MLB Grind Down: Thursday, April 17th - Page 2
Toronto at Minnesota (Game 2)
| Toronto | Minnesota | ||||||||
| Dustin McGowan | Vegas Moneyline | Mike Pelfrey | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TOR (-115) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.191 | 0.687 | 0.304 | 13.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.263 | 0.749 | 0.333 | 16.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.189 | 0.508 | 0.260 | 31.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.338 | 0.820 | 0.365 | 13.2% |
| Batter Splits | TOR BvP  | TOR vs R | Batter Splits | MIN BvP | MIN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Dustin McGowan – McGowan is not a recommended fantasy option. McGowan has a combined 5 strikeouts in his first two starts and has given up 13 hits. This Twins offense has actually been much better than most people think as they have scored an average of 5.4 runs this season. McGowan struggles against LH batters and I think Mauer and Co. will get a hold of him tonight. Rating = 3
- Mike Pelfrey – Pelfrey has the combination that we want to stay away from in DFS. He has a high ERA and a low K-rate. Pelfrey gave up a .333 wOBA to LH batters and a .365 wOBA to RB batters last season. With the Blue Jays bats heating up, Pelfrey should not be on your radar tonight. Rating = 2
Batter Grind Down
Toronto
- Edwin Encarnacion – As mentioned above, Pelfrey really struggles against RH batters. Last season he gave up an OPS of .820 to batters from the right side of the plate. After a slow start to the season, E5 has 5 hits in his last 2 games. His price is depressed and this is a very favorable matchup.
- Additional Plays: Jose Bautista, Melky Cabrera, Adam Lind, Dioner Navarro
Minnesota
- Joe Mauer – Mauer is batting .294 against RH pitching this season and has 6 hits in his last 4 games. McGowan is one of the better pitchers to pick on today and the Twins should be able to have another solid outing offensively.
- Additional Plays: Jason Kubel, Brian Dozier
Colorado at San Diego
| Colorado | San Diego | ||||||||
| Franklin Morales | Vegas Moneyline | Ian Kennedy | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | SDP (-127) | RIGHT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.184 | 0.402 | 0.222 | 25.5% | SP vs. Left | 0.261 | 0.811 | 0.355 | 22.3% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.337 | 0.981 | 0.442 | 12.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.251 | 0.700 | 0.327 | 19.0% |
| Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs R | Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SDP vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Franklin Morales – If this game was being played in Coors Field, the run total would likely be at least 10 runs. But since it is being played in Petco Park, the run total is set at only 7 runs. Morales has an ERA over 6.00 on the season and the Padres have some bats that really hit LH pitching well. Not even a matchup against the Padres in Petco is enough for me to target Morales. Rating = 4
- Ian Kennedy – Kennedy has pitched OK here in the early going. In his 3 starts, he has a 4.24 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and a K/9 of 8.4. He has had some nice success in Petco since coming over from the D-Backs though and this Rockies offense is not nearly as intimidating away from Coors. Kennedy makes a nice tournament play tonight. Rating = 6
Batter Grind Down
Colorado
- Carlos Gonzalez – Kennedy gave up a .355 wOBA to LH batters last season and Cargo is always a threat to hit a HR. Gonzalez already has 4 HR’s and 13 RBI’s this season and has the splits in his favor tonight against Kennedy.
- Additional Plays: Charlie Blackmon
San Diego
- Jedd Gyorko – Gyorko is a terrific punt play at 2B tonight against Morales who gave up a .442 wOBA and an OPS of .981 to RH batters last season. Gyorko hits lefties well and has hits in 5 of his last 6 games.
- Additional Plays: Chris Denorfia
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh
| Milwaukee | Pittsburgh | ||||||||
| Yovani Gallardo | Vegas Moneyline | Edinson Volquez | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | PIT (-110) | RIGHT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.251 | 0.721 | 0.324 | 17.8% | SP vs. Left | 0.290 | 0.822 | 0.363 | 17.7% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.266 | 0.687 | 0.307 | 18.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.264 | 0.741 | 0.333 | 19.0% |
| 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
- Yovani Gallardo – Gallardo has posted 3 quality starts here in the early part of the season. He has pitched at least 6 innings in every starts this season and has only given up a combined 2 runs. The 2 runs that he gave up were to his opponent that he faces today. The Pirates are a very tough team to take pitchers against because they can provide some very tough outs for pitchers. I like Gallardo more than Volquez, but will likely be avoiding both tonight. Rating = 5
- Edison Volquez – Volquez has pitched well this season and maybe a change of scenery is exactly what he needed. That said, it’s going to take more than 2 starts for me to trust a pitcher that had an ERA well over 5.00 last season with half of his starts being in Petco. I suppose you could target him in tournaments, but I’d rather play it safe with a pitcher that I can count on. Rating = 5
Batter Grind Down
Milwaukee
- Jean Segura – The total for this game is set at 7.0 runs which doesn’t make me excited about either team’s offenses here, but Segura is an on-base machine and has a nice matchup against Volquez who gave up a .333 wOBA to RH batters last season.
- Additional Plays: Carlos Gomez
Pittsburgh
- Andrew McCutchen – Cutch is off to a slow start this season, but I love that he comes with a depressed price tag. Cutch hit .337 at home last season and this is a great time to buy low on him.
- Additional Plays: None
St. Louis at Washington
| St. Louis | Washington | ||||||||
| Adam Wainwright | Vegas Moneyline | Taylor Jordan | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | STL (-153) | RIGHT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.235 | 0.614 | 0.278 | 23.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.299 | 0.732 | 0.325 | 4.9% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.252 | 0.623 | 0.279 | 23.2% | SP vs. Right | 0.279 | 0.639 | 0.299 | 18.8% |
| Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs R | Batter Splits | WSN BvP | WSN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Adam Wainwright – Wainwright is dominating in typical Wainwright fashion this season. In his 3 starts, he has a 2.57 ERA with 24 K’s over 21 innings of work. Wainwright and Sale are the two most expensive pitching options tonight, but Wainwright should have no problem with this Nats lineup in the pitcher-friendly Nationals Park. Rating = 9
- Taylor Jordan – Jordan is a pitcher that has a low K-rate and a high ERA and WHIP. That’s typically not a recipe for success in daily fantasy baseball. He also has a tough matchup against the Cardinals. He should be avoided in all leagues. Rating = 2
Batter Grind Down
St. Louis
- Allen Craig – Now is the time to buy low on Craig before his price goes up. He was a recommended play yesterday and he hit an opposite field HR. He is starting to swing the bat with confidence and is under-priced on most sites.
- Additional Plays: Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday
Washington
- The Nationals are an easy lineup to avoid today. Wainwright is one of the best pitchers in the game. Don’t over-think this one, just avoid all Nats’ batters.
- Additional Plays: None
NY Yankees at Tampa Bay
| NY Yankees | Tampa Bay | ||||||||
| CC Sabathia | Vegas Moneyline | David Price | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | TBR (-170) | LEFT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.244 | 0.648 | 0.293 | 29.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.190 | 0.478 | 0.218 | 23.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.282 | 0.802 | 0.353 | 16.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.274 | 0.711 | 0.313 | 19.6% |
| Batter Splits | NYY BvP | NYY vs L | Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TBR vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- CC Sabathia – Sabathia has looked good in short spurts this season, but he has lost a ton of velocity and hitters are making him pay for any little mistake. The Rays were one of the best hitting teams against LH pitching last season and I will continue to avoid CC tonight, especially with Price starting opposite him. Rating = 4
- David Price – In 3 starts this season, Price has a 2.91 ERA with a K/9 just over 9.0. He was close to a complete game shutout in his last outing and is a terrific option tonight against the Yankees. While the Yankees aren’t nearly as bad against LH pitching as they were last season, their offense has mustered up the 8th fewest runs this season. Rating = 8
Batter Grind Down
NY Yankees
- Avoid all Yankees’ bats against tonight for cash games. Price is usually dominant at Tropicana Field.
- Additional Plays: Alfonso Soriano (GPP)
Tampa Bay
- Evan Longoria – I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m not a huge fan of BvP unless they confirm a player that I am already targeting that day. That’s the case with Longo here. He has crushed LH pitching and has had CC’s number throughout his career. He is 21/53 with 6 HR’s off of Sabathia.
- Additional Plays: Wil Myers, Yunel Escobar
Kansas City at Houston
| Kansas City | Houston | ||||||||
| James Shields | Vegas Moneyline | Scott Feldman | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | KCR (-105) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.237 | 0.625 | 0.282 | 21.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.227 | 0.632 | 0.291 | 16.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.262 | 0.707 | 0.321 | 19.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.226 | 0.634 | 0.290 | 17.4% |
| Batter Splits | KCR BvP | KCR vs R | Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- James Shields – Shields makes an excellent play tonight against the Astros who have one of the worst offenses in the American League. Shields had a K/9 of 7.8 last season and faces an Astros team that is once again near the top of the league in strikeouts per game. I will have a heavy dose of Shields tonight in cash games. Rating = 9
- Scott Feldman – Hopefully you listened to my advice the other day when Feldman faced the Rangers. Everyone seemed to be on a Rangers’ stack and then Feldman went on to throw 7 scoreless innings. Feldman is not a great pitcher in fantasy baseball because of his low K-rate, but he is a very effective real life pitcher and gets out. Rating = 4
Batter Grind Down
Kansas City
- Eric Hosmer – Hosmer is a nice value play at 1B if you are looking to save some cap space. He has 5 hits in his last 3 games and is close to a .300 hitter against RH pitching.
- Additional Plays: Alex Gordon
Houston
- There aren’t many days when I suggest using Astros batters and today is not one of them. I’m expecting a big outing from Shields tonight.
- Additional Plays:
Boston at Chicago White Sox
| Boston | Chicago White Sox | ||||||||
| Jon Lester | Vegas Moneyline | Chris Sale | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | CWS (-114) | LEFT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.222 | 0.631 | 0.277 | 26.7% | SP vs. Left | 0.126 | 0.310 | 0.166 | 29.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.261 | 0.706 | 0.318 | 18.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.250 | 0.675 | 0.304 | 25.3% |
| Batter Splits | BOS BvP | BOS vs L | Batter Splits | CHW BvP | CHW vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jon Lester – I’ve been very impressed by Lester this season. In his 3 starts he has an ERA of 2.57 with a WHIP of 1.10 and 20 K’s over 21 innings pitched. The Red Sox have not eased their veteran pitcher into action as he has thrown at least 104 pitches in every game this season. I like his matchup against the White Sox, but he will have a tough time receiving run support with Sale starting for the White Sox. Rating = 6
- Chris Sale – Sale is one of the best pitchers in baseball and is facing a Red Sox lineup that has really struggled offensively this season. In 16 starts at home last season, Sale posted a 2.97 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and a K/9 of 9.3. I don’t like him as much as Wainwright for cash games, but has just as much upside as Wainwright in GPP’s. Rating = 8
Batter Grind Down
Boston
- There are better options elsewhere. Dustin Pedroia hits LH pitching well but Sale is one of the best LH pitchers in baseball.
- Additional Plays: None
Chicago
- This is expected to be a very low scoring game. Both pitchers should have success and I’ll be avoiding batters from both teams in this one.
- Additional Plays: Dayan Viciedo (GPP)