MLB Grind Down: Saturday, May 3rd - Page 2
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland
| Chicago White Sox | Cleveland | ||||||||
| Scott Carroll | Vegas Moneyline | Justin Masterson | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | CLE (-157) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.364 | 0.825 | 0.379 | 0.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.259 | 0.700 | 0.323 | 19.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.143 | 0.276 | 0.167 | 20.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.186 | 0.497 | 0.250 | 31.4% |
| Batter Splits | CHW BvP  | CHW vs R | Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Scott Carroll – Carroll was solid in his MLB debut last week, holding the Rays to just two runs on six hits over 7.1 innings. He won’t fan many hitters, but he’s pitched well in the Minors this season. The ceiling isn’t high enough here to really consider him unless he’s dirt cheap on a multi-pitcher site. Rating = 4
- Justin Masterson – Masterson was knocked around pretty badly by the White Sox when they squared off last month, but he absolutely dominated them last season going 4-0 with a 0.83 ERA. He still struggles against left-handed batters but has fanned a batter per inning so far this season. Rating = 6
Batter Grind Down
Chicago
Adam Eaton – Masterson has historically struggled versus lefties and Eaton is always a tough out at the top of the White Sox lineup. He’s only stepped up to the plate against Masterson three times in the past; where he’s drawn a pair of walks and hit a long ball. Update: Eaton was pulled from last night’s game with an apparent hamstring injury and is unlikely to be in the lineup today
- Additional Plays: – Adam Dunn, Alejandro De Aza
Cleveland
Carlos Santana – Santana has turned things around in a hurry and has now hit homeruns in three of the last four games. His terrible start to the 2014 campaign has lowered his asking price, so enjoy the discount while it lasts.
- Additional Plays: – Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley
Washington at Philadelphia
| Washington | Philadelphia | ||||||||
| Tanner Roark | Vegas Moneyline | A.J. Burnett | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | PHI (-116) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.254 | 0.667 | 0.305 | 16.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.265 | 0.729 | 0.343 | 20.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.189 | 0.425 | 0.201 | 22.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.202 | 0.539 | 0.242 | 28.9% |
| Batter Splits | WSN BvP | WSN vs R | Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Tanner Roark – Roark was dominant against the Padres his last time on the mound and now hasn’t surrendered a run in his last 18 innings pitched. He’s very quietly amassed a 9-1 career record to go along with a very paltry 1.98 ERA. Rating = 6.5
- A.J. Burnett – Burnett continues to prove that he still has a something left in that right arm, yielding a 2.15 ERA through his first six starts this season. Last year, as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, he kept the Nationals off balance in his two starts posting a 1.29 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 14 innings. Rating = 6.5
Batter Grind Down
Washington
Adam LaRoche – Burnett has had trouble with left-handed batters in his career and LaRoche has hit him fairly hard in his career (8 for 23 with a pair of doubles and a homerun). LaRoche has hits in 12 of his last 13 games.
- Additional Plays: Denard Span
Philadelphia
Chase Utley – Utley is proving to be one of the safer cash game plays on the board this season as he’s only been held hittless in three games so far this season. He’s hitting .444 on the young season at home and always handles the bat well against right handed pitching.
- Additional Plays: Ryan Howard
Toronto at Pittsburgh
| Toronto | Pittsburgh | ||||||||
| R.A. Dickey | Vegas Moneyline | Francisco Liriano | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | PIT (-120) | LEFT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.254 | 0.756 | 0.333 | 17.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.147 | 0.377 | 0.177 | 27.5% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.232 | 0.676 | 0.309 | 20.2% | SP vs. Right | 0.247 | 0.685 | 0.309 | 23.4% |
| Batter Splits | TOR BvP | TOR vs L | Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- R.A. Dickey – If you’re willing to trust that Dickey’s knuckleball will be dancing, then he makes for an intriguing GPP play tonight in the fairly hitter friendly PNC Park. He’s simply too risky for cash games, however. Rating = 5
- Francisco Liriano – Liriano was forced out of his last start with a stomach virus, but will be looking to get back on track tonight against the Blue Jays. He was brilliant at home last season, racking up an 8-1 record to go along with a 1.47 ERA. He’s still a strong bet for at least a strikeout per inning and makes for a decent play in all circumstances. Rating = 7
Batter Grind Down
Toronto
Jose Bautista – Bautista is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now and will be looking to extend his current 12 game hitting streak. He’s tortured left-handed pitching so far this season (1.3 OPS) and is 3 for 9 in his career against Liriano.
- Additional Plays: – Edwin Encarnacion
Pittsburgh
Pedro Alvarez – Alvarez is an extremely streaky hitter and appears to be locked in right now, with hits in four straight games and a longball last night. He certainly has the power to deposit a mis-located kuckler into the seats in right field.
- Additional Plays: Gaby Sanchez, Andrew McCutchen
Milwaukee at Cincinnati
| Milwaukee | Cincinnati | ||||||||
| Yovani Gallardo | Vegas Moneyline | Johnny Cueto | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | CIN (-151) | RIGHT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.243 | 0.701 | 0.316 | 17.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.167 | 0.481 | 0.220 | 22.0% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.267 | 0.699 | 0.311 | 19.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.187 | 0.581 | 0.265 | 25.7% |
| Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs R | Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Yovani Gallardo – Gallardo has registered a quality start in each of his first six appearances this season and now sports a 1.91 ERA through 37 innings. He had much more success outside of Miller Park last season and faired rather well against the Reds in 2013 (2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts). Since last years all-star break he has returned to his old, and much more successful, ways. Rating = 6
- Johnny Cueto – To say Cueto has been excellent would be an understatement. He’s pitched at least 7 innings in every start and has yet to surrender more than 2 runs in a game. On top of the miniscule ERA and WHIP, he’s racked up 50 strikeouts through 47 innings. Rating = 8
Batter Grind Down
This game has the lowest O/U of the day and both of these pitchers appear to be locked in. I’m avoiding hitters here.
San Francisco at Atlanta
| San Francisco | Atlanta | ||||||||
| Ryan Vogelsong | Vegas Moneyline | Julio Teheran | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | ATL (-170) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.270 | 0.761 | 0.336 | 17.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.272 | 0.769 | 0.341 | 16.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.322 | 0.908 | 0.410 | 12.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.208 | 0.547 | 0.258 | 25.0% |
| Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SFG vs R | Batter Splits | ATL BvP | ATL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Ryan Vogelsong – Rostering Vogelsong is not for the weak at heart; he was terrific in his last start (7 shutout innings against Cleveland) but has been shelled in three of his five starts. He has been rocked in his two starts away from San Fran this season and shouldn’t be trusted in DFS right now. Rating = 2.5
- Julio Teheran – Teheran has pitched well enough to win all six of his starts, but bad luck and poor run support have limited him to a 2-1 record. He has been unhittable in each of his last three starts and mowed the SFG hitters down in his two meetings against them last season. Rating = 8
Batter Grind Down
San Francisco
Buster Posey – While I don’t really want to bet against Teheran, it’s tough to ignore that Posey has gone 4 for 6 with a homerun off of him in their previous meetings.
Atlanta
Freddie Freeman – Freeman has cooled off at the plate, but I love the spot he’s in tonight against Vogelsong. He’s a solid play against any righty, but Vogelsong is very hittable and Freeman already owns two career homeruns off of him in just 10 at bats.
- Additional Plays: Justin Upton