MLB Grind Down: Sunday, June 8th

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2014-06-08 14:00:56

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

St. Louis at Toronto

St. Louis					Toronto
Jaime Garcia		Vegas Moneyline			Drew Hutchison		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		TOR (-135)			RIGHT		9.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.346	0.928	0.413	17.4%	SP vs. Left	0.252	0.738	0.323	19.1%
SP vs. Right	0.230	0.666	0.292	20.5%	SP vs. Right	0.211	0.620	0.281	26.8%
Batter Splits	STL BvP		STL vs R		Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Jaime Garcia – Garcia enters today’s game on the heels of getting blasted by the Royals in his last start and he now sports a 5.47 ERA through his first four starts. Jaime has developed a reputation for struggling on the road during his somewhat brief career and things won’t be easy for him today against a Blue Jays team that ranks 3rd in MLB in OPS versus left-handed pitching. He’s capable of pitching a gem, which makes him a viable GPP option, but it’s safe to avoid him in cash games. Rating = 4.5

Salaries: $5400 FD, $13264 DS, $NA DD, $8700 DK, $85600 FF, $22000 SS, $10000 FTD

• Drew Hutchison – Hutchison was masterful in his last start, allowing just three hits while holding the Tigers scoreless over seven innings. That start lowered his ERA down to 3.50 and WHIP to 1.18 on the season and he now owns a very respectable 8.25 K’s/9. If the price is right don’t let this matchup against St. Louis scare you off as the Cardinals bats have been ice-cold lately. Rating = 6

Salaries: $6000 FD, $14505 DS, $ DD, $8700 DK, $104500 FF, $22200 SS, $12300 FTD

Batter Grind Down

St. Louis

Matt Carpenter – Carpenter is hitting .302 this season against right handed pitching as owns a 1.036 OPS so far during the month of June. He should find himself in his usual spot as the leadoff man for the Cardinals and is the catalyst of their offense.

Additional Plays: Matt Holliday

Toronto

Jose Bautista – Bautista is hitting .328 since the beginning of May and is absolutely crushing left-handed pitching this season to the tune of a wOBA of .577. With a struggling Jaime Garcia opposing, he’s my top outfield option of the day.

Additional Plays: Edwin Encarnacion, Dioner Navarro

Philadelphia at Cincinnati

Philadelphia					Cincinnati
David Buchanan		Vegas Moneyline			Homer Bailey		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		CIN (-147)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.310	0.685	0.325	12.5%	SP vs. Left	0.284	0.785	0.353	20.7%
SP vs. Right	0.283	0.879	0.378	12.5%	SP vs. Right	0.218	0.602	0.272	24.5%
Batter Splits	PHI BvP		PHI vs R		Batter Splits	CIN BvP		CIN vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• David Buchanan – Buchanan pitched respectably in his first two career starts, but he was blasted out of the building in his last start against Washington. After allowing seven runs on ten hits against the Nats, Buchanan saw his ERA rise to 6.11. He only had modest numbers at AAA and isn’t a huge strikeout pitcher. Great American Ballpark is not overly pitcher friendly and I’ll be staying away from Buchanan. Rating = 4

Salaries: $4000 FD, $9567 DS, $NA DD, $5500 DK, $61200 FF, $13000 SS, $9500 FTD

• Homer Bailey – Bailey has been rather disappointing this season, but seems to be righting the ship a bit recently. He has his worst outing of the season the last time he squared off against these Phillies, giving up six runs in just 3.2 innings. With that said, he absolutely dominated Philadelphia last night, holding them scoreless over 15 total innings. His advanced stats show that he’s had some bad luck this season and I expect him to turn things around. Rating = 6

Salaries: $8100 FD, $14962 DS, $ DD, $8100 DK, $92000 FF, $20800 SS, $12900 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Philadelphia

Chase Utley – Utley owns a .913 OPS this season against left-handed pitching is also hitting .330 on the road. He hasn’t had much success against Bailey in the past, but he’s always a decent play against a right-handed pitcher.

Additional Plays: Marlon Byrd, Ryan Howard

Cincinnati

Jay Bruce – Bruce finally homered in yesterday’s game and is a notoriously streaky hitter. His price is reasonable across the industry and he’s clearly heating up as he’s posted a .904 OPS so far in June. He’s always handled the bat well versus right-handed pitching and David Buchanan certainly doesn’t scare me away.

Additional Plays: Billy Hamilton, Todd Frazier, Devin Mesoraco

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh

Milwaukee					Pittsburgh
Yovani Gallardo		Vegas Moneyline			Jeff Locke		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		PIT (-111)			LEFT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.241	0.694	0.313	17.2%	SP vs. Left	0.282	0.700	0.337	12.0%
SP vs. Right	0.270	0.728	0.324	19.1%	SP vs. Right	0.236	0.668	0.304	19.4%
Batter Splits	MIL BvP		MIL vs L		Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Yovani Gallardo – Gallardo was roughed up by the Twins in his last start, allowing six earned runs in five innings. His ERA has ballooned to 4.08 and his WHIP sits at 1.30 through 12 starts. He’s already faced this Pirates team three times this season and has pitched fairly well in each game. He’s a bit risky for cash game use, but the matchup and his strikeout potential make him a fine GPP target. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6400 FD, $13021 DS, $NA DD, $7200 DK, $66700 FF, $17500 SS, $12300 FTD

• Jeff Locke – The Pirates will turn to lefty Jeff Locke today against the Brewers and the kid has been effective for them in the past as he posted a 3.52 ERA for them last season in 30 starts. However, things haven’t been as easy for him the season. He was knocked around in his only spot start this season (6 earned runs in 5.1 innings against San Francisco) and allowed five runs on 10 hits in just five innings of work in his last start at AAA. The Brewers have roughed him up during his short career making him tough to recommend for cash games today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $4600 FD, $ DS, $ DD, $ DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Milwaukee

Ryan Braun – Braun is once against crushing left-handed pitching and will enter today’s game with a wOBA of .400 against southpaws this season. He’s a career .346 hitter against lefties and has had success against Locke in the past (3 for 8 with a pair of doubles).

Additional Plays: Carlos Gomez, Khris Davis, Jonathan Lucroy, Aramis Ramirez, Jean Segura

Pittsburgh

Andrew McCutchen – McCutchen is heating up, posting a 1.282 so far during the month of June. He’s had decent success off of Gallardo in the past (14 for 46 with three homeruns) and is clearly the Pirates most dangerous hitter

Additional Plays: Neil Walker

Oakland at Baltimore

Oakland					Baltimore
Scott Kazmir		Vegas Moneyline			Ubaldo Jimenez		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		OAK (-130)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.240	0.584	0.262	22.8%	SP vs. Left	0.224	0.661	0.301	25.9%
SP vs. Right	0.250	0.708	0.317	23.4%	SP vs. Right	0.263	0.713	0.319	22.0%
Batter Splits	OAK BvP		OAK vs R		Batter Splits	BAL BvP		BAL vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Scott Kazmir – Kazmir just keeps on cruising. He tossed another gem in his last outing against the Yankees and struck out ten batters in the process. Through 12 starts he owns a 6-2 record to go along with a very strong 2.40 ERA and .99 WHIP. He completely shut down the Orioles when he faced them last season, allowing just one hit over seven shutout innings. He hasn’t been quite as effective on the road this season, but he’s still a solid pitching option. Rating = 6.5

Salaries: $8300 FD, $16777 DS, $NA DD, $10100 DK, $105900 FF, $26100 SS, $12700 FTD

• Ubaldo Jimenez – Ubaldo has pitched very well in each of his last two outings, which has lowered his ERA down to 4.39 on the season. He’s averaging nearly a strikeout per inning, but is also averaging 4.66 walks/9. He has really struggled at Camden Yards this season (5.72 ERA) but dominated the A’s last season (2.38 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 11 innings). He has a nice tournament upside, but is too risky for my liking in cash games. Rating = 5.5

Salaries: $6400 FD, $12185 DS, $ DD, $7900 DK, $62200 FF, $17900 SS, $12100 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Oakland

Brandon Moss – Moss posted a .905 OPS against right-handed pitching last season and just wrapped up a month of May that saw him post a 1.048 OPS. He should find himself batting out of the cleanup spot and is in prime position to do some damage.

Additional Plays: Coco Crisp, John Jaso

Baltimore

Adam Jones – Jones owns a .535 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season and yet still finds himself underpriced on many sites. He’s riding a six game hitting streak that has seen him rack up 12 hits, three homeruns and 9 RBI’s.

Additional Plays: Nelson Cruz

Seattle at Tampa Bay

Seattle					Tampa Bay
Felix Hernandez		Vegas Moneyline			Chris Archer		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		SEA (-125)			RIGHT		6.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.246	0.634	0.284	24.5%	SP vs. Left	0.251	0.719	0.324	21.3%
SP vs. Right	0.229	0.600	0.268	27.7%	SP vs. Right	0.221	0.564	0.263	19.1%
Batter Splits	SEA BvP		SEA vs R		Batter Splits	TBR BvP		TBR vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Felix Hernandez – Felix has been in cruise control recently, winning each of his last five starts. He defeated the Rays in their only other meeting this season and now owns an 8-1 record and 91 K’s in 91 innings. This Tampa Bay team is in the midst of the a free fall and King Felix is my top pitching choice of the day. Rating = 9

Salaries: $10900 FD, $24114 DS, $NA DD, $12300 DK, $139400 FF, $33000 SS, $18000 FTD

• Chris Archer – Archer set the league on fire last season, but got out of the gates slowly this season. Over the last four games, however, he appears to have regained his “mojo”. In those four games he sports a 1.09 ERA and has fanned 31 batters in just 24.2 innings. He’s pitched very well at the Trop this season and still carries a rather reasonable asking price on most sites. The only two things going against him here are that he’ll be opposed by King Felix and that he was knocked around by the Mariners in two meetings last season. Rating = 6.5

Salaries: $7700 FD, $17245 DS, $ DD, $8300 DK, $88200 FF, $ SS, $12600 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Seattle

Robinson Cano – Cano brings a five game hitting streak into today’s game and is now hitting .381 during the month of May. He’s been crushing the ball this season both against right-handed pitching (.344 average) and on the road (.336 average).

Additional Plays: Kyle Seager

Tampa Bay

Felix is my favorite option on the mound today and I will not be targeting any hitters against him.

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