MLB Grind Down: Sunday, June 14 - Page Two
NY Yankees at Baltimore – 1:35 PM EST
| NY Yankees | Baltimore | ||||||||
 | Adam Warren |  | Mike Wright | ||||||
| RIGHT | Right | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| BAL (0) | 0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.203 | 0.581 | 0.259 | 0.202 | SP vs. Left | 0.286 | 0.857 | 0.372 | 0.111 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.235 | 0.69 | 0.307 | 0.189 | SP vs. Right | 0.184 | 0.517 | 0.213 | 0.212 |
| Batter Splits | NYY BvP | NYY vs R | Batter Splits | BAL BvP | BAL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Adam Warren – Warren notched his fifth straight quality start in his last outing and now sports a very respectable 4-4 record with a 3.64 ERA and 1.20 WHIP after 11 starts in 2015. Warren flashed plenty of potential during the 2014 season where he posted a 2.97 ERA and 8.69 K/9 over 78.2 innings of work, but unfortunately for fantasy purposes, those strikeout numbers have not carried over into 2015 (5.32 K/9). Warren hasn’t been nearly as effective away from Yankee Stadium during his brief career and today’s matchup against a Baltimore team that hit the most home runs in baseball last season is not ideal. Rating = 5
Salaries: $6,800 FD, $5,400 DK
Mike Wright – With Miguel Gonzalez hitting the DL, the Orioles will recall Mike Wright from AAA Norfolk for today’s start. He dazzled the Baltimore faithful in each of his first two career starts at the MLB level, but was roughed up a bit in his last start and subsequently returned to the minors. He’s posted a nice 4-0 record with a 2.45 ERA while racking up a strikeout per inning at AAA this season, but will have his hands full with this left-handed heavy Yankees lineup. We’ve seen what he’s capable already this season, making him a fine GPP target, but he’s just not on my cash game radar today. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6,700 FD, $5,600 DK
Batter Grind Down
NY Yankees
Brett Gardner – (LHB) – Garnder had his six-game hitting streak snapped last night, but owns a .291 average with 15 stolen bases this season against right-handed pitching. The Yankees should be able to put up a few crooked numbers today and their leadoff man should be right in the midst of the damage.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.353 wOBA: 0.132 ISO: 127 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Alex Rodriguez – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.393 wOBA: 0.245 ISO: 155 wRC+
Mark Teixeira – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.405 wOBA: 0.343 ISO: 163 wRC+
Brian McCann – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.371 wOBA: 0.254 ISO: 139 wRC+
Baltimore
Manny Machado – (RHB) – If you’re a BvsP fan, then you’ll love the fact that Machado is 6 for 7 during his career against Adam Warren. Machado is red hot at the plate and now owns a .462 average and three home runs during his current seven-game hitting streak.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.355 wOBA: 0.199 ISO: 128 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Adam Jones – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.343 wOBA: 0.179 ISO: 120 wRC+
Chris Davis – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.328 wOBA: 0.237 ISO: 109 wRC+
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh – 1:35 PM EST
| Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | ||||||||
 | Cole Hamels |  | A.J. Burnett | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| PIT (-137) | 7 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.188 | 0.574 | 0.268 | 0.211 | SP vs. Left | 0.236 | 0.742 | 0.333 | 0.189 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.233 | 0.655 | 0.289 | 0.252 | SP vs. Right | 0.258 | 0.695 | 0.308 | 0.227 |
| Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Cole Hamels – Hamels wasn’t his usual sharp self in his last outing, but still brings a very respectable 3.19 ERA and 1.15 WHIP to the mound at PNC Park today. While this Pirates lineup does possess several guys who hit left-handed pitching well, they own just a disappointing .295 team wOBA against left-handed pitching, and Hamels faced little resistance when they squared off last month (7 IP, 2ER, 9K’s and a “W”). Securing wins hasn’t been an easy task for Hamels over the past few seasons, so he’s a better play on the sites that don’t offer heavy win bonuses, but his 25.3 K% and 3.42 SIERA are both rock solid. Rating = 7.5
Salaries: $9,700 FD, $10,800 DK
A.J. Burnett – Burnett bounced back from two mediocre starts by tossing seven innings of one-run ball against the Brewers on Monday and now owns a sparkling 6-2 record with a 2.11 ERA through his first 12 starts in 2015. Today’s home matchup against MLB’s worst offensive team, the Philadelphia Phillies, propels him up the starting pitcher rankings today. Burnett cruised to an easy victory against his former team when they met last month and has thrived at PNC Park this season, posting a 1.60 ERA in five home starts. The soft matchup and decent strikeout potential (8.22 K/9) makes him a nice option in all scenarios. Rating = 7.5
Salaries: $9,200 FD, $9,500 DK
Batter Grind Down
Philadelphia
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Maikel Franco – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.371 wOBA: 0.244 ISO: 135 wRC+
Pittsburgh
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Andrew McCutchen – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.319 wOBA: 0.121 ISO: 104 wRC+
Starling Marte – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.524 wOBA: 0.5 ISO: 241 wRC+
Jordy Mercer – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.276 wOBA: 0.08 ISO: 74 wRC+
Seattle at Houston – 2:10 PM EST
| Seattle | Houston | ||||||||
 | Roenis Elias |  | Lance McCullers | ||||||
| LEFT | Right | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| HOU (-130) | 8 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.221 | 0.662 | 0.299 | 0.249 | SP vs. Left | 0.133 | 0.42 | 0.199 | 0.28 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.252 | 0.728 | 0.323 | 0.19 | SP vs. Right | 0.267 | 0.691 | 0.295 | 0.313 |
| Batter Splits | SEA vs R | Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs L | |||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Roenis Elias – After a rough start to the 2014 season, Elias found his groove and posted a 2.31 ERA during ten second half starts last season. That success has carried over into the 2015 season as Elias owns a 2.79 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through his first nine starts. With that said, he’ll head to the hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park to take on an Astros team that leads MLB in home runs this season. However, Houston has fallen on rough times lately and their 24.1 K% against left-handed pitching is the second highest in MLB. Elias’ ceiling is somewhat limited, but he’s a decent option as a value play on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $8,000 FD, $7,200 DK
Lance McCullers – Lost in the shuffle of George Springer and Carlos Correa is another first round pick in Lance McCullers who has burst onto the MLB scene to help stabilize the Astros starting rotation. The 21-year-old is armed with a mid-90’s fastball and nasty curveball and has utilized them to post a 2-1 record with a 2.32 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and rack up 36 strikeouts in 31 innings of work at the MLB level. McCullers absolutely dominated AA prior to his promotion (0.62 ERA In 29 innings) and looks poised to become a top-of-the-rotation pitcher for the Astros for years to come. There will undoubtedly be some road blocks along the way, perhaps scaring some of the risk-adverse away, but it’s hard not to be excited about what we’ve seen thus far. He’ll face a Seattle team that owns just a .295 team wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and their 23.2 K% is the fourth-highest in MLB. Rating = 6.5
Salaries: $6,700 FD, $7,800 DK
Batter Grind Down
Seattle
Secondary Plays:
Robinson Cano – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.283 wOBA: 0.099 ISO: 82 wRC+
Nelson Cruz – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.371 wOBA: 0.212 ISO: 145 wRC+
Kyle Seager – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.324 wOBA: 0.173 ISO: 112 wRC+
Houston
Evan Gattis – (RHB) – He may be in the midst of a ten-game home run drought, but he’s still an elite play behind the plate today. Gattis is locked into a spot in the heart of the Astros batting order and posted a .343 average and .970 OPS against left-handed pitching last season.
2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.24 wOBA: 0.175 ISO: 50 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
George Springer – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.407 wOBA: 0.225 ISO: 167 wRC+
Carlos Correa – (RHB) –
Washington at Milwaukee – 2:10 PM EST
| Washington | Milwaukee | ||||||||
 | Max Scherzer |  | Taylor Jungmann | ||||||
| RIGHT | Right | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| WAS (-141) | 7 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.235 | 0.656 | 0.292 | 0.254 | SP vs. Left | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.214 | 0.6 | 0.266 | 0.321 | SP vs. Right | ||||
| Batter Splits | WAS BvP | WAS vs R | Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Max Scherzer – Scherzer has coughed up four earned runs in each of his last two starts, but despite that minor setback, he’s done nothing this season to make the Washington front office second guess their offseason purchase. Scherzer will take the mound at Miller Park sporting a 6-5 record with a rock solid 2.13 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 10.35 K/9 through his first 12 starts in a Nationals uniform. Miller Park can be a difficult venue to pitch in, but the cellar dwelling Brewers own just .293 team wOBA against right-handed pitching and Max owns a 3-1 record with a 1.55 in six road starts this season. His upside is off the charts and he’s one of several terrific options for all game types. Rating = 9
Salaries: $11,400 FD, $11,700 DK
Taylor Jungmann – Jungmann, the Brewers’ first-round pick in the 2011 draft, was terrific in his MLB debut last week; allowing just one run (a solo HR off the bat of Starling Marte) over seven innings on his way to his first MLB win. However, before you get too excited, it’s also worth noting that he was really struggling at the AAA level prior to his promotion, where he owned a 6.37 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 59.1 innings. He basically lived off his fastball in that first start and something tells me he’ll have his hands full today against this very dangerous (and now rather healthy) Nationals lineup. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5,600 FD, $4,800 DK
Batter Grind Down
Washington
Bryce Harper – (LHB) – With an inexperienced right-hander on the mound for the Brewers, Harper is solidified as an excellent option in the outfield once again today. Harper picked up three more hits yesterday and now owns a .343 average and ridiculous 1.204 OPS on the season. Just make sure he’s in the lineup (he was beaned in the knee yesterday).
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.516 wOBA: 0.438 ISO: 232 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Denard Span – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.39 wOBA: 0.192 ISO: 148 wRC+
Milwaukee
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Adam Lind – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.389 wOBA: 0.22 ISO: 145 wRC+
Kansas City at St. Louis – 2:15 PM EST
| Kansas City | St. Louis | ||||||||
 | Chris Young |  | John Lackey | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| STL (-137) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.249 | 0.778 | 0.341 | 0.139 | SP vs. Left | 0.258 | 0.728 | 0.319 | 0.168 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.183 | 0.592 | 0.259 | 0.196 | SP vs. Right | 0.255 | 0.681 | 0.301 | 0.215 |
| Batter Splits | KCR BvP | KC vs R | Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Chris Young – I can’t tell you how he’s doing it, but somehow Young will take the mound at Busch Stadium owning an impressive 5-2 record with a 2.25 ERA and 0.94 WHIP this season. Young held this Cardinals lineup scoreless when they squared off last season and was terrific in his last outing where he allowed just one hit over 6.1 shutout innings against the Twins. However, his xFIP of 4.99 and his .196 BABIP are both signs that a regression is imminent and his 6.23 K/9 leaves a lot to be desired. Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $6,300 FD, $4,500 DK
John Lackey – Lackey was disastrous in his last start, but as a fantasy player (and as a Cardinals fan), I’m willing to write that performance off as collateral damage from visiting Coors Field. That start aside, the veteran right-hander owns a 4-2 record with a 2.97 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in his other nine starts. Lackey has been dominant at Busch Stadium since becoming a Cardinal during the middle of last season; posting a 6-1 record with a 2.02 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 11 starts in front of Cardinals Nation. With that said, this Kansas City lineup not only defeated Lackey when they met last month, but they also strike out less often than any other team in baseball. Lackey is best served as a secondary arm on multi-pitcher sites this afternoon. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $8,200 FD, $8,100 DK
Batter Grind Down
Kansas City
Alex Gordon – (LHB) – John Lackey has struggled with left-handed batters this season (.346 wOBA) and Gordon looks to be heating up. Gordon homered yesterday to extend his hitting streak to five games and has thrived away from Kansas City this season, posting a .308 average and 1.024 OPS on the road.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.354 wOBA: 0.192 ISO: 129 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Mike Moustakas – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.372 wOBA: 0.135 ISO: 142 wRC+
Kendrys Morales – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.368 wOBA: 0.232 ISO: 138 wRC+
Eric Hosmer – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.387 wOBA: 0.203 ISO: 152 wRC+
St. Louis
Kolten Wong – (LHB) – Left-handed batters have had much more success off of Young this season and the Cardinals second baseman has taken over as the team’s leadoff man. He showed off his speed in yesterday’s game (picking up a triple and a stolen base) and has plenty of pop in his bat as well.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.372 wOBA: 0.193 ISO: 137 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Matt Carpenter – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.41 wOBA: 0.219 ISO: 163 wRC+
Jhonny Peralta – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.389 wOBA: 0.169 ISO: 149 wRC+
Jason Heyward – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.28 wOBA: 0.135 ISO: 76 wRC+