MLB Grind Down: Wednesday, June 11th
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.
Note: Any Fantasy Point Average Listed Uses FanDuel Scoring. For more info on FanDuel’s MLB Scoring System,check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review
Minnesota at Toronto
| Minnesota | Toronto | ||||||||
| Phil Hughes | Vegas Moneyline | Marcus Stroman | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TOR (-161) | RIGHT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.261 | 0.755 | 0.331 | 20.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.325 | 0.849 | 0.380 | 9.3% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.305 | 0.796 | 0.350 | 18.6% | SP vs. Right | 0.316 | 0.738 | 0.331 | 31.7% |
| Batter Splits | MIN BvP  | MIN vs R | Batter Splits | TOR BvP | TOR vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Phil Hughes – Hughes gave up 5 earned runs in his last start, but is still enjoying a nice bounce back season. Hughes owns a 3.46 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and a K/9 of 7.56. He runs into a tough matchup tonight though as the Blue Jays are ranked #1 in baseball against RH pitching with a team .343 wOBA. After Correia shut them out last night, I’m expecting them their offense to come alive today against Hughes. Rating = 4
Salaries: $ FD, $14615 DS, $NA DD, $NA DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Marcus Stroman – Stroman will be making his 3rd career starts. In 7 appearances this season, Stroman owns a 5.40 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP and 17 K’s over 19 innings of work. He is still an unproven starter at the major league level and I don’t love the matchup against the Twins who are ranked 11th against RH pitching this season. It also doesn’t help that he will be pitching in the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. Rating = 4
Salaries: $ FD, $13554 DS, $ DD, $ DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Minnesota
Brian Dozier – Dozier has great speed and great power. He showed that last night by hitting a HR and stealing a base in the same game. He has a nice matchup against the rookie Stroman. Dozier has a .363 wOBA against RH pitching this season.
Additional Plays: Joe Mauer, Danny Santana
Toronto
Edwin Encarnacion – Everything lines up well for E5 today. He has a .407 wOBA against RH pitching, he is facing Hughes who has given up a .365 wOBA to RHB’s this season, and he has a nice history against Hughes (14/37 with 5 XBH’s).
Additional Plays: Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Jose Bautista
Cleveland at Kansas City
| Cleveland | Kansas City | ||||||||
| Trevor Bauer | Vegas Moneyline | Yordano Ventura | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | KCR (-128) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.209 | 0.786 | 0.359 | 18.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.235 | 0.686 | 0.304 | 21.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.770 | 0.340 | 26.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.248 | 0.699 | 0.311 | 21.2% |
| Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | Batter Splits | KCR BvP | KCR vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Trevor Bauer – Bauer has been impressive in his first 5 starts of the season. While his ERA is a little higher than we would like to see, he has a respectable WHIP of 1.31 and an impressive K/9 of 11.3. I’ve mentioned this a few times in the Grind Down, but it’s worth noting again. Just because the Royals strike out fewer times than any team in baseball doesn’t mean that we have to completely avoid pitchers against them. He makes a nice tournament play in the early leagues. Rating = 5
Salaries: $ FD, $13850 DS, $NA DD, $NA DK, $NA FF, $NA SS, $NA FTD
- Yordano Ventura – Ventura has seen his velocity diminish quickly over his past few starts and it has really shown up in his strikeout totals. He has only struck out 7 batters over his last 3 starts. Combine that with the fact that he is facing an Indians’ offense that is ranked 2nd against RH pitching and Vordano is an easy avoid in the early leagues. Rating = 5
Salaries: $ FD, $16775 DS, $ DD, $ DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Cleveland
Lonnie Chisenhall – The last time Chisenhall faces a RHP, he ended up with 3 HR’s and 9 RBI’s. On the season he has a .438 wOBA against RH pitching and I like the matchup today against the struggling Ventura.
Additional Plays: Michael Brantley
Kansas City
Alex Gordon – Bauer has pitched pretty well this season, but he has given up a .322 wOBA to LHB’s. Gordon makes a nice cash game play against the RHP as he has a .361 wOBA against RH pitching.
Additional Plays: Eric Hosmer
San Diego at Philadelphia
| San Diego | Philadelphia | ||||||||
| Tyson Ross | Vegas Moneyline | Cole Hamels | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | PHI (-130) | LEFT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.230 | 0.629 | 0.295 | 20.3% | SP vs. Left | 0.256 | 0.699 | 0.312 | 25.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.232 | 0.637 | 0.289 | 25.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.243 | 0.677 | 0.306 | 21.8% |
| Batter Splits | SDP BvP | SDP vs L | Batter Splits | PHI BvP | PHI vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Tyson Ross – Ross has pitched much better at home over the last couple of seasons, but his impressive K/9 of 8.6 puts him in play even when he is on the road. Tonight he faces a Phillies’ offense that is ranked 28th against RH pitching this season while striking out at a 21.2% clip. Rating = 7
Salaries: $6500 FD, $16432 DS, $15550 DD, $8400 DK, $84200 FF, $23800 SS, $12000 FTD
- Cole Hamels – Hamels has looked terrific in his past few starts. He has lowered his ERA to 3.49 on the season while averaging a strikeout per inning. Tonight Hamels faces the Padres who are ranked dead last in the majors against LH pitching. Hamels is one of the top pitching options on the board tonight. Rating = 9
Salaries: $8400 FD, $19679 DS, $16200 DD, $10600 DK, $96200 FF, $27000 SS, $12800 FTD
Batter Grind Down
San Diego
There aren’t any recommended options on this struggling Padres’ offense tonight. Hamels has held both LHB’s and RHB’s under a .305 wOBA this season.
Philadelphia
Chase Utley – This game has one of the lowest run totals of the night, but I don’t mind taking Utley at 2B. Utley has a .387 wOBA against RH pitching this season and faces Ross who hasn’t been great on the road this year.
Additional Plays: None
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh
| Chicago Cubs | Pittsburgh | ||||||||
| Jason Hammel | Vegas Moneyline | Brandon Cumpton | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | PIT (-120) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.284 | 0.817 | 0.363 | 15.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.298 | 0.720 | 0.325 | 17.3% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.219 | 0.581 | 0.265 | 21.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.261 | 0.603 | 0.282 | 13.0% |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jason Hammel – Hammel has been terrific for the Cubs this season. Through his first 12 starts, he has posted a 2.53 ERA with a 0.88 WHIP and a K/9 of 8.1. Most people haven’t noticed because he pitches for the Cubs. Tonight he faces a Pirates’ offense that is ranked 12th against RH pitching this season. The only concern with Hammel is run support; he is probably only in play on multi-pitcher sites and GPP’s. Rating = 6
Salaries: $6900 FD, $15998 DS, $13050 DD, $9700 DK, $117000 FF, $27900 SS, $13500 FTD
- Brandon Cumpton – Cumpton will draw another start tonight for the Pirates. On the season he has a 6.51 ERA with only 15 K’s in 5 starts. Those certainly aren’t convincing numbers, but he does have a nice matchup as the Cubs are ranked 29th against RH pitching and strike out at a 22.7% clip. Cumpton is a nice tournament play tonight. Rating = 5
Salaries: $4000 FD, $11441 DS, $9550 DD, $5400 DK, $56600 FF, $13000 SS, $10800 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
Anthony Rizzo – Rizzo has a .374 wOBA against RH pitching this season and has been swinging a hot bat with 14 hits (5 HR’s) over his last 10 games.
Additional Plays: Starlin Castro
Pittsburgh
Andrew McCutchen – Cutch has been on fire. Over his last 9 games he has 14 hits (5 HR’s), 10 RBI’s, and 9 runs. He also has a .403 wOBA against RH pitching this season.
Additional Plays: Josh Harrison
Boston at Baltimore
| Boston | Baltimore | ||||||||
| Rubby De La Rosa | Vegas Moneyline | Wei-Yin Chen | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | BAL (-125) | LEFT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.243 | 0.566 | 0.265 | 22.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.277 | 0.746 | 0.330 | 16.3% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.328 | 0.925 | 0.414 | 16.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.279 | 0.763 | 0.335 | 18.2% |
| Batter Splits | BOS BvP | BOS vs L | Batter Splits | BAL BvP | BAL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Rubby De La Rosa – Through his first 2 starts this season, De La Rosa has a 2.84 ERA with 13 K’s over 12 innings of work. He is rarely a viable fantasy option and I don’t love him tonight against the Orioles who are ranked 9th against RH pitching with a team .322 wOBA. There is more downside than upside with Rubby tonight. Rating = 4
Salaries: $6500 FD, $12462 DS, $9900 DD, $7400 DK, $64000 FF, $18400 SS, $NA FTD
- Wei-Yin Chen – Chen is a pitcher that rarely gets blown up, but he rarely throws gems either. On the season he has a 4.13 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP and a K/9 of 6.9. He’s the suggested pitcher out of the two starters in this game, but I think there are better options for both cash games and GPP’s.
Salaries: $6000 FD, $11929 DS, $12550 DD, $6400 DK, $84300 FF, $17800 SS, $11600 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Boston
Mike Napoli – Napoli is finally back in the Red Sox lineup and they can really use him right now, especially against southpaws. Napoli has a .396 wOBA against LH pitching this season and has 2 HR’s in 15 career at-bats against Chen.
Additional Plays: Jonny Gomes
Baltimore
Adam Jones – The sample size is small, but De La Rosa has given up a .414 wOBA to RHB’s this season. Jones has been much better against LH pitching, but he has been seeing the ball well and has 4 HR’s in his last 8 games.
Additional Plays: Nelson Cruz