MLB Grind Down: Sunday, August 10th

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2014-08-10 16:19:39

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

Cleveland at NY Yankees

Cleveland					NY Yankees
Carlos Carrasco		Vegas Moneyline			Hiroki Kuroda		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		NYY (-139)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.261	0.691	0.309	19.80%	SP vs. Left	0.257	0.705	0.310	14.40%
SP vs. Right	0.214	0.601	0.269	26.20%	SP vs. Right	0.253	0.699	0.308	18.90%
Batter Splits	CLE BvP		CLE vs R		Batter Splits	NYY BvP		NYY vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Carlos Carrasco – Carrasco is getting another turn at starting on Sunday. His first stint as a starter did not go very well as after 4 starts he had a 6.95 ERA. He was moved to the bullpen and has since brought his ERA all the way down to 3.88. With that said, he will most likely pitch 5 innings max today and has an average matchup against the Yankees. You can avoid him today. Rating = 3

Salaries: $5000 FD, $7500 DD, $5400 DK, $NA FF, $13000 SS, $7500 FTD

• Hiroki Kuroda – Kuroda has had a very up and down season this year, but has a respectable 3.97 ERA to show for it. His problem while pitching at Yankee Stadium has been the home run as he has allowed 12 in his 12 starts there. He has a difficult matchup against the Indians today who are ranked 3rd in the league in team wOBA (.329). I will be avoiding him due to the matchup and park. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7100 FD, $13250 DD, $7200 DK, $81900 FF, $20500 SS, $13250 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Cleveland

Michael Brantley – Brantley is one of the hottest hitters in the league at the moment. He is crushing RH pitching this year for a wOBA of .422. He makes a great play today in Yankees Stadium where he went deep yesterday.

Additional Plays: Jason Kipnis Carlos Santana Lonnie Chisenhall

NY Yankees

Jacoby Ellsbury – I will be looking a lot at the lefty bats for the Yankees today and Ellsbury comes with a bit of a cheaper price tag at some sites than Gardner at the moment.

Additional Plays: Brett Gardner Carlos Beltran

Detroit at Toronto

Detroit					Toronto
David Price		Vegas Moneyline			Mark Buehrle		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		DET (-139)			LEFT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.251	0.697	0.307	25.0%	SP vs. Left	0.280	0.763	0.337	12.30%
SP vs. Right	0.231	0.638	0.280	28.4%	SP vs. Right	0.278	0.753	0.332	14.20%
Batter Splits	DET BvP		DET vs L		Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• David Price – Even though Price allowed 3 earned runs and 2 home runs in his first start with the Tigers, he showed what a great fantasy option he is game in and game out. In that start he went 8.2 innings with 10 strikeouts, while throwing 112 pitches. Price continues to go deep into each and every matchup and will need to in a tough matchup against the Blue Jays. Without Encarnacion, this Blue Jays lineup is not nearly as scary and is 21st in the league in team wOBA against LH pitching. Price also shut this offense down about 3 weeks ago going 8 innings and allowing 0 earned runs. Price makes a great option on a day with a lot of studs going. Rating = 8

Salaries: $11300 FD, $22100 DD, $12500 DK, $147400 FF, $31900 SS, $22100 FTD

• Mark Buehrle – Buehrle has pitched well all year and has a 3.27 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Pitching in Rogers Centre has not been a big issue for him as he has a 3.60 ERA at home. The matchup today is the problem as all the big bats of the Tigers will be looking to give Price a lot of run support. Due to the tough matchup, Buehrle is an avoid. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6700 FD, $12200 DD, $5100 DK, $58700 FF, $14900 SS, $12200 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Detroit

Victor Martinez – Vmart takes top billing over Miggy today (who also makes a great play) due to his history against Buehrle. Vmart is 27/76 with 4 home runs and 15 RBIs.

Additional Plays: Miguel Cabrera Ian Kinsler

Toronto

I think that Price shuts down this offense today. Joey Bats may make a good GPP option as he will be very low owned today, but it is very risky.

Miami at Cincinnati

Miami					Cincinnati
Brad Hand		Vegas Moneyline			Johnny Cueto		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		CIN (-180)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.231	0.666	0.289	14.3%	SP vs. Left	0.189	0.531	0.244	25.10%
SP vs. Right	0.270	0.759	0.334	14.6%	SP vs. Right	0.172	0.539	0.243	26.30%
Batter Splits	MIA BvP		MIA vs R		Batter Splits	CIN BvP		CIN vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Brad Hand – Hand has really surprised me this season. He has not allowed more than 3 earned runs in his 7 starts since being moved into the rotation. With that said, he does not go deep into games and has a strikeout rate of 5.64 K/9. Even with a great matchup against the Reds, Hand is a tough fantasy option. Rating = 4

Salaries: $5600 FD, $10100 DD, $6000 DK, $67500 FF, $16000 SS, $NA FTD

• Johnny Cueto – Deciding which Ace to start for your cash games is going to be tough today. There are a few with nice matchups, but none have a better matchup than Cueto. Cueto has bounced back from that rough couple of game stretch (rough by his standards) and has an overall 2.04 ERA on the season and still a sub 1.00 WHIP. His 9.02 K/9 puts him into an elite category, especially against a Marlins squad who strikes out at a higher clip than any team in the league against RH pitching (24.1%). Cueto just dominated this Marlins squad two starts ago and should do it again today. Due to his depressed price from the other studs, he makes my top dollar for dollar cash game play. Rating = 10

Salaries: $10400 FD, $19550 DD, $9900 DK, $153000 FF, $32200 SS, $19550 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Miami

Avoid the Miami bats today because Cueto is going to shut them down.

Cincinnati

Devin Mesoraco – Mesoraco is one of the top catching options today as he has a great matchup againt Brad Hand. Mesoraco has a wOBA of .358 against LH pitching this year and has hit well recently (.304 AVG in last week).

Additional Plays: Todd Frazier Ryan Ludwick

San Diego at Pittsburgh

San Diego					Pittsburgh
Tyson Ross		Vegas Moneyline			Charlie Morton		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		PIT (-117)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.211	0.600	0.274	24.2%	SP vs. Left	0.223	0.634	0.290	19.70%
SP vs. Right	0.233	0.645	0.289	25.3%	SP vs. Right	0.248	0.706	0.317	17.20%
Batter Splits	SDP BvP		SDP vs R		Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Tyson Ross – Ross has been a very quality starter for the Padres this year. He has an overall 2.62 ERA, but the problem here is he is dominant at the friendly confines of Petco. Today’s game takes place at PNC and Ross has just a respectable 3.53 ERA away from home. He gets a decent matchup against the Pirates who are missing Cutch today, but is quite expensive to take away from Petco. Rating = 6

Salaries: $8500 FD, $18200 DD, $9600 DK, $127500 FF, $28600 SS, $18200 FTD

• Charlie Morton – Morton has pitched very well this year and has a 3.43 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He wins the matchup lottery today as he gets the best one on the board against the Padres who have been playing better, but are still the Padres. He is a small favorite is a game with a low total and his 6.98 K/9 is high enough to make Morton a decent GPP option due to his low price. Rating = 6

Salaries: $6800 FD, $13000 DD, $6300 DK, $63400 FF, $19400 SS, $13000 FTD

Batter Grind Down

San Diego

Seth Smith – Smith has hit RH pitching well this year and has been decent recently. He has gotten on base in his last 5 games straight and should hit in the heart of the order against Morton today.

Pittsburgh

Ross has a good shot at shutting down this whole offense. I am going to avoid the Pirate bats today.

St. Louis at Baltimore

St. Louis					Baltimore
Lance Lynn		Vegas Moneyline			Kevin Gausman		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		BAL (-122)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.227	0.666	0.303	18.0%	SP vs. Left	0.268	0.749	0.334	14.30%
SP vs. Right	0.238	0.645	0.287	23.9%	SP vs. Right	0.253	0.631	0.283	16.80%
Batter Splits	STL BvP		STL vs R		Batter Splits	BAL BvP		BAL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Lance Lynn – Lynn has been a great option for the Cardinals, especially over the last month. In his last 6 starts, Lynn has given up 2 or less earned runs in each start while going at least 6 innings. He has dropped his season ERA to 2.89 with a WHIP of 1.28. He has a tough matchup against the Orioles, but makes a decent 2nd pitcher option today. Rating = 6

Salaries: $8200 FD, $17100 DD, $8900 DK, $106200 FF, $26300 SS, $17100 FTD

• Kevin Gausman – Gausman has been an average starting pitcher since coming into the rotation this year. He has a respectable 3.77 ERA and 1.37 WHIP after making 11 starts for the Orioles. His fantasy value is extremely depressed by his low strikeout numbers (5.81 K/9), which really takes away any potential for a GPP play today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6100 FD, $12450 DD, $6400 DK, $67800 FF, $17100 SS, $12450 FTD

Batter Grind Down

St. Louis

Matt Adams – Adams is always in play against RH pitching and makes a great cheap option today against Gausman who allows lefties to a wOBA of .334 this year.

Additional Plays: Matt Carpenter

Baltimore

Chris Davis – I think it is the time to play Davis as he might be finally out of his season long slump. He is still not hitting for average, but does have 3 home runs in his last 5 games and makes a decent GPP option today.

Additional Plays: Nick Markakis

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2

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