MLB Grind Down: Tuesday, July 22nd Page Three

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2014-07-22 17:24:58

Washington at Colorado

Washington					Colorado
Jordan Zimmermann		Vegas Moneyline			Yohan Flande		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		WAS (-158)			LEFT		10.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.261	0.683	0.301	17.3%	SP vs. Left	0.300	0.773	0.330	9.1%
SP vs. Right	0.232	0.609	0.277	21.9%	SP vs. Right	0.375	0.947	0.418	11.1%
Batter Splits	WSN BvP		WSN vs L		Batter Splits	COL BvP		COL vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Jordan Zimmermann – We have another classic case of what to do when a top pitcher squares off against the Rockies in Coors Field. Fister had some success last night, but I just can’t pull the trigger on Zimmermann tonight, especially considering the fact that you are going to have to pay up for him. Rating = 4.5

Salaries: $8900 FD, $15550 DD, $8800 DK, $93900 FF, $26600 SS, $8600 FTD

• Yohan Flande – Flande is one of the many young LH pitchers in the Rockies starting rotation that has struggled this season. He has a 7.36 ERA while only averaging 4.30 K’s per 9 innings. He can safely be avoided in all league formats. Rating = 1

Salaries: $5000 FD, $7700 DD, $4800 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $12200 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Washington

Ryan Zimmerman – Zimmerman loves playing in Coors Field. Over the last 3 seasons, he’s gone 19/49 with 13 XBH’s. That’s good for an OPS over 1.40. He has a terrific matchup tonight against Flande who has given up a .418 wOBA to RH hitters this season. Target Zimmerman in all leagues and don’t be afraid to stack up the Nats again tonight.

Additional Plays: Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond, Anthony Rendon, Wilson Ramos

Colorado

While I won’t be targeting Zimmermann tonight, I’m not sure that I will be using any hitters against him either. Corey Dickerson is probably the best option here, but I’m finding better options in his price range.

Detroit at Arizona

Detroit					Arizona
Rick Porcello		Vegas Moneyline			Chase Anderson		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		DET (-128)			RIGHT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.278	0.751	0.335	14.2%	SP vs. Left	0.213	0.681	0.306	16.7%
SP vs. Right	0.247	0.637	0.281	21.1%	SP vs. Right	0.316	0.918	0.401	22.8%
Batter Splits	DET BvP		DET vs R		Batter Splits	ARI BvP		ARI vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Rick Porcello – Porcello is having another decent season for the Tigers. He’s often the forgotten man in this rotation, but he’s actually been one of the more consistent pitchers on the Tigers’ staff. He owns a 3.39 ERA on the season with a K/9 of 5.05. He always seems to give his team a chance to win. That said, there’s just not enough upside for me to target Porcello, especially since he’s pitching in the hitter-friendly Chase Field. Rating = 5

Salaries: $7200 FD, $14400 DD, $7000 DK, $101600 FF, $22500 SS, $11050 FTD

• Chase Anderson – Anderson has pitched well in his rookie season. In 6 starts, he’s posted a 3.64 ERA with a K/9 of 7.74. He’s been a high strikeout pitcher at all levels and it’s starting to show at the major league level. The fact that the Tigers can’t utilize the DH under NL rules helps his cause, but he’s still going to have his hands full tonight as the Tigers are ranked 3rd in wOBA against RH pitching this season. Rating = 5

Salaries: $6100 FD, $12800 DD, $6500 DK, $73300 FF, $16900 SS, $11100 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Detroit

Miguel Cabrera – Miggy has always crushed both LH and RH pitching, but this season he’s been much better against righties. He owns a .400 wOBA vs. RH pitching this season and gets to play in Chase Field which, if you check the Ballpark Factors in the Daily Research tab, is a great ballpark for RH hitters.

Additional Plays: Victor Martinez

Arizona

Miguel Montero – Porcello has always been able to keep RH hitters in check, but he’s given up a .335 wOBA to LH hitters since the start of 2013. Montero has nice power against RH pitching and has a favorable price tag as well.

Additional Plays: David Peralta

Baltimore at LA Angels

Baltimore					LA Angels
Miguel Gonzalez		Vegas Moneyline			Hector Santiago		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		LAA (-143)			LEFT		8.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.259	0.740	0.331	17.0%	SP vs. Left	0.250	0.673	0.320	20.6%
SP vs. Right	0.255	0.754	0.334	17.3%	SP vs. Right	0.242	0.721	0.331	21.3%
Batter Splits	BAL BvP		BAL vs L		Batter Splits	LAA BvP		LAA vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Miguel Gonzalez – There are a lot of red flags with Gonzalez tonight. First off, he’s struggled on the road this season with a 4.76 ERA. Next up is the fact that he faces the Angels who are ranked 8th in wOBA vs. RH pitching. Finally, he’s already given up 16 HR’s this season. All of which point to subpar outing from Gonzalez tonight. Rating = 3

Salaries: $5700 FD, $11450 DD, $6000 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $12750 FTD

• Hector Santiago – Santiago has been a nice value option this season. He has a 4.32 ERA with a K/9 of 8.64. The problem is that he is facing an Orioles offense that has hit well on the road this season. The Orioles are also ranked 9th in wOBA vs. LH pitching. He may get enough run support to pick up the win, but I think he’ll give up a few runs in the process. Rating = 5

Salaries: $5500 FD, $11200 DD, $6300 DK, $81600 FF, $15000 SS, $14400 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Baltimore

Nelson Cruz / Adam Jones – Both Cruz and Jones are always in play against lefties. Cruz is sporting a .453 wOBA and Jones has a .525 wOBA against southpaws. Both are solid options tonight against Santiago.

Additional Plays: Manny Machado

LA Angels

Mike Trout – Gonzalez has been equally inept against RH hitters as he has against LH hitters. Trout gets the nod as the top play here, but don’t rule out some of the batters listed below either. The Angels could be a very sneaky stack tonight.

Additional Plays: Kole Calhoun, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols

Houston at Oakland

Houston					Oakland
Brett Oberholtzer		Vegas Moneyline			Scott Kazmir		Vegas Over/Under
LEFT		OAK (-220)			LEFT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.261	0.644	0.289	19.7%	SP vs. Left	0.238	0.595	0.268	23.0%
SP vs. Right	0.262	0.713	0.313	15.2%	SP vs. Right	0.243	0.698	0.312	23.8%
Batter Splits	HOU BvP		HOU vs L		Batter Splits	OAK BvP		OAK vs L
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Brett Oberholtzer – Obertholtzer has nearly identical stats to that of last season, but his ERA is almost a full 2 runs higher. The difference has been his BABIP which was only .261 last season. This season it has jumped up to .340. I don’t like the matchup against the A’s who draw more walks than any team in baseball. Rating = 3

Salaries: $5700 FD, $9400 DD, $5400 DK, $64000 FF, $15500 SS, $NA FTD

• Scott Kazmir – Even though the Astros hit LH pitching pretty well as a team, I still like the upside for Kazmir tonight. Kazmir owns an 8.28 K/9 and faces the Astros who have the most strikeout of any team in baseball. That’s a combination that I love to see in daily fantasy. Kazmir should get plenty of run support to help his cause as well. Rating = 8

Salaries: $9000 FD, $19650 DD, $9100 DK, $120800 FF, $27200 SS, $10300 FTD

Batter Grind Down

Houston

Jose Altuve – Altuve just keeps rolling, especially against LH pitching. He has a .417 batting average with a .432 wOBA against southpaws. He also has 41 SB’s on the season. Granted, it’s more difficult to steal against LH pitchers, but the potential for a stolen base is always there.

Additional Plays: Matt Dominguez

Oakland

Josh Donaldson – I’ll let you in on a little known secret: Donaldson can hit lefties and he can hit them well. He has a .450 wOBA against southpaws this season and his price is more affordable than it was earlier in the season.

Additional Plays: Yoenis Cespedes

NY Mets at Seattle

NY Mets					Seattle
Jacob Degrom		Vegas Moneyline			Erasmo Ramirez		Vegas Over/Under
RIGHT		SEA (-123)			RIGHT		7.5
Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%	Stats	Avg	OPS	wOBA	K%
SP vs. Left	0.233	0.681	0.312	22.9%	SP vs. Left	0.276	0.783	0.351	15.5%
SP vs. Right	0.277	0.724	0.324	22.7%	SP vs. Right	0.264	0.780	0.347	21.1%
Batter Splits	NYM BvP		NYM vs R		Batter Splits	SEA BvP		SEA vs R
Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window

Pitcher Grind Down

• Jacob Degrom – Degrom’s numbers look good across the board. He’s posted a 3.18 ERA with a K/9 of 8.80 this season and he’s done is while giving up a BABIP of .323 which is fairly high. Degrom has a ton of talent and his K/9 is no fluke. You can argue that he’s been much better at home than he has on the road, but that’s bound to happen when your home field is Citi Field. He draws a nice matchup against the Mariners who are ranked 21st in wOBA vs. RH pitching this season. I’m buying in on the hype, give me an extra helping of Degrom tonight. Rating = 7

Salaries: $6700 FD, $14900 DD, $8600 DK, $109600 FF, $24100 SS, $5000 FTD

• Erasmo Ramirez – Ramirez has to be sick of his constant shift between the majors and the minors. He will be called up again tonight to make the start against the Mets. After a rocky start to the season, Erasmo has posted a sub 3.00 ERA since the start of May. He’s a decent upside play for the price as the Mets are ranked 24th against RH pitching this season. Rating = 5.5

Salaries: $5600 FD, $9700 DD, $5800 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD

Batter Grind Down

NY Mets

Lucas Duda – Duda is a sneaky play tonight at 1B. He owns a .388 wOBA vs. RH pitching this season and Ramirez has given up a .351 wOBA to LH hitters since the start of 2013.

Additional Plays: None

Seattle

I like the spot for Degrom tonight which means I will be avoiding all Mariners’ hitters against him.