MLB Grind Down: Sunday, August 17th

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2014-08-17 17:08:53

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

Baltimore at Cleveland

Baltimore					Cleveland
Kevin Gausman		Vegas Moneyline			Danny Salazar		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		CLE (-112)			RIGHT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.268	0.749	0.334	14.30%	SP vs. Left	0.243	0.678	0.302	27.40%
SP vs. Right	0.253	0.631	0.283	16.80%	SP vs. Right	0.310	0.925	0.396	22.70%
Batter Splits	BAL BvP		BAL vs R		Batter Splits	CLE BvP		CLE vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Kevin Gausman – Gausman- Gausman has been a very average pitcher for the Orioles this season. He has a respectable 3.90 ERA on the year, with a 1.42 WHIP. His fantasy value is hindered a bit by the fact that he has only pitched into the 7th inning once in his 12 starts, due to allowing so many base runners. He has a tough matchup against the Indians and is safe to avoid today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6100 FD, $12200 DD, $6400 DK, $76800 FF, $16500 SS, $12200 FTD

• Danny Salazar – Salazar has been recalled for the start today and will attempt to improve his 4.88 ERA. He has a tough matchup against a Baltimore offense that has some big bats in the offense. Salazar always has big time strikeout potential, but has yet to put it all together in his young career to be fantasy viable. Avoid him today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $7100 FD, $13750 DD, $7000 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Baltimore

Adam Jones – Salazar has allowed righties to mash him this year for a wOBA close to .400. Jones has had 0 hits in the first two games of this series, but prior to that he had 9 hits in his last 5 games.

Additional Plays: Chris Davis Nelson Cruz

Cleveland

Michael Brantley – Brantley has been one of my favorite cash game plays this whole season. He has a good matchup against the young RH in Gausman and should be in line for a few RBI opportunities today.

Additional Plays: Jason Kipnis Carlos Santana Lonnie Chisenhall

Seattle at Detroit

Seattle					Detroit
Chris Young		Vegas Moneyline			Robbie Ray		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		DET (-114)			LEFT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.248	0.778	0.341	13.4%	SP vs. Left
SP vs. Right	0.182	0.581	0.256	18.2%	SP vs. Right	0.326	0.827	0.368	7.80%
Batter Splits	SEA BvP		SEA vs L		Batter Splits	DET BvP		DET vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Chris Young – Young continues to defy the odds this year and pitches above his talent level. Regardless if he doesn’t allow many runs on the board, his 5.63 K/9 takes away any real fantasy value. Couple that with a matchup against the Tigers and you can stay away from Young. Rating = 3

Salaries: $7000 FD, $5700 DD, $7400 DK, $104200 FF, $20000 SS, $14450 FTD

• Robbie Ray – Ray has struggled a bit in his first 5 appearances this year. He has a 5.31 ERA and a high 1.62 WHIP this season while allowing both righties and lefties a high BAA. He has a decent matchup against the Mariners who are 29th in the league in team wOBA, and has a very low price across the industry. He makes an interesting GPP play today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6400 FD, $8150 DD, $6300 DK, $58000 FF, $13000 SS, $8150 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Seattle

Robinson Cano – It is a small sample size, but Ray has been crushed by both RH and LH bats. Cano is one of the best LH bats in the league against LH pitching and should be able to put up a nice game today.

Additional Plays:

Detroit

Victor Martinez – He continues to be my go to catcher on Fanduel as he is far and beyond the best option on the board most days. He has been so consistent against righties and has hit them for a .347 AVG.

Additional Plays: Miguel Cabrera J.D. Martinez

Chicago Cubs at NY Mets

Chicago Cubs					NY Mets
Jake Arrieta		Vegas Moneyline			Rafael Montero		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		CHC (-120)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.226	0.623	0.277	27.4%	SP vs. Left	0.286	1.065	0.451	12.50%
SP vs. Right	0.201	0.507	0.230	25.4%	SP vs. Right
Batter Splits	CHC BvP		CHC vs R		Batter Splits	NYM BvP		NYM vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Jake Arrieta – Arrieta has been probably the best Cubs starter this year even while the Shark and Hammels were in the rotation. He has a 2.77 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, while allowing 3 or less earned runs in 16 of his 18 starts this year. He has a great matchup against the Mets in Citi Field today. He is a good mid-tiered option today. Rating = 6

Salaries: $7400 FD, $14450 DD, $8000 DK, $105000 FF, $25200 SS, $14450 FTD

• Rafael Montero – Montero has been very poor in his 5 starts for the Mets. He has an overall 6.12 ERA and 1.64 WHIP, while going a max 6 innings in those starts. If he can keep the Cubs off the base pads, he has struck out 10 batters in one of his starts, but even with the Cubs matchup, I cannot trust Montero today. Rating = 3

Salaries: $5000 FD, $8350 DD, $5700 DK, $55000 FF, $13000 SS, $8350 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Chicago Cubs

Anthony Rizzo – To say that Montero has struggled against LH bats is an understatement. He has allowed a wOBA of .452 to lefties which sets up for Rizzo to have a great game and be a top option at first base today.

Additional Plays: Luis Valbuena Chris Coghlan

NY Mets

Curtis Granderson – I will most likely avoid the Mets bats today, but Granderson is always a good GPP play as he hits high in the order and still should have that home run potential.

Arizona at Miami

Arizona					Miami
Josh Collmenter		Vegas Moneyline			Tom Koehler		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		MIA (-144)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.300	0.805	0.353	13.6%	SP vs. Left	0.213	0.592	0.269	19.30%
SP vs. Right	0.224	0.679	0.297	18.2%	SP vs. Right	0.242	0.727	0.324	16.80%
Batter Splits	ARI BvP		ARI vs R		Batter Splits	MIA BvP		MIA vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Josh Collmenter – Collmenter has been very average for the Diamondbacks this year. Surprisingly, he has pitched much better at Chase Field and has an away ERA of 5.59. He will take that high ERA into a decent matchup against the Marlins in a hitters park. His low K/9 of 5.96 takes away much of his fantasy value and makes him an easy stay away. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6600 FD, $10950 DD, $6400 DK, $74600 FF, $15600 SS, $10950 FTD

• Tom Koehler – Koehler has been decent for the Marlins, but has been very good at Marlins Park. While making 11 starts this year at home, Koehler has a 2.66 ERA, and held batters to a .212 BAA. He has a good matchup against a depleted Diamondbacks team and is a cheap GPP or multi-pitcher play. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6300 FD, $13150 DD, $6500 DK, $77600 FF, $17300 SS, $13150 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Arizona

Mark Trumbo – Since coming back from injury and Goldy going down, Trumbo has tried his best to pick up the slack for the Diamondbacks. He has gotten on base in all of his last 10 games and 11 RBIs during that span.

Additional Plays: David Peralta

Miami

Christian Yelich – His price has risen at most spots, but he is so consistent that he makes a great cash game option. Collmenter has allowed a wOBA of .351 to LH bats which puts Yelich in a great play status.

Additional Plays: Garrett Jones

Houston at Boston

Houston					Boston
Collin McHugh		Vegas Moneyline			Joe Kelly		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		BOS (-145)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.211	0.637	0.286	24.9%	SP vs. Left	0.311	0.785	0.350	12.10%
SP vs. Right	0.186	0.622	0.278	30.3%	SP vs. Right	0.211	0.663	0.296	17.90%
Batter Splits	HOU BvP		HOU vs R		Batter Splits	BOS BvP		BOS vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Collin McHugh – After having a rough July, McHugh has really bounced back into form in the month of August. In his 3 starts this month, he has a 1.40 ERA and has struck out 16 batters in 19.1 innings. This recent form should continue today and considering his price is still a mid-tier level, I think he makes a decent GPP option today. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7500 FD, $17050 DD, $8700 DK, $106400 FF, $24700 SS, $17050 FTD

• Joe Kelly – Kelly has really pitched well in his first two starts for the Red Sox. He has gotten to pitch against two familiar NL opponents in their respective parks, and held them to 3 earned runs overall. He will now have to pitch in Fenway for the first time against the Astros. This is enough to scare me off in this start until we see what he can do at home. Rating = 4

Salaries: $5600 FD, $11300 DD, $6500 DK, $69000 FF, $16400 SS, $11300 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Houston

Jason Castro – Kelly has struggled against lefties this year. He has allowed them to hit for a .296 AVG and wOBA of .342.

Additional Plays: Dexter Fowler Chris Carter

Boston

David Ortiz – Now is the time to jump on the streaking Ortiz. He has 7 hits in his last 17 at bats including a double and 2 bombs.

Additional Plays: Yoenis Cespedes

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2

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