MLB Grind Down: Sunday, September 14th
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
Tampa Bay at Toronto
| Tampa Bay | Toronto | ||||||||
| Chris Archer | Vegas Moneyline | Mark Buehrle | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TOR (-120) | LEFT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.241 | 0.661 | 0.298 | 20.30% | SP vs. Left | 0.273 | 0.736 | 0.326 | 14.40% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.264 | 0.689 | 0.309 | 21.40% | SP vs. Right | 0.289 | 0.748 | 0.330 | 13.20% |
| Batter Splits | TBR BvP  | TBR vs L | Batter Splits | TOR BvP | TOR vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Chris Archer – Archer has struggle a bit recently, giving up 17 earned runs in his last 3 starts. One of these starts was against the Blue Jays in Tampa Bay where he allowed 6 earned runs on 10 hits. He now has to take on the Blue Jays in hitter friendly Rogers Centre. Due to the park and the matchup, I will be avoiding Archer today. Rating = 4
Salaries: $8000 FD, $14300 DD, $8600 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Mark Buehrle – Buehrle has continued his very consistent season and holds a season ERA of 3.31 with a WHIP of 1.38. His K rate has never helped his fantasy value and that has held true this year as he has a 5.19 K/9. He has a decent matchup against the Rays who Buehrle has pitched well against this year. In 5 starts, he has held them to only 5 earned runs in 34.2 innings. He makes a decent multi-pitcher site option or deep GPP play. Rating = 6
Salaries: $7000 FD, $12100 DD, $5300 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Tampa Bay
Ben Zobrist – Zobrist has hit Buehrle well in the past (10/27) and should be leading off today for the Rays in Rogers Centre.
Additional Plays: Evan Longoria
Toronto
Adam Lind – I hate that you have to decide between Lind and Encarnacion at the big sites, but if I had to pick today, I would take the salary relief of Lind. He is coming off a very nice game and should be in line to drive home a few runs today.
Additional Plays: Edwin Encarnacion Jose Reyes
Cleveland at Detroit
| Cleveland | Detroit | ||||||||
| Trevor Bauer | Vegas Moneyline | Justin Verlander | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | DET (-145) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.246 | 0.723 | 0.322 | 23.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.235 | 0.700 | 0.311 | 19.00% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.256 | 0.732 | 0.323 | 20.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.325 | 0.876 | 0.383 | 15.90% |
| Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Trevor Bauer – Bauer has a 4.12 ERA and 1.37 WHIP on the year for the Indians. He has shown the potential to be a very good fantasy starter as he has had games of 8, 6, and 9 strike outs in 3 of his last 4 games. He now has to take on the Tigers who beat him up for 4 earned runs in 5.2 innings just two starts ago. Due to the matchup, Bauer is only a GPP play due to his K possibilities. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7000 FD, $13150 DD, $6600 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Justin Verlander – Verlander has not been good at all this year and nothing has improved in the second half. He has close to a 5 ERA on the year and has struggled against the Indians in his 4 starts allowing 13 earned runs and a .307 batting average. Until he figures it out (which does not look like it will happen this year) I will recommend to avoid him. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7500 FD, $13350 DD, $7400 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Cleveland
Carlos Santana – Santana is a very streaky hitter and in the last week has been on a bit of a heater. He is batting over .300 with 2 home runs and has hit 5 off of Verlander in his career.
Additional Plays: Jason Kipnis Michael Brantley
Detroit
Victor Martinez – Vmart has been a consistent option all year long if you have the salary to pay up for him. He has continued his strong hitting year this week and is coming off a home run game yesterday. Look for the Tigers to put up a few runs against Bauer today and Vmart should be in the middle of it.
Additional Plays:
Washington at NY Mets
| Washington | NY Mets | ||||||||
| Jordan Zimmermann | Vegas Moneyline | Jonathon Niese | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | WAS (-145) | LEFT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.267 | 0.688 | 0.303 | 19.4% | SP vs. Left | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.237 | 0.627 | 0.279 | 26.1% | SP vs. Right | ||||
| Batter Splits | WSN BvP | WSN vs L | Batter Splits | NYM BvP | NYM vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jordan Zimmermann – Zimmerman has pitched well for the Nationals and has a sub 3.00 ERA to show for it. He backs this up with a decent 8.24 K/9 rate which is almost a career high for him. He has a great matchup at Citi Field against the Mets who Zimmerman has pitched well against this year (2.89 ERA in 3 starts). Zimmerman makes a very safe play today. Rating = 7
Salaries: $9300 FD, $18750 DD, $10300 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Jonathon Niese – Niese is coming off one of his better starts of the year against the Rockies where he gave up 1 earned run in 6.2 innings while striking out 7 batters. He will look to continue this momentum against the Nationals who have some great RH bats who have hit Niese well in his career. The matchup makes Niese a hard start today and should be avoided especially on sites that are win dependent. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7100 FD, $12700 DD, $7100 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Washington
Anthony Rendon – Rendon has been a lefty masher all year long. He comes into this game with a wOBA of .359 against LH pitching and should take advantage of Niese today.
Additional Plays: Jayson Werth Ian Desmond
NY Mets
I think Zimmerman pitches well in this spot and will be avoiding all Mets bats.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh
| Chicago Cubs | Pittsburgh | ||||||||
| Jacob Turner | Vegas Moneyline | Edinson Volquez | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | PIT (-220) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.309 | 0.808 | 0.356 | 7.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.237 | 0.745 | 0.329 | 17.00% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.324 | 0.850 | 0.371 | 20.6% | SP vs. Right | 0.238 | 0.657 | 0.295 | 15.80% |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jacob Turner – Turner is coming off a rough outing that was expected at Rogers Centre. He now tries to bounce back against the Pirates who are pushing for a playoff spot at the moment. Their offense has been clicking and Turner has struggled all year long. Avoid him today. Rating = 3
Salaries: $5300 FD, $9150 DD, $4700 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Edinson Volquez – Volquez is so tough to trust for fantasy purposes, but has shown the ability to go out and throw a good game here and there and has an overall 3.36 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. The matchup against the Cubs and their young squad is great today as they have struggled a bit recently. Run support should be in Voltrains favor today and he makes a decent gpp play. Rating = 6
Salaries: $7500 FD, $14200 DD, $8000 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
Javier Baez – This is a strictly GPP play only, but if you watched the Cubs game yesterday you would see how Baez just turns on a bad pitch. He launched one out yesterday and he seems to really only swing for the fences. If he is cheap and you want to take a flyer, Baez is your guy.
Pittsburgh
Josh Harrison – Ever since coming back from 2 days off due to an ankle injury, Harrison has picked up right where he left off. This includes 7 hits in his last 4 games and should crush Turner today who has struggled with batters from both sides of the plate.
Additional Plays: Andrew McCutchen Neil Walker
Miami at Philadelphia
| Miami | Philadelphia | ||||||||
| Tom Koehler | Vegas Moneyline | David Buchanan | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | PHI (-120) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.231 | 0.632 | 0.287 | 20.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.204 | 0.542 | 0.249 | 12.30% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.245 | 0.727 | 0.324 | 18.2% | SP vs. Right | 0.294 | 0.860 | 0.374 | 16.70% |
| Batter Splits | MIA BvP | MIA vs R | Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Tom Koehler – Koehler has been very consistent this year at going about 6-7 innings and allowing about 2-3 earned runs during that span. The problem is that is about his ceiling as well which is not going to win you many gpps and is still to risky for cash games. He has a great matchup against the Phillies, but does not pack enough punch to play in any formats. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6900 FD, $13600 DD, $7000 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- David Buchanan – Buchanan has a good matchup today against the Marlins who strike out at a very high rate, but is not a fantasy relevant starter. He rarely pitches passed the 6th inning and rarely strikes out more than 4 or 5 batters. He can be avoided in all formats today. Rating = 3
Salaries: $6400 FD, $12550 DD, $6900 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Miami
Christian Yelich – This is now a very depleted looking Marlins squad without big Giancarlo. Yelich has still had a decent year and will look to finish it off strong as one of the best remaining bats in the lineup. He has a wOBA of .347 against righties and should be in the leadoff spot today.
Additional Plays: Casey McGehee
Philadelphia
Ben Revere – Not someone who is going to go yard and square a huge amount of points, but Revere is a cheap option that consistently gets on base and scores runs. He makes a decent cash game option today as his price is a bit depressed as he has hit under .200 this week.
Additional Plays: Chase Utley
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