MLB Grind Down: Sunday, June 21st Page Two
Pittsburgh at Washington – 1:35 PM EST
| Pittsburgh | Washington | ||||||||
 | Charlie Morton |  | Gio Gonzalez | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| WAS (-129) | 6.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.237 | 0.654 | 0.298 | 0.181 | SP vs. Left | 0.237 | 0.649 | 0.289 | 0.225 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.235 | 0.654 | 0.295 | 0.174 | SP vs. Right | 0.25 | 0.708 | 0.314 | 0.237 |
| Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs L | Batter Splits | WAS BvP | WAS vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Charlie Morton – For his second start in a row, Morton tossed 7+ innings without allowing a run and now sports a minuscule 1.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP to go along with his perfect 5-0 record. Morton has been under-the-radar for the last few seasons, and despite an unpleasant 6-12 record last season, he’s posted a 3.32 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 51 starts since the beginning of the 2013 season. Morton has been a ground-ball machine this season (67.0 GB%) but that pitch-to-contact style has really put a dent into strikeout rate as he owns just 4.05 K/9 through his first five starts. Morton has struggled away from PNC Park in recent seasons and this dangerous Washington Nationals lineup caused him fits in their two meetings last season. He’s best served as a secondary option on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7,900 FD, $7,600 DK
Gio Gonzalez – Fresh off his shortest outing of the season (3.1 innings in Tampa), Gio Gonzalez will look to rebound against a red-hot Pittsburgh team. While Gonzalez’ 4.82 ERA and 1.55 WHIP are rather unsightly, his .368 BABIP and 3.53 xFIP both imply that the southpaw has dealt with plenty of bad breaks thus far in 2015. While the Pirates may sport just a .302 team wOBA against left-handed pitching this season, their lineup is loaded with guys who swing the bat well against southpaws and it’s only a matter of time until those numbers normalize. Gio has been far more successful at Nationals Park this season, but his spotty command and recent struggles make him a GPP only play for me today. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $8,500 FD, $7,400 DK
Batter Grind Down
Pittsburgh
Jung-ho Kang – (RHB) – While I like McCutchen and Marte a lot here too, dollar for dollar, I like Kang the best. The Korean shortstop owns a .430 wOBA and .250 ISO against left-handed pitching and right-handed batters have posted a .357 wOBA off of Gio Gonzalez this season.
2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.43 wOBA: 0.25 ISO: 180 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Andrew McCutchen – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.356 wOBA: 0.091 ISO: 130 wRC+
Starling Marte – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.467 wOBA: 0.37 ISO: 205 wRC+
Josh Harrison – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.351 wOBA: 0.133 ISO: 126 wRC+
Washington
Bryce Harper – (LHB) – Harper was back in the lineup yesterday and promptly picked up two hits including his 23rd home run of the season. Morton is much less effective against left-handed batters and Harper has crushed right-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .344 average and 1.225 OPS.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.504 wOBA: 0.414 ISO: 227 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Denard Span – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.399 wOBA: 0.168 ISO: 155 wRC+
Boston at Kansas City – 2:10 PM EST
| Boston | Kansas City | ||||||||
 | Wade Miley |  | Chris Young | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| KCR (-114) | 8 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.246 | 0.681 | 0.305 | 0.188 | SP vs. Left | 0.245 | 0.759 | 0.334 | 0.136 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.27 | 0.766 | 0.336 | 0.201 | SP vs. Right | 0.179 | 0.581 | 0.255 | 0.191 |
| Batter Splits | BOS BvP | BOS vs R | Batter Splits | KCR BvP | KC vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Wade Miley – After being blasted by the Orioles in Camden Yards last week and subsequently screaming at his own manager in the dugout, Miley bounced back nicely with an eight strikeout victory over the Braves on Tuesday night. Miley was a very serviceable starter for the Diamondbacks over the past three seasons, but the move to the AL East has certainly not been a cake walk for the left-hander. He’ll take the mound at Kauffman Stadium today as the owner of a rather ugly 4.88 ERA and 1.39 WHIP through his first 13 starts with the Red Sox. He’s really struggled on the road this season (2-4 record with a 5.82 ERA) and will face a Central Division leading Royals team that has been terrific at home this season and who own the league’s lowest strikeout rate (15.6%). Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $7,400 FD, $6,500 DK
Chris Young – Chris Young is probably the one pitcher in baseball that confuses me the most. He only throws two pitches, neither one hard, and yet continues to have success despite his advanced metrics always signaling for a regression. After seven more innings of shutout baseball, Young now sports a tremendous 1.98 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through 59 innings. I still feel like it’s only a matter of time until he comes crashing down, and he’s simply not going to strike many batters out (and the Red Sox own the league’s second lowest strikeout rate), but I’m done doubting him completely. If the price is right, he’s worth a look as either a secondary option on multi-pitcher sites or as a random GPP flier. Rating = 5
Salaries: $6,300 FD, $5,600 DK
Batter Grind Down
Boston
Brock Holt – (LHB) – Holt doubled in yesterday’s game and now owns a .349 average and .993 OPS during the month of June. Holt has thrived away from Fenway Park, posting a .347 average and .948 OPS on the road and owns a .370 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.37 wOBA: 0.146 ISO: 136 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
David Ortiz – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.384 wOBA: 0.232 ISO: 146 wRC+
Mookie Betts – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.339 wOBA: 0.16 ISO: 114 wRC+
Kansas City
Lorenzo Cain – (RHB) – With right-handed batters owning a .351 wOBA off of Wade Miley, I really like Cain as a reasonably priced option in the outfield. Cain has crushed left-handed pitching for a .387 wOBA and 150 wRC+ this season.
2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.387 wOBA: 0.171 ISO: 150 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Salvador Perez – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.322 wOBA: 0.209 ISO: 105 wRC+
Texas at Chicago White Sox – 2:10 PM EST
| Texas | Chicago White Sox | ||||||||
 | Yovani Gallardo |  | Jose Quintana | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CHW (-127) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.229 | 0.641 | 0.287 | 0.173 | SP vs. Left | 0.237 | 0.633 | 0.281 | 0.23 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.268 | 0.71 | 0.314 | 0.186 | SP vs. Right | 0.268 | 0.706 | 0.312 | 0.203 |
| Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs L | Batter Splits | CHW BvP | CWS vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Yovani Gallardo – The Rangers have to be pleasantly surprised by how well Gallardo has been pitching for them this season, as the long-time Brewer owns an impressive 3.16 ERA and 1.21 WHIP through his first 14 starts in with Texas. He’s been terrific in each of his last four starts and is met with a very nice matchup today against a White Sox team that owns just a .296 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and who’s .261 team wOBA over the last 30 days is the worst in baseball. While the matchup is great, Gallardo’s 6.5% SwSt% is a concern and he’s no longer a strikeout-per-inning threat. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $8,000 FD, $7,100 DK
Jose Quintana – His overall numbers (3-7 record with a 4.03 ERA) won’t blow you away, but he’s posted a 3.03 ERA and a very respectable 7.85 K/9 in the ten starts since being absolutely destroyed in Detroit on April 19th. The White Sox southpaw has been extremely tough on left-handed batters this season (.213 wOBA against) which should bode well for him today against a Rangers team that has inexplicably rolled with five left-handers in their lineup against left-handed starters lately. We’ve seen his upside on a few occasions (see vs Milwaukee on May 13th) and with Texas owning just a .300 team wOBA on the road, Quintana makes for a nice GPP target. Rating = 6
Salaries: $7,600 FD, $7,300 DK
Batter Grind Down
Texas
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Elvis Andrus – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.332 wOBA: 0.121 ISO: 107 wRC+
Kyle Blanks – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.473 wOBA: 0.444 ISO: 206 wRC+
Chicago White Sox
Jose Abreu – (RHB) – Abreu is at his best this season when at home and facing a right-handed pitcher. Today he get’s both of those. Abreu may be in the midst of an eight game homer-less streak, but he does own a .372 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and is hitting .303 with a .853 OPS at U.S. Cellular Field.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.372 wOBA: 0.212 ISO: 138 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Adam LaRoche – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.349 wOBA: 0.184 ISO: 121 wRC+
Adam Eaton – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.328 wOBA: 0.128 ISO: 107 wRC+
Chicago Cubs at Minnesota – 2:10 PM EST
| Chicago Cubs | Minnesota | ||||||||
 | Jake Arrieta |  | Kyle Gibson | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CHC (-107) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.205 | 0.589 | 0.268 | 0.293 | SP vs. Left | 0.256 | 0.695 | 0.31 | 0.101 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.221 | 0.575 | 0.254 | 0.254 | SP vs. Right | 0.248 | 0.684 | 0.303 | 0.188 |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | MIN BvP | MIN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Jake Arrieta – Things haven’t necessarily gone a smoothly as Arrieta was hoping for thus far in 2015, but he’ll take a solid 6-5 record with a 3.40 ERA and 1.16 WHIP into today’s start in Minnesota nonetheless. After posting a 2.53 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 25 starts in a Cubs uniform last season, Arrieta’s strong 2.80 xFIP suggests that the best is still to come in 2015. He’ll benefit from a nice park shift as he heads to Target Field to take on a Minnesota team that owns just a .290 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. Arrieta’s 26.9 K% is among the game’s elite and he’s one of the better options on the board today in all formats. Rating = 8
Salaries: $9,500 FD, $9,600 DK
Kyle Gibson – Gibson got out of the gates nicely this season, and after his first ten start, he sported an very attractive 2.61 ERA. However, things have flipped around on him bit lately as he’s been smacked around a bit in each of his last three starts and the tall right-hander has now seen his ERA balloon to 3.33 to go along with a 1.25 WHIP. We saw Gibson wear out down the stretch last season (5.17 ERA after the All-Star break) and his 4.14 xFIP signals that there is likely more to his recent struggles than just a “slump”. He’ll take on a very strikeout prone Cubs team this afternoon, but even considering the opponent Gibson’s ceiling is very low. Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $6,300 FD, $6,100 DK
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
Anthony Rizzo – (LHB) – With two more hits in yesterday’s game, Rizzo brings a .306 average and .997 OPS into today’s matchup against Kyle Gibson. Rizzo owns a .412 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and really swung the bat well on the road (.331 average and 1.064 OPS). With 10 stolen bases already this season, he’s also a threat to rack up fantasy points on the basepaths.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.412 wOBA: 0.299 ISO: 163 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Kris Bryant – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.374 wOBA: 0.174 ISO: 137 wRC+
Addison Russell – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.335 wOBA: 0.155 ISO: 110 wRC+
Kyle Schwarber – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.483 wOBA: 0.333 ISO: 211 wRC+
Minnesota
No Elite Plays
Secondary Plays:
Brian Dozier – (RHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.362 wOBA: 0.249 ISO: 133 wRC+
Kennys Vargas – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.228 wOBA: 0.14 ISO: 40 wRC+
LA Angels at Oakland – 4:05 PM EST
| LA Angels | Oakland | ||||||||
 | Garrett Richards |  | Scott Kazmir | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| OAK (-129) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.197 | 0.537 | 0.244 | 0.23 | SP vs. Left | 0.256 | 0.661 | 0.295 | 0.206 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.214 | 0.579 | 0.267 | 0.223 | SP vs. Right | 0.223 | 0.646 | 0.288 | 0.22 |
| Batter Splits | LAA BvP | ANA vs L | Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Garrett Richards – After a start in New York two weeks ago that put a dent into my confidence in trusting Richards in cash games, the fire-baller has bounced back with back-to-back solid outings and picked up wins in both games. Richards now owns a rock solid 7-4 record to go along with a 3.54 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 12 starts. Armed with a fastball that can reach the upper-90’s, Richards is capable of racking up big strikeout numbers and his 11.2 SwStr% and 74.9 Contact% highlight his ability to miss opposing bats. Richards mowed down this Oakland lineup when they squared off earlier this season and should benefit from a nice park shift into the spacious Oakland Coliseum. Rating = 6.5
Salaries: $9,000 FD, $9,300 DK
Scott Kazmir – Kazmir revitalized his career last season, posting a 15-9 record to go along with a solid 3.55 WHIP over 190.1 innings of work. That success has carried over into the 2015 season as the Oakland lefty owns a stellar 2.84 ERA through his first 13 starts. He has been nearly unhittable at the spacious Oakland Coliseum where he owns a 2-1 record and 1.27 ERA in six home starts. His 8.64 K/9 gives him a high ceiling, but his command has been spotty at times and this Angels team absolutely destroyed him in their two meetings last season. Rating = 6
Salaries: $8,900 FD, $8,600 DK
Batter Grind Down
LA Angels
Mike Trout – (RHB) – Trout reached base three time yesterday and extended hit hitting streak to six games. The 23-year-old has been overshadowed by Bryce Harper this season, but still brings a .301 average, 18 HR’s and 8 stolen bases into today’s game. He owns a .393 wOBA against left-handed pitching.
2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.393 wOBA: 0.231 ISO: 160 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Albert Pujols – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.277 wOBA: 0.226 ISO: 79 wRC+
David Freese – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.333 wOBA: 0.286 ISO: 119 wRC+
Chris Iannetta – (RHB) – 2015 vs LH Pitching: 0.348 wOBA: 0.214 ISO: 130 wRC+
Oakland
Billy Burns – (Switch) – With two more hits yesterday, Burns pushed his hitting streak to 11 games and now owns a .325 average on the season. Burns has posted a .352 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and has already racked up 15 stolen bases.
2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.352 wOBA: 0.104 ISO: 129 wRC+
Secondary Plays:
Josh Reddick – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.423 wOBA: 0.232 ISO: 179 wRC+
Ben Zobrist – (Switch) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.337 wOBA: 0.234 ISO: 119 wRC+
Stephen Vogt – (LHB) – 2015 vs RH Pitching: 0.408 wOBA: 0.288 ISO: 169 wRC+