MLB Grind Down: Sunday, August 31st

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2014-08-31 23:23:48

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

NY Yankees at Toronto

NY Yankees					Toronto
Brandon McCarthy		Vegas Moneyline			J.A. Happ		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		NYY (-120)			LEFT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.297	0.757	0.333	21.10%	SP vs. Left	0.240	0.795	0.350	23.70%
SP vs. Right	0.269	0.739	0.320	20.90%	SP vs. Right	0.270	0.772	0.339	18.60%
Batter Splits	NYY BvP		NYY vs L		Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Brandon McCarthy – McCarthy got roughed up in his last start by the Tigers and now has another tough matchup against the Blue Jays. Toronto is at the top of league in wOBA against RH pitching this year (.335). This game is also taking place in very hitter friendly Rogers Centre. McCarthy has had some moments of brilliance since being acquired by the Yankees, but makes a GPP only play today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $7400 FD, $15150 DD, $8300 DK, $NA FF, $22900 SS, $15550 FTD

• J.A. Happ – Happ is always an average pitcher in the league and for fantasy purposes. He has a 4.40 ERA on the year and 1.41 WHIP. He has also been a bit HR prone in his last few starts allowing 5 in his last 4. He is a risky option at best and GPP only as well. Rating= 4

Salaries: $6300 FD, $12050 DD, $6600 DK, $ FF, $14100 SS, $11800 FTD

Batter Grind Down

NY Yankees

Carlos Beltran – Beltran makes a great play today as Ellsbury will most likely be held out of this game due to a sore ankle. Beltran should be hitting in the cleanup spot today and has hit Happ well in his career going 7/21 with 3 home runs.

Additional Plays: Mark Teixeira, Martin Prado

Toronto

Melky Cabrera – Melky has been one of my favorite cash game plays all year long. If you want a GPP play, Joey Bats has hit a home run in 4 straight games.

Additional Plays: Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes

Philadelphia at NY Mets

Philadelphia					NY Mets
A.J. Burnett		Vegas Moneyline			Dillon Gee		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		NYM (-125)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.236	0.774	0.345	18.5%	SP vs. Left	0.225	0.685	0.305	11.80%
SP vs. Right	0.253	0.704	0.314	21.9%	SP vs. Right	0.220	0.674	0.301	21.00%
Batter Splits	PHI BvP		PHI vs R		Batter Splits	NYM BvP		NYM vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• A.J. Burnett – Burnett bounced back from a stretch where he allowed 21 runs in 4 starts combined. He has not been the same pitcher post All star break as he has a 5.63 ERA in his 8 starts since. Add this to the fact that he has been roughed up in each of his 3 starts against this Mets squad giving up 5 earned runs or more in each. Avoid him today. Rating = 3

Salaries: $7200 FD, $14350 DD, $7800 DK, $NA FF, $16900 SS, $13600 FTD

• Dillon Gee – Gee has had an average season for the Mets. He holds a decent 3.77 ERA and low 1.16 WHIP this year. Gee is a tough start due to his low K/9 of 5.95. His matchup is a good one against the Phillies who have struggled all year long, which makes Gee a decent start on multi-pitcher sites where he is cheap,Rating = 5

Salaries: $6400 FD, $11550 DD, $7100 DK, $ FF, $17600 SS, $11350 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Philadelphia

Ryan Howard – This may be the BvP play of the day. Howard is 9 for 23 off of Gee with a ridiculous 6 home runs.

Additional Plays: Jimmy Rollins

NY Mets

Lucas Duda – Duda has been one of the best hitters for the Mets all year long. He gets a matchup today against Burnett who is allowing a wOBA of .345 to LH bats.

Additional Plays: Curtis Granderson

Minnesota at Baltimore

Minnesota					Baltimore
Ricky Nolasco		Vegas Moneyline			Wei-Yin Chen		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		BAL (-158)			LEFT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.332	0.919	0.400	13.7%	SP vs. Left	0.283	0.716	0.317	16.30%
SP vs. Right	0.296	0.836	0.361	18.9%	SP vs. Right	0.264	0.765	0.333	18.10%
Batter Splits	MIN BvP		MIN vs L		Batter Splits	BAL BvP		BAL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Ricky Nolasco – This has been a very forgettable season for Nolasco and he has really struggled all year long. He holds a 5.62 ERA and 1.53 WHIP for the Twins. He has a very tough matchup today against a Orioles squad that has been playing well recently. Avoid him today. Rating = 3

Salaries: $5400 FD, $9250 DD, $6100 DK, $NA FF, $13000 SS, $8950 FTD

• Wei-Yin Chen – Chen continues to give up a lot of home runs (21 in 25 starts), but someone also continues to keep too many runs from scoring. Chen has a 3.76 ERA and1.25 WHIP. Chen is a heavy favorite today and makes a decent GPP/multi-pitcher site option. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7000 FD, $13800 DD, $8100 DK, $ FF, $20100 SS, $14000 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Minnesota

Danny Santana – This guy has been a big bright spot in the Twins lineup since becoming an every day starter. He has 6 multi-hit games in his last 10 and has 5 extra base hits during that span too.

Additional Plays: Kenny Vargas

Baltimore

Delmon Young – The whole Baltimore OF is in play today, but Young gives a lot of salary relief compared to the rest. He has been swinging a hot bat recently and has moved up in the order. Don’t be afraid to run a mini-stack of these guys today.

Additional Plays: Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz , Nick Markakis

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

Cincinnati					Pittsburgh
Johnny Cueto		Vegas Moneyline			Francisco Liriano		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		PIT (-126)			LEFT		6.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.201	0.571	0.262	23.5%	SP vs. Left	0.275	0.763	0.339	29.80%
SP vs. Right	0.178	0.560	0.251	26.8%	SP vs. Right	0.212	0.662	0.297	23.80%
Batter Splits	CIN BvP		CIN vs L		Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Johnny Cueto – Cueto has not been himself in his last few starts. He allowed 3 earned runs to the Cubs and 4 to the Cards. More concerning is the fact that he has not been able to get passed the 7th inning like we have been accustomed to all season. Regardless, any time Cueto takes the mound he is a top Ace regardless of matchup, yet I may be looking for other options today if I am going to pay up. Rating = 7

Salaries: $10100 FD, $18950 DD, $11100 DK, $NA FF, $30300 SS, $19050 FTD

• Francisco Liriano – Liriano has been very good since being on the DL for the month of June. Other than the one real bad start against the Braves, Liriano has not allowed more than 2 earned runs in 7 of his last 8 starts. The Reds have hit him well this year (5.00 ERA in 3 starts), but I think makes a very good GPP play as I feel many will not play him due to Cueto being on the mound against him. Rating = 6

Salaries: $7500 FD, $14250 DD, $9800 DK, $ FF, $17200 SS, $13800 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Cincinnati

Todd Frazier – Frazier has been great at the third base position this year. He has 2 home runs in 17 career at bats against Liriano as well.

Pittsburgh

Ignore the Bats against Cueto today.

Boston at Tampa Bay

Boston					Tampa Bay
Clay Buchholz		Vegas Moneyline			Alex Cobb		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		TBR (-155)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.289	0.809	0.360	16.0%	SP vs. Left	0.205	0.587	0.264	21.70%
SP vs. Right	0.276	0.747	0.327	19.4%	SP vs. Right	0.248	0.649	0.296	24.60%
Batter Splits	BOS BvP		BOS vs R		Batter Splits	TBR BvP		TBR vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Clay Buchholz – Buchholz has really been bad for the Red Sox. He has a 5+ ERA after 22 starts and a 1.50 WHIP. He has had some ridiculously good starts mixed in here and there this season, but they are nearly impossible to predict. Avoid him until he becomes a more consistent option. Rating = 3

Salaries: $6200 FD, $12600 DD, $6200 DK, $NA FF, $14700 SS, $12550 FTD

• Alex Cobb – Cobb on the other hand has been very good for the Rays all year. He has not allowed more than 2 earned runs since the 4th of July and has strike out 6 or more batters in 7 of his 9 starts during that stretch. He has a decent matchup today against the Red Sox and a big favorite in a game with a 7 total (with Buchholz on the mound). I like Cobb a lot today as a mid-tiered option. Rating = 7

Salaries: $8400 FD, $16450 DD, $10100 DK, $ FF, $26000 SS, $16600 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Boston

I think Cobb pitches well today and will not be targeting the bats.

Tampa Bay

Matt Joyce – Joyce makes a great option today as Buchholz has really struggled against LH bats this year. He is allowing a wOBA of .360 to them on the year and Joyce should be in the 3 spot against the righty.

Additional Plays: Ben Zobrist, James Loney, Evan Longoria

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2

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