MLB Grind Down: Thursday, October 1st - Page Three
Kansas City at Chicago White Sox – 8:10 PM EST
| Kansas City | Chicago White Sox | ||||||||
 | Kris Medlen |  | John Danks | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| KCR (-130) | 8 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.241 | 0.744 | 0.325 | 0.163 | SP vs. Left | 0.236 | 0.703 | 0.309 | 0.131 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.277 | 0.707 | 0.306 | 0.167 | SP vs. Right | 0.277 | 0.813 | 0.353 | 0.166 |
| Batter Splits | KCR BvP | KC vs L | Batter Splits | CHW BvP | CWS vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Kris Medlen : FD: $6,900 — DK: $4,800
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 52.1 — SIERA: 4.15 — ERA: 4.30 — K%: 16.4% — BB%: 6.9% — HR/9: 1.0
Last 30 Days: IP: 32.0 — SIERA: 4.69 — ERA: 5.06 — K%: 11.2% — BB%: 7.0% — HR/9: 1.1
Chicago White Sox Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.306 (Rank: 23) — Strikeout Rate: 20.5% (Rank: 16)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.298 (Rank: 24) — Strikeout Rate: 22.2% (Rank: 17)
Pitches per PA: 3.80 (Rank: 18)
Analysis: Medlen has had most of his success this season coming out of the bullpen. He hasn’t been nearly as successful as a starter and his strikeout rate has taken a noticeable hit. Even though he draws a favorable matchup against the White Sox, he provides very little upside. He is not on my radar tonight, as there are better options for both cash games and tournaments.
Pitcher Rating: 56.9
John Danks : FD: $6,100 — DK: $5,800
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 366.1 — SIERA: 4.62 — ERA: 4.64 — K%: 15.7% — BB%: 8.0% — HR/9: 1.2
Last 30 Days: IP: 27.0 — SIERA: 4.64 — ERA: 3.00 — K%: 17.6% — BB%: 8.3% — HR/9: 1.3
Kansas City Royals Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.316 (Rank: 15) — Strikeout Rate: 15.1% (Rank: 1)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.325 (Rank: 12) — Strikeout Rate: 23.2% (Rank: 26)
Pitches per PA: 3.71 (Rank: 30)
Analysis: Danks has not been on my radar at all this season. He has had decent stretches of starts, but his low strikeout rate and inability to get right-handed hitters out makes him an easy fade. Throw in a matchup against the Royals and he immediately becomes one of my least favorite pitching options on the board tonight.
Pitcher Rating: 46.2
Batter Grind Down
Kansas City
The Royals are still in the mix for the top seed in the American League, so they should roll out their everyday starters for this one. John Danks makes my job easy. He is tough on left-handed hitters, but he has allowed a .353 wOBA to right-handed bats over the last two seasons.
Elite Plays:
Ben Zobrist : FD: $3,200 — DK: $4,100
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: 2B/OF
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 332 — wOBA: 0.396 — ISO: 0.164 — wRC+: 159
Last 30 Days: PA: 111 — wOBA: 0.318 — ISO: 0.180 — wRC+: 100
Secondary Plays:
Kendrys Morales : FD: $4,000 — DK: $4,600
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 401 — wOBA: 0.314 — ISO: 0.125 — wRC+: 99
Last 30 Days: PA: 103 — wOBA: 0.431 — ISO: 0.315 — wRC+: 178
Salvador Perez : FD: $2,200 — DK: $3,500
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: C
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 310 — wOBA: 0.258 — ISO: 0.123 — wRC+: 59
Last 30 Days: PA: 96 — wOBA: 0.309 — ISO: 0.124 — wRC+: 94
Alcides Escobar : FD: $2,200 — DK: $3,500
Position Eligibility: FD: SS — DK: SS
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 340 — wOBA: 0.317 — ISO: 0.099 — wRC+: 100
Last 30 Days: PA: 91 — wOBA: 0.246 — ISO: 0.057 — wRC+: 50
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox draw a favorable matchup tonight against Kris Medlen, who as mentioned above, has not had a ton of success as a starter this season. The White Sox will get overlooked tonight, but Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton are both on my radar in this one.
Elite Plays:
Jose Abreu : FD: $3,700 — DK: $4,700
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 961 — wOBA: 0.390 — ISO: 0.245 — wRC+: 150
Last 30 Days: PA: 121 — wOBA: 0.363 — ISO: 0.202 — wRC+: 130
Secondary Plays:
Adam Eaton : FD: $3,800 — DK: $4,400
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 873 — wOBA: 0.355 — ISO: 0.153 — wRC+: 126
Last 30 Days: PA: 119 — wOBA: 0.423 — ISO: 0.179 — wRC+: 172
Colorado at Arizona – 9:40 PM EST
| Colorado | Arizona | ||||||||
 | David Hale |  | Patrick Corbin | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| ARI (-185) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.288 | 0.817 | 0.353 | 0.14 | SP vs. Left | 0.203 | 0.571 | 0.248 | 0.274 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.266 | 0.758 | 0.327 | 0.149 | SP vs. Right | 0.275 | 0.766 | 0.331 | 0.205 |
| Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs L | Batter Splits | ARI BvP | ARI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
David Hale : FD: $5,100 — DK: $4,600
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 160.2 — SIERA: 4.30 — ERA: 4.54 — K%: 14.5% — BB%: 8.1% — HR/9: 1.1
Last 30 Days: IP: 13.1 — SIERA: 4.02 — ERA: 5.40 — K%: 15.5% — BB%: 5.2% — HR/9: 1.4
Arizona Diamondbacks Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.318 (Rank: 12) — Strikeout Rate: 20.8% (Rank: 19)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.316 (Rank: 17) — Strikeout Rate: 22.4% (Rank: 22)
Pitches per PA: 3.72 (Rank: 28)
Analysis: Hale has been an easy pitcher to avoid in DFS. Over the last two seasons, he has a 4.30 SIERA with a strikeout rate of only 14.5%. He should be avoided tonight against the Diamondbacks in the hitter-friendly Chase Field. Not only is he a sizable underdog, but the Diamondbacks have one of the highest team totals on the board.
Pitcher Rating: 44.9
Patrick Corbin : FD: $6,900 — DK: $7,500
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 79.2 — SIERA: 3.45 — ERA: 3.28 — K%: 22.1% — BB%: 4.8% — HR/9: 1.0
Last 30 Days: IP: 29.2 — SIERA: 3.83 — ERA: 2.43 — K%: 17.4% — BB%: 2.5% — HR/9: 0.6
Colorado Rockies Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.291 (Rank: 27) — Strikeout Rate: 22.6% (Rank: 25)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.318 (Rank: 15) — Strikeout Rate: 23.1% (Rank: 25)
Pitches per PA: 3.73 (Rank: 27)
Analysis: Corbin comes into tonight’s start in good form, posting a 3.83 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 17.4% over the last month of play. The biggest issue with Corbin this season has been his inability to pitch deep into games. He has thrown 85 pitches or less in each of his last five starts. While his matchup against the Rockies is a favorable one, we shouldn’t expect him to throw more than 85 pitches, which severely limits his upside.
Pitcher Rating: 82.2
Batter Grind Down
Colorado
The Rockies are one of the worst offenses in baseball against left-handed pitching. While they are playing in a hitter-friendly ballpark, their matchup against Patrick Corbin is average at best. If you are targeting anyone here, target hitters that can hit from the right side of the plate.
Elite Plays:
Nolan Arenado : FD: $4,700 — DK: $5,100
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 280 — wOBA: 0.364 — ISO: 0.230 — wRC+: 114
Last 30 Days: PA: 124 — wOBA: 0.418 — ISO: 0.351 — wRC+: 150
Secondary Plays:
Jose Reyes : FD: $3,700 — DK: $4,100
Position Eligibility: FD: SS — DK: SS
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 328 — wOBA: 0.310 — ISO: 0.110 — wRC+: 91
Last 30 Days: PA: 75 — wOBA: 0.283 — ISO: 0.057 — wRC+: 59
Arizona
The Diamondbacks are one of the top offenses to target tonight, as they square off against David Hale at home. Hale has not been particularly effective against hitters from either side of the plate. Load up on the Diamondbacks’ offense in both cash games and tournaments.
Elite Plays:
Paul Goldschmidt : FD: $4,300 — DK: $5,800
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 915 — wOBA: 0.393 — ISO: 0.241 — wRC+: 148
Last 30 Days: PA: 103 — wOBA: 0.367 — ISO: 0.250 — wRC+: 129
David Peralta : FD: $3,200 — DK: $3,700
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 690 — wOBA: 0.383 — ISO: 0.214 — wRC+: 140
Last 30 Days: PA: 91 — wOBA: 0.377 — ISO: 0.179 — wRC+: 136
Secondary Plays:
A.J. Pollock : FD: $4,300 — DK: $5,900
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 740 — wOBA: 0.368 — ISO: 0.174 — wRC+: 130
Last 30 Days: PA: 113 — wOBA: 0.393 — ISO: 0.276 — wRC+: 147
Welington Castillo : FD: $2,700 — DK: $3,500
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: C
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 581 — wOBA: 0.298 — ISO: 0.173 — wRC+: 86
Last 30 Days: PA: 67 — wOBA: 0.225 — ISO: 0.123 — wRC+: 32