MLB Grind Down: Tuesday, September 2nd Page Three
Pittsburgh at St. Louis
| Pittsburgh | St. Louis | ||||||||
| Jeff Locke | Vegas Moneyline | Adam Wainwright | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | STL (-150) | RIGHT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.195 | 0.536 | 0.241 | 7.50% | SP vs. Left | 0.246 | 0.641 | 0.284 | 20.60% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.268 | 0.752 | 0.332 | 17.50% | SP vs. Right | 0.198 | 0.540 | 0.243 | 19.40% |
| Batter Splits | PIT BvP  | PIT vs R | Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jeff Locke – Locke is a middle of the pack LH pitcher. He’s pitched pretty well this season with a 3.51 ERA and a K/9 of 5.6, but he has a tough matchup tonight against the Cardinals. The Cards have been one of the better offenses in baseball as they are ranked 5th in wOBA over the last 30 days. He is going to have a tough time picking up the win with Wainwright pitching opposite him. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6300 FD, $12650 DD, $7500 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Adam Wainwright – Wainwright still doesn’t look like the dominant pitcher that we saw earlier in the season. Over the last 6 weeks, we have seen a huge dip in strikeouts and his velocity has been down a bit as well. That’s typically a big red flag for a pitcher. Wainwright has given up at least 3 earned runs in 4 straight starts and has a very tough matchup against the Pirates who are ranked 3rd in wOBA vs. RH pitching this season. I think he picks up the win, but he’ll likely give up a couple of runs in the process. Rating = 7
Salaries: $9300 FD, $19550 DD, $9300 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Pittsburgh
Andrew McCutchen – If there was ever a time to target hitters against Wainwright, now would be that time. As mentioned above, he has really struggled over the last 6 weeks and he’s been very hittable. Cutch has a career .316 batting average against Wainwright and he’s been swinging a hot bat with 13 hits over his last 10 games.
Additional Plays: Josh Harrison
St. Louis
Matt Holliday – Holliday has been a 1-man wrecking crew. Over his last 3 games, he has 7 hits and 12 RBI’s. And no, that is not a mis-print. He has had some clutch hits and is really seeing the ball well right now. He should be considered one of the top OF options tonight as he gets a favorable matchup against the lefty Locke.
Additional Plays: Jhonny Peralta
San Francisco at Colorado
| San Francisco | Colorado | ||||||||
| Yusmeiro Petit | Vegas Moneyline | Jordan Lyles | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | SFG (-144) | RIGHT | 10.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.261 | 0.774 | 0.335 | 18.10% | SP vs. Left | 0.276 | 0.860 | 0.376 | 13.10% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.179 | 0.450 | 0.199 | 37.00% | SP vs. Right | 0.210 | 0.596 | 0.269 | 21.70% |
| Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SFG vs R | Batter Splits | COL BvP | COL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Yusmeiro Petit – Petit broke the major league record of consecutive batters retired in his last outing. It was an impressive record for sure, but it’s not enough for me to break my cardinal rule of avoiding all pitchers in Coors Field. The total for this game is set at 10 runs for a reason. Rating = 3
Salaries: $6500 FD, $9350 DD, $6800 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Jordan Lyles – Avoiding pitchers in Coors Field doesn’t need a long explanation. Coors Field is a ballpark where pitcher’s ERA’s go to die. Avoid Lyles and Petit in this one. Rating = 2
Salaries: $6500 FD, $10850 DD, $4800 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
San Francisco
Hunter Pence – Pence may be the hottest hitter in baseball right now. He hit another HR yesterday and now has a 14 game hitting streak. He has 17 hits over his last 10 games and a dream matchup against Jordan Lyles in the hitter-friendly Coors Field. Keep targeting Pence as one of the top OF plays on the board.
Additional Plays: Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Angel Pagan, Joe Panik
Colorado
Corey Dickerson – Dickerson continues to mash RH pitching this season, especially at home. On the season he has a .407 wOBA against RH pitching and a .450 wOBA at home. He gets both tonight against Petit who has struggled against LH hitters this season.
Additional Plays: Justin Morneau, Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado
Seattle at Oakland
| Seattle | Oakland | ||||||||
| James Paxton | Vegas Moneyline | Sonny Gray | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | OAK (-150) | RIGHT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | SP vs. Left | 0.221 | 0.621 | 0.282 | 21.60% | ||||
| SP vs. Right | 0.224 | 0.647 | 0.286 | 17.90% | SP vs. Right | 0.240 | 0.621 | 0.280 | 18.50% |
| Batter Splits | SEA BvP | SEA vs R | Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- James Paxton – Paxton is one of the M’s top pitching prospects and so far he has really pitched well at the major league level. In 7 starts this season, he has posted a 1.83 ERA with a K/9 of 7.6. He boasted a terrific strikeout rate in the minors and could make a great GPP play tonight against the A’s whose offense has been ice cold over the last month of play. A $5,800 price tag on FD certainly puts him in play for tournaments. Rating = 5
Salaries: $5800 FD, $12750 DD, $9400 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Sonny Gray – Gray takes the mound tonight after a very pedestrian month of August. He finished the month with a 4.18 ERA while giving up a .318 wOBA to his opponents. He still owns a solid K/9 of 7.6, but his recent struggles do make me a bit weary about targeting him tonight against the Mariners who have been very good against RH pitching over the last month. I’d rather pay up for Kershaw or save a bit of cap space and take Minor. Rating = 6.5
Salaries: $8600 FD, $17950 DD, $8900 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Seattle
Even though Gray isn’t my top pitching option tonight, I won’t be targeting any hitters against him either. He has held both LH and RH hitters under a .285 wOBA this season.
Oakland
Josh Donaldson – Every time the A’s face a LH pitcher, Donaldson should immediately come to mind as a viable fantasy option. He has crushed LH pitching this season with a .396 batting average and a .474 wOBA. He has been an extra base hit machine against lefties and will look to add to his impressive resume tonight.
Additional Plays: Derek Norris
Washington at LA Dodgers
| Washington | LA Dodgers | ||||||||
| Doug Fister | Vegas Moneyline | Clayton Kershaw | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | LAD (-210) | LEFT | 6.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.272 | 0.716 | 0.316 | 15.00% | SP vs. Left | 0.171 | 0.411 | 0.186 | 32.20% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.230 | 0.617 | 0.273 | 15.20% | SP vs. Right | 0.198 | 0.548 | 0.244 | 32.10% |
| Batter Splits | WSN BvP | WSN vs L | Batter Splits | LAD BvP | LAD vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Doug Fister – Fister is typically a solid fantasy target, but can be ignored for the most part tonight. Not only does he face a talented Dodgers lineup, but Clayton Kershaw will be pitching opposite him which means his run support will be extremely limited. Don’t pay up for Fister tonight in this less than appealing matchup. Rating = 5
Salaries: $8200 FD, $16550 DD, $8900 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Clayton Kershaw – When Kershaw is on the mound, he is the top fantasy option of the night. He is the best pitcher in baseball and is capable of throwing a complete game shutout every night that he is slated to pitch. He owns a 1.73 ERA on the season with a K/9 of 10.9. When he is locked in, there aren’t any teams in baseball that can hit him. He’s worth the expensive price tag on a night without many other pitching options. Rating = 9.5
Salaries: $12300 FD, $22850 DD, $14900 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Washington
Avoid all Nats tonight against Kershaw.
LA Dodgers
Adrian Gonzalez – Gonzalez is always in play against RH pitchers, especially ones that don’t possess an elite strikeout rate. Gonzalez has been swinging a hot bat with 12 hits (4 XBH’s) over his last 10 games and I don’t mind the matchup against Fister.
Additional Plays: Dee Gordon
Arizona at San Diego
| Arizona | San Diego | ||||||||
| Wade Miley | Vegas Moneyline | Odrisamer Despaigne | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | SDP (-125) | RIGHT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.248 | 0.731 | 0.327 | 19.90% | SP vs. Left | 0.284 | 0.812 | 0.363 | 11.10% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.257 | 0.747 | 0.327 | 22.30% | SP vs. Right | 0.190 | 0.505 | 0.233 | 21.60% |
| Batter Splits | ARI BvP | ARI vs R | Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SDP vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Wade Miley – Miley is a terrific tournament play tonight and may be in play as a #2 starter on a multi-pitcher site. He has a solid K/9 of 8.3 on the season and draws a terrific matchup tonight. He’s facing the Padres who are ranked dead last in wOBA vs. LH pitching this season and he gets to face them in the pitcher-friendly Petco Park. His price is down and this could be a great time to buy low on the Diamondback’s lefty. Rating = 6.5
Salaries: $7200 FD, $13850 DD, $7900 DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Odrisamer Despaigne – Despaigne has had a pretty solid rookie season for the Padres. He owns a 3.24 ERA with a K/9 of 6.2. Not only that, but he also draws a nice matchup against the Diamondbacks who have been the 3rd worst offense in baseball over the last 30 days. I like Miley a tad bit more, but Despaigne is in play for tournaments. Rating = 5.5
Salaries: $5700 FD, $11900 DD, $7800 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Arizona / San Diego
Petco Park is the worst ballpark in baseball for hitters. The total of this game is set at only 6.5 runs and there are much better matchups to exploit. Avoid both offenses in this one.