MLB Grind Down: Sunday, July 20th

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2014-07-20 15:21:42

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

Cincinnati at NY Yankees

Cincinnati					NY Yankees
Johnny Cueto		Vegas Moneyline			Hiroki Kuroda		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		CIN (-105)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.199	0.542	0.248	22.9%	SP vs. Left	0.262	0.734	0.323	16.1%
SP vs. Right	0.181	0.533	0.249	24.6%	SP vs. Right	0.246	0.640	0.285	19.7%
Batter Splits	CIN BvP		CIN vs R		Batter Splits	NYY BvP		NYY vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Johnny Cueto – Cueto comes into this matchup against the Yankees with a 2.13 ERA and a still ridiculous 0.89 WHIP. Cueto continues to K at a high 8.83 K/9, but enters this game as a very small favorite in hitter friendly Yankee Stadium. I think Cueto throws a good game today, and makes a cheaper play than Kershaw who should be heavily owned tonight, but there are some real good options today that are a bit cheaper than Cueto. Rating = 8

Salaries: $10200 FD, $NA DS, $18800 DD, $10300 DK, $130600 FF, $30600 SS, $18800 FTD

• Hiroki Kuroda – Kuroda had a real rough first half of the season for his standards. He has a 4.10 ERA, which has slowly dropped over a point from his early season struggles in April. He is in a tough spot as Cueto should pitch well, but at sites where a win is not important, Kuroda makes a decent GPP play. Rating = 6

Salaries: $7100 FD, $ DS, $12850 DD, $7500 DK, $74700 FF, $20000 SS, $12850 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Cincinnati

Devin Mesoraco – Mesoraco has been a great catcher to play in R/R matchups this year. He has a wOBA of .423 against RH pitchers and will look to continue this against Kuroda today.

Additional Plays: Todd Frazier Jay Bruce

NY Yankees

I will not be paying up for any of the Yankee bats today against Cueto.

Texas at Toronto

Texas					Toronto
Nick Tepesch		Vegas Moneyline			Mark Buehrle		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		TOR (-162)			LEFT		9.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.274	0.785	0.351	16.2%	SP vs. Left	0.256	0.700	0.319	14.0%
SP vs. Right	0.252	0.692	0.315	19.4%	SP vs. Right	0.275	0.734	0.325	15.6%
Batter Splits	TEX BvP		TEX vs L		Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Nick Tepesch – Nick Tepesch has not been a viable fantasy starter this year and will continue that trend today against the Blue Jays. He has a 4.31 ERA after 10 starts this year and will go into a very hitter friendly environment at the Rogers Centre as a big underdog. Avoid him today. Rating = 2

Salaries: $5300 FD, $NA DS, $10950 DD, $5600 DK, $55500 FF, $14200 SS, $10950 FTD

• Mark Buehrle – Buehrle really impressed in the first half of the season. He has a surprisingly low 2.64 ERA and has pitched very well at Rogers Centre (2.85 ERA). This Rangers team is 7th in the league in team wOBA against LH pitchers (.332) which hurts Buehrle’s value a lot here, but does make a good GPP option today. Rating = 6

Salaries: $7600 FD, $ DS, $13850 DD, $6000 DK, $85300 FF, $19200 SS, $13850 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Texas

Adrian Beltre – Since Rios sprained his ankle, Beltre becomes the top Ranger against a lefty. Beltre has hit Buehrle well in his career (12/36) and is crushing lefties for a wOBA of .404.

Additional Plays: Elvis Andrus Jake Smolinski

Toronto

Joey Bautista – Tepesch has allowed RH batters to hit him very well this year (.506 SLG, .360 wOBA) and Joey Bats is going to have to carry this team for a few weeks here after the break. This Jays team looks like a great mini-stack today.

Additional Plays: Melky Cabrera Jose Reyes Colby Rasmus Juan Francisco

Cleveland at Detroit

Cleveland					Detroit
Josh Tomlin		Vegas Moneyline			Drew Smyly		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		DET (-140)			LEFT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.211	0.612	0.268	23.7%	SP vs. Left	0.164	0.425	0.191	28.6%
SP vs. Right	0.309	0.834	0.362	18.8%	SP vs. Right	0.289	0.828	0.363	20.0%
Batter Splits	CLE BvP		CLE vs L		Batter Splits	DET BvP		DET vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Josh Tomlin – The other highest total game pits Tomlin against Smyly today. Tomlin has struggled all season and has a 4.21 ERA. He gives up way too many runs and has too tough of a matchup to be fantasy worthy. Rating = 3

Salaries: $6100 FD, $NA DS, $12950 DD, $6400 DK, $91800 FF, $17900 SS, $12950 FTD

• Drew Smyly – Smyly is a big favorite today, but that may point in the direction of Tomlin being so bad for the Indians, more than Smyly being an option. He has 4.00 ERA this year and a 1.37 WHIP. His low 7.19 K/9 does not help his value and the high total makes him a stay away today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6300 FD, $ DS, $11050 DD, $6200 DK, $63200 FF, $14800 SS, $11050 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Cleveland

Yan Gomes – Gomes got a nice rest last night after going 3/4 in the day game. He is mashing LH pitching this year (.377 wOBA( and is in play against Smyly who is allowing righties to hit for a .312 AVG and .531 SLG.

Additional Plays: Carlos Santana Nick Swisher Michael Brantley

Detroit

Miguel Cabrera – He is an obvious great play at first base today. Tomlin has struggled against RH batters this year and Miggy is crushing them. I expect big things out of the second half of the season for Cabrera.

Additional Plays: J.D. Martinez Victor Martinez Torii Hunter

San Francisco at Miami

San Francisco					Miami
Tim Lincecum		Vegas Moneyline			Brad Hand		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		SFG (-122)			LEFT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.237	0.675	0.310	20.6%	SP vs. Left	0.219	0.624	0.282	19.5%
SP vs. Right	0.250	0.715	0.321	24.2%	SP vs. Right	0.273	0.802	0.359	15.7%
Batter Splits	SFG BvP		SFG vs L		Batter Splits	MIA BvP		MIA vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Tim Lincecum – What has gotten in the Freak latley? He has only allowed 1 earned run in his last 4 starts, and has had 24 strike outs in 30 innings during that stretch. He could continue this dominance today against the Marlins who strikeout by far more than any team in the league against RH pitching. His price is getting a bit tough to pay for, but I do like him to pitch well again. Rating = 7

Salaries: $8100 FD, $NA DS, $17550 DD, $9000 DK, $133600 FF, $25600 SS, $17550 FTD

• Brad Hand – Hand has gotten roughed up in his first few starts and has a 5.26 ERA to show for it. He is allowing way to many base runners and has not pitched passed 100 pitches in any of his 5 starts. Avoid him today. Rating = 3

Salaries: $5100 FD, $ DS, $8650 DD, $5200 DK, $55000 FF, $13000 SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

San Francisco

Hunter Pence – Of course Posey is in play today as the top catching option, but Pence’s price should be down at most sites due to his struggles prior to the break. He bounced back yesterday with a nice game and raked against lefties in the first half of the year (.388 wOBA).

Additional Plays: Pablo Sandoval Buster Posey

Miami

Christian Yelich – Yelich makes a decent play against Lincecum today. He has hit well against RH pitching all year (.348 wOBA) and should be hitting at the top of the order today.

Additional Plays: Garrett Jones

Kansas City at Boston

Kansas City					Boston
Yordano Ventura		Vegas Moneyline			Jon Lester		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		BOS (-144)			LEFT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.229	0.636	0.284	19.7%	SP vs. Left	0.242	0.667	0.294	27.0%
SP vs. Right	0.271	0.745	0.328	19.0%	SP vs. Right	0.251	0.679	0.306	19.7%
Batter Splits	KCR BvP		KCR vs L		Batter Splits	BOS BvP		BOS vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Yordano Ventura – Ventura has had some real good moments of his rookie career as well as some subpar ones. Overall, he has a very good 3.22 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. His K/9 of 7.64 is a bit disappointing, but does not destroy his value. He faces a Red Sox squad who may be starting to find their groove. He is in play where is salary is low, but for GPPs only. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7500 FD, $NA DS, $14250 DD, $6800 DK, $85600 FF, $19700 SS, $14250 FTD

• Jon Lester – Lester has been very good all season long, but especially prior to the break. He had only allowed 5 earned runs in his last 6 starts, improving his season ERA to 2.65. His 9.35 K/9 will be tested by the Royals offense who strikes out least in the league. Lester is a heavy favorite and makes a very good play today. Rating = 8

Salaries: $9700 FD, $ DS, $20450 DD, $10400 DK, $128600 FF, $30000 SS, $20450 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Kansas City

I will be avoiding the Royals bats today.

Boston

Mike Napoli – Napoli has hit RH pitching very well this year and Ventura has struggled much more against righties than lefties. Napoli was hot right before break (6 hits in last 4 games) and will look to continue against the rookie pitcher.

Additional Plays: David Ortiz Brock Holt

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2

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