MLB Grind Down: Thursday, June 26th

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2014-06-26 21:08:42

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

Atlanta at Houston

Atlanta					Houston
Mike Minor		Vegas Moneyline			Jarred Cosart		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		ATL (-125)			RIGHT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.233	0.604	0.272	25.2%	SP vs. Left	0.211	0.603	0.278	19.2%
SP vs. Right	0.250	0.716	0.315	20.7%	SP vs. Right	0.276	0.733	0.332	10.4%
Batter Splits	ATL BvP		ATL vs R		Batter Splits	HOU BvP		HOU vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Mike Minor – Hey Grinders, we have 2 early games on the slate today and then 8 games on tap for the evening slate. Minor will be on the bump for the Braves in the first game of the day. Through his first 10 starts this season, he has posted a 4.20 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP and a K/9 of 9.0. Minor has nice upside against a very young, very aggressive Astros’ offense that strikes out more than any team in baseball. Rating = 7

Salaries: $7500 FD, $15526 DS, $NA DD, $8600 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Jarred Cosart – Cosart hasn’t given up more than 3 earned runs in any of his last 10 starts. He’s been much more consistent of late than he had been earlier in the season. Like Minor, Cosart also has nice upside as the Braves are ranked 27th against RH pitching this season and have struck out the 4th most times in all of baseball. He’s more of an under the radar type of play, but could pay off in a tournament. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6600 FD, $12302 DS, $ DD, $6600 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Atlanta

Justin Upton – Upton homered in last night’s win over the Astros and will look to build on that today against Cosart. Cosart has given up a .332 wOBA to RHB’s since the start of 2013 and Upton has a .331 wOBA against RH pitching.

Additional Plays: Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward

Houston

Jose Altuve – Altuve makes a nice play at 2B today. Not only does he rake against LH pitching (.419 wOBA this season), but he already has 28 stolen bases on the season.

Additional Plays: George Springer

Minnesota at LA Angels

Minnesota					LA Angels
Ricky Nolasco		Vegas Moneyline			Jered Weaver		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		LAA (-185)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.276	0.770	0.344	17.4%	SP vs. Left	0.237	0.665	0.299	19.6%
SP vs. Right	0.273	0.716	0.317	20.3%	SP vs. Right	0.227	0.660	0.295	17.3%
Batter Splits	MIN BvP		MIN vs R		Batter Splits	LAA BvP		LAA vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Ricky Nolasco – Nolasco, like the rest of the Twins’ pitching staff, leaves much to be desired. So far in 2014, he has posted a 5.52 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP. It doesn’t look like things are going to get better anytime soon, especially with his matchup against the Angels who are ranked 9th against RH pitching this season (.322 wOBA). Rating = 3

Salaries: $5300 FD, $8688 DS, $NA DD, $6400 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD

• Jered Weaver – Weaver isn’t quite what he used to be, but he is still a solid pitcher in the big leagues, especially when he is pitching at Angel Stadium. In 9 starts at home, he has a 2.92 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and a K/9 of 7.8. Weaver should get plenty of run support and he has a decent matchup against the Twins who are ranked 14th against RH pitching this season. Rating = 6

Salaries: $7300 FD, $17368 DS, $ DD, $8400 DK, $83500 FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

Minnesota

Josh Willingham – Willingham has shown great power against righties this season (.375 wOBA) and has hit 2 HR’s off of Weaver in his career. He makes a nice upside play if you aren’t targeting Weaver in the early slate.

Additional Plays: Joe Mauer

LA Angels

Albert Pujols – Every once in a while you see a BvP stat that is just too good to ignore. That’s the case today with Pujols who is 10/19 with 3 HR’s and 4 doubles against Nolasco in his career.

Additional Plays: Kole Calhoun, Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout

Miami at Philadelphia

Miami					Philadelphia
Tom Koehler		Vegas Moneyline			Cole Hamels		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		PHI (-157)			LEFT		7.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.220	0.645	0.294	15.8%	SP vs. Left	0.253	0.690	0.309	25.3%
SP vs. Right	0.275	0.779	0.350	16.2%	SP vs. Right	0.242	0.670	0.303	22.3%
Batter Splits	MIA BvP		MIA vs L		Batter Splits	PHI BvP		PHI vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Tom Koehler – Koehler has really cooled off after his fast start to the season. While the matchup against the Phillies is a favorable one, Koehler has struggled on the road with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. He is a sizable underdog tonight against Hamels and the Phillies. He can safely be avoided in all leagues. Rating = 4

Salaries: $6100 FD, $12969 DS, $13150 DD, $6800 DK, $68300 FF, $18600 SS, $13150 FTD

• Cole Hamels – Hamels is one of the top pitchers on the board tonight. He has been terrific in each of his last 5 starts. During that stretch, he has struck out 40 batters while only giving up 3 earned runs. As a team, the Marlins are ranked 18th against LH pitching this season and have been a much different team offensively away from home. Rating = 9

Salaries: $9100 FD, $21720 DS, $18200 DD, $10600 DK, $121000 FF, $28600 SS, $18200 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Miami

Giancarlo Stanton – Even though Hamels is one of the best lefties in baseball, you can never count out Stanton against LH pitching. On the season he has a .489 wOBA against southpaws and he has 2 HR’s off of Hamels in the past.

Additional Plays: None

Philadelphia

Marlon Byrd – Even though Koehler is a RHP, he gives up a much higher wOBA to RHB’s than he has to LHB’s. Byrd has been swinging a hot bat with 12 hits over his last 10 games, 3 of which were HR’s.

Additional Plays: Chase Utley

NY Mets at Pittsburgh

NY Mets					Pittsburgh
Daisuke Matsuzaka		Vegas Moneyline			Vance Worley		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		PIT (-148)			RIGHT		8.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.195	0.629	0.300	23.9%	SP vs. Left	0.358	0.965	0.428	13.5%
SP vs. Right	0.188	0.586	0.296	19.3%	SP vs. Right	0.364	0.898	0.396	9.4%
Batter Splits	NYM BvP		NYM vs R		Batter Splits	PIT BvP		PIT vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Daisuke Matsuzaka – Dice-K takes the mound tonight for the Mets and while he has pitched well this season, he is not a reliable fantasy option. He is facing a Pirates’ offense that has been very tough ever since calling up rookie OF Gregory Polanco. Dice-K has more downside than upside tonight and I’ll be avoiding him in all leagues. Rating = 3

Salaries: $5100 FD, $12206 DS, $11050 DD, $6200 DK, $96600 FF, $14700 SS, $NA FTD

• Vance Worley – Worley has put together two very strong starts to start his 2014 campaign. He’s not a high strikeout pitcher by any means, but he is a sizable favorite tonight against the Mets who are ranked 26th against RH pitching this season (.296 wOBA). Worley makes a nice play on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 6

Salaries: $5200 FD, $12804 DS, $11400 DD, $7000 DK, $40000 FF, $23000 SS, $9600 FTD

Batter Grind Down

NY Mets

David Wright – Wright is finally starting to heat up and this could be one of the last chances that you have to take him at his discounted price tag. Wright has 14 hits over his last 10 games and a nice matchup against Worley.

Additional Plays: Curtis Granderson

Pittsburgh

Andrew McCutchen – Cutch has a .401 wOBA against RH pitching this season and draws a great matchup against Dice-K who can be rather erratic at times. I like targeting players that can score fantasy points in multiple ways and you get that from Cutch who has both speed and power.

Additional Plays: Gregory Polanco

Chicago White Sox at Toronto

Chicago White Sox					Toronto
Scott Carroll		Vegas Moneyline			J.A. Happ		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		TOR (-165)			LEFT		10.0
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.330	0.910	0.402	5.3%	SP vs. Left	0.282	0.784	0.350	20.3%
SP vs. Right	0.310	0.749	0.360	15.0%	SP vs. Right	0.255	0.750	0.333	18.0%
Batter Splits	CHW BvP		CHW vs L		Batter Splits	TOR BvP		TOR vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Scott Carroll – Carroll is not a recommended fantasy option. He has an ERA over 4.00 this season with a WHIP over 1.50. He has given up a .360+ wOBA to both LHB’s and RHB’s and faces a tough Blue Jays’ offense in the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. It’s looking like a great night to stack the Jays. Rating = 2

Salaries: $5000 FD, $7790 DS, $8650 DD, $5500 DK, $NA FF, $13000 SS, $NA FTD

• J.A. Happ – Happ hasn’t been terrible this season, but he has been inconsistent. While I do expect him to get plenty of run support tonight, I don’t like the matchup against the White Sox who have a ton of power in their lineup. The total for this game is set at 10.0 runs and Happ can safely be avoided in all leagues. Rating = 4

Salaries: $5900 FD, $11444 DS, $10800 DD, $6100 DK, $71000 FF, $14200 SS, $10800 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Chicago White Sox

Jose Abreu – Abreu may have the most raw power in all of baseball. He hit HR #23 in last night’s game against the Orioles and will look to add to that total in this series against the Blue Jays. He draws a nice matchup against Happ who hasn’t been great against RH hitters.

Additional Plays: Alexei Ramirez, Dayan Viciedo

Toronto

Edwin Encarnacion – E5 aka double-dong aka Encarnacion is one of my favorite plays of the night. E5 has a .414 wOBA against RH pitching and a favorable matchup against the rookie Carroll. Take Encarnacion and stack some of the Blue Jays around him.

Additional Plays: Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Adam Lind, Colby Rasmus

MLB Grind Down Page 1 – Page 2

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