MLB Grind Down: Saturday, September 6th Page Three

by Emac (emac) Last Updated 2014-09-06 19:47:30

LA Angels at Minnesota

LA Angels					Minnesota
Cory Rasmus		Vegas Moneyline			Phil Hughes		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		MIN (-111)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left					SP vs. Left	0.257	0.645	0.284	22.10%
SP vs. Right					SP vs. Right	0.282	0.706	0.308	20.60%
Batter Splits	LAA BvP		LAA vs R		Batter Splits	MIN BvP		MIN vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Cory Rasmus – Ramsus was brilliant in his first start for the Angels, but unfortunately was lifted after three scoreless innings as he’s not “stretched out” for life as a starting pitcher. He’s been very effective out of the bullpen all season, but he’s not an appealing fantasy option due to the fact that he’s unlikely to pitch five innings. Rating = 3

Salaries: $ FD, $NA DD, $NA DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Phil Hughes – Hughes is starting to make the Yankees kick themselves for finally giving up hope on the right-hander as he now owns a 15-9 record and 3.54 ERA over 28 starts this season for Minnesota. He pitched at least seven innings in each of his last five starts and has cruised to a 5-1 record, 1.67 ERA and 0.86 WHIP since the beginning of August. His 0.75 BB/9 leads all of qualified starters this season and is the biggest reason for his improved performance. While is numbers at Target Field this season won’t blow you away, he’s been very good in three straight home starts and will lock horns with an Anaheim offense that actually ranks #28th in MLB in wOBA since the all-star break. Rating = 6

Salaries: $8600 FD, $14700 DD, $8700 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $14200 FTD

Batter Grind Down

LA Angels

Erick Aybar – He has his 17 game hitting streak snapped, but he owns a .429 batting average since the middle of August. He’s hitting .295 from the left-side of the plate this season and makes for a nice option at a this SS position.

Additional Plays: Howie Kendrick, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols

Minnesota

Additional Plays:Danny Santana, Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe are really the only players I am considering for the Twins today.

St. Louis at Milwaukee

St. Louis					Milwaukee
Lance Lynn		Vegas Moneyline			Kyle Lohse		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		MIL (-110)			RIGHT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.231	0.659	0.299	17.70%	SP vs. Left	0.250	0.730	0.321	14.80%
SP vs. Right	0.245	0.664	0.296	22.60%	SP vs. Right	0.251	0.686	0.303	19.00%
Batter Splits	STL BvP		STL vs R		Batter Splits	MIL BvP		MIL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Lance Lynn – While Adam Wainwright gets most of the attention, it’s been Lance Lynn leading the Red Birds charge into first place in the NL Central since the All-Star break. He owns a somewhat overlooked 14-8 record and 2.85 ERA after 28 starts this season, and is now 6-2 with a 2.08 ERA in 11 starts since the 4th of July. He’ll take the mound tonight in Miller Park where he’s really pitched well his entire career, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.86 ERA, 1.06 WHIP while amassing 39 strikeouts in just 34 innings. In what should likely be a playoff atmosphere, I expect another solid outing from Lynn. Rating = 6

Salaries: $8100 FD, $17000 DD, $8800 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $17450 FTD

• Kyle Lohse – In a very important NL Central battle, Milwaukee will send former Cardinal Kyle Lohse to the mound this evening. The Cardinals have not been kind to their former teammate since he left St. Louis after the 2012 season, hanging a 1-4 record, 6.09 ERA and 1.56 WHIP on Lohse in six meetings. Lohse was rocked for seven earned runs against San Francisco in his last start and seems to be alternating quality starts with complete disasters lately. With all of that said, he does own an impressive 2.25 ERA in 10 starts at Miller Park this year and this St. Louis lineup has hit the second least homeruns in MLB this season. Rating = 4.5

Salaries: $6500 FD, $14300 DD, $7200 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $14950 FTD

Batter Grind Down

St. Louis

Yadier Molina – Yadi sure seems to have picked up a few things about Lohse in his two seasons as his catcher, as he’s crushed him to the tune of 11 for 19 with three doubles and three homeruns. He’s feasted on Milwaukee pitching to the tune of a .359 average over the last three years and is a main catalyst to this St. Louis offense.

Additional Plays: Matt Adams, Matt Holliday, Kolten Wong, Matt Carpenter

Milwaukee

Gerardo Parra – Parra has heated up lately, racking up nine hits already in September. He’s found himself hitting out of the #2 hole for the Brew Crew lately and has worn out Lance Lynn in the past, going 6 for 12 with a double, a pair of triples and a homerun against the right-hander.

Additional Plays: Scooter Gennett, Ryan Braun, Jonathon Lucroy

Seattle at Texas

Seattle					Texas
Chris Young		Vegas Moneyline			Nick Martinez		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		SEA (-144)			RIGHT		9.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.249	0.780	0.343	13.60%	SP vs. Left	0.293	0.890	0.391	12.30%
SP vs. Right	0.192	0.605	0.266	17.00%	SP vs. Right	0.286	0.801	0.347	12.50%
Batter Splits	SEA BvP		SEA vs R		Batter Splits	TEX BvP		TEX vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Chris Young – His advanced stats have been calling for a regression for months, and it came in a big way in his last start where he failed to make it through the first inning against the Oakland Athletics. He’s been far less effective this season away from Safeco Field, owning a 4.71 ERA over 13 road starts. While the matchup versus a rather terrible Texas team is a plus, he still sports the highest xFIP among qualified starters and offers very little strikeout potential (5.60 K’s/9). Rating = 3

Salaries: $6400 FD, $5600 DD, $2800 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $13900 FTD

• Nick Martinez – The Rangers asked Martinez to make the jump straight from AA to the big leagues earlier this season and things have been tough for Martinez. He’s been down right terrible at Rangers Ballpark this season, where he owns a 0-5 record and 7.52 ERA in six starts. Martinez has been pounded by left-handed batters this season (.391 wOBA) which could be a recipe for disaster against this very left-handed loaded Mariners team that has already smacked him around in both prior meetings. Rating = 2.5

Salaries: $5000 FD, $9950 DD, $5800 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $9950 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Seattle

Robinson Cano – With lefties feasting on Nick Martinez all season, Robinson Cano shoots to the top of the 2B rankings today. He leads the Mariners in wOBA against right-handed pitching this season (.393 wOBA) and is 1 for 4 with a pair of walks in his brief history against Martinez.

Additional Plays: Kyle Seager, Dustin Ackley

Texas

Leonys Martin – Martin has performed much better both vs right-handed pitching and at home this season, and luckily for him he’ll get both of those things tonight. Lefties own a .343 wOBA off of Chris Young and Martin is hitting .375 since August 12th.

Additional Plays: Adrian Beltre

San Diego at Colorado

San Diego					Colorado
Joe Wieland		Vegas Moneyline			Jorge De La Rosa		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		COL (-146)			LEFT		9.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left					SP vs. Left	0.188	0.512	0.231	24.80%
SP vs. Right					SP vs. Right	0.249	0.783	0.345	15.50%
Batter Splits	SDP BvP		SDP vs L		Batter Splits	COL BvP		COL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Joe Wieland- hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2012, and was 0-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 27 innings. One thing you should know about Wieland, he actually has a decent strikeout rate in the Majors and Minors. I don’t trust him against the Rockies, but he’s someone to watch for GPPs in future starts. Rating = 2

Salaries: $5000 FD, $7500 DD, $5000 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Jorge De La Rosa – While usually targeting pitchers inside Coors Field is a recipe for disaster, perhaps things are different tonight for De La Rosa. Contrary to rational thought, he’s actually been significantly better at Coors Field this season, posting a 9-2 record with a 3.19 ERA in 13 home starts (versus 4-8 record and 5.29 ERA on the road). He’ll take on a Padres team that ranks last in nearly every offensive category including wOBA against left-handed pitching (.275 wOBA). He’s pitched very well against San Diego in two starts already this season and I expect another strong outing from him. Coors Field is a wildcard, but he’s in play tonight. Rating = 6

Salaries: $6800 FD, $12550 DD, $5900 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $12850 FTD

Batter Grind Down

San Diego

Jedd Gyorko – Gyroko has terrorized De La Rosa in the past, going 7 for 11 off of the left-hander in his career. He also owns a .998 OPS in his career at Coors Field making him a nice value option at 2B.

Additional Plays: Rene Rivera

Colorado

Charlie Blackmon – Blackmon immediately becomes a viable fantasy option anytime he squares off against a right-handed pitcher inside Coors Field. He owns a .346 wOBA against right-handed pitching and sports a .896 OPS at Coors Field this season.

Additional Plays: Nolan Arenado, Josh Rutledge, Justin Morneau, Corey Dickerson

Arizona at LA Dodgers

Arizona					LA Dodgers
Chase Anderson		Vegas Moneyline			Hyun-Jin Ryu		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		LAD (-205)			LEFT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.196	0.653	0.292	18.90%	SP vs. Left	0.269	0.626	0.279	18.70%
SP vs. Right	0.311	0.872	0.379	23.10%	SP vs. Right	0.241	0.648	0.286	22.60%
Batter Splits	ARI BvP		ARI vs L		Batter Splits	LAD BvP		LAD vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Chase Anderson – While he has been a bit inconsistent, the Arizona Diamondbacks have to be pleased with what they’ve seen from Chase Anderson this season. Through his first 18 career starts he owns an 8-6 record to go along with a solid 3.75 ERA and 8.15 K’s/9. With an xFIP identical to his actual ERA, there is plenty of reason to believe he can sustain his early success. He was excellent in his last outing, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out eight in six innings versus Colorado. He’ll have his hands full tonight against a Dodgers team that owns a .323 wOBA against right-handed pitching and Hyun-Jin Ryu will hurt his chances for a “W”. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6700 FD, $13150 DD, $6800 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $12350 FTD

• Hyun-Jin Ryu – Greinke and Ryu are switching places in the order to avoid back-to-back LHPs per Don Mattingly. Arizona has struggled all year, especially outside of Chase Field (.285wOBA on the road vs .317wOBA at home), so don’t be afraid to have Ryu on some of your lineups today.

Salaries: $8700 FD, $18100 DD, $10200 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $17600 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Arizona – nobody worth rostering outside of a GPP flyer.

Additional Plays:

LA Dodgers

Yasiel Puig – Chase Anderson has really struggled with right-handed batters (.379 wOBA) and Puig has crushed right-handed pitching to the tune of a .395 wOBA this season. He’s hitting .307 at Dodger Stadium this season and already owns a career homerun off of Chase Anderson. He may be slumping but at least it’s drastically reduced his asking price.

Additional Plays: Dee Gordon, Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner, Matt Kemp