MLB Grind Down: Tuesday, September 23rd Page Three
Houston at Texas
| Houston | Texas | ||||||||
| Brett Oberholtzer | Vegas Moneyline | Nick Martinez | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | TEX (-114) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.288 | 0.726 | 0.322 | 19.40% | SP vs. Left | 0.283 | 0.862 | 0.379 | 11.70% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.281 | 0.740 | 0.323 | 13.90% | SP vs. Right | 0.274 | 0.774 | 0.337 | 13.30% |
| Batter Splits | HOU BvP  | HOU vs R | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Brett Oberholtzer – Oberholtzer is a tough sell in daily fantasy baseball. He has a low strikeout rate (5.9 per 9 innings) and a mediocre offense behind him. Tonight he faces a Rangers offense that has actually hit LH pitching well this season. As a team, the Rangers are ranked 5th in wOBA vs. lefties this season. It also doesn’t help that this game will take place in the hitter-friendly Globe Life Park. Rating = 4
Salaries: $ FD, $9900 DD, $6300 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Nick Martinez – Martinez has not pitched well this season. His ERA (4.85) is almost identical to his K/9 (4.92). While he does face a strikeout happy Astros offense, he can safely be avoided in all leagues. If anything, give a nice boost to the Astros offense as they will likely be able to put the ball in play at a higher rate than usual. Rating = 3
Batter Grind Down
Houston
Chris Carter – Carter is one of those players that are rarely in play for cash games, but always in play for tournaments. The reasoning is pretty simple; he has an extremely high ceiling but he also has an extremely low floor. He should see a nice ballpark boost in Globe Life Park as he faces Nick Martinez who has already given up 18 home runs in only 22 starts this season.
Additional Plays: Jose Altuve, Dexter Fowler
Texas
Adrian Beltre – Beltre will likely be one of the most popular plays at third base tonight thanks to his cheap price tag and his upside against Brett Obertholtzer. Beltre has crushed left-hand pitching this season with a .423 wOBA. He’s also been extremely good at home with a .421 wOBA.
Additional Plays: J.P. Arencibia, Jake Smolinski
Arizona at Minnesota
| Arizona | Minnesota | ||||||||
| Andrew Chafin | Vegas Moneyline | Kyle Gibson | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | MIN (-130) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | SP vs. Left | 0.272 | 0.718 | 0.320 | 9.00% | ||||
| SP vs. Right | SP vs. Right | 0.243 | 0.658 | 0.295 | 18.20% | ||||
| Batter Splits | ARI BvP | ARI vs R | Batter Splits | MIN BvP | MIN vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Andrew Chafin – Chafin will only be making his 3rd career start. He posted pretty pedestrian numbers at the AAA level this season with a 5.34 ERA and a K/9 of 7.0. Not only is he inexperienced at the major-league level, but he draws a tough matchup against the Twins who have the 5th highest wOBA of any team over the last 30 days. Avoid Chafin and take some of the RH hitters on the Twins against him. Rating = 4
Salaries: $ FD, $9150 DD, $6100 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Kyle Gibson – Gibson is a small favorite in this game, but is a risky fantasy option tonight. On the season he owns a 4.64 ERA (4.07 xFIP) with a K/9 of 5.1. He offers limited upside and the Diamondbacks lineup looks a lot better now that David Peralta is healthy again. He may be able to pick up the win here, but I like targeting pitchers more a little more upside. Rating = 5
Batter Grind Down
Arizona
Ender Inciarte – Gibson has given up a .320 wOBA to LH hitters this season. Inciarte meanwhile has been very good against RH pitching and he has been swinging a hot bat with 14 hits and 3 SB’s over his last 10 games.
Additional Plays: David Peralta, Mark Trumbo
Minnesota
Trevor Plouffe – Plouffe has hit left-hand pitching well throughout his career and this season is no different with a .334 wOBA against southpaws. Plouffe has good upside in this matchup and will likely fly under the radar tonight with all of the other options at 3B.
Additional Plays: Brian Dozier, Danny Santana, Kennys Vargas
LA Angels at Oakland
| LA Angels | Oakland | ||||||||
| Wade LeBlanc | Vegas Moneyline | Sonny Gray | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | OAK (-180) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | SP vs. Left | 0.220 | 0.640 | 0.289 | 20.70% | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.273 | 0.715 | 0.304 | 19.70% | SP vs. Right | 0.247 | 0.629 | 0.284 | 18.50% |
| Batter Splits | LAA BvP | LAA vs R | Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Wade LeBlanc – LeBlanc is coming off of a very surprising outing. He threw 5 shutout innings against the Mariners. One good start isn’t enough for me to buy-in on LeBlanc though. He’s been an average lefty during his time in the majors and he faces an A’s offense that has their backs up against the wall. This game means a lot more to the A’s than it does to the Angels. LeBlanc should be avoided in all leagues. Rating = 3
Salaries: $ FD, $8750 DD, $5300 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Sonny Gray – Gray picked the wrong time of the year to have a pitching slump. He has given up at least 2 earned runs in each of his last 9 starts (32 total earned runs over that stretch). Gray has also only topped 6 K’s in 2 of those 9 starts. He’s getting love from Vegas as a -180 favorite in a game with a 7.5 run total, but he’s trending in the wrong direction. If I’m paying up for pitcher, I’d rather target Cole Hamels or David Price. Rating = 6
Batter Grind Down
LA Angels
Mike Trout – The Angels are only 2 games behind the Orioles for the top seed in the American League so I expect Trout to be in the lineup tonight. Trout is in play regardless of the pitcher on the mound. That said, he has a good track record against Sonny Gray going 4/11 with 2 HR’s.
Additional Plays: Kole Calhoun
Oakland
Derek Norris – LeBlanc has a career 5.59 ERA on the road and has been an average left-hand pitcher in the majors. Meanwhile, Norris has the splits in his favor tonight as he has a .381 wOBA against LH pitching and a .383 wOBA at home this season.
Additional Plays: Josh Donaldson, Coco Crisp
San Francisco at LA Dodgers
| San Francisco | LA Dodgers | ||||||||
| Madison Bumgarner | Vegas Moneyline | Zack Greinke | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | LAD (-140) | RIGHT | 6.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.219 | 0.548 | 0.243 | 31.50% | SP vs. Left | 0.249 | 0.639 | 0.282 | 23.30% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.241 | 0.675 | 0.298 | 23.60% | SP vs. Right | 0.245 | 0.693 | 0.305 | 27.20% |
| Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SFG vs R | Batter Splits | LAD BvP | LAD vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Madison Bumgarner – The Giants have all but locked up a Wildcard spot, but are still competing with the Pirates for home field advantage in the Wildcard game so they will try to end the season strong. Bumgarner is having another terrific season. He is sporting a 2.91 ERA with a K/9 of 9.2. He only walks 1.8 batters per 9 innings and only gives up 0.8 HR’s per 9 innings. He draws a favorable matchup against the Dodgers who are ranked 15th in wOBA vs. LH pitching. Rating = 8.5
Salaries: $ FD, $21700 DD, $12400 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Zack Greinke – The Dodgers have secured a spot in the playoffs, but still have something to play for as they are currently only one game ahead of the Cardinals for the #2 seed in the National League. Greinke is coming off of a subpar outing against the Cubs and will look to bounce back tonight against the Giants. Greinke has been terrific at home this season with a 2.63 ERA and 100 K’s over only 85 innings of work. Both of these pitchers will have a hard time getting run support, but both are in play tonight. Rating = 8.5
Batter Grind Down
San Francisco / L.A. Dodgers
This game features two of the best pitchers in the National League. The total is set at only 6.0 runs for a reason. Avoid both offenses in this one.
Colorado at San Diego
| Colorado | San Diego | ||||||||
| Jorge De La Rosa | Vegas Moneyline | Robbie Erlin | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | SDP (-128) | LEFT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.185 | 0.518 | 0.234 | 24.60% | SP vs. Left | 0.246 | 0.709 | 0.306 | 16.90% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.244 | 0.765 | 0.337 | 15.80% | SP vs. Right | 0.286 | 0.775 | 0.337 | 18.90% |
| Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs L | Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SDP vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jorge De La Rosa – De La Rosa has struggled on the road this season, but gets a nice ballpark boost in Petco Park. He also has a favorable matchup as he is facing the Padres offense who are ranked dead last in baseball in wOBA vs. LH pitching. He’s not the safest fantasy option tonight, but could serve as a #2 starter on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $ FD, $12350 DD, $6900 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Robbie Erlin – Erlin pitched well in his last start. He struck out 4 batters over 5 innings of work while only giving up a single earned run. He only threw 83 pitches in that game, but the Padres will likely let him pitch a little deeper into the game tonight. While the Rockies offense has been awful on the road, they still have a pretty solid lineup. I’m going to avoid Erlin in all leagues in lieu of pitchers with more upside. Rating = 5
Batter Grind Down
Colorado / San Diego
This is another game with a run total under 7.0 tonight. While I’m not completely sold on either starting pitcher here, I’ll be avoiding all hitters as well.