MLB Grind Down: Tuesday, April 15th - Page 2
Washington at Miami
| Washington | Miami | ||||||||
| Stephen Strasburg | Vegas Moneyline | Tom Koehler | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | WAS (-168) | RIGHT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.213 | 0.611 | 0.283 | 23.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.235 | 0.694 | 0.313 | 14.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.213 | 0.556 | 0.264 | 29.6% | SP vs. Right | 0.287 | 0.781 | 0.350 | 15.6% |
| 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 is the top pitching option on the board tonight and the only reason that I am not going to give him a 10 rating is because this game is being played away from Nationals Park. That said, Marlins Park is still a very pitcher-friendly ballpark and Strasburg just faced this team and struck out 12 batters in 6 and two-third innings. He’s only made 3 starts this season, but is sporting an impressive K/9 of 14.8. Rating = 9
- Tom Koehler – Koehler is not going to be a popular fantasy option tonight. He has a high ERA, a low K-rate, and has Strasburg on the mound opposite him. The Nationals offense is scoring runs right now and Koehler should be avoided in all leagues. Rating = 2
Batter Grind Down
Washington
- Bryce Harper – Last season against RH pitching Harper hit for a .300 average and an OPS of .948. Harper is locked in right now with a 7 game hitting streak including 5 hits in his last 2 games. He is one of my favorite OF plays tonight.
- Additional Plays: Anthony Rendon, Adam LaRoche
Miami
- Additional Plays: None
Seattle at Texas
| Seattle | Texas | ||||||||
| Blake Beavan | Vegas Moneyline | Robbie Ross | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TEX (-142) | LEFT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.279 | 0.851 | 0.378 | 19.5% | SP vs. Left | 0.324 | 0.891 | 0.404 | 24.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.287 | 0.736 | 0.316 | 12.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.216 | 0.545 | 0.259 | 20.4% |
| Batter Splits | SEA BvP | SEA vs L | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Blake Beavan – Beavan is making his first start of the season and only his 3rd start since 2012. He has a tough test ahead of him tonight as he faces a powerful Rangers lineup in the very hitter-friendly Globe Life Park. The run total for this game is set at 9.0 runs and Beavan is a sizable underdog (+135) that should be avoided. Rating = 2
- Robbie Ross – Ross has been an excellent pitcher out of the bullpen and has looked very good as a starter thus far. Ross has only allowed 2 earned runs in his first 2 starts while striking out 11 batters in 10 innings of work. He also has a plus matchup against the Mariners whose lineup is littered with LH batters. Now the question is whether or not he is worth roster consideration? I think I’d like to see a couple more starts before rostering him in cash games. Rating = 5
Batter Grind Down
Seattle
- Corey Hart – Hart has always hit LH pitching well. Over the last 3 seasons, he is batting .309 with a .966 OPS against LH pitching. Put him in a hitter’s park against an inexperienced lefty and it could result in good things.
- Additional Plays: Justin Smoak, Robinson Cano
Texas
- Shin-Soo Choo – Last season Beavan gave up a .378 wOBA and an OPS of .851 to LH batters. Choo is one of my favorite plays of the night, but the entire Rangers lineup is in play. While they have been under-performing in good matchups this season, they are one of my favorite teams to stack. Look for them to finally string together some hits and put up a big number tonight.
- Additional Plays: Prince Fielder, Alex Rios, Elvis Andrus, Mitch Moreland
Kansas City at Houston
| Kansas City | Houston | ||||||||
| Yordano Ventura | Vegas Moneyline | Lucas Harrell | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | KCR (-155) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.200 | 0.626 | 0.283 | 19.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.262 | 0.778 | 0.351 | 12.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.179 | 0.500 | 0.216 | 21.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.332 | 0.908 | 0.408 | 13.0% |
| 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
- Yordano Ventura – The Royals have high hopes for Ventura and he didn’t disappoint in his first start of the season with a 6 inning shutout against the Rays. Tonight he faces an Astros lineup who led the league in strikeouts last season and are in the top half of the league in strikeouts again this season. Ventura makes a terrific tournament play and an interesting cash game play tonight if the price is right. Rating = 6
- Lucas Harrell – The fact that Harrell is still a starter says a lot about how bad this rotation of the Astros really is. While I have absolutely nothing against Harrell, the Astros just keep feeding him to the Wolves. Harrell has an ERA over 11.00 this season and wasn’t much better last season. Avoid him at all costs tonight against the Royals. Rating = 1
Batter Grind Down
Kansas City
- Eric Hosmer – Last season Harrell gave up a .351 wOBA to LH batters and a .408 wOBA to RH batters which puts the entire Royals lineup in play tonight. Don’t be afraid to employ a mini-stack here. Hosmer hit for a .291 average with an OPS of .804 against RH pitching last season.
- Additional Plays: Salvador Perez, Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, Norichika Aoki
Houston
- This Astros offense leaves much to be desired. There are much better matchups on the board and I’ll be avoiding all Astros tonight against Ventura.
- Additional Plays: None
St. Louis at Milwaukee
| St. Louis | Milwaukee | ||||||||
| Shelby Miller | Vegas Moneyline | Marco Estrada | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | MIL (-121) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.270 | 0.791 | 0.349 | 20.8% | SP vs. Left | 0.212 | 0.637 | 0.285 | 24.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.209 | 0.589 | 0.270 | 24.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.242 | 0.695 | 0.305 | 22.2% |
| Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs R | Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Shelby Miller – Miller has three things going against him tonight. First is the fact that this game will be played at Miller Park. Last season Miller posted an ERA over 4.00 on the road. The second is his current form, in his first 2 starts he has given up a combined 8 earned runs over only 11 innings pitched. Finally, we have his opponent. This Brewers offense has been on fire lately and should bounce back after being shutout by Lynn last night. Rating = 5
- Marco Estrada – Estrada is coming off of a terrific 2013 campaign and has looked good early in 2014. In his two starts, he has a 2.31 ERA and 12 K’s over 11 innings of work. This is a tough matchup against the Cardinals, but his high K-rate puts him in play as a contrarian play for cash games. He also makes a nice tournament play. Rating = 6
Batter Grind Down
St. Louis
- Yadier Molina – Molina is off to a great start this season and looks like he will compete for the NL batting title once again. Molina is batting .351 against RH pitching this season and is a nice play on a day without many worthy Catcher options.
- Additional Plays: Matt Carpenter
Milwaukee
- Ryan Braun – Braun ended his 7 game hitting streak last night, but should start a new one tonight against Miller. Braun already has 3 HR’s and 2 stolen bases this season. He hit for a .323 average at Miller Park last season and I like him tonight against Miller who struggles on the road.
- Additional Plays: Jonathan Lucroy, Jean Segura
Boston at Chicago White Sox
| Boston | Chicago White Sox | ||||||||
| Jake Peavy | Vegas Moneyline | Erik Johnson | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | BOS (-142) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.239 | 0.729 | 0.317 | 22.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.384 | 1.087 | 0.476 | 9.9% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.229 | 0.659 | 0.293 | 19.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.237 | 0.574 | 0.256 | 17.3% |
| Batter Splits | BOS BvP | BOS vs R | Batter Splits | CHW BvP | CHW vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jake Peavy – Peavy often flies under the radar, but he is still a very good pitcher at the age of 32. Peavy had most of his success in Fenway last season, but I think he pitches well tonight against the White Sox. Peavy had an impressive K/9 of 7.6 last season and has struck out 12 in 12 innings of work this season. He is a sizable favorite (-142) and should get some run support to help his cause. Rating = 7
- Erik Johnson – Johnson has struggled in his first two starts. He’s given up 11 earned runs and only has 6 K’s in 11 innings pitched. Johnson should struggle again tonight against a very tough Red Sox lineup. He can be avoided in all leagues. Rating = 2
Batter Grind Down
Boston
- David Ortiz – Big Papi has a cheap price across the industry and a nice matchup against the RH Johnson. Ortiz has always hit RH pitching well and should come up to bat with runners in scoring position. This is a great time to buy low on Ortiz.
- Additional Plays: Mike Napoli, Grady Sizemore, A.J. Pierzynski (Revenge Factor)
Chicago
- Adam Eaton – Even though I’m not crazy about the White Sox offense against Peavy, he did give up a .313 wOBA to LH batters last season and Eaton has been an on-base machine early in the season. He is batting leadoff and has hit RH pitching to a tune of a .333 average.
- Additional Plays: None