three games. Wheeler is a bit weaker against lefties and Crawford is 2 for 5 off of him in their brief history.

Additional Plays: Hunter Pence, Pablo Sandoval

Atlanta at Arizona

Atlanta					Arizona
Aaron Harang		Vegas Moneyline			Chase Anderson		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		ARI (-110)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.260	0.773	0.342	16.8%	SP vs. Left	0.135	0.436	0.205	17.1%
SP vs. Right	0.264	0.718	0.319	23.2%	SP vs. Right	0.340	1.069	0.463	14.3%
Batter Splits	ATL BvP		ATL vs R		Batter Splits	ARI BvP		ARI vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Aaron Harang – The Harang-a-tang was a beast to start the season, but the inevitable regression is already in progress. With that said, he’s still pitching rather well and brings a 3.24 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning into this game. Don’t get too carried away though because this is the same pitcher who posted a 5.40 ERA last season and Chase Field is not a favorite stop for pitchers. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6700 FD, $16169 DS, $NA DD, $8500 DK, $74100 FF, $21500 SS, $13800 FTD

• Chase Anderson – Anderson had one bad outing, but has been solid in his other three appearances and has actually walked away with a win in each start. He posted a 0.69 ERA at AA before being promoted, so there is reason to believe that his nice start can continue to some degree. He had a high strikeout rate at AA Mobile, but it hasn’t carried over so far in his MLB career, but he’ll take on an Atlanta team that strikeouts out rather frequently. If he’s priced cheap enough, he’s in play as either a GPP flier or value pitcher to fill out your rotation. Rating = 4.5

Salaries: $6000 FD, $10985 DS, $ DD, $6800 DK, $85200 FF, $18000 SS, $9900 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Atlanta

Evan Gattis – Gattis is mashing baseballs right now and brings a nine game hitting streak into this one. He owns a 1.219 OPS during the month of June and has power potential that very few other catchers can match.

Additional Plays: Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward

Arizona

Miguel Montero – With homeruns in three straight games, it’s safe to say that Montero is red-hot at the plate. He has 7 hits and 8 RBI’s over the last three games and has destroyed Harang in the past (10 for 18).

Additional Plays: Paul Goldschmidt, Gerardo Parra

Washington at San Diego

Washington					San Diego
Jordan Zimmermann		Vegas Moneyline			Eric Stults		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		WAS (-123)			LEFT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.267	0.703	0.310	16.9%	SP vs. Left	0.211	0.582	0.261	15.6%
SP vs. Right	0.236	0.628	0.286	20.5%	SP vs. Right	0.305	0.804	0.353	14.0%
Batter Splits	WSN BvP		WSN vs L		Batter Splits	SDP BvP		SDP vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Jordan Zimmermann – Zimmermann was terrific in his last start, tossing eight shutout innings against the Phillies. Today he’ll have the luxury of taking on MLB’s lowest scoring team (The Padres) in one of the most hitter friendly parks in all of baseball. He pitched decenly against the Padres when they met earlier this season and owns a 0.86 ERA in his career at Petco Park. This is an ideal matchup and Zimmermann is a very strong play for both cash games and GPP’s. Rating = 8

Salaries: $8000 FD, $15487 DS, $NA DD, $7700 DK, $90700 FF, $21200 SS, $14700 FTD

• Eric Stults – Stults is not an exciting fantasy option as his strikeout rate is very pedestrian 4.60 K’s/9. Today he’ll do battle with a Nationals team that is ranked 7th in the league in OPS versus left-handed pitching. Somehow he managed to give up just two runs against Washington earlier this season despite allowing ten hits. Rating = 3.5

Salaries: $5400 FD, $8004 DS, $ DD, $5900 DK, $45100 FF, $13000 SS, $10300 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Washington

Anthony Rendon – Make sure he’s in the lineup, but if he’s back he’s in a great spot today. He’ll bring a .410 wOBA against left-handed pitching into this game and he’s been locked in at the plate, posting a 1.170 OPS over the last week.

Additional Plays: Jayson Werth

San Diego

I’m quite high on Zimmermann today, so I’ll be avoiding all San Diego batters

LA Dodgers at Colorado

LA Dodgers					Colorado
Clayton Kershaw		Vegas Moneyline			Jorge De La Rosa		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		LAD (-145)			LEFT		9.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.158	0.439	0.202	39.4%	SP vs. Left	0.197	0.516	0.238	23.5%
SP vs. Right	0.213	0.563	0.254	23.5%	SP vs. Right	0.272	0.750	0.342	14.3%
Batter Splits	LAD BvP		LAD vs L		Batter Splits	COL BvP		COL vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Clayton Kershaw – He’s arguably the best pitcher in baseball, but considering his price I’ll even struggle to roll Kershaw out in DFS baseball when he’s pitching in Coors Field. In 13 starts at Coors Field in his career, he sports a fairly ugly 5.24 ERA. He certainly has the stuff to put up the highest pitching score of the day, but this is just not the time to pony up that much of your budget for him. Rating = 7

Salaries: $10300 FD, $22987 DS, $NA DD, $12400 DK, $124600 FF, $33000 SS, $18500 FTD

• Jorge De La Rosa – De La Rosa is one of the few pitchers who seems to actually pitch better at Coors. He was 10-1 with a 2.76 ERA last season and he’s posted a 2.78 ERA through his first six home starts this season. De La Rosa mowed down the Dodgers earlier this season but will have a hard time recording a “W” with Kershaw on the mound for the dodgers. Rating = 5.5

Salaries: $6400 FD, $12225 DS, $ DD, $8000 DK, $85000 FF, $19400 SS, $11500 FTD

Batter Grind Down

LA Dodgers

Hanley Ramirez – Hanley absolutely crushed left-handed pitching last season, posting a .349 average and a 1.142 OPS. He’s beat up on Jorge De La Rosa in the past, going 8 for 21 with four doubles and a homerun. Oh, and he also get’s the nice bonus of hitting in Coors Field today.

Additional Plays: Yasiel Puig (monitor his status), Matt Kemp

Colorado

I know this game is in Coors Field and all, but Kershaw can be very nasty and I try not to pick batters against him plus most of the Colorado hitters have inflated pricetags.

Boston at Detroit

Boston					Detroit
John Lackey		Vegas Moneyline			Anibal Sanchez		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		DET (-152)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.243	0.662	0.293	20.6%	SP vs. Left	0.228	0.622	0.281	26.2%
SP vs. Right	0.265	0.744	0.328	21.4%	SP vs. Right	0.203	0.541	0.244	26.8%
Batter Splits	BOS BvP		BOS vs R		Batter Splits	DET BvP		DET vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• John Lackey – Lackey has been impressive so far this year, bringing a 6-4 record and 3.28 ERA into tonight’s game. He’ll square off against a Detroit team who roughed him up when they met a few weeks ago (6 runs over 5.1 innings) and who ranks 5th in MLB in OPS versus righties. He’s proved to be a good enough pitcher to use in GPPs despite the tough matchup, but there are better options in the price range for cash games. Rating = 5

Salaries: $8200 FD, $16370 DS, $NA DD, $9800 DK, $91000 FF, $23800 SS, $13900 FTD

• Anibal Sanchez – Sanchez has been brilliant in each of his last two starts, allowing just one run and five hits over 15.1 innings. He sports a very impressive 2.15 ERA and .89 WHIP through his first nine starts of the season and consistently racks up strikeouts. He defeated this Red Sox team earier in the year and I like his chances to do it again tonight. Rating = 7.5

Salaries: $8600 FD, $17516 DS, $ DD, $9900 DK, $107800 FF, $25400 SS, $16100 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Boston

David Ortiz – Big Papi has not been fooled by Sanchez in the past, going 3 for 4 with a double and two homeruns in their brief history.

Additional Plays: Xander Bogaerts

Detroit

Miguel Cabrera – Miggy has three hits (2 doubles) in yesterdays game and is now hitting .347 this season against right-handed pitching. He’s beat up on John Lackey in the past, going 6 for 15 with a pair of homeruns.

Additional Plays: Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez, Austin Jackson