MLB Grind Down: Tuesday, August 25th
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.
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San Diego at Washington – 7:05 PM EST
| San Diego | Washington | ||||||||
 | James Shields |  | Stephen Strasburg | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| WAS (-159) | 7.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.264 | 0.770 | 0.335 | 19.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.233 | 0.655 | 0.289 | 23.80% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.236 | 0.688 | 0.302 | 24.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.258 | 0.711 | 0.311 | 29.80% |
| Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SD vs R | Batter Splits | WAS BvP | WAS vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
James Shields : FD: $8,900 — DK: $8,900
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 385.2 — SIERA: 3.50 — ERA: 3.43 — K%: 22.0% — BB%: 6.2% — HR/9: 1.1
Last 30 Days: IP: 37.0 — SIERA: 3.49 — ERA: 3.16 — K%: 24.2% — BB%: 7.8% — HR/9: 1.0
Washington Nationals Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.313 (Rank: 13) — Strikeout Rate: 21.5% (Rank: 24)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.317 (Rank: 14) — Strikeout Rate: 25.1% (Rank: 28)
Pitches per PA: 3.77 (Rank: 22)
Analysis: Shields is back in the good graces of daily fantasy baseball’ers. He has been in good form recently, posting a 3.49 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 24.2% over the last month of play. While tonight’s matchup against the Nationals may seem appealing on paper, they are a much more formidable lineup now that they are healthy. Shields does get to play in a pitcher-friendly Nationals Park tonight, but Stephen Strasburg will be pitching opposite him, which means run support will likely be limited. Shields is a bit overpriced for his matchup tonight.
Pitcher Rating: 70.2
Stephen Strasburg : FD: $10,000 — DK: $10,000
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 296.0 — SIERA: 2.80 — ERA: 3.44 — K%: 27.1% — BB%: 5.2% — HR/9: 0.9
Last 30 Days: IP: 20.0 — SIERA: 2.05 — ERA: 1.35 — K%: 34.3% — BB%: 2.7% — HR/9: 0.5
San Diego Padres Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.300 (Rank: 24) — Strikeout Rate: 21.5% (Rank: 24)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.365 (Rank: 3) — Strikeout Rate: 17.7% (Rank: 4)
Pitches per PA: 3.83 (Rank: 12)
Analysis: Strasburg has been sharp since coming back from injury, posting a 2.05 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 34.3% in his last three starts. He has burned plenty of bridges in the past, but he has a good chance to right some wrongs tonight against the Padres. On the season, San Diego is ranked 24th in both team wOBA and strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. Strasburg also gets to face them at home, where he has excelled throughout his career. Strasburg and Noah Syndergaard are the top two pitching options on the board tonight.
Pitcher Rating: 93.4
Batter Grind Down
San Diego
Even though Stephen Strasburg will get shelled every now and then, it’s hard to see that happening tonight. He has been in great form recently and the Padres are one of the worst offensive teams in all of baseball. Their offense should be avoided tonight with a full slate of games on the schedule.
Elite Plays:
NONE
Secondary Plays:
NONE
Washington
The Nationals draw a difficult matchup against James Shields. Shields has struggled with left-handed hitters over the last two seasons, which puts Bryce Harper in play for tournaments. Anthony Rendon has been swinging a hot bat recently and is still a bit underpriced across the industry. Both players are secondary options at their respective positions, though.
Elite Plays:
NONE
Secondary Plays:
Bryce Harper : FD: $4,900 — DK: $5,100
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 633 — wOBA: 0.412 — ISO: 0.248 — wRC+: 166
Last 30 Days: PA: 119 — wOBA: 0.401 — ISO: 0.190 — wRC+: 157
Anthony Rendon : FD: $3,500 — DK: $3,100
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B/3B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 655 — wOBA: 0.350 — ISO: 0.184 — wRC+: 123
Last 30 Days: PA: 104 — wOBA: 0.304 — ISO: 0.144 — wRC+: 91
NY Mets at Philadelphia – 7:05 PM EST
| NY Mets | Philadelphia | ||||||||
 | Noah Syndergaard |  | Jerome Williams | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| NYM (-202) | 8.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.251 | 0.675 | 0.293 | 18.8% | SP vs. Left | 0.298 | 0.783 | 0.346 | 13.80% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.224 | 0.653 | 0.284 | 31.6% | SP vs. Right | 0.299 | 0.851 | 0.367 | 15.60% |
| Batter Splits | NYM BvP | NYM vs R | Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Noah Syndergaard : FD: $10,800 — DK: $10,900
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 110.2 — SIERA: 3.14 — ERA: 3.17 — K%: 25.9% — BB%: 5.8% — HR/9: 1.0
Last 30 Days: IP: 37.0 — SIERA: 3.33 — ERA: 3.41 — K%: 25.8% — BB%: 7.3% — HR/9: 1.5
Philadelphia Phillies Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.297 (Rank: 28) — Strikeout Rate: 19.6% (Rank: 14)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.328 (Rank: 10) — Strikeout Rate: 20.0% (Rank: 12)
Pitches per PA: 3.71 (Rank: 29)
Analysis: Syndergaard gets the honor as the highest rated pitcher on the board tonight. After the Phillies put up seven quick runs on Jacob deGrom last night, a lot of people will be hesitant to take Syndergaard tonight. However, momentum in baseball typically only goes as far as the next day’s starting pitchers. The Phillies are still ranked 28th in team wOBA against right-handed pitching and Syndergaard has an elite strikeout rate of 25.9% this season. Vegas likes the Mets to win big in this one, as they are listed as the biggest favorites on the board.
Pitcher Rating: 95.9
Jerome Williams : FD: $4,600 — DK: $4,200
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 215.1 — SIERA: 4.27 — ERA: 5.39 — K%: 14.8% — BB%: 6.5% — HR/9: 1.3
Last 30 Days: IP: 30.1 — SIERA: 3.87 — ERA: 5.34 — K%: 13.7% — BB%: 5.8% — HR/9: 1.8
New York Mets Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.299 (Rank: 26) — Strikeout Rate: 20.7% (Rank: 21)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.347 (Rank: 5) — Strikeout Rate: 21.1% (Rank: 15)
Pitches per PA: 3.88 (Rank: 6)
Analysis: Williams has actually pitched pretty well recently, but we should look at the larger sample size. Over the last two seasons, he has a 4.27 SIERA with a low strikeout rate of 14.8%. He has very little upside in daily fantasy and to make matters worse, he has to face a Mets’ offense that hit EIGHT home runs in Citizens Bank Park last night.
Pitcher Rating: 35.1
Batter Grind Down
NY Mets
The Mets are coming off of a franchise-record eight home runs in last night’s win over the Phillies. Their offense has been scoring runs in bunches and now that David Wright is healthy, they look like a serious contender in the National League. They draw another favorable matchup tonight against Jerome Williams, who has given up a .346+ wOBA to both left and right-handed hitters over the last two seasons.
Elite Plays:
Daniel Murphy : FD: $4,100 — DK: $4,000
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B/3B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 784 — wOBA: 0.333 — ISO: 0.138 — wRC+: 116
Last 30 Days: PA: 106 — wOBA: 0.373 — ISO: 0.224 — wRC+: 143
Curtis Granderson : FD: $3,300 — DK: $4,500
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 895 — wOBA: 0.351 — ISO: 0.196 — wRC+: 128
Last 30 Days: PA: 123 — wOBA: 0.402 — ISO: 0.311 — wRC+: 163
Secondary Plays:
Travis d’Arnaud : FD: $3,100 — DK: $4,500
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: C
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 435 — wOBA: 0.323 — ISO: 0.190 — wRC+: 109
Last 30 Days: PA: 68 — wOBA: 0.330 — ISO: 0.233 — wRC+: 113
Wilmer Flores : FD: $2,700 — DK: $3,600
Position Eligibility: FD: SS — DK: 2B/SS
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 546 — wOBA: 0.299 — ISO: 0.129 — wRC+: 92
Last 30 Days: PA: 72 — wOBA: 0.372 — ISO: 0.176 — wRC+: 142
Philadelphia
The Phillies may have scored seven runs on Jacob deGrom last night, but that doesn’t mean that they will do the same to Noah Syndergaard. We have to trust the splits here and since the start of the season, Syndergaard has held both left and right-handed hitters under a .295 wOBA.
Elite Plays:
NONE
Secondary Plays:
NONE
Houston at NY Yankees – 7:05 PM EST
| Houston | NY Yankees | ||||||||
 | Dallas Keuchel |  | Ivan Nova | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| HOU (-120) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.191 | 0.493 | 0.221 | 25.7% | SP vs. Left | 0.299 | 0.771 | 0.338 | 9.40% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.245 | 0.643 | 0.286 | 18.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.246 | 0.817 | 0.355 | 20.80% |
| Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs R | Batter Splits | NYY BvP | NYY vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Dallas Keuchel : FD: $10,900 — DK: $11,000
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 378.2 — SIERA: 2.96 — ERA: 2.66 — K%: 20.0% — BB%: 5.9% — HR/9: 0.5
Last 30 Days: IP: 34.1 — SIERA: 3.12 — ERA: 3.41 — K%: 20.4% — BB%: 4.9% — HR/9: 0.5
New York Yankees Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.337 (Rank: 3) — Strikeout Rate: 18.7% (Rank: 5)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.303 (Rank: 23) — Strikeout Rate: 22.7% (Rank: 24)
Pitches per PA: 3.89 (Rank: 4)
Analysis: Keuchel is in for his toughest test in quite a while, as he squares off against the Yankees in New York. He has been terrific over the last month of play, posting a 3.12 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 20.4%. The good news is that he is an elite ground-ball pitcher, which should take most of the ballpark effects out of play. The bad news is that the Yankees are ranked third in team wOBA and fifth in strikeout rate against left-handed pitching this season. Keuchel is a bit overpriced for his matchup tonight.
Pitcher Rating: 81.7
Ivan Nova : FD: $6,500 — DK: $6,500
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 78.2 — SIERA: 4.38 — ERA: 4.92 — K%: 14.7% — BB%: 7.4% — HR/9: 1.3
Last 30 Days: IP: 34.1 — SIERA: 4.05 — ERA: 3.93 — K%: 18.2% — BB%: 8.4% — HR/9: 0.5
Houston Astros Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.315 (Rank: 12) — Strikeout Rate: 24.2% (Rank: 30)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.272 (Rank: 30) — Strikeout Rate: 27.4% (Rank: 30)
Pitches per PA: 3.88 (Rank: 7)
Analysis: Nova has been in good form recently, posting a 4.05 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 18.2% over the last month of play. While we correctly predicted Nathan Eovaldi to pitch well last night, I’m not as high on Nova tonight. The Astros may strikeout at a high rate, but Nova only has a 14.7% strikeout rate over the last two seasons. If they make good contact against him tonight, it could be a short outing from Nova. There are better pitching options at this price point.
Pitcher Rating: 53.4
Batter Grind Down
Houston
The Padres draw a favorable matchup tonight against Ivan Nova and they get to face him in the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. Hitters from both sides of the plate are in play here, as Nova has given up a .338+ wOBA to both left and right-handed hitters over the last two seasons.
Elite Plays:
Carlos Correa : FD: $4,000 — DK: $4,700
Position Eligibility: FD: SS — DK: SS
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 195 — wOBA: 0.360 — ISO: 0.227 — wRC+: 131
Last 30 Days: PA: 114 — wOBA: 0.367 — ISO: 0.245 — wRC+: 136
Secondary Plays:
Jose Altuve : FD: $4,000 — DK: $5,100
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 908 — wOBA: 0.326 — ISO: 0.102 — wRC+: 108
Last 30 Days: PA: 122 — wOBA: 0.341 — ISO: 0.069 — wRC+: 118
Colby Rasmus : FD: $2,700 — DK: $3,200
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 542 — wOBA: 0.319 — ISO: 0.229 — wRC+: 102
Last 30 Days: PA: 88 — wOBA: 0.298 — ISO: 0.192 — wRC+: 88
NY Yankees
I never like targeting hitters against extreme ground-ball pitchers. Not only do they produce ground balls at an elite rate, but they also limit the damage against them, as most hits end up being singles. The Yankees are secondary options at best tonight against Dallas Keuchel, who has held hitters from both sides of the plate under a .290 wOBA over the last two seasons.
Elite Plays:
NONE
Secondary Plays:
Alex Rodriguez : FD: $3,700 — DK: $4,400
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 141 — wOBA: 0.444 — ISO: 0.339 — wRC+: 189
Last 30 Days: PA: 111 — wOBA: 0.356 — ISO: 0.247 — wRC+: 128
LA Angels at Detroit – 7:08 PM EST
| LA Angels | Detroit | ||||||||
 | Jered Weaver |  | Alfredo Simon | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| LAA (-110) | 8.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.259 | 0.745 | 0.327 | 18.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.268 | 0.786 | 0.340 | 14.00% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.225 | 0.646 | 0.285 | 15.8% | SP vs. Right | 0.227 | 0.640 | 0.285 | 17.10% |
| Batter Splits | LAA BvP | ANA vs R | Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Jered Weaver : FD: $7,600 — DK: $6,400
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 327.1 — SIERA: 4.31 — ERA: 3.85 — K%: 17.1% — BB%: 6.1% — HR/9: 1.2
Last 30 Days: IP: 17.1 — SIERA: 3.39 — ERA: 2.08 — K%: 21.4% — BB%: 2.9% — HR/9: 0.5
Detroit Tigers Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.323 (Rank: 4) — Strikeout Rate: 20.0% (Rank: 15)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.323 (Rank: 12) — Strikeout Rate: 22.7% (Rank: 24)
Pitches per PA: 3.84 (Rank: 11)
Analysis: Weaver has pitched well since coming back from injury, posting a 3.39 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 21.4%. He has averaged right around 90 pitches per game in those three starts though, so a potential pitch count could be an issue tonight. The bigger issue is that he has to face the Tigers in Detroit. On the season, the Tigers are ranked fourth in team wOBA against right-handed pitching. There is more risk than potential reward tonight with Weaver.
Pitcher Rating: 56.5
Alfredo Simon : FD: $7,900 — DK: $6,100
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 333.2 — SIERA: 4.37 — ERA: 3.88 — K%: 15.5% — BB%: 7.4% — HR/9: 1.0
Last 30 Days: IP: 32.1 — SIERA: 5.21 — ERA: 4.18 — K%: 10.0% — BB%: 9.2% — HR/9: 0.8
LA Angels of Anaheim Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.307 (Rank: 19) — Strikeout Rate: 19.5% (Rank: 11)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.281 (Rank: 29) — Strikeout Rate: 18.7% (Rank: 6)
Pitches per PA: 3.78 (Rank: 20)
Analysis: Simon is currently surrounded with red flags. He has been in bad form, his strikeout rate is down, and his walk rate is up. That’s an awful combination in the world of daily fantasy baseball. Even though the Angels’ offense has been cold in recent weeks, they should be able to get it going tonight in Detroit. Simon has been very hittable over the last month of play.
Pitcher Rating: 41.4
Batter Grind Down
LA Angels
The Angels draw a favorable matchup against Alfredo Simon in what is expected to be one of the highest scoring games of the night. Since the start of the 2014 season, Simon has given up a .340 wOBA to left-handed hitters, which brings Kole Calhoun, David Murphy, and Erick Aybar into play. Mike Trout should also be considered an elite play at his somewhat discounted price.
Elite Plays:
Mike Trout : FD: $4,600 — DK: $5,300
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 917 — wOBA: 0.407 — ISO: 0.286 — wRC+: 170
Last 30 Days: PA: 111 — wOBA: 0.374 — ISO: 0.223 — wRC+: 146
Kole Calhoun : FD: $3,300 — DK: $4,300
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 783 — wOBA: 0.344 — ISO: 0.185 — wRC+: 126
Last 30 Days: PA: 121 — wOBA: 0.355 — ISO: 0.227 — wRC+: 133
Secondary Plays:
David Murphy : FD: $2,400 — DK: $2,800
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 649 — wOBA: 0.324 — ISO: 0.135 — wRC+: 109
Last 30 Days: PA: 71 — wOBA: 0.299 — ISO: 0.130 — wRC+: 94
Erick Aybar : FD: $2,200 — DK: $3,200
Position Eligibility: FD: SS — DK: SS
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 829 — wOBA: 0.304 — ISO: 0.086 — wRC+: 98
Last 30 Days: PA: 102 — wOBA: 0.235 — ISO: 0.031 — wRC+: 50
Detroit
The Tigers are small underdogs tonight against Jered Weaver, but the total is set at 8.5 runs, so there should be plenty of runs to go around in this one. Jered Weaver has struggled with left-handed hitters in the last two seasons, allowing a .325 wOBA. The hitters from the left side of the plate are the top targets here, but don’t count out Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez as tournament plays.
Elite Plays:
Victor Martinez : FD: $2,700 — DK: $3,200
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 768 — wOBA: 0.343 — ISO: 0.173 — wRC+: 119
Last 30 Days: PA: 107 — wOBA: 0.255 — ISO: 0.131 — wRC+: 57
Anthony Gose : FD: $2,600 — DK: $3,400
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 547 — wOBA: 0.304 — ISO: 0.097 — wRC+: 91
Last 30 Days: PA: 90 — wOBA: 0.253 — ISO: 0.111 — wRC+: 55
Tyler Collins : FD: $2,300 — DK: $2,600
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 117 — wOBA: 0.307 — ISO: 0.153 — wRC+: 93
Last 30 Days: PA: 52 — wOBA: 0.285 — ISO: 0.080 — wRC+: 77
Secondary Plays:
Miguel Cabrera : FD: $5,300 — DK: $5,200
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B/3B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 799 — wOBA: 0.406 — ISO: 0.213 — wRC+: 163
Last 30 Days: PA: 42 — wOBA: 0.576 — ISO: 0.294 — wRC+: 281
J.D. Martinez : FD: $3,400 — DK: $4,400
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 741 — wOBA: 0.382 — ISO: 0.239 — wRC+: 145
Last 30 Days: PA: 110 — wOBA: 0.382 — ISO: 0.227 — wRC+: 145
Pittsburgh at Miami – 7:10 PM EST
| Pittsburgh | Miami | ||||||||
 | Charlie Morton |  | Brad Hand | ||||||
| RIGHT | LEFT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| PIT (-144) | 8.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.253 | 0.731 | 0.325 | 18.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.223 | 0.585 | 0.261 | 18.50% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.240 | 0.665 | 0.297 | 18.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.281 | 0.781 | 0.341 | 13.20% |
| Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs L | Batter Splits | MIA BvP | MIA vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Charlie Morton : FD: $7,100 — DK: $7,100
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 252.2 — SIERA: 3.74 — ERA: 3.85 — K%: 18.4% — BB%: 8.1% — HR/9: 0.6
Last 30 Days: IP: 37.1 — SIERA: 3.19 — ERA: 3.62 — K%: 24.5% — BB%: 6.9% — HR/9: 1.0
Miami Marlins Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.290 (Rank: 30) — Strikeout Rate: 19.3% (Rank: 8)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.329 (Rank: 9) — Strikeout Rate: 17.0% (Rank: 3)
Pitches per PA: 3.72 (Rank: 27)
Analysis: Morton has been sharp in his last few starts, posting a 3.19 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 24.5%. He draws a favorable matchup tonight against the Marlins, who are ranked dead last in team wOBA against right-handed pitching. The problem here is Morton’s strikeout potential. With all of the injuries to the Marlins, their lineup is now loaded with players that rarely strikeout. Morton may be a cheap source for a win, but we shouldn’t expect too much in the way of strikeouts.
Pitcher Rating: 71.1
Brad Hand : FD: $5,700 — DK: $4,000
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 179.2 — SIERA: 4.19 — ERA: 4.41 — K%: 14.9% — BB%: 7.2% — HR/9: 0.7
Last 30 Days: IP: 26.0 — SIERA: 3.64 — ERA: 2.77 — K%: 17.5% — BB%: 4.9% — HR/9: 1.0
Pittsburgh Pirates Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.310 (Rank: 13) — Strikeout Rate: 22.5% (Rank: 24)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.337 (Rank: 7) — Strikeout Rate: 21.2% (Rank: 16)
Pitches per PA: 3.79 (Rank: 19)
Analysis: Hand has actually pitched very well recently, posting a 3.64 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 17.5% over the last month of play. I’m not sold on him though, and neither is Vegas. Hand is a sizable underdog tonight in a game that features a total of 8.0 runs. He draws a difficult matchup against the Pirates, who are ranked seventh in team wOBA over the last two weeks of play.
Pitcher Rating: 43.2
Batter Grind Down
Pittsburgh
The Pirates may not have the best team numbers against left-handed pitching, but they have quite a few right-handed bats that feast on southpaws. Since the start of last season, Brad Hand has given up a .341 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Andrew McCutchen, Jung-Ho Kang, Starling Marte, Aramis Ramirez, and Francisco Cervelli are all in play tonight.
Elite Plays:
Andrew McCutchen : FD: $4,900 — DK: $4,900
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 215 — wOBA: 0.396 — ISO: 0.219 — wRC+: 158
Last 30 Days: PA: 114 — wOBA: 0.414 — ISO: 0.264 — wRC+: 170
Jung-Ho Kang : FD: $3,700 — DK: $4,000
Position Eligibility: FD: SS — DK: 3B/SS
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 84 — wOBA: 0.334 — ISO: 0.167 — wRC+: 115
Last 30 Days: PA: 105 — wOBA: 0.403 — ISO: 0.284 — wRC+: 162
Secondary Plays:
Starling Marte : FD: $4,000 — DK: $5,000
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 186 — wOBA: 0.359 — ISO: 0.170 — wRC+: 133
Last 30 Days: PA: 103 — wOBA: 0.352 — ISO: 0.152 — wRC+: 127
Aramis Ramirez : FD: $2,800 — DK: $3,400
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 200 — wOBA: 0.363 — ISO: 0.247 — wRC+: 128
Last 30 Days: PA: 101 — wOBA: 0.269 — ISO: 0.096 — wRC+: 71
Francisco Cervelli : FD: $2,600 — DK: $3,700
Position Eligibility: FD: C — DK: C
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 124 — wOBA: 0.382 — ISO: 0.186 — wRC+: 147
Last 30 Days: PA: 89 — wOBA: 0.382 — ISO: 0.138 — wRC+: 148
Miami
Even though Charlie Morton has pitched well recently, he has still given up a .325 wOBA to left-handed hitters over the last two seasons. Derek Dietrich has been swinging a hot bat recently and his price has not caught up with his recent level of production. Dee Gordon and Justin Bour are also in play as secondary options.
Elite Plays:
Derek Dietrich : FD: $3,000 — DK: $3,100
Position Eligibility: FD: 3B — DK: 3B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 311 — wOBA: 0.372 — ISO: 0.226 — wRC+: 138
Last 30 Days: PA: 101 — wOBA: 0.377 — ISO: 0.259 — wRC+: 140
Secondary Plays:
Dee Gordon : FD: $4,100 — DK: $4,700
Position Eligibility: FD: 2B — DK: 2B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 869 — wOBA: 0.318 — ISO: 0.087 — wRC+: 103
Last 30 Days: PA: 109 — wOBA: 0.357 — ISO: 0.131 — wRC+: 127
Justin Bour : FD: $2,400 — DK: $3,100
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 335 — wOBA: 0.339 — ISO: 0.170 — wRC+: 115
Last 30 Days: PA: 88 — wOBA: 0.272 — ISO: 0.101 — wRC+: 68