MLB Grind Down: Saturday, May 16 - Page Three
Cleveland at Texas – 8:05 PM EST
| Cleveland | Texas | ||||||||
 | Danny Salazar |  | Colby Lewis | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| TEX (-118) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.18 | 0.543 | 0.238 | 0.476 | SP vs. Left | 0.247 | 0.729 | 0.317 | 0.093 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.217 | 0.688 | 0.304 | 0.273 | SP vs. Right | 0.183 | 0.509 | 0.228 | 0.333 |
| Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Danny Salazar
Salaries: $8700 FD, $9300 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 2.01 — Strikeout Rate: 37.2% — Walk Rate: 3.9% — Ground Ball Rate: 43.1%
2014: xFIP: 3.45 — Strikeout Rate: 25.3% — Walk Rate: 7.4% — Ground Ball Rate: 34.4%
Texas Rangers vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.290 (Rank: 25)
Strikeout Rate: 20.5% (Rank: 10)
Analysis: Salazar comes into this game with the highest strikeout rate in the majors at a ridiculous 37.2%. He is backing up those strikeout numbers with an impressively low walk rate of 3.9% and an xFIP of 2.01. The only games in which he did not pitch well were his two starts against the Royals’ offense. He gets a much easier matchup here against the Rangers, who rank 25th in the league in wOBA against righties. The park does take a bit of value away, but if the K’s are there, he makes for one of the best tournament options on the slate tonight if you want to stay away from the more popular names. Rating = 8
Colby Lewis
Salaries: $6400 FD, $7800 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 4.34 — Strikeout Rate: 19.8% — Walk Rate: 6.4% — Ground Ball Rate: 34.1%
2014: xFIP: 4.36 — Strikeout Rate: 17.5% — Walk Rate: 6.3% — Ground Ball Rate: 33.0%
Cleveland Indians vs.RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.315 (Rank: 13)
Strikeout Rate: 17.7% (Rank: 25)
Analysis: I really do not know what to say about Lewis anymore. We keep waiting for the implosions that we have seen in the past, but they have yet to come. Not only has he not struggled, he is actually pitching very well recently, allowing only two earned runs over his last three starts (21 innings). I still cannot be a believer and will not be using him, but he may not be the easy stack against option that we always think of him as. Rating = 4.5
Batter Grind Down
Cleveland
Jason Kipnis
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.442 — ISO: 0.179 — OBP: 0.453
Analysis: To say that Kipnis has been rolling is an understatement. He has 16 hits in his last six games, including five extra base hits. He is mashing right-handed pitching for a wOBA of .442 on the year and has a great matchup against Lewis tonight.
Secondary Plays:
Michael Brantley
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.373 — ISO: 0.159 — OBP: 0.382
Carlos Santana
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.373 — ISO: 0.200 — OBP: 0.402
Texas
None
Secondary Plays:
Prince Fielder
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.421 — ISO: 0.124 — OBP: 0.450
Shin-Soo Choo
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.358 — ISO: 0.241 — OBP: 0.333
Washington at San Diego – 8:40 PM EST
| Washington | San Diego | ||||||||
 | Max Scherzer |  | Andrew Cashner | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| WSN (-122) | 7 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.247 | 0.583 | 0.260 | 0.204 | SP vs. Left | 0.25 | 0.82 | 0.354 | 0.231 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.18 | 0.517 | 0.228 | 0.346 | SP vs. Right | 0.247 | 0.654 | 0.29 | 0.253 |
| Batter Splits | WAS BvP | WAS vs R | Batter Splits | SD BvP | SD vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Max Scherzer
Salaries: $11000 FD, $12200 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 3.00 — Strikeout Rate: 27.9% — Walk Rate: 3.1% — Ground Ball Rate: 36.9%
2014: xFIP: 3.12 — Strikeout Rate: 27.9% — Walk Rate: 7.0% — Ground Ball Rate: 36.7%
San Diego Padres vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.313 (Rank: 15)
Strikeout Rate: 20.3% (Rank: 13)
Analysis: Other than the outing against the Marlins, Scherzer has allowed six earned runs in his other six starts combined. He has a 3.00 xFIP along with a great 27.9% strikeout rate. He now gets to pitch against an average offense against right-handed pitching in one of the top pitchers’ parks in the league. He makes for a great cash game and tournament option tonight. Rating = 8.5
Andrew Cashner
Salaries: $8200 FD, $8400 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 3.40 — Strikeout Rate: 24.2% — Walk Rate: 5.9% — Ground Ball Rate: 47.6%
2014: xFIP: 3.53 — Strikeout Rate: 18.4% — Walk Rate: 5.7% — Ground Ball Rate: 48.3%
Washington Nationals vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.319 (Rank: 11)
Strikeout Rate: 20.9% (Rank: 8)
Analysis: Cashner has been solid for the Padres this year. He has a great strikeout rate of 24.2% this year and gets to pitch at home, where he has been solid. He does have to face a Nationals offense that has improved over the last few weeks and has a wOBA of .319 against righties. This game should be low scoring and I can see taking Cashner as a second option tonight. Rating = 7
Batter Grind Down
Washington
Bryce Harper
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.479 — ISO: 0.407 — OBP: 0.447
Analysis: Not writing up Harper would be a bit of a crime these days. There may be no one swinging a hotter bat in baseball right now as Harper has eight home runs in his last ten games. He has crushed right-handed bats for a wOBA close to .500 and is in play due to his power on a nightly basis during this run.
Secondary Plays:
Denard Span
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.474 — ISO: 0.262 — OBP: 0.452
San Diego
None
Secondary Plays:
Justin Upton
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.401 — ISO: 0.290 — OBP: 0.364
Cory Spangenberg
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.379 — ISO: 0.216 — OBP: 0.357
Chicago White Sox at Oakland – 9:05 PM EST
| Chicago White Sox | Oakland | ||||||||
 | John Danks |  | Jesse Chavez | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| OAK (-118) | 7 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.205 | 0.67 | 0.302 | 0.114 | SP vs. Left | 0.18 | 0.519 | 0.228 | 0.188 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.323 | 0.953 | 0.41 | 0.182 | SP vs. Right | 0.193 | 0.528 | 0.246 | 0.308 |
| Batter Splits | CWS BvP | CWS vs R | Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
John Danks
Salaries: $6500 FD, $5800 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 4.79 — Strikeout Rate: 16.1% — Walk Rate: 6.3% — Ground Ball Rate: 32.4%
2014: xFIP: 4.62 — Strikeout Rate: 15.1% — Walk Rate: 8.7% — Ground Ball Rate: 42.3%
Oakland A’s vs. LH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.247 (Rank: 29)
Strikeout Rate: 16.7% (Rank: 27)
Analysis: Danks is not a reliable fantasy starter to use in any situation. Even though the A’s have a shockingly low wOBA against lefties (.247), Danks has a high xFIP of 4.79 and just allows too many base runners each and every start. You can avoid him here tonight. Rating = 4
Jesse Chavez
Salaries: $7500 FD, $6700 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 3.74 — Strikeout Rate: 24.8% — Walk Rate: 7.8% — Ground Ball Rate: 40.2%
2014: xFIP: 3.67 — Strikeout Rate: 21.9% — Walk Rate: 7.9% — Ground Ball Rate: 42.0%
Chicago White Sox vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.318 (Rank: 12)
Strikeout Rate: 18.6% (Rank: 24)
Analysis: Chavez has been pretty good in his first four starts this year. He has allowed a few runs, but his strikeout rate of 24.8% has really bumped up his fantasy value. Chavez’s xFIP of 3.74 backs up his solid first few starts and tonight, he has an average matchup tonight against the White Sox and is a decently sized favorite with a 7 total. Chavez makes a solid second starter tonight. Rating = 6.5
Batter Grind Down
Chicago White Sox
None
Secondary Plays:
Jose Abreu
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.386 — ISO: 0.226 — OBP: 0.366
Melky Cabrera
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.332 — ISO: 0.057 — OBP: 0.374
Oakland
Marcus Semien
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.435— ISO: 0.080— OBP: 0.500
Analysis: Hitting at the top of the order is a big boost to the fantasy value of Semien. He has had a great start to this season and has a wOBA of .435 against left-handed pitching. He has a great matchup against Danks who I fully expect to get roughed up a bit tonight. Semien will take his three home runs and five extra base hits over the last week into this game and should continue that momentum.
Secondary Plays:
Billy Butler
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.377 — ISO: 0.130— OBP: 0.429
Coco Crisp
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.158 — ISO: 0.000— OBP: 0.200
Colorado at LA Dodgers – 9:10 PM EST
| Colorado | LA Dodgers | ||||||||
 | Jorge De La Rosa |  | Zack Greinke | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| LAD (-284) | 6.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.231 | 0.75 | 0.321 | 0.200 | SP vs. Left | 0.186 | 0.592 | 0.276 | 0.232 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.345 | 1.01 | 0.432 | 0.294 | SP vs. Right | 0.182 | 0.473 | 0.208 | 0.205 |
| Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs R | Batter Splits | LA BvP | LA vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Jorge De La Rosa
Salaries: $5200 FD, $6500 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 3.47 — Strikeout Rate: 27.7% — Walk Rate: 14.5% — Ground Ball Rate: 46.8%
2014: xFIP: 3.95 — Strikeout Rate: 18.4% — Walk Rate: 7.9% — Ground Ball Rate: 51.6%
Los Angelas Dodgers vs. LH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.334 (Rank: 7)
Strikeout Rate: 20.3% (Rank: 15)
Analysis: De La Rosa should not be on anyone’s radar tonight. He has a tough matchup against the Dodgers (.334 wOBA against lefties) and has just been all-around terrible to start the season. He has not made it to the sixth inning yet this year and has allowed 17 earned runs in his first four starts. Avoid him today. Rating = 2.5
Zack Greinke
Salaries: $10100 FD, $10700 DK
Pitching Stats
2014: xFIP: 3.60 — Strikeout Rate: 21.6% — Walk Rate: 6.1% — Ground Ball Rate: 46.5%
2014: xFIP: 2.72 — Strikeout Rate: 25.2% — Walk Rate: 5.2% — Ground Ball Rate: 48.7%
Colorado Rockies vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.331 (Rank: 4)
Strikeout Rate: 20.0% (Rank: 22)
Analysis: Greinke has been great so far for the Dodgers this season. He has allowed one or less earned runs in five of his seven starts so far this year, which has led to a 1.52 ERA. His xFIP shows a bit of regression, but is still a solid 3.60. He is the biggest favorite on the board with a very low total, but does face a tough offense with some solid left-handed bats. I still think he is a top option with the way he is pitching and is just under King Felix for the number one option on the board. Rating = 8.5
Batter Grind Down
Colorado
None
Secondary Plays:
Charlie Blackmon
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.408 — ISO: 0.221 — OBP: 0.389
Corey Dickerson
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.386 — ISO: 0.265 — OBP: 0.333
LA Dodgers
Scott Van Slyke
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.377— ISO: 0.077 — OBP: 0.471
Analysis: This appears to be a golden spot to play Van Slyke. He is price dependent, as on some sites he is a bit expensive, but we saw last year what he could do against all lefties (.447 wOBA) and tonight he gets to face a below-average, struggling lefty in De La Rosa. De La Rosa has allowed a wOBA of .431 so far against right-handed bats, putting all righties in play tonight.
Secondary Plays:
Adrian Gonzalez
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.458 — ISO: 0.346 — OBP: 0.370
Howie Kendrick
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.416 — ISO: 0.158 — OBP: 0.455
Jimmy Rollins
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.367 — ISO: 0.174 — OBP: 0.360
Alex Guerrero
2015 vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.520 — ISO: 0.467 — OBP: 0.412
Boston at Seattle – 9:10 PM EST
| Boston | Seattle | ||||||||
 | Rick Porcello |  | Felix Hernandez | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| SEA (-111) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.237 | 0.681 | 0.299 | 0.202 | SP vs. Left | 0.183 | 0.488 | 0.215 | 0.229 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.301 | 0.807 | 0.354 | 0.2 | SP vs. Right | 0.200 | 0.605 | 0.274 | 0.318 |
| Batter Splits | BOS BvP | BOS vs R | Batter Splits | SEA BvP | SEA vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Rick Porcello
Salaries: $7800 FD, $7500 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 3.82 — Strikeout Rate: 20.1% — Walk Rate: 5.8% — Ground Ball Rate: 41.9%
2014: xFIP: 3.68 — Strikeout Rate: 15.4% — Walk Rate: 4.9% — Ground Ball Rate: 49.0%
Seattle Mariners vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.305 (Rank: 21)
Strikeout Rate: 20.8% (Rank: 9)
Analysis: Porcello has been a decent innings-eater for the Red Sox this year. He has allowed at least three earned runs in five of his seven starts this year, but does have a solid 3.82 xFIP and is striking batters out at a 20.1% clip. His matchup is solid against the Mariners if he can pitch around Cano tonight. Yet, he is a huge underdog to Felix and the win should be difficult to achieve. He is a tournament flyer only. Rating = 5.5
Felix Hernandez
Salaries: $11500 FD, $11600 DK
Pitching Stats
2015: xFIP: 2.71 — Strikeout Rate: 27.2% — Walk Rate: 4.4% — Ground Ball Rate: 59.8
2014: xFIP: 2.51 — Strikeout Rate: 27.2% — Walk Rate: 5.0% — Ground Ball Rate: 56.2%
Boston Red Sox vs. RH Pitching: (2015)
wOBA: 0.307 (Rank: 19)
Strikeout Rate: 16.6% (Rank: 28)
Analysis: There is a reason he is the King. His 6-0 record, 50 strikeouts and only 10 earned runs allowed in seven starts this year are the reason. He is arguably the most consistent starter in the league and does not appear to be slowing down. His 27.2% strikeout rate is at an elite status and his xFIP of 2.71 backs up his lack of earned runs allowed. He does face a decent Red Sox offense, but Felix is a big time favorite in a game with a 6 total and is my favorite option of the slate. Rating = 9
Batter Grind Down
Boston
None
Secondary Plays:
David Ortiz
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.361 — ISO: 0.188 — OBP: 0.381
Seattle
Robinson Cano
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.330 — ISO: 0.097 — OBP: 0.354
Analysis: Anytime Cano takes on an average right-handed pitcher, he is in play. Although he is not mashing righties like we have seen in the past, Cano still has a wOBA of .330 against them on the year. It is a matter of time until we start seeing a few extra base hits out of Cano and he is in a decent spot to start tonight.
Secondary Plays:
Kyle Seager
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.312 — ISO: 0.173 — OBP: 0.302
Nelson Cruz
2015 vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.406 — ISO: 0.270 — OBP: 0.356