MLB Grind Down: Sunday, September 21st

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2014-09-23 21:52:19

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

Toronto at NY Yankees

Toronto					NY Yankees
Drew Hutchison		Vegas Moneyline			Masahiro Tanaka		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		NYY (-160)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.254	0.797	0.348	20.80%	SP vs. Left	0.233	0.628	0.278	21.70%
SP vs. Right	0.222	0.620	0.274	25.40%	SP vs. Right	0.223	0.657	0.288	32.50%
Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs R		Batter Splits	NYY BvP		NYY vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Drew Hutchison – Hutchison is has a 4.51 ERA on the year and is coming off a terrible performance where he allowed 6 earned runs in 6 innings. He has struggled mightily to this Yankees squad this year, allowing 16 earned runs in 27.1 innings pitched. He always has major strike out potential which places him in a GPP playable category, but I wouldn’t put to many shares of him out there today. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7200 FD, $13450 DD, $7500 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Masahiro Tanaka – Tanaka was extremely good this year prior to going down with the injury. He is going to be limited to 70-75 pitches today which really limits his upside. He needs to be avoided to today due to the fact that his price still represents a guy that needs to pitch 7-8 innings to pay off his price. The innings he does pitch should be fun to watch though. . Rating = 6

Salaries: $9500 FD, $19600 DD, $10500 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Toronto

Edwin Encarnacion – Tanaka will not pitch the whole game, but EE might get overlooked due to the fact that Tanaka is in at all. He is a streaky power hitter and has a double and a home run in his last 2 games. He makes a great GPP play today.

NY Yankees

Jacoby Ellsbury/Brett Gardner – It is tough to decide which one takes top billing as they have both really struggled over the last week. With that said, Hutchison has struggled with LH hitters allowing a wOBA of .348 on the year. Whoever is cheaper at your site should be in play.

Additional Plays: Brian McCann

Washington at Miami

Washington					Miami
Stephen Strasburg		Vegas Moneyline			Nathan Eovaldi		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		WAS (-195)			RIGHT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.234	0.665	0.292	24.5%	SP vs. Left	0.294	0.775	0.339	15.40%
SP vs. Right	0.259	0.706	0.310	30.7%	SP vs. Right	0.255	0.680	0.300	18.10%
Batter Splits	WSN BvP		WSN vs R		Batter Splits	MIA BvP		MIA vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Stephen Strasburg – Strasburg finally shut us DFS players up about his road struggles with a very good performance against the Braves, in Atlanta. He will look to take that momentum into a Marlins squad that he should be able to mow down pretty easily today. I am expecting a big game today for Strasburg and makes a great play as his price is a bit lower than the other studs today. Rating = 9

Salaries: $9900 FD, $21000 DD, $11400 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Nathan Eovaldi – The wheels have really come off for Eovaldi recently and has a 7.98 ERA in his 3 starts during September. The win will be tough to get as run support will be minimal, plus his low 6.5 K/9 does not add to his value. Avoid him today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $5500 FD, $11950 DD, $6400 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Washington

Adam LaRoche – Eovaldi has struggled with lefties allowing a wOBA of .339 to them on the season. LaRoche has crushed righties all year long and is a decent play at first today.

Additional Plays: Denard Span Ian Desmond

Miami

Avoid the poor Marlins bats today.

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh

Milwaukee					Pittsburgh
Wily Peralta		Vegas Moneyline			Vance Worley		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		PIT (-127)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.306	0.830	0.365	16.9%	SP vs. Left	0.259	0.701	0.312	14.40%
SP vs. Right	0.214	0.617	0.282	18.0%	SP vs. Right	0.262	0.695	0.305	20.20%
Batter Splits	MIL BvP		MIL vs R		Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Wily Peralta – Peralta has been one of the better starters for the Brewers this season. He holds a 3.70 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. He now gets a matchup against the Pirates who are still battling for a playoff spot and just lit Peralta up at the end of August for 7 earned runs. Due to the matchup, Peralta will be avoided by myself especially with all the good pitching options out there today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $7200 FD, $13800 DD, $7600 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Vance Worley – Worley was pushed to the bullpen this week, but is again making a start for the Pirates. He has been very good during the innings he pitches, but has not gone more than 7 innings in any of his last 8 games and his inconsistent with strike out totals. He will need to pitch well today, but I foresee a short leash by the Pirates and do not trust Worley. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6600 FD, $14950 DD, $7600 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Milwaukee

Ryan Braun – Braun is in play due to his price not being too expensive and he has hit RH pitching very well this year (.336 wOBA).

Additional Plays: Jonathan Lucroy Scooter Gennett

Pittsburgh

Neil Walker – Peralta has really struggled against LH bats which puts the switch hitting Walker into play today. Peralta has allowed a wOBA of .365 to lefties.

Additional Plays: Andrew McCutchen

Boston at Baltimore

Boston					Baltimore
Joe Kelly		Vegas Moneyline			Miguel Gonzalez		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		BAL (-155)			RIGHT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.241	0.684	0.317	15.0%	SP vs. Left	0.252	0.763	0.336	14.80%
SP vs. Right	0.246	0.734	0.324	18.0%	SP vs. Right	0.246	0.715	0.319	18.20%
Batter Splits	BOS BvP		BOS vs R		Batter Splits	BAL BvP		BAL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Joe Kelly – Ever since coming to the AL and the Red Sox, Kelly has really not been a fantasy option. He does not have elite strike out numbers or go very deep into games. He has a very tough matchup against the Orioles and should be avoided today. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6100 FD, $11600 DD, $6100 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Miguel Gonzalez – Gonzalez has been quietly putting together a very good season. After 24 starts, he has a 3.28 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He does not strike out a ton of batters, but has consistently gone 6-7 innings with 3 or less runs against him. He should be in line for the win if he continues to pitch the way he has recently. He makes a decent pitcher for multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 6

Salaries: $7200 FD, $13350 DD, $8000 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Boston

David Ortiz – Play Papi when he starts to get hot. The three bombs in the last two games might be a sign of a streak here so you may want to jump on the train.

Additional Plays: Daniel Nava

Baltimore

Nelson Cruz – Cruz has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball and it should be able to continue against Kelly. In his last 3 games he has 6 hits and 3 doubles.

Additional Plays: Adam Jones Nick Markakis

NY Mets at Atlanta

NY Mets					Atlanta
Jacob Degrom		Vegas Moneyline			Ervin Santana		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		ATL (-115)			RIGHT		6.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.230	0.647	0.292	22.9%	SP vs. Left	0.280	0.761	0.331	18.90%
SP vs. Right	0.223	0.597	0.264	26.1%	SP vs. Right	0.224	0.665	0.298	25.80%
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

• Jacob Degrom – DeGrom was on fire in his last start before allowing 3 earned runs. He still ended the game with a 13 strike out performance in 7 innings. He now gets to take on a Braves squad that strikes out a lot and has K’d 19 times in 12 innings against DeGrom. He is an elite option on a day with a lot of good pitchers. Rating = 8

Salaries: $9900 FD, $19400 DD, $10900 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Ervin Santana – Santana has had a very good year overall. He comes into this matchup with a 3.74 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. He adds to his fantasy value with a nice 8.26 K/9. He will take these numbers and put them up against a lineup that does not pose to many big threats. He makes a good mid-tiered option today if his price is cheap. Rating = 7

Salaries: $8500 FD, $17150 DD, $9300 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

NY Mets

Avoid the bats today against Santana.

Atlanta

Unless strikeouts are points on your site, avoid the bats.

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2

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