MLB Grind Down: Saturday, May 10th

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2014-05-10 17:25:58

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

LA Angels at Toronto

LA Angels					Toronto
Tyler Skaggs		Vegas Moneyline			J.A. Happ		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		TOR (-112)			LEFT		9.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.246	0.756	0.341	14.9%	SP vs. Left	0.288	0.746	0.336	17.8%
SP vs. Right	0.250	0.732	0.327	19.3%	SP vs. Right	0.227	0.711	0.320	18.3%
Batter Splits	LAA BvP		LAA vs L		Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Tyler Skaggs – Skaggs was lit up in his last start; failing to get through the third inning while surrendering six earned runs to the Texas Rangers. He had been fairly steady in the five starts prior, but his strikeout rate is down considerably this season (5.76 K’s/9) and his command continues to be a problem. A trip to the hitter friendly Rogers Centre makes him extremely risky. Rating = 4

• J.A. Happ – I’ll acknowledge that he’s actually been pretty good this year, but he’s still not a relevant fantasy option. His ERA has been over 4.5 in each of the last three seasons and his current BABIP of .192 is certainly unsustainable. The Angels are loaded with lefty killers and Haap should be avoided today. Rating = 2

Batter Grind Down

Anahiem

Mike Trout – Trout went deep last night and just keeps producing at an MVP level. He’s crushing left-handed pitching to the tune of a 1.214 OPS this season and already owns a double in just two career AB’s against Happ.

• Additional Plays: Albert Pujols, Chris Iannetta

Toronto

Edwin Encarnacion – He was finally slowed down last night by the Angels, but had homered in three straight games prior (4 homeruns in total). He crushed the baseball at the Rogers Centre last season, posting a 1.063 home OPS.

• Additional Plays: Jose Bautista

Minnesota at Detroit

Minnesota					Detroit
Kyle Gibson		Vegas Moneyline			Max Scherzer		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		DET (-240)			RIGHT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.314	0.782	0.354	8.5%	SP vs. Left	0.217	0.634	0.281	26.6%
SP vs. Right	0.262	0.719	0.328	15.8%	SP vs. Right	0.174	0.502	0.228	33.4%
Batter Splits	MIN BvP		MIN vs R		Batter Splits	DET BvP		DET vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Kyle Gibson – Gibson was terrifiic in his last start; holding the Indians to just two hits over seven shutout innings. However, he only recorded one strikeout in that game and was knocked around quite heavily in the two prior starts. Between battling this very dangerous Detroit lineup, and the likely very little run support, Gibson won’t appear on any of my teams today. Rating = 3

• Max Scherzer – Scherzer is an elite starting pitcher and has proved it so far this year by posting a 4-1 record to go along with a 1.72 ERA and 60 strikeouts in his first 47 innings. He dominated the Twins last season, winning all three starts while recording a 1.77 ERA and 26 K’s in 20 innings pitched. He’s my favorite pitcher on the board today and is well worth his high asking price. Rating = 9.5

Batter Grind Down

Minnesota

Schezer has held opposing hitters to a .198 average so far this season and I’ll be avoiding all of the Minnesota bats

Detroit

Miguel Cabrera – It’s not really going out on a limb mentioning him here, but he’s definitely heating up and can still be found for a relative discount on some sites.

Alex Avila – Lefties have hit .341 off of Gibson so far in his short career and Avila is arguably Detroit’s most dangerous left-handed bat

• Additional Plays: Torii Hunter, Victor Martinez

San Francisco at LA Dodgers

San Francisco					LA Dodgers
Matt Cain		Vegas Moneyline			Zack Greinke		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		LAD (-150)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.206	0.617	0.281	21.7%	SP vs. Left	0.262	0.734	0.330	20.6%
SP vs. Right	0.254	0.740	0.327	19.6%	SP vs. Right	0.211	0.564	0.258	24.0%
Batter Splits	SFG BvP		SFG vs R		Batter Splits	LAD BvP		LAD vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Matt Cain – Cain has been a roller-coaster so far this season, with two terrible starts and three solid outings. He was crushed in his last appearance, but don’t sweat it too much as it was in Coors Field. He pitched admirably against the Dodgers last season (3.64 ERA in five starts) but, considering his finger issue, he is probably best served as a GPP only option today. Rating = 5.5

• Zack Greinke – Grienke hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his seven prior starts this season and has racked up 47 strikeouts through 38.1 innings pitched. He was dominant at Dodger Stadium last season, posting an 8-2 record and a 2.11 ERA and mowed down the Giants in their only meeting. Rating = 8.5

Batter Grind Down

San Francisco

Picking on Grienke is rarely a recipe for success and I’ll be looking elsewhere.

Los Angeles

Andre Ethier – Even the BvsP proponents have to take notice of the success he’s had against Cain in his career (30 for 70).

• Additional Plays: Yaisel Puig

Houston at Baltimore

Houston					Baltimore
Collin McHugh		Vegas Moneyline			Miguel Gonzalez		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		BAL (-165)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.282	0.775	0.343	20.9%	SP vs. Left	0.237	0.683	0.306	18.3%
SP vs. Right	0.349	0.909	0.390	12.2%	SP vs. Right	0.262	0.773	0.342	16.5%
Batter Splits	HOU BvP		HOU vs R		Batter Splits	BAL BvP		BAL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Collin McHugh – That thud you heard last Sunday was the sound of Collin McHugh falling back to earth. After two somewhat unexplainable dominant outings, McHugh surrendered five earned runs and failed to pitch into the fifth inning against the Mariners. He owns a 7.16 career ERA and should only be considered as a contrarian GPP play. Rating = 3.5

• Miguel Gonzalez – Gonzalez is nothing more than a mediocre MLB pitcher, but I expect that he’ll make his way onto many DFS rosters today with the Houston Astros coming to Baltimore. Only two teams have scored less runs than the Astros this season and only two teams have struckout more often. Despite his low strikeout rate, Gonzalez is a safe option tonight. Rating = 6

Batter Grind Down

Houston

Jason Castro – Castro thrives against right-handed pitching and has owned Gonzalez in their brief history, going 4 for 5 with three doubles and a homerun.

• Additional Plays: George Springer

Baltimore

Nick Markakis – McHugh has allowed left-handed batters to hit .405 (1.225 OPS) off of him in his short career and Markakis is the most dangerous lefty in the lineup for the Orioles with Chris Davis sidelined. He’s a much better hitter against right handed pitching and brings a 16 game hitting streak into tonight’s game.

• Additional Plays: Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz

St. Louis at Pittsburgh

St. Louis					Pittsburgh
Lance Lynn		Vegas Moneyline			Edinson Volquez		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		STL (-116)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.258	0.752	0.341	18.3%	SP vs. Left	0.298	0.839	0.371	17.2%
SP vs. Right	0.240	0.626	0.286	27.7%	SP vs. Right	0.255	0.720	0.324	17.6%
Batter Splits	STL BvP		STL vs R		Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Lance Lynn – Lynn has a knack for starting getting out of the gates in good form and he currently owns a 4-1 record with a solid 3.51 ERA. He’s been great away from Busch Stadium so far this season, but it’s worth noting that he really struggled on the road last season. He’ll deliver a strikeout per inning but hasn’t had much success against the Pirates in the years past. Rating = 6

• Edinson Volquez – Volquez has been blasted for six earned runs in each of his last two starts (one of which was against this St. Louis team). He’s been relying heavily on his curve ball so far this season which has me worried that he’s lost confidence in his declining fast ball. He still has the ability to put up solid numbers in this one, but there are better options for cash games. Rating = 5

Batter Grind Down

St. Louis

Matt Carpenter – Lefties are hitting .298 off of Volquez since the beginning of last season and Carpenter has had success against him in the past (4 for 12 with three doubles). He’s a pesk at the top of the Red Bird’s lineup and can do “fantasy damage” in a number of ways.

• Additional Plays: Matt Holliday, Jhonny Peralta, Matt Adams

Pittsburgh

Starling Marte – Marte is one of the few Pirate’s hitters who’s had success against Lynn in the past, going 6 for 13 with a pair of doubles and a triple.

• Additional Plays: Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2