MLB Grind Down: Tuesday, April 14 - Page Three

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2015-04-14 21:35:01

Seattle at LA Dodgers

Pitcher Grind Down

Hisashi Iwakuma (FD: $8500, DK: $9100)

Pitching Stats (2014):

ERA: 3.52 / xFIP: 2.85 / SIERA: 2.94
K/9: 7.74 / K%: 0.217 / BB%: 0.03
LAD vs. RH Pitching: wOBA Rank: 3 / K% Rank: 13

Analysis: Iwakuma struggled in his season debut, giving up five runs on nine hits. He only managed to strike out three batters in that contest, which is very uncharacteristic of him. He really hasn’t been the same pitcher since the first half of the 2014 season. At his elevated price point, we may want to take a wait-and-see approach with Iwakuma, especially considering the fact that he has to face a tough Dodgers’ lineup on Tuesday night. Rating = 6.5

David Huff (FD: $, DK: $)

Pitching Stats (2014):

ERA: 3.36 / xFIP: 4.25 / SIERA: 4.12
K/9: 5.95 / K%: 0.151 / BB%: 0.089
SEA vs. LH Pitching: wOBA Rank: 28 / K% Rank: 15

Analysis: Huff is expected to draw the start on Tuesday night against the Mariners. Huff is a below-average left-handed pitcher with an average K/9 of 5.95. His strikeout to walk ratio was less than 2:1 last season, which is not promising. He can safely be avoided against the Mariners. Rating = 4

Batter Grind Down

Seattle

Nelson Cruz (FD: $3800, DK: $4500)

BA: 0.271 / wOBA: 0.37 / ISO: 0.254
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.416 / ISO: 0.255

Analysis: Cruz is one of the best hitters in baseball against left-handed pitching. He finished 2014 with a .416 wOBA and a .255 ISO against southpaws. He draws a terrific matchup against David Huff, who gave up a .333 wOBA to batters from the right side of the plate last season.

Secondary Plays:

Austin Jackson (FD: $2700, DK: $4400) vs. LH Pitching wOBA: 0.328 / ISO: 0.08

LA Dodgers

NO ELITE PLAYS

Secondary Plays:

Adrian Gonzalez (FD: $5000, DK: $4200) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.384 / ISO: 0.236

Carl Crawford (FD: $3100, DK: $4000) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.329 / ISO: 0.118

Arizona at San Diego

Pitcher Grind Down

Jeremy Hellickson (FD: $5800, DK: $6300)

Pitching Stats (2014):

ERA: 4.52 / xFIP: 4.13 / SIERA: 4.04
K/9: 7.63 / K%: 0.192 / BB%: 0.075
SD vs. RH Pitching: wOBA Rank: 30 / K% Rank: 25

Analysis: Hellickson struggled in his first outing of the season. He gave up nine hits and three runs against the Giants, while only striking out two batters. The good news is that he gets to face the Padres in Petco Park, which is the best pitcher’s park in all of baseball. Hellickson is a sizable underdog here, but a game that features a low total of 6.5 runs could go either way. He deserves consideration as a cheap tournament play against the Padres. Rating = 5.5

Odrisamer Despaigne (FD: $6200, DK: $6400)

Pitching Stats (2014):

ERA: 3.36 / xFIP: 4.01 / SIERA: 4.14
K/9: 6.07 / K%: 0.161 / BB%: 0.079
ARI vs. RH Pitching: wOBA Rank: 23 / K% Rank: 8

Analysis: Despaigne posted mediocre numbers in 2014, finishing with a 4.01 xFIP and a K/9 of 6.1. He did pitch well at Petco Park though, which is where Tuesday’s game will take place. Vegas has Despaigne installed as a -145 favorite in a game that features a low total of only 6.5 runs. At his price point, he is arguably the best value at the pitcher position. Rating = 6.5

Batter Grind Down

Arizona

NO ELITE PLAYS

Secondary Plays:

David Peralta (FD: $2900, DK: $3900) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.369 / ISO: 0.194

Ender Inciarte (FD: $2800, DK: $3300) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.307 / ISO: 0.097

San Diego

NO ELITE PLAYS

Secondary Plays:

Justin Upton (FD: $4000, DK: $4300) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.347 / ISO: 0.197

Matt Kemp (FD: $3800, DK: $4600) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.382 / ISO: 0.229

Colorado at San Francisco

Pitcher Grind Down

Christian Bergman (FD: $5000, DK: $5200)

Pitching Stats (2014):

ERA: 5.93 / xFIP: 4.55 / SIERA: 4.64
K/9: 5.1 / K%: 0.125 / BB%: 0.04
SF vs. RH Pitching: wOBA Rank: 15 / K% Rank: 15

Analysis: As a general rule of thumb, the Rockies’ pitchers can be avoided. They really don’t have a true ace on their staff and half of their starts are going to come in Coors Field. Bergman posted a 4.55 xFIP and a K/9 of 5.1 last season, both of which aren’t overly impressive. Bergman can safely be avoided against the Giants in AT&T Park. Rating = 4

Tim Hudson (FD: $7600, DK: $6800)

Pitching Stats (2014):

ERA: 3.57 / xFIP: 3.57 / SIERA: 3.66
K/9: 5.7 / K%: 0.152 / BB%: 0.043
COL vs. RH Pitching: wOBA Rank: 1 / K% Rank: 21

Analysis: Hudson is getting up there in age and we have seen it take a hit on his strikeouts. He only averaged 5.7 strikeouts per 9 innings last season, striking out only 15.2% of the batters that he faced. While he doesn’t offer a ton of upside, he is a large favorite at home, where he pitched very well last season. He could be a very cheap source for a win, although I never love targeting pitchers against the talented lineup of the Rockies. Rating = 6

Batter Grind Down

Colorado

NO ELITE PLAYS

Secondary Plays:

Troy Tulowitzki (FD: $5000, DK: $4800) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.404 / ISO: 0.207

Carlos Gonzalez (FD: $4200, DK: $4600) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.334 / ISO: 0.220

Charlie Blackmon (FD: $3800, DK: $4000) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.35 / ISO: 0.158

San Francisco

Nori Aoki (FD: $3200, DK: $3500)

BA: 0.285 / wOBA: 0.32 / ISO: 0.075
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.297 / ISO: 0.076

Analysis: Aoki has been a great source of fantasy production here in the early part of the season. He has 11 base hits over his last six games and he has drawn four walks during that stretch, which means he has reached base safely 15 times in six games. Aoki hits right-handed pitching well and he draws a favorable matchup against Christian Bergman, who gave up a .340 wOBA to batters from the left side of the plate last season.

Secondary Plays:

Buster Posey (FD: $4400, DK: $4300) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.366 / ISO: 0.164

Brandon Belt (FD: $3300, DK: $4400) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.335 / ISO: 0.24

Angel Pagan (FD: $3300, DK: $4000) vs. RH Pitching wOBA: 0.35 / ISO: 0.082

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