MLB Grind Down: Wednesday, June 4th
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
The SEA/ATL and PIT/SD games are not in today’s Grind Down as most of the major DFS sites do not have those games in their player pools.
Philadelphia at Washington
| Philadelphia | Washington | ||||||||
| A.J. Burnett | Vegas Moneyline | Stephen Strasburg | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | WAS (-175) | RIGHT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.270 | 0.760 | 0.356 | 20.5% | SP vs. Left | 0.220 | 0.605 | 0.280 | 23.1% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.210 | 0.558 | 0.251 | 27.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.228 | 0.592 | 0.278 | 30.0% |
| Batter Splits | PHI BvP  | PHI vs R | Batter Splits | WSN BvP | WSN vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- A.J. Burnett – Burnett has given up at least 3 earned runs in each of his last 5 starts. His ERA has risen to 3.79 and his K-rate is right around 8 per 9 innings. He pitched well against this Nationals team earlier in the season, but the Nats are finally getting healthy and having Ryan Zimmermann back really rounds out their lineup. When you factor in Stephen Strasburg pitching opposite Burnett, he is best served as a GPP play tonight. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7000 FD, $14333 DS, $13600 DD, $7800 DK, $72200 FF, $19900 SS, $13100 FTD
- Stephen Strasburg – Strasburg continues to make a top fantasy option whenever he is pitching at home. In his 7 starts at Nationals Park this season he has posted a 2.07 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and a K/9 of 11.7. He is facing a Phillies’ offense that is ranked 27th against RH pitching this season. The matchup and upside are both there and I think we can expect another dominant performance from Strasburg tonight. Rating = 10
Salaries: $9900 FD, $21911 DS, $17800 DD, $11400 DK, $108300 FF, $30100 SS, $18500 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Philadelphia
Avoid all Phillies’ bats tonight. Strasburg has held both LHB’s and RHB’s under a .280 wOBA this season and has been close to unhittable at home throughout his career.
Washington
Adam LaRoche – The wOBA machine pops out LaRoche as one of the top plays of the night. He has a .436 wOBA against RH pitching this season and faces Burnett who has given up a .356 wOBA to LHB’s.
Additional Plays: Ryan Zimmermann, Jayson Werth, Denard Span
Oakland at NY Yankees
| Oakland | NY Yankees | ||||||||
| Jesse Chavez | Vegas Moneyline | Vidal Nuno | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | OAK (-127) | LEFT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.262 | 0.673 | 0.313 | 20.2% | SP vs. Left | 0.333 | 0.977 | 0.426 | 17.5% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.200 | 0.576 | 0.257 | 25.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.248 | 0.733 | 0.319 | 15.5% |
| Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs L | Batter Splits | NYY BvP | NYY vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jesse Chavez – After an extremely hot start to the season, Chavez has come back down to Earth a bit. He’s given up at least 2 earned runs in each of his last 5 starts and had less than 5 strikeouts in 3 of those starts. His K-potential certainly makes him a nice tournament play, but I’ll be avoiding him in cash games. He is facing a Yankees’ offense that has a team .310 wOBA against RH pitching this season. Rating = 5
Salaries: $7700 FD, $17150 DS, $13800 DD, $9700 DK, $85300 FF, $24000 SS, $14300 FTD
- Vidal Nuno – Nuno owns a 5.47 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP and a K/9 of 7.1. I’ve been avoiding Nuno all season and that will continue tonight against the A’s who are ranked 12th against LH pitching this season with a team .325 wOBA. The total in this game is set at 9.0 runs and I think you can safely avoid both starting pitchers in this one.
Salaries: $4600 FD, $10005 DS, $10950 DD, $7000 DK, $50900 FF, $15500 SS, $9500 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Oakland
Brandon Moss – Moss is an unconventional play at 1B tonight as he has a lefty/lefty matchup against Nuno. That said, Moss has been terrific against LH pitching this season (.466 wOBA) and Nuno has really struggled against LHB’s (giving up a .426 wOBA). Conventional wisdom suggests to avoid Moss, but the numbers speak for themselves.
Additional Plays: Josh Donaldson, Yoenis Cespedes, Derek Norris, Coco Crisp
NY Yankees
Jacoby Ellsbury – Ellsbury is a terrific play in the OF tonight. This season he has a wOBA of .384 against RH pitching. He also has 10 of his 16 stolen bases against righties.
Additional Plays: Brian McCann
Boston at Cleveland
| Boston | Cleveland | ||||||||
| Brandon Workman | Vegas Moneyline | Corey Kluber | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | CLE (-150) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.243 | 0.687 | 0.305 | 22.7% | SP vs. Left | 0.272 | 0.731 | 0.326 | 24.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.271 | 0.742 | 0.333 | 26.4% | SP vs. Right | 0.260 | 0.665 | 0.298 | 24.8% |
| Batter Splits | BOS BvP | BOS vs R | Batter Splits | CLE BvP | CLE vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Brandon Workman – Workman will be making his 3rd start of the season tonight. He is sporting a 3.24 ERA with 14 K’s over 16 innings of work this season. He comes into this game as a large underdog against the Indians who are ranked 5th against RH pitching with a team .334 wOBA. Rating = 4
Salaries: $4200 FD, $10256 DS, $9850 DD, $5800 DK, $67100 FF, $13000 SS, $NA FTD
- Corey Kluber – Kluber has been dominant at home this season with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a K/9 of 10.7. He is hoping to find the same success that Masterson had against this Red Sox lineup the other night. The Sox are ranked 17th against RH pitching this season and Kluber should be targeted in all leagues. Rating = 8
Salaries: $8700 FD, $20187 DS, $16500 DD, $11200 DK, $137600 FF, $30400 SS, $13300 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Boston
A.J. Pierzynski – Kluber has held RHB’s in check this season, but he has given up a .326 wOBA to LHB’s. Pierzynski has been swinging a hot bat over the last couple of weeks and has a .362 wOBA against RH pitching this season.
Additional Plays: Brock Holt
Cleveland
Michael Brantley – This Indians’ offense feasts on RH pitching and have a terrific matchup against Workman tonight. Brantley has a .381 wOBA against righties this season and should see plenty of RBI opportunities.
Additional Plays: Lonnie Chisenhall, Jason Kipnis, Jason Giambi
Toronto at Detroit
| Toronto | Detroit | ||||||||
| R.A. Dickey | Vegas Moneyline | Rick Porcello | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | DET (-120) | RIGHT | 9.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.249 | 0.737 | 0.327 | 17.8% | SP vs. Left | 0.291 | 0.783 | 0.350 | 14.7% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.234 | 0.684 | 0.310 | 19.9% | SP vs. Right | 0.244 | 0.625 | 0.276 | 22.8% |
| Batter Splits | TOR BvP | TOR vs R | Batter Splits | DET BvP | DET vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- R.A. Dickey – Dickey has actually been pitching much better of late. He has posted terrific fantasy performances in 5 of his last 8 games. While he appears to be trending in the right direction, I will not be recommending him tonight against the Tigers who are ranked 6th against RH pitching with a team .328 wOBA. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7500 FD, $13909 DS, $14000 DD, $8500 DK, $75400 FF, $20900 SS, $13000 FTD
- Rick Porcello – Porcello is in the same boat as Dickey, he’s been pitching well of late, but is not a recommended fantasy option tonight because of the tough matchup. The Blue Jays are ranked 1st in the majors against RH pitching with a team .345 wOBA. Rating = 4
Salaries: $7200 FD, $13667 DS, $15350 DD, $8400 DK, $97000 FF, $20600 SS, $11600 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Toronto
Adam Lind – Lind has been raking against RH pitching all season long. He has a .490 wOBA against righties this season and continues to remain an affordable option at 1B.
Additional Plays: Melky Cabrera, Jose Reyes, Juan Francisco
Detroit
Miguel Cabrera – With Miggy, it doesn’t really matter who he is facing. He leads the options at 1B on a nightly basis and tonight is no different. He owns a .423 wOBA against RH pitching this season and has multi-HR upside. If you are paying up at 1B, pay up for Miggy.
Additional Plays: Victor Martinez, Austin Jackson
Miami at Tampa Bay
| Miami | Tampa Bay | ||||||||
| Tom Koehler | Vegas Moneyline | David Price | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TBR (-170) | LEFT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.218 | 0.637 | 0.290 | 14.5% | SP vs. Left | 0.219 | 0.572 | 0.259 | 23.2% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.275 | 0.780 | 0.352 | 16.5% | SP vs. Right | 0.270 | 0.711 | 0.312 | 21.7% |
| Batter Splits | MIA BvP | MIA vs L | Batter Splits | TBR BvP | TBR vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Tom Koehler – Koehler has pitched well this season, but has given up at least 3 earned runs in 3 of his last 4 starts. Tonight he faces a Rays’ offense that is really struggling to score runs. However, even with their recent slump, I think the Rays’ offense comes alive now that the series shifts to Tampa. Koehler is one of the biggest underdogs on the board and can safely be avoided in all leagues. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5800 FD, $13269 DS, $14400 DD, $6900 DK, $59700 FF, $17600 SS, $12100 FTD
- David Price – Price continues to throw a lot of strikes. While this has led to a higher ERA than in the past, it allows him to keep his K-rate up and it also allows him to pitch deep into games. He’s averaged 8 innings per start over his last 4 outings. Price draws a very favorable matchup against the Marlins who have not been good offensively on the road this season. Rating = 9
Salaries: $9200 FD, $21789 DS, $18200 DD, $10500 DK, $114700 FF, $28100 SS, $16600 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Miami
Giancarlo Stanton – Stanton has a .460 wOBA against LH pitching this season. Price has already given up 12 HR’s this season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Stanton hit a solo shot off of him tonight, especially if Price refuses to pitch around him.
Additional Plays: Jeff Baker
Tampa Bay
Evan Longoria – Koehler is a RHP, but he gives up a much higher wOBA to RHB’s than he does to LHB’s. Longoria’s numbers against RH pitching haven’t been great this season, but he’s hit RH pitching well throughout his career and maybe some home cooking can get his bat going.
Additional Plays: Desmond Jennings