MLB Grind Down: Tuesday, June 9th - Page Two
Seattle at Cleveland – 7:10 PM EST
| Seattle | Cleveland | ||||||||
 | Roenis Elias |  | Corey Kluber | ||||||
| LEFT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CLE (-180) | 7.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.22 | 0.66 | 0.298 | 0.255 | SP vs. Left | 0.252 | 0.701 | 0.31 | 0.275 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.255 | 0.737 | 0.327 | 0.19 | SP vs. Right | 0.218 | 0.55 | 0.244 | 0.298 |
| Batter Splits | SEA BvP | SEA vs R | Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Roenis Elias (FD: $7900, DK: $7600)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 215.2 — SIERA: 4.01 — K%: 20.2% — BB%: 9.0% — FB Rate: 34.5% — HR/FB: 10.4%
Last 30 Days: IP: 33.1 — SIERA: 4.60 — K%: 15.6% — BB%: 7.4% — FB Rate: 39.6% — HR/FB: 7.5%
Cleveland Indians Offense (2015)
vs. LH Pitching: wOBA: 0.324 (Rank: 9) — Strikeout Rate: 15.8% (Rank: 2)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.326 (Rank: 10) — Strikeout Rate: 17.6% (Rank: 6)
Pitchers per PA: 3.95 (Rank: 3)
Analysis: Elias will have a dominant outing every now and then and look like an average left-handed pitcher in the starts in between. He has a 4.60 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 15.6% over the last month of play, which means he comes into tonight’s game in bad form. While the Indians’ lineup is full of left-handed hitters, they are lefties that can hit left-handed pitching. The Indians are actually ranked 9th in wOBA (.324) and 2nd in strikeout rate (15.8%) against left-handed pitching this season.
Pitcher Rating:50.3
Corey Kluber (FD: $11100, DK: $10900)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 320.1 — SIERA: 2.55 — K%: 28.9% — BB%: 5.0% — FB Rate: 30.5% — HR/FB: 7.9%
Last 30 Days: IP: 40.0 — SIERA: 1.45 — K%: 39.3% — BB%: 2.0% — FB Rate: 32.9% — HR/FB: 7.1%
Seattle Mariners Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.292 (Rank: 27) — Strikeout Rate: 23.6% (Rank: 28)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.280 (Rank: 26) — Strikeout Rate: 28.0% (Rank: 30)
Pitchers per PA: 3.87 (Rank: 7)
Analysis: Clayton Kershaw may have something to say by the time the season is over, but Corey Kluber has been the best pitcher in baseball so far this season. He has been absolutely dominant, especially in his last five starts — 1.45 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 39.3%. During that stretch, he has struck out nearly 20 times more batters than he has walked. WOWZA! He is the premier pitching option tonight and just like Chris Sale last night, he’s a very tough fade in cash games. He should make quick work of a Mariners’ offense that is ranked 27th in wOBA (.292) and 28th in strikeout rate (23.6%) against right-handed pitching this season.
Pitcher Rating:99.6
Batter Grind Down
Seattle
NONE – Corey Kluber has been the best pitcher in baseball this season. He has dominated hitters from both sides of the plate and this Mariners’ offense has been ice cold anyway. Stay from away from the Mariners’ bats tonight.
Cleveland
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Carlos Santana (FD: $3800, DK: $4300)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B/3B
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 294 — wOBA: 0.361 — ISO: 0.151 — wRC+: 136
Ryan Raburn (FD: $2300, DK: $2600)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. LH Pitching: PA: 218 — wOBA: 0.320 — ISO: 0.185 — wRC+: 108
Philadelphia at Cincinnati – 7:10 PM EST
| Philadelphia | Cincinnati | ||||||||
 | Aaron Harang |  | Anthony Desclafani | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| CIN (-140) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.275 | 0.723 | 0.321 | 0.164 | SP vs. Left | 0.29 | 0.861 | 0.374 | 0.162 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.238 | 0.663 | 0.294 | 0.199 | SP vs. Right | 0.19 | 0.536 | 0.237 | 0.204 |
| Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | Batter Splits | CIN BvP | CIN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Aaron Harang (FD: $7500, DK: $6800)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 281.1 — SIERA: 4.21 — K%: 18.1% — BB%: 7.7% — FB Rate: 40.1% — HR/FB: 5.6%
Last 30 Days: IP: 38.2 — SIERA: 4.70 — K%: 15.5% — BB%: 7.5% — FB Rate: 47.4% — HR/FB: 5.5%
Cincinnati Reds Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.307 (Rank: 19) — Strikeout Rate: 18.4% (Rank: 7)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.337 (Rank: 6) — Strikeout Rate: 14.0% (Rank: 1)
Pitchers per PA: 3.69 (Rank: 28)
Analysis: Harang has been a serviceable starter for the Braves this season, but nothing more. He has a 4.70 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 15.5% over the last 30 days of play. He draws a difficult matchup against the Reds, who are ranked 7th in strikeout rate (18.4%) against right-handed pitching this season. Harang is an easy pitcher to fade at his price point.
Pitcher Rating:48.3
Anthony Desclafani (FD: $6900, DK: $6300)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 98.0 — SIERA: 4.48 — K%: 16.0% — BB%: 7.6% — FB Rate: 39.1% — HR/FB: 6.8%
Last 30 Days: IP: 29.0 — SIERA: 5.40 — K%: 11.2% — BB%: 9.6% — FB Rate: 36.2% — HR/FB: 2.9%
Philadelphia Phillies Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.271 (Rank: 30) — Strikeout Rate: 19.8% (Rank: 14)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.264 (Rank: 29) — Strikeout Rate: 22.8% (Rank: 24)
Pitchers per PA: 3.70 (Rank: 26)
Analysis: Desclafani has struggled in his recent starts, posting a 5.40 SIERA with a very low strikeout rate of 11.2%. It’s never a good sign when a pitcher is nearly walking as many batters as he is striking out. He draws a plus-matchup against the Phillies, but that’s not enough to persuade me to take a struggling pitcher. This could be a game like last night where the Phillies record 10+ hits, all on singles and doubles.
Pitcher Rating:54.1
Batter Grind Down
Philadelphia
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Ryan Howard (FD: $3000, DK: $3700)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 620 — wOBA: 0.310 — ISO: 0.174 — wRC+: 95
Cincinnati
Joey Votto (FD: $4100, DK: $5000)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 371 — wOBA: 0.367 — ISO: 0.166 — wRC+: 132
Last 14 Days: PA: 55 — wOBA: 0.466 — ISO: 0.341 — wRC+: 198
Analysis: Votto has been swinging a hot bat over the last 14 days with a .466 wOBA and a .341 ISO. He has always hit well at the Great American Ballpark and he draws a favorable matchup against Aaron Harang, who has given up a .321 wOBA to left-handed hitters in the last two seasons. The Reds should be able to jump on the Harangatang early, which should provide Votto with a few RBI opportunities.
Secondary Plays:
Jay Bruce (FD: $3200, DK: $4400)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 575 — wOBA: 0.301 — ISO: 0.155 — wRC+: 88
LA Angels at Tampa Bay – 7:10 PM EST
| LA Angels | Tampa Bay | ||||||||
 | Matt Shoemaker |  | Nate Karns | ||||||
| RIGHT | RIGHT | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| TB (-110) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.245 | 0.717 | 0.313 | 0.208 | SP vs. Left | 0.191 | 0.579 | 0.273 | 0.279 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.236 | 0.679 | 0.297 | 0.249 | SP vs. Right | 0.205 | 0.69 | 0.301 | 0.167 |
| Batter Splits | LAA BvP | ANA vs R | Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TB vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Matt Shoemaker (FD: $7800, DK: $8000)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 192.2 — SIERA: 3.32 — K%: 22.8% — BB%: 4.9% — FB Rate: 40.8% — HR/FB: 12.2%
Last 30 Days: IP: 28.1 — SIERA: 3.66 — K%: 22.4% — BB%: 6.9% — FB Rate: 40.0% — HR/FB: 18.8%
Tampa Bay Rays Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.296 (Rank: 24) — Strikeout Rate: 21.1% (Rank: 23)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.282 (Rank: 25) — Strikeout Rate: 20.9% (Rank: 18)
Pitchers per PA: 3.86 (Rank: 9)
Analysis: Shoemaker has pitched well recently, posting a 3.66 SIERA with a strikeout rate of 22.4% in the last 30 days. His Achilles Heel this season has been his HR/FB rate of 18.8%, which is unsustainable. He should see some positive regression over the course of the season. Shoemaker draws a favorable matchup tonight against the Rays, who are ranked 24th in wOBA (.296) and 23rd in strikeout rate (21.1%) against right-handed pitching this season. He’ll likely be on very few people’s radar, making him an appealing tournament option.
Pitcher Rating:70.6
Nate Karns (FD: $6600, DK: $6500)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 74.0 — SIERA: 3.97 — K%: 22.6% — BB%: 10.2% — FB Rate: 38.2% — HR/FB: 14.5%
Last 30 Days: IP: 21.2 — SIERA: 4.16 — K%: 19.8% — BB%: 8.8% — FB Rate: 35.9% — HR/FB: 8.7%
LA Angels of Anaheim Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.297 (Rank: 22) — Strikeout Rate: 20.1% (Rank: 18)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.338 (Rank: 5) — Strikeout Rate: 21.8% (Rank: 21)
Pitchers per PA: 3.74 (Rank: 21)
Analysis: Karns is actually a much better pitcher than he is given credit for. Since the start of 2014, he has posted a 3.97 SIERA with a very respectable strikeout rate of 22.6%. He does struggle with his command at times, but a strikeout rate that high with a price this low is always appealing. The Angels’ offense has been much better in recent weeks, but they are still ranked 22nd in wOBA (.297) against right-handed pitching this season. Like his opponent Matt Shoemaker, Karns is a decent tournament option tonight.
Pitcher Rating:64.4
Batter Grind Down
LA Angels
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Mike Trout (FD: $5000, DK: $5300)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 719 — wOBA: 0.402 — ISO: 0.285 — wRC+: 167
Tampa Bay
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Joey Butler (FD: $3100, DK: $3600)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 64 — wOBA: 0.353 — ISO: 0.136 — wRC+: 135
San Diego at Atlanta – 7:10 PM EST
| San Diego | Atlanta | ||||||||
 | James Shields |  | Mike Foltynewicz | ||||||
| RIGHT | Right | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| SD (-127) | 7.5 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.258 | 0.728 | 0.321 | 0.204 | SP vs. Left | 0.327 | 1.008 | 0.431 | 0.136 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.244 | 0.714 | 0.312 | 0.234 | SP vs. Right | 0.221 | 0.578 | 0.263 | 0.279 |
| Batter Splits | SD vs R | Batter Splits | ATL BvP | ATL vs R | |||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
James Shields (FD: $9500, DK: $9500)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 302.1 — SIERA: 3.40 — K%: 21.7% — BB%: 5.2% — FB Rate: 35.1% — HR/FB: 12.3%
Last 30 Days: IP: 33.0 — SIERA: 3.02 — K%: 27.8% — BB%: 6.8% — FB Rate: 35.7% — HR/FB: 13.3%
Atlanta Braves Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.314 (Rank: 12) — Strikeout Rate: 16.9% (Rank: 3)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.305 (Rank: 16) — Strikeout Rate: 20.8% (Rank: 17)
Pitchers per PA: 3.77 (Rank: 18)
Analysis: Shields has to be wondering why he didn’t move to the National League earlier in his career. His strikeouts have skyrocketed in the NL, while his SIERA has plummeted. His strong season should continue tonight against the Braves, who possess an average offense in most respects. The one concern here is the fact that the Braves have the 3rd-lowest strikeout rate of any team against right-handed pitching this season. Shields is not on the same level as Corey Kluber tonight, but he’s in play in tournaments and as an SP2 on multi-pitcher sites.
Pitcher Rating:75.3
Mike Foltynewicz (FD: $7300, DK: $7200)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 60.2 — SIERA: 3.97 — K%: 21.3% — BB%: 8.2% — FB Rate: 48.4% — HR/FB: 9.0%
Last 30 Days: IP: 31.2 — SIERA: 3.43 — K%: 25.0% — BB%: 6.6% — FB Rate: 46.6% — HR/FB: 9.8%
San Diego Padres Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.295 (Rank: 25) — Strikeout Rate: 21.8% (Rank: 26)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.288 (Rank: 22) — Strikeout Rate: 24.0% (Rank: 26)
Pitchers per PA: 3.80 (Rank: 13)
Analysis: Foltynewicz has pitched well this season, especially over the last month of play. During that stretch, he has a 3.43 SIERA with an impressive strikeout rate of 25.0%. He is an extreme fly-ball pitcher, but that’s only a bad thing when you give up a lot of home runs. His HR/FB rate is actually slightly lower than the major league average. Foltynewicz will likely be less than 5% owned in tournaments tonight, which is crazy considering the fact that the Padres are ranked 25th in wOBA (.295) and 26th in strikeout rate (21.8%) against right-handed pitching this season.
Pitcher Rating:61.6
Batter Grind Down
San Diego
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Will Venable (FD: $2400, DK: $3400)
Position Eligibility: FD: OF — DK: OF
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 503 — wOBA: 0.295 — ISO: 0.119 — wRC+: 91
Atlanta
NONE – James Shields has really enjoyed his move to the National League this season. While the Braves don’t strike out often as a team, they are only ranked 25th against right-handed pitching. The Braves’ offense can safely be avoided tonight.
San Francisco at NY Mets – 7:10 PM EST
| San Francisco | NY Mets | ||||||||
 | Chris Heston |  | Noah Syndergaard | ||||||
| RIGHT | Right | ||||||||
| Vegas Moneyline | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||||
| NYM (-120) | 7.0 | ||||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.349 | 0.965 | 0.416 | 0.097 | SP vs. Left | 0.186 | 0.557 | 0.243 | 0.125 |
| SP vs. Right | 0.214 | 0.573 | 0.259 | 0.254 | SP vs. Right | 0.269 | 0.661 | 0.288 | 0.302 |
| Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SF vs R | Batter Splits | NYM BvP | NYM vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Chris Heston (FD: $6700, DK: $5500)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 70.1 — SIERA: 3.57 — K%: 19.4% — BB%: 6.9% — FB Rate: 23.3% — HR/FB: 11.8%
Last 30 Days: IP: 27.2 — SIERA: 3.51 — K%: 21.7% — BB%: 6.7% — FB Rate: 28.9% — HR/FB: 16.7%
New York Mets Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.295 (Rank: 25) — Strikeout Rate: 20.4% (Rank: 19)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.340 (Rank: 4) — Strikeout Rate: 20.6% (Rank: 15)
Pitchers per PA: 3.86 (Rank: 8)
Analysis: Heston is a young pitcher that has had much better success at home than he has on the road. His ERA on the road is nearly double that of his ERA at home this season. He has a decent strikeout rate and a favorable matchup against the Mets, but he doesn’t appear to be very comfortable on the road just yet. Heston is affordable, but there are better pitching options that I like more at his price point tonight.
Pitcher Rating:64.1
Noah Syndergaard (FD: $8000, DK: $8700)
Pitching Stats:
2014 – 2015: IP: 28.2 — SIERA: 2.91 — K%: 26.0% — BB%: 4.1% — FB Rate: 35.4% — HR/FB: 6.9%
San Francisco Giants Offense (2015)
vs. RH Pitching: wOBA: 0.324 (Rank: 5) — Strikeout Rate: 17.4% (Rank: 5)
Last 14 Days: wOBA: 0.330 (Rank: 8) — Strikeout Rate: 18.9% (Rank: 10)
Pitchers per PA: 3.70 (Rank: 27)
Analysis: Syndergaard went from his best start of his career to his worst start of his career. Like Chris Heston, Syndergaard has pitched much better at home than he has in his road starts. He has a high strikeout rate of 26% this season and he has shown great command, walking only 4.1% of the batters that he has faced this season. The issue with Syndergaard is his matchup. The Giants are ranked 5th in both wOBA (.324) and strikeout rate (17.4%) against right-handed pitching this season. Syndergaard is in play, but Corey Kluber and Francisco Liriano are much safer options for cash games.
Pitcher Rating:78.6
Batter Grind Down
San Francisco
NONE – Noah Syndergaard has pitched well in his two home starts, holding his opponents to a single earned run. The Giants have one of the lowest team totals on the board, as they face a competent young pitcher in a pitcher-friendly Citi Field.
NY Mets
NO ELITE PLAYS
Secondary Plays:
Lucas Duda (FD: $3400, DK: $4400)
Position Eligibility: FD: 1B — DK: 1B
2014-15 vs. RH Pitching: PA: 645 — wOBA: 0.383 — ISO: 0.251 — wRC+: 150