MLB Grind Down: Sunday, June 21st
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.
Remember, these writeups are done prior to lineups being released, so make sure to check our Starting Lineups page to ensure the recommended options are playing.
Note: For more info on DFS MLB scoring systems on the two largest sites, check out our DraftKings review and FanDuel review.
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Detroit at NY Yankees – 1:05 PM EST
| Detroit | NY Yankees | ||||||||
 | Anibal Sanchez |  | Masahiro Tanaka | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| NYY (-117) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.212 | 0.589 | 0.262 | 23.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.235 | 0.640 | 0.281 | 24.80% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.251 | 0.715 | 0.312 | 18.2% | SP vs. Right | 0.220 | 0.634 | 0.279 | 27.80% |
| Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs R | Batter Splits | NYY BvP | NYY vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Anibal Sanchez – As a whole, 2015 has been rather disappointing for Sanchez. However, after a complete game, two-hit shutout against the Reds in his last start, Sanchez extended his scoreless inning streak to 20.2 innings. His 3.66 SIERA is likely a better reflection of the type of pitcher he is than his current 4.65 ERA. He’s been very tough on left-handed batters this season (.279 wOBA against) which should bode well for him against this left-handed heavy Yankees lineup. Sanchez dominated New York in their only prior meeting this season and both his recent hot streak and solid 8.21 K/9 puts him in play for all formats, but ideally reserved for GPPs. Rating = 6.5
Salaries: $8,600 FD, $8,500 DK
Masahiro Tanaka – In his third start since returning from the DL, Tanaka was a tough luck loser against the Marlins but pitched very well once again. Tanaka owns a 2.49 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 9.35 K/9 through his first seven starts of the 2015 season and his 2.76 SIERA reinforces that we can expect more of the same as long as he can stay healthy. Tanaka’s average velocity has bounced back after the month layoff and he was able to mow this Detroit lineup down when they met back in April. He was given an extra day of rest prior to this start and is a nice option in all formats despite the difficult opponent. Rating = 7.5
Salaries: $9,500 FD, $10,500 DK
Batter Grind Down
Detroit
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Miguel Cabrera – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.425 wOBA: 0.237 ISO: 176 wRC+
J.D. Martinez – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.37 wOBA: 0.245 ISO: 137 wRC+
Yoenis Cespedes – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.371 wOBA: 0.187 ISO: 138 wRC+
NY Yankees
Alex Rodriguez – (RHB) – Mr. 3000 homered for the second straight game yesterday and added five more RBI’s. His four-game hitting streak has him hitting .283 on the season with a .915 OPS. A-Rod owns a .396 wOBA against right-handed pitching and Anibal Sanchez has struggled with right-handed batters this season (.339 wOBA against).
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.396 wOBA: 0.241 ISO: 155 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Brett Gardner – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.362 wOBA: 0.163 ISO: 131 wRC+
Baltimore at Toronto – 1:07 PM EST
| Baltimore | Toronto | ||||||||
 | Chris Tillman |  | Scott Copeland | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| TOR (-114) | 9.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.251 | 0.680 | 0.304 | 16.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.250 | 0.717 | 0.312 | 10.00% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.238 | 0.736 | 0.324 | 16.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.321 | 0.765 | 0.325 | 7.10% |
| Batter Splits | BAL vs R | Batter Splits | TOR BvP | TOR vs R | |||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Chris Tillman – Tillman was arguably the ace of this Baltimore pitching staff last season, but 2015 has been very unkind to the right-hander. He’ll head north of the border owning a disappointing 5-7 record to go along with a 5.58 ERA and 1.55 starts after 13 starts this season and will be tasked with trying to slow down a Toronto team that owns MLB’s highest team wOBA this season. The brutal matchup as well as Tillman’s terrible 5.08 SIERA, 11.6 BB% and measly 15.8 K% make him an easy pitcher for me to avoid this afternoon. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6,700 FD, $6,000 DK
Scott Copeland – With Aaron Sanchez hitting the DL, Scott Copeland finally got his chance to pitch at the big league level. He was terrific in his first start (allowing just one run over seven innings against the Marlins) but stumbled a bit in his last start against the Mets. Copeland has posted very impressive numbers at AAA since being promoted there last season, but he’s a pitch-to-contact type of pitcher with very little strikeout upside. This Orioles lineup has come alive lately and Copeland’s limited ceiling makes him an easy pitcher to fade in all formats today. Rating = 3.5
Salaries: $5,300 FD, $4,000 DK
Batter Grind Down
Baltimore
Manny Machado – (RHB) – With three more hits yesterday, Machado is swinging one of the hottest bats in the league right now. Over the last 14 games, all he’s done is hit .439 while racking up six home runs, 18 runs scored and 13 RBI’s.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.372 wOBA: 0.227 ISO: 139 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Matt Wieters – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.466 wOBA: 0.429 ISO: 205 wRC+
Chris Davis – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.324 wOBA: 0.231 ISO: 106 wRC+
Adam Jones – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.338 wOBA: 0.171 ISO: 115 wRC+
Toronto
Jose Bautista – (RHB) – With Tillman having been blasted by right-handed batters for a .390 wOBA this season, the “Big Three” from the Blue Jays are all nice options today. Bautista owns a .383 wOBA and 146 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season and picked up a pair of hits in yesterday’s game.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.383 wOBA: 0.266 ISO: 146 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Josh Donaldson – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.373 wOBA: 0.227 ISO: 139 wRC+
Jose Reyes – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.334 wOBA: 0.115 ISO: 111 wRC+
Edwin Encarnacion – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.341 wOBA: 0.241 ISO: 117 wRC+
Miami at Cincinnati – 1:10 PM EST
| Miami | Cincinnati | ||||||||
 | David Phelps |  | Michael Lorenzen | ||||||
| RIGHT | Right | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CIN (-125) | 9.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.235 | 0.685 | 0.307 | 19.3% | SP vs. Left | 0.250 | 0.819 | 0.361 | 15.90% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.279 | 0.760 | 0.334 | 15.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.227 | 0.750 | 0.329 | 13.50% |
| Batter Splits | MIA BvP | MIA vs R | Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
David Phelps – Phelps’ overall numbers this season won’t blow you away, but if you ignore a disastrous start in Coors Field, then he sports a rather impressive 4-2 record with a 3.00 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in over 69 innings of work. His 6.19 K/9 thus far in 2015 is not ideal, but he’s shown decent strikeout potential in years past and he cruised to an easy victory against this Cincinnati team in their only meeting last season. With that said, the Great American Ballpark does have a reputation for being rather hitter friendly and Phelps hasn’t proven to be the most trustworthy fantasy option over the past few seasons. Rating = 5
Salaries: $6,600 FD, $5,000 DK
Michael Lorenzen – As a first round pick from the 2013 draft, Lorenzen has transitioned nicely to life in the big leagues and will bring a solid 3.70 ERA into today’s home start against Giancarlo Stanton and company. While the results thus far have been encouraging for Lorenzen, the advanced stats are screaming for a regression; 1) the .243 BABIP is unsustainably low, 2) he owns an ugly 5.41 SIERA, and 3) the 26.6 O-Swing% shows that he’s rarely unable to make opposing hitters chase his pitch. Lorenzen walks almost as many hitters as he strikes out (5.55 K/9 vs 5.19 BB/9) and just isn’t a recommended target in any format. Rating = 3
Salaries: $5,100 FD, $4,400 DK
Batter Grind Down
Miami
Giancarlo Stanton – (RHB) – The MLB HR leader is a tough fade right now. He owns a .347 average and 1.238 OPS during the month of May and has a nice matchup on tap against Michael Lorenzen in a the very nice hitting environment of The Great American Ballpark.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.374 wOBA: 0.292 ISO: 138 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Dee Gordon – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.338 wOBA: 0.066 ISO: 114 wRC+
Christian Yelich – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.297 wOBA: 0.097 ISO: 85 wRC+
Cincinnati
Todd Frazier – (RHB) – Frazier had his seven-game hitting streak snapped yesterday, but the Reds third baseman is having a tremendous season. His .420 wOBA thus far is the fourth-best in MLB baseball and Frazier has tore the cover off of the baseball at home this season, posting a .357 average and 1.221 OPS in 126 at bats in Cincinnati.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.42 wOBA: 0.314 ISO: 168 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Billy Hamilton – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.233 wOBA: 0.045 ISO: 42 wRC+
Joey Votto – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.42 wOBA: 0.288 ISO: 169 wRC+
Jay Bruce – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.307 wOBA: 0.164 ISO: 92 wRC+
Tampa Bay at Cleveland – 1:10 PM EST
| Tampa Bay | Cleveland | ||||||||
 | Alex Colome |  | Cody Anderson | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CLE (-180) | 7.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.280 | 0.784 | 0.345 | 14.2% | SP vs. Left | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.274 | 0.764 | 0.330 | 16.8% | SP vs. Right | ||||
| Batter Splits | TB vs R | Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | |||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Alex Colome – Colome has flashed some nice potential at times this season, but he was shelled by the Nationals in his last start and now sports an unsightly 5.14 and 1.55 WHIP through his first ten starts this season. His 4.09 xFIP is some reason for optimism, but left-handed batters have posted a .381 wOBA against Colome this season and he’ll face a Cleveland team loaded with dangerous left-handed bats this afternoon. With both Jake Odorizzi and Matt Moore both nearing a return, he’ll need to turn things around or he’ll be in serious jeopardy of losing his spot in the Rays starting rotation… but I don’t love his chances today. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6,100 FD, $5,200 DK
Cody Anderson – After dominating minor league batters at both AA and AAA to start the 2015 season, Cody Anderson will draw his first career MLB start this afternoon. Before you get too excited, Anderson is a former 14th round draft pick, owned a 5.44 ERA in 125.2 innings at the AA level last season, and has never posted inspiring strikeout numbers. The matchup against a Rays team that owns just a .301 team wOBA against right-handed pitching is a plus, but he’s really only worth a look as an extreme value pitcher for GPP use. Rating = 4
Batter Grind Down
Tampa Bay
Joey Butler – (RHB) – The Rays’ offense hasn’t been overly fantasy friendly lately, but with Cody Anderson making his MLB debut, they look to be in very nice spots. Butler owns a .384 wOBA and 155 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season and has posted a .343 average and .907 OPS thus far during the month of June.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.384 wOBA: 0.189 ISO: 155 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Kevin Kiermaier – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.331 wOBA: 0.192 ISO: 117 wRC+
Evan Longoria – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.318 wOBA: 0.15 ISO: 108 wRC+
David DeJesus – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.355 wOBA: 0.153 ISO: 134 wRC+
Cleveland
Jason Kipnis – (LHB) – I love Kipnis at 2B today. Not only does he bring a 15-game hitting streak into today’s game but he also owns a ridiculous .458 wOBA and 204 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season. Kipnis has thrived at Progressive Field, where he’s posted a .411 average and 1.157 OPS.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.458 wOBA: 0.183 ISO: 204 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Michael Brantley – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.35 wOBA: 0.145 ISO: 128 wRC+
Carlos Santana – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.362 wOBA: 0.244 ISO: 137 wRC+
Brandon Moss – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.322 wOBA: 0.25 ISO: 108 wRC+
St. Louis at Philadelphia – 1:35 PM EST
| St. Louis | Philadelphia | ||||||||
 | Michael Wacha |  | Adam Morgan | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| STL (-183) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.210 | 0.587 | 0.267 | 19.9% | SP vs. Left | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.236 | 0.642 | 0.284 | 19.7% | SP vs. Right | ||||
| Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs L | Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Michael Wacha – Wacha battled through a couple of rain delays on Tuesday and still managed to pitch well enough to pick up his ninth victory of the season against the Twins. He’ll head to the City of Brotherly Love to battle this feeble Phillies team owning an impressive 2.48 ERA and 1.04 WHIP after 13 starts. The de-facto ace of this staff in the wake of the Wainwright injury, Wacha’s velocity has bounced back recently and he’s racked up at least five strikeouts in each of his last four outings. Wacha has posted a 6-1 record with a 2.08 ERA on the road this season and today’s matchup just doesn’t get much better. Rating = 8
Salaries: $8,800 FD, $9,100 DK
Adam Morgan – Adam Morgan will be called up from AAA Lehigh to make him major league debut today against the Cardinals. The 25-year-old southpaw hasn’t blown minor league batters away by any means this season, posting an 0-6 record with a 4.74 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 13 starts this season. While the Cardinals may own just a .288 wOBA and 23.8 K% against left-handed pitching, it just doesn’t look like Morgan is ready for MLB hitters. He’s 4.35 K/9 this season just seals the deal that he should be avoided in all formats. Rating = 2
Batter Grind Down
St. Louis
Randal Grichuk – (RHB) – Grichuk put on a show in last night’s game, smacking a pair of home runs while picking up four RBI’s and scoring three runs. The Cardinals’ rookie now owns a .420 wOBA against right-handed pitching and opposing batters owned a .298 average off of Morgan at AAA.
2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.292 wOBA: 0.143 ISO: 85 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Matt Carpenter – (LHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.277 wOBA: 0.151 ISO: 75 wRC+
Jhonny Peralta – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.354 wOBA: 0.276 ISO: 127 wRC+
Kolten Wong – (LHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.287 wOBA: 0.085 ISO: 82 wRC+
Philadelphia
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Maikel Franco – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.364 wOBA: 0.231 ISO: 132 wRC+
Ryan Howard – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.344 wOBA: 0.264 ISO: 118 wRC+