MLB Grind Down: Sunday, May 3rd - Page Three

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2015-05-03 15:54:53

Oakland at Texas

Oakland					Texas
			Sonny Gray					Yovani Gallardo
			RIGHT					RIGHT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			OAK (-138)					8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.219	0.639	0.289	0.207	SP vs. Left	0.233	0.637	0.287	0.189
SP vs. Right	0.24	0.614	0.277	0.2	SP vs. Right	0.274	0.743	0.328	0.171
Batter Splits	OAK BvP		OAK vs R		Batter Splits	TEX BvP		TEX vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Sonny Gray – Sonny Gray’s emergence was a big reason for Oakland’s success last season as the 25-year-old posted a 14-10 record with a 3.08 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 219.0 innings. The former first round pick has kept things rolling thus far in 2015 and enters today’s game against the lowly Rangers sporting a 3-0 record with a 1.98 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through five starts. He has shown improved command this season, but it’s also come with a slight dip in his strikeout rate. He faced very little resistance from this Rangers team last season as he owned a 4-2 record with a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in his six starts against them. While he may not yet belong in the top-tier of MLB pitchers, he’s definitely closing the gap. Rating = 7

Salaries: $9100 FD, $8600 DK

Yovani Gallardo – After a disappointing season in 2013, Gallardo bounced back with a solid 3.51 ERA in 2014. He’s posted a 2-3 record with a 4.05 ERA and 1.39 WHIP through five starts this season, but his 3.36 xFIP suggests that he’s been rather unlucky. The move to the American League likely won’t help his fantasy numbers this season, but we have seen his strikeout rate climb back to nearly 9 K/9 early this season. Gallardo is a very risky option with a tough matchup against this Oakland team but his high strikeout potential makes him an intriguing GPP play. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7100 FD, $7000 DK

Batter Grind Down

Oakland

Josh Reddick – Reddick is one of the hottest hitters in MLB right now as his three hits last night extended his hitting streak to ten games. He sports an impressive .385 batting average and owns a .397 average and 1.117 OPS against right-handed pitching thus far.

Secondary Plays:

Brett Lawrie: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.336 wOBA: 0.177 ISO: 113 wRC+

Stephen Vogt: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.337 wOBA: 0.148 ISO: 119 wRC+

Marcus Semien: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.288 wOBA: 0.13 ISO: 79 wRC+

Texas

No Elite Plays

Secondary Plays:

Prince Fielder: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.301 wOBA: 0.078 ISO: 86 wRC+

LA Angels at San Francisco

LA Angels					San Francisco
			Jered Weaver					Tim Lincecum
			RIGHT					RIGHT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			SFG (-108)					7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.252	0.723	0.321	0.198	SP vs. Left	0.254	0.75	0.335	0.141
SP vs. Right	0.21	0.619	0.277	0.179	SP vs. Right	0.255	0.791	0.346	0.251
Batter Splits	ANA BvP		ANA vs R		Batter Splits	SF BvP		SF vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Jered Weaver – Weaver hasn’t posted an ERA above 3.59 since the 2009 season, but he’s going to need to turn things around quickly for that trend to continue this season. The Athletics hung six runs on him in his last start and he now owns a 5.83 ERA and 1.33 WHIP through five starts. His velocity has been on the decline for years now with his fastball averaging just 83.1 MPH this season, and with that decreased velocity, we’ve also seen a slow climb in his xFIP year-after-year. The matchup in San Francisco isn’t a bad one and he’ll have the added benefit of playing in an NL ballpark, but he’s no longer a strong fantasy option. Rating = 4

Salaries: $7800 FD, $7500 DK

Tim Lincecum – Oh, Timmy. What do we make of you these days? Just when I started to think Lincecum may eventually be a cash game option in daily fantasy baseball, he promptly got rocked by the Dodgers in his last start and failed to make it out of the fifth inning. Simply put; I probably won’t use him in a cash game in any capacity this season, but he doesn’t look like a bad GPP option today. He enters today’s game with a nice 3.27 ERA and he was infinitely better at AT&T Park where he owned a 9-3 record with a 3.91 ERA over 94.1 innings. With the Angels owning just a .286 team wOBA thus far this season, he’s worth a flier. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6100 FD, $6900 DK

Batter Grind Down

LA Angels

Mike Trout – Trout was up to his usual antics last night, picking up two more hits (a home run) and scoring a pair of runs. The games best player is now hitting .333 with 6 HR’s and 15 RBI’s on the season (with 6 stolen bases) and has gone deep three times already this week.

Secondary Plays:

Kole Calhoun: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.348 wOBA: 0.19 ISO: 129 wRC+

C.J. Cron: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.321 wOBA: 0.188 ISO: 111 wRC+

San Francisco

No Elite Plays

Secondary Plays:

Angel Pagan: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.35 wOBA: 0.082 ISO: 129 wRC+

Brandon Crawford: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.275 wOBA: 0.133 ISO: 79 wRC+

Buster Posey: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.366 wOBA: 0.164 ISO: 141 wRC+

Colorado at San Diego

Colorado					San Diego
			Kyle Kendrick					James Shields
			RIGHT					RIGHT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			SDP (-180)					7
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left					SP vs. Left	0.256	0.698	0.309	0.191
SP vs. Right					SP vs. Right	0.250	0.706	0.31	0.192
Batter Splits	COL BvP		COL vs R		Batter Splits
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Kyle Kendrick – The Rockies made a late change and decided to start Kyle Kendrick for today’s game. The right-hander has been shelled all season and is an easy target, although playing in a pitcher-friendly park may limit the damage just a little bit. Rating = 2

James Shields – Shields has taken kindly to the National League; tossing at least six innings in each of his first five starts and entering today’s game with a 2-0 record, 2.90 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. He pitched admirably against these Rockies last week in Coors Field and it would be surprising if have a more impressive stat-line this time around. Shields racked up 12 strikeouts against the Astros in his last outing and the Rockies owned the league’s second worst road wOBA last season (.282 wOBA). Rating = 8

Salaries: $8600 FD, $9900 DK

Batter Grind Down

Colorado

No Elite Plays

Secondary Plays:

Troy Tulowitzki: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.404 wOBA: 0.207 ISO: 144 wRC+

Corey Dickerson: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.419 wOBA: 0.278 ISO: 154 wRC+

San Diego

Justin Upton

Secondary Plays:

Derek Norris

Matt Kemp

Wil Myers

Arizona at LA Dodgers

Arizona					LA Dodgers
			Chase Anderson					Brett Anderson
			RIGHT					LEFT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			LAD (-155)					8
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.221	0.714	0.314	0.179	SP vs. Left	0.326	0.724	0.324	0.125
SP vs. Right	0.297	0.832	0.363	0.246	SP vs. Right	0.240	0.675	0.291	0.174
Batter Splits	ARI BvP		ARI vs L		Batter Splits	LA BvP		LA vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Chase Anderson – Anderson was solid enough in each of his first three starts this season, but things came unraveled for him a bit in his last outing. He brings a respectable 4.24 ERA and 1.29 WHIP into today’s contest against the Dodgers and his 3.67 xFIP and 8.27 K/9 during the 2014 season are reasons for optimism in Arizona. The Dodgers have the highest team wOBA this season (.359 wOBA) and weren’t fooled by Anderson much in their three meetings last season. Anderson’s strikeout upside makes him an acceptable GPP play, but he won’t be anywhere near my cash game lineups. Rating = 4.5

Salaries: $6100 FD, $5800 DK

Brett Anderson – Injuries have derailed what could have been a very promising career for Anderson, but despite some uninspiring results, he at least looks healthy thus far in 2015. He’s not a pitcher than’s going to rack up strikeouts, but Anderson consistently owns one of the games best ground-ball and can keep hitters off balance throwing a large percentage of off-speed pitches. While the Diamondbacks only posted a .299 team wOBA against left-handed pitching last season, there are several guys sprinkled throughout their lineup that have a history of destruction against southpaws. Rating = 4.5

Salaries: $5800 FD, $6000 DK

Batter Grind Down

Arizona

Paul Goldschmidt – With a lefty on the bump for the Dodgers, Goldy is an elite play at 1B. Not only is he 3 for 6 with a home run off of Anderson in their previous meetings, but he also posted a ridiculous .470 wOBA and .205 ISO against left-handed pitching last season

Secondary Plays:

Aaron Hill: 2014 vs LH Pitching – 0.285 wOBA: 0.145 ISO: 87 wRC+

Mark Trumbo: 2014 vs LH Pitching – 0.296 wOBA: 0.213 ISO: 115 wRC+

A.J. Pollock: 2014 vs LH Pitching – 0.364 wOBA: 0.34 ISO: 158 wRC+

Chris Owings: 2014 vs LH Pitching – 0.297 wOBA: 0.191 ISO: 126 wRC+

LA Dodgers

Joc Pederson – The legend of Pederson is growing as the 23-year-old homered in his third straight game last night. He’s been seeing time in the leadoff spot for the Dodgers lately and owns a 1.137 OPS during his young career against right-handed pitching.

Secondary Plays:

Adrian Gonzalez: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.384 wOBA: 0.236 ISO: 150 wRC+

NY Yankees at Boston

NY Yankees					Boston
			Adam Warren					Joe Kelly
			RIGHT					RIGHT
			Vegas Moneyline					Vegas Over/Under
			BOS (-136)					8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.170	0.524	0.236	0.269	SP vs. Left	0.243	0.689	0.318	0.149
SP vs. Right	0.247	0.69	0.307	0.206	SP vs. Right	0.237	0.696	0.307	0.171
Batter Splits	NYY BvP		NYY vs R		Batter Splits	BOS BvP		BOS vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

Adam Warren – Warren hasn’t been great this season (4.35 ERA and 1.40 WHIP), but he’s quietly been a nice weapon for this Yankees team during his brief career. He enter’s tonight’s start against the vaunted Red Sox sporting a solid 3.58 over 178.2 career innings. Warren was terrific in his last outing and mowed down this Boston team last season (0.73 ERA, 0.48 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 12.1 innings). However, he was much less effective away from Yankee Stadium and this is not the 2014 Boston Red Sox lineup. He’s in play for GPPs, but is a very risky cash game option. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7100 FD, $4300 DK

Joe Kelly – Kellly has now coughed up five earned runs in each of his last two starts, and his ERA has now ballooned to 4.94 on the young season. While giving up five runs to the Blue Jays is far from ideal, Kelly was at least able to salvage things from a fantasy perspective by racking up 10 strikeouts in that last outing. Kelly hasn’t put up the numbers he was hoping for yet this season, but his fastball velocity has actually increased this season (96.5 vFA) and his 3.18 xFIP is encouraging. He’s too risky for cash game use, but those strikeouts make him a viable GPP target. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6900 FD, $5300 DK

Batter Grind Down

NY Yankees

Jacoby Ellsbury – Ellsbury entended his hitting streak to five games in yesteday’s 4-2 win over Boston and has now racked up 10 hits and five stolen bases over the last five games. He can clearly rack up fantasy points in numerous ways and is the place-setter for this Yankees lineup as their leadoff man

Secondary Plays:

Brett Gardner: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.34 wOBA: 0.197 ISO: 116 wRC+

Brian McCann: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.282 wOBA: 0.151 ISO: 76 wRC+

Boston

Hanley Ramirez – Warren was rather oddly tough on left-handed batters last season (.236 wOBA against) but righties fared much better with a .307 wOBA. Hanley is off to a great start with his new team and already owns 10 home runs and 22 RBI’s through the first 23 games.

Secondary Plays:

Mookie Betts: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.358 wOBA: 0.153 ISO: 127 wRC+

Pablo Sandoval: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.359 wOBA: 0.144 ISO: 136 wRC+

Mike Napoli: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.332 wOBA: 0.17 ISO: 109 wRC+

David Ortiz: 2014 vs RH Pitching – 0.364 wOBA: 0.248 ISO: 131 wRC+

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