MLB Grind Down: Wednesday, May 14th - Page 3
Boston at Minnesota
| Boston | Minnesota | ||||||||
| Felix Doubront | Vegas Moneyline | Kevin Correia | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | BOS (-132) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.274 | 0.699 | 0.316 | 20.6% | SP vs. Left | 0.296 | 0.807 | 0.355 | 12.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.260 | 0.753 | 0.335 | 18.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.303 | 0.797 | 0.350 | 12.4% |
| Batter Splits | BOS BvP  | BOS vs R | Batter Splits | MIN BvP | MIN vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Felix Doubront – This game features two pitchers that are rarely rostered in the DFS world. Doubront owns a 5.09 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP and a K/9 of 6.2 this season. He faces a Twins’ offense that is ranked 21st against LH pitching, but he’ll likely give up a few runs. He is in play on DS where his price is extremely cheap, but I’ll be avoiding him on the other major sites. Rating = 5
Kevin Correia – I typically don’t like to target pitchers that have given up more earned runs (27) than strikeouts (20). Correia has an ERA over 6.00 this season and should be avoided in all leagues, especially considering his matchup against the Red Sox. Rating = 2
Batter Grind Down
Boston
David Ortiz – Since the start of last season, Correia has given up a .350+ wOBA to both LH and RH batters so there are quite a few options on the Red Sox tonight. Oritz hit 2 HR’s in last night’s game and looks like a terrific play again tonight.
Additional Plays: Dustin Pedroia, Mike Napoli, A.J. Pierzynski, Grady Sizemore
Minnesota
Trevor Plouffe – Over the last 2 seasons Doubront has given up a .335 wOBA to RH batters and Plouffe has great power against LH pitching. He is a very sneaky play at 3B that will likely fly under the radar.
Additional Plays: Brian Dozier
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee
| Pittsburgh | Milwaukee | ||||||||
| Francisco Liriano | Vegas Moneyline | Wily Peralta | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | MIL (-120) | RIGHT | 7.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.163 | 0.408 | 0.189 | 27.7% | SP vs. Left | 0.256 | 0.710 | 0.321 | 16.8% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.248 | 0.698 | 0.314 | 23.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.687 | 0.315 | 16.3% |
| Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs R | Batter Splits | MIL BvP | MIL vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Francisco Liriano – Liriano has looked more like the 2012 Liriano than the 2013 Liriano. Through his first 8 starts, he has a 4.64 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP. The K’s are still there as he has 42 in 42 innings of work, but I don’t love the matchup in the HR friendly Miller Park against a Brewers team that has Ryan Braun back in the lineup. Rating = 5
Wily Peralta – Peralta has been terrific this season with a 2.17 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has only walked 9 batters while striking out 35 in 45 innings of work. Tonight he faces a Pirates offense is right around the league average against RH pitching with a .310 team wOBA. Rating = 7
Batter Grind Down
Pittsburgh
Andrew McCutchen – Cutch is batting .320 against RH pitching this season with 15 XBH’s. He has nice speed and nice power and makes a nice play in the OF if the price is affordable.
Additional Plays: Pedro Alvarez (GPP)
Milwaukee
Carlos Gomez – Gomez is 9/18 with 4 XBH’s off of Liriano in his career. He has also been terrific against LH pitching throughout his career.
Additional Plays: Jonathan Lucroy, Jean Segura, Ryan Braun
Texas at Houston
| Texas | Houston | ||||||||
| Nick Tepesch | Vegas Moneyline | Scott Feldman | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TEX (-102) | RIGHT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.297 | 0.815 | 0.367 | 17.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.235 | 0.645 | 0.298 | 15.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.239 | 0.639 | 0.294 | 20.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.219 | 0.624 | 0.285 | 17.9% |
| Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Nick Tepesch – Tepesch will be making his first start of the season. He started 17 games for the Rangers last season and posted a 4.84 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP and a K/9 of 7.3. He picked a good time to make his first start as the Rangers face an Astros offense that is ranked 26th against RH pitching. Personally, I like to wait a start or two on pitchers in these situations, but I suppose he could make a decent GPP play. Rating = 4
Scott Feldman – Feldman has been terrific during his time with the Rangers. He pitched well for them last season and is off to a fast start this season as well with a 1.93 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00. The only problem with Feldman is that he is not a high strikeout pitcher. He only has 15 K’s in 32 innings pitched this season. Rating = 5
Batter Grind Down
Texas
Prince Fielder – Feldman has actually really pitched well against the Rangers, but I don’t mind Fielder in this one. His price is still cheap and he has decent upside if he could stop hitting into double plays.
Additional Plays: None
Houston
Jason Castro – Tepesch gave up a .367 wOBA to LH batters last season and even though Castro has not hit for a great average this season, he still has great power against RH pitching. He is the top value play at Catcher tonight.
Additional Plays: Jose Altuve, George Springer, Dexter Fowler
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis
| Chicago Cubs | St. Louis | ||||||||
| Jason Hammel | Vegas Moneyline | Michael Wacha | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | STL (-180) | RIGHT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.288 | 0.838 | 0.370 | 14.9% | SP vs. Left | 0.217 | 0.558 | 0.254 | 24.5% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.228 | 0.616 | 0.277 | 19.3% | SP vs. Right | 0.237 | 0.665 | 0.302 | 28.3% |
| Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs R | Batter Splits | STL BvP | STL vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Jason Hammel – Hammel has a 2.45 ERA on the season with a 0.87 WHIP and a K/9 of 7.1. Hammel has gotten off to a fast start in each of the last few years. While I think he will pitch pretty well tonight, he will likely not see much run support and I could see him being on the hook for the loss even if he only gives up 1 or 2 runs. Rating = 6
Michael Wacha – Wacha is another top starter to take the mound tonight. Wacha has a 2.85 ERA on the season with an impressive K/9 of 10.9. This Cubs’ offense is near the bottom of the league against RH pitching and Wacha is right up there with Tanaka and Cueto as the top pitching options on the board. Rating = 9
Batter Grind Down
Chicago Cubs
Another ace on the mound and another suggestion to avoid the batters against him.
St. Louis
Jhonny Peralta – I’m not crazy about the Cardinals’ bats tonight, but J-Honny does have good numbers off of Hammel in his career. He has faced him 17 times and has 8 hits including 2 HR’s.
Additional Plays: Matt Carpenter
Miami at LA Dodgers
| Miami | LA Dodgers | ||||||||
| Anthony Desclafani | Vegas Moneyline | Paul Maholm | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | LAD (-180) | LEFT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | SP vs. Left | 0.238 | 0.594 | 0.272 | 19.2% | ||||
| SP vs. Right | SP vs. Right | 0.296 | 0.820 | 0.371 | 12.8% | ||||
| Batter Splits | MIA BvP | MIA vs L | Batter Splits | LAD BvP | LAD vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
Anthony Desclafani – It’s just terrible that Jose Fernandez will have to undergo Tommy John Surgery. He has been great for baseball and was one of my favorite pitchers to watch. That said, his injury paves the way for Marlins pitching prospect Desclafani to get some big league experience. He has been pretty average thus far in Double-A ball, but the Marlins do have high hopes for him. As usual, I like to take a wait and see approach with these young pitchers making their major league debuts. Rating = 4
Paul Maholm – Maholm is one of the biggest favorites on the board tonight at -180. We don’t quite know what to expect out of Desclafani, but you have to think that Maholm has a great chance to be in line for the win. We have documented the Marlins’ offensive woes on the road this season and I think Maholm makes a great value play on multi-pitcher sites. Rating = 7
Batter Grind Down
Miami
Giancarlo Stanton – I could quote a bunch of numbers, but I’ll save you some time and just say that Stanton is pretty good against LH pitching. In fact, he is very good against LH pitching.
Additional Plays: Jeff Baker
L.A. Dodgers
Adrian Gonzalez – We don’t know a ton about Desclafani, but he is a RHP making his major league debut. A-Gon crushes RH pitching and should see plenty of RBI opportunities.
Additional Plays: Dee Gordon, Yasiel Puig, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp