MLB Grind Down: Sunday, June 21st Page Three
Milwaukee at Colorado – 4:10 PM EST
| Milwaukee | Colorado | ||||||||
 | Matt Garza |  | Chris Rusin | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| COL (-124) | 10.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.24 | 0.696 | 0.31 | 0.176 | SP vs. Left | 0.25 | 0.753 | 0.326 | 0.164 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.249 | 0.696 | 0.306 | 0.178 | SP vs. Right | 0.317 | 0 | 0.381 | 0.143 |
| Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs L | Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Matt Garza – I’ll try to keep this one nice and short; Garza’s been knocked around this season to the tune of a 4-8 record and 5.07 ERA and was blasted for six earned runs on 13 hits against the Royals in his last start. He’ll toe the rubber at Coors Field today where he owns a 7.36 ERA in his two career starts. Colorado owns a .351 team wOBA at home this season and Garza is an easy choice to avoid today. Rating = 2.5
Salaries: $6,300 FD, $5,700 DK
Chris Rusin – Much like Garza, there’s not much to like here about Rusin. He’s been lit up for 13 earned runs over his last two starts and now owns a 5.14 ERA and 1.64 WHIP on the young season. This Brewers team is loaded with guys who can punish left-handed pitching and Rusin doesn’t possess the strikeout upside to offset all of the risk here. He can safely be avoided in all formats. Rating = 2
Salaries: $5,300 FD, $4,000 DK
Batter Grind Down
Milwaukee
Aramis Ramirez – (RHB) – Ramirez picked up three hits and smacked his eighth home run of the season in yesterday’s game. The Brewers slugger owns a .292 average and .898 OPS during his career against left-handed pitching and has posted a .339 average and 1.022 OPS with 10 home runs in 124 at-bats in Coors Field.
2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.284 wOBA: 0.303 ISO: 75 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Ryan Braun – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.331 wOBA: 0.182 ISO: 107 wRC+
Jonathan Lucroy – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.129 wOBA: 0 ISO: -30 wRC+
Jean Segura – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.391 wOBA: 0.159 ISO: 147 wRC+
Colorado
Charlie Blackmon – (LHB) – With left-handed batters owning a .353 wOBA off of Matt Garza this season, Blackmon looks like a terrific play in the OF. Blackmon homered yesterday and is hitting .321 with a 1.101 OPS over the last week.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.388 wOBA: 0.195 ISO: 132 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Nolan Arenado – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.377 wOBA: 0.317 ISO: 125 wRC+
Carlos Gonzalez – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.357 wOBA: 0.227 ISO: 111 wRC+
Troy Tulowitzki – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.31 wOBA: 0.145 ISO: 79 wRC+
DJ LeMahieu – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.356 wOBA: 0.121 ISO: 110 wRC+
Houston at Seattle – 4:10 PM EST
| Houston | Seattle | ||||||||
 | Vincent Velasquez |  | J.A. Happ | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| HOU (-116) | 6.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.263 | 0.917 | 0.398 | 0.174 | SP vs. Left | 0.267 | 0.8 | 0.35 | 0.243 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.294 | 0.839 | 0.364 | 0.421 | SP vs. Right | 0.262 | 0.744 | 0.326 | 0.179 |
| Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs L | Batter Splits | SEA vs R | |||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Vincent Velasquez – After a stellar MLB debut, Velasquez ran into some trouble in his last start against the Rockies and failed to complete the fifth inning before allowing five earned runs. The Astro’s talented young rookie destroyed hitters at AAA prior to his promotion and it looks as if his strikeout prowess in the minors will transfer to the MLB level just fine. He’ll head to the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field today to take on a Mariners team that owns just a .292 team wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. Hit talent can’t be denied, but like any young pitcher, he’s likely going to be very inconsistent and his spotty command can get him into trouble. For that reason, he’s better served for GPP use. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7,400 FD, $4,700 DK
J.A. Happ – Happ hasn’t been overly sharp in his last few outings, but the Seattle front office has to be content with his 3-3 record, 3.79 ERA, and 1.33 WHIP through his first 13 starts with the ball club. Happ has posted an ERA of 4.22 or higher in each of the last four seasons, but 3.83 xFIP backs up his solid performance thus far. Happ has been terrific inside the spacious Safeco Park this season, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.88 ERA in six home starts. However, this Houston team is loaded with guys who handle the bat well against left-handed pitching and they’ve knocked Happ around a bit in their two previous meetings this season. He’s worth a look in GPP’s, but I’ll likely be avoiding him altogether in cash games. Rating = 5
Salaries: $6,800 FD, $6,900 DK
Batter Grind Down
Houston
George Springer – (RHB) – Springer is swinging a red-hot bat right now as he owns a .395 average and 1.044 OPS during the month of June and enters today’s game riding a 13-game hitting streak. He’s posted a .406 wOBA and .238 ISO against left-handed pitching this season, as well.
2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.406 wOBA: 0.238 ISO: 165 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Carlos Correa – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.438 wOBA: 0.333 ISO: 188 wRC+
Chris Carter – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.323 wOBA: 0.19 ISO: 107 wRC+
Evan Gattis – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.263 wOBA: 0.159 ISO: 65 wRC+
Jose Altuve – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.374 wOBA: 0.099 ISO: 143 wRC+
Seattle
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Robinson Cano – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.287 wOBA: 0.097 ISO: 85 wRC+
Nelson Cruz – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.362 wOBA: 0.196 ISO: 137 wRC+
Seth Smith – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.339 wOBA: 0.205 ISO: 121 wRC+
Kyle Seager – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.317 wOBA: 0.16 ISO: 105 wRC+
San Diego at Arizona – 4:10 PM EST
| San Diego | Arizona | ||||||||
 | Andrew Cashner |  | Jeremy Hellickson | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| ARI (-105) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.256 | 0.779 | 0.336 | 0.194 | SP vs. Left | 0.253 | 0.734 | 0.32 | 0.181 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.248 | 0.639 | 0.282 | 0.196 | SP vs. Right | 0.287 | 0.833 | 0.363 | 0.183 |
| Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SD vs R | Batter Splits | ARI BvP | ARI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Andrew Cashner – After an April that saw him post a 2.61 ERA with 10.44 K/9 in five starts, things were looking up for Cashner. However, things have fallen apart since as he’s posted an ugly 5.17 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in nine starts since the beginning of May. Cashner hasn’t been nearly as successful away from Petco Park and will be faced with one of the toughest park shifts in the league as he heads to Chase Field to battle the Diamondbacks. With that said, and despite picking up losses in both starts, Cashner has pitched very well against the Diamondbacks in their two meetings this season (1.38 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings). I’m too risk averse to consider him a cash game option, but his high upside does make him an intriguing GPP target. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $7,400 FD, $6,600 DK
Jeremy Hellickson – Hellickson’s start to the 2015 season has been disappointing to say the least, as he owns an unsightly 5.10 ERA after his first 13 starts in a Diamondbacks uniform. The Padres may own just a .291 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and own the highest strikeout rate in MLB over the past 30 days, but they’ve hung five earned runs on Hellickson in each of their two prior meetings this season. He’s yet to post more than six strikeouts in any start this season and is just too risky for cash game use. Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $6,000 FD, $5,900 DK
Batter Grind Down
San Diego
Will Venable – (LHB) – Jeremy Hellickson has really struggled against left-handed batters this season (.387 wOBA against) making Venable a nice value option in the OF. Venable should benefit from the dramatic park shift and has swung the bat well against right-handed pitching, posting a .338 wOBA and 119 wRC+.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.338 wOBA: 0.168 ISO: 119 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Matt Kemp – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.28 wOBA: 0.11 ISO: 80 wRC+
Justin Upton – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.366 wOBA: 0.211 ISO: 139 wRC+
Yonder Alonso – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.352 wOBA: 0.1 ISO: 129 wRC+
Arizona
Paul Goldschmidt – (RHB) – With Cashner on the road and away from Petco Park, he’s much easier to pick on. Goldschmidt is one of the best hitters in the game today and enters today’s game sporting a .358 average and 1.140 OPS on the season. He owns a ridiculous .471 wOBA against right-handed pitching and is well worth his big-ticket asking price.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.471 wOBA: 0.299 ISO: 201 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
David Peralta – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.345 wOBA: 0.196 ISO: 115 wRC+
A.J. Pollock – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.343 wOBA: 0.162 ISO: 113 wRC+
NY Mets at Atlanta – 5:05 PM EST
| NY Mets | Atlanta | ||||||||
 | Matt Harvey |  | Julio Teheran | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| NYM (-120) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.221 | 0.712 | 0.310 | 0.273 | SP vs. Left | 0.258 | 0.753 | 0.329 | 0.184 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.227 | 0.608 | 0.264 | 0.243 | SP vs. Right | 0.228 | 0.643 | 0.285 | 0.221 |
| Batter Splits | NYM BvP | NYM vs R | Batter Splits | ATL BvP | ATL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Matt Harvey – Harvey seemed to “hit the wall” a bit in late May/early June, but looked like the Harvey we’ve grown accustomed to in his last start where he tossed seven shutout innings while fanning six Blue Jays. He’ll take the mound at Turner Field this afternoon owning a solid 7-4 record with a 3.34 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Harvey’s 2.95 SIERA and 25.7 K% are both elite and the matchup against this Braves lineup is not overly intimidating. With that said, the Braves own the league’s third lowest strikeout rate against right-handed pitching (16.8%) and Harvey’s recent inconsistencies are, at the very least, slightly concerning. Rating = 7.5
Salaries: $10,600 FD, $10,800 DK
Julio Teheran – 2015 has been a disaster for the 24-year-old Teheran. After posting back-to-back 14 win seasons to start his career and owning a 2.89 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in his 33 starts last season, he’ll bring a disappointing 5.07 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with him into today’s start against the Mets. With that said, he’s been an entirely different pitcher at Turner Field this season; posting a 3-0 record with a 2.77 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in six home starts. He was able to defeat this Mets team in their last visit to Atlanta, but his radically inconsistent performances and the matchup opposite Matt Harvey both shift him onto my GPP only list today. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7,700 FD, $7,500 DK
Batter Grind Down
NY Mets
Lucas Duda – (LHB) – Left-handed batters have hammered Teheran this season and Duda is clearly the most dangerous left-handed bat in this Mets lineup. Duda has posted a .352 wOBA and 129 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season and has had success off of Teheran, going 7 for 20 with two doubles and a pair of home runs.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.352 wOBA: 0.189 ISO: 129 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Curtis Granderson – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.347 wOBA: 0.162 ISO: 125 wRC+
Travis d’Arnaud – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.388 wOBA: 0.258 ISO: 153 wRC+
Atlanta
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Jace Peterson – (LHP) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.333 wOBA: 0.111 ISO: 111 wRC+
Nick Markakis – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.355 wOBA: 0.07 ISO: 126 wRC+
San Francisco at LA Dodgers – 8:08 PM EST
| San Francisco | LA Dodgers | ||||||||
 | Tim Lincecum |  | Brett Anderson | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| LAD (-142) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.229 | 0.689 | 0.308 | 0.155 | SP vs. Left | 0.306 | 0.686 | 0.308 | 0.134 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.799 | 0.35 | 0.231 | SP vs. Right | 0.256 | 0.704 | 0.307 | 0.175 |
| Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SF vs L | Batter Splits | LAD BvP | LA vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Tim Lincecum – The once dominant Tim Lincecum seemed to deteriorate over the past three seasons and barely held onto his starting job heading into this season. However, the San Francisco Giants’ front office has to be pleasantly surprised by his work so far in 2015 as the veteran owns a 7-3 record with a solid 3.31 ERA after 13 starts. While he did shutout this Dodgers team in his last visit to Chavez Ravine, these Dodgers bats are starting to get very familiar with him (his fourth start against them already this season) and he’s been dreadful on the road recently. Lincecum is worth a look as a differentiation play in GPP’s, but his control problems and 4.50 xFIP are going to catch up to him eventually. Rating = 5
Salaries: $8,100 FD, $7,200 DK
Brett Anderson – Anderson won’t rack up a ton of strikeouts, but he’s proven to be a very effective pitcher when healthy. He’s healthy now and the Dodgers are reaping the benefits as he owns a 3.43 ERA after 13 starts. Anderson has pitched quite well at Dodger Stadium, but he’ll face a Giants team that owns the league’s highest team wOBA on the road and who have knocked him around in their three prior meetings this season. He’s a better pitcher in real life than he is in DFS and probably doesn’t deserve much attention tonight. Rating = 5
Salaries: $6,800 FD, $6,400 DK
Batter Grind Down
San Francisco
Buster Posey – (RHB) – With a lefty on the mound for the Dodgers (not named Kershaw), Posey immediately becomes an elite option behind the plate. Posey owns a .326 average and .949 OPS in his career against left-handed pitching and has swung the bat much better on the road this season (.315 average and .896 OPS).
2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.305 wOBA: 0.132 ISO: 98 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Brandon Crawford – (LHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.461 wOBA: 0.275 ISO: 204 wRC+
LA Dodgers
Joc Pederson – (LHB) – Joc launched his 18th home run of the season yesterday and now owns a .405 wOBA and .309 ISO against right-handed pitching this season. He’s still relatively cheap across the industry and is locked into a spot at the top of the Dodgers’ batting order.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.405 wOBA: 0.309 ISO: 163 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Justin Turner – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.466 wOBA: 0.29 ISO: 205 wRC+
Yasiel Puig – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.348 wOBA: 0.169 ISO: 125 wRC+
Yasmani Grandal – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.388 wOBA: 0.218 ISO: 152 wRC+
Adrian Gonzalez – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.386 wOBA: 0.231 ISO: 151 wRC+