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Diagnostic Testing: Yovani Gallardo

I received a Twitter question a few days ago that asked who I felt better about between Gio Gonzalez and Yovani Gallardo for the rest of the season.

We're all disappointed in you, as well. (Gallardo, SP-MIL)

We’re all disappointed in you, as well. (Gallardo, SP-MIL)

I went with Gio with my rationale being that his numbers were a bit more in line with his career numbers (his exceptional 2012 aside), so we kind of knew what we should expect. For me, at this point, I just don’t know what to expect from Gallardo.

 

That got me thinking a little bit; what the hell is wrong with YoGa?

 

The Problem

Gallardo is one of those pitchers where you can look at one skill and you say “book it”. With Yovani, it was strikeouts. As long as he was healthy, you could book 200 Ks over the course of a season. The margin for error for getting the 200 Ks was slight – he had between 200-207 strikeouts four consecutive years – but even a slight drop off wouldn’t ruin his value.

 

The 2013 season has not been especially kind to Gallardo’s strikeout rate. For the first time in five years, his K/9 has dipped below 9.0, resting at 7.1 for the season. At his current innings per outing and strikeout pace, there’s a chance Gallardo won’t crack 150 Ks this year.

 

Both of Gallardo’s ratios are inflated. What we see in his WHIP (1.38) is high, but not completely abnormal from him; YoGa’s lowest WHIP of his career is 1.21 in 2011 and hasn’t been below 1.25 in any other season. He also currently sports an ERA of 4.74, more than a full run above his career average (3.72) and nearly a full run of his previous career-worst in 2010 (3.84).

 

Gallardo had been a notorious WHIP killer (this season brings his career WHIP over 1.30), but the ERA and strikeouts certainly are not what we expect, especially from a pitcher who is just 27 years old and had such a track record of success.

 

Diagnostic Testing

 

Strikeouts, WHIP and ERA

Like I said, Gallardo’s K/9 is considerably lower than what we expected, but why?

 

Gallardo’s fastball has been an issue. Two years ago, his average fastball was 92.6 (per Pitchf/x). Last year, this average fell to 91.7 and that fall continued this year to 90.6. Gallardo, in a span of two seasons, has lost two miles per hour off of his four-seam fastball.

 

Now, I’m not one of those people that exclaims to everyone within earshot “HEY THIS GUY LOST SOME OF HIS VELOCITY HE’S HURT AND SHITTY NOW,” but I do think that it has relevance elsewhere.

 

Here’s a mini-chart (as always, thank you FanGraphs) of his four-seam and two-seam fastball usage and velocity over the last 2+ seasons:

 

 

Four-Seam

Two-Seam

2011

45.3% (92.6 MPH)

13.9% (92.8)

2012

41.7% (91.7)

14.5% (91.5)

2013

29.6% (90.6)

23.1 % (90.5)

 

 

The prevalence of this two-seam fastball seems to have had the biggest effect on his strike-out rate. These are the pitches that he used to strike out batters, represented as pitches/strike-out.

 

  Four-Seam Two-Seam Slider Curveball Change-Up
2011 21.47 21.77 18.08 9.47 37
2012 16.84 28 23.27 11.30 7.88
2013 27.33 40 16.33 17.06 10.75

 

 

You’ll notice that his two-seam has traditionally been his worst strike-out pitch (he actually only threw 37 change-ups in 2011, a bit more than one per start).

 

At this point, it should be noted, that Gallardo’s two-seam has provided the least value it ever has for him at -4.2 runs above average (per Pitchf/x values) and his four-seam is at its second-worst value of his career at +1.4 runs above average.

 

This brings the whole correlation/causation argument into it and whether or not the rise of his two-seam usage has had that much of an effect. We can have that debate, absolutely. There are other aspects to take into account like location, movement and velocity. But what I see is Gallardo using his worst strike-out pitch (two-seam) more than any other pitch except his four-seam (and that gap is closing). Oh, it gets worse.

 

Gallardo’s batted-ball HR/FB rate is a career-high 15.8%, having given up nine home runs already this year. Over 44% of these home runs (4/9) have come off of his two-seam fastball (23.1% of his pitches). Not only that, but hitters are hitting .329 off of his two-seam fastball, versus .275 on his four-seam, .242 off his curveball, .260 off his slider and .167 off his infrequent change-up.

 

You would have to think that that home run rate falls. His fly-ball% is 22.8% on batted balls, over 10% lower than his career average of 33.9%. This is where numbers can be a bit screwy with you; his 1.0 HR/9 is the exact same as his career average despite the fact that he’s giving up 11.1% less fly-balls than his career average. Surprise, surprise, his HR/FB% on his two-seam is a whopping 20.3%, no other pitch is over 13% (his slider is at 12.9%).

 

The Solution

Peace, love and YoGa, everyone.

Peace, love and YoGa, everyone.

 

Quite simply, he has to use his two-seam less. I know that it’s more complicated than that, in-game pitch selection, repertoire adjustments as a pitcher looks for continued success and comfort-level throwing a pitch are a significant portion of this problem. But, whatever the problem is with that particular pitch, it’s just not working; his 9.4 H/9 are a career high. That .329 that batters are hitting off of his two-seam is by far the worst opponent’s batting average on any pitch he’s thrown at least 150 times in any season. His previous worst was a .286 off of his slider in 2007, his rookie year when he only threw 110 innings (and in a complete shocker, tied for next-worst after that was a .275 opponent’s batting average off of his two-seam last year).

 

If he starts using his two-seam less (and maybe that turns it into more of a strike-out weapon?), that could lead to fewer hits. Fewer hits means fewer base-runners, fewer base-runners should mean a lower ERA and WHIP. If he can locate his four-seam and use his breaking pitches (which all have good swinging-strike rates), we could see more strike-outs. I do worry about his fastball, though, as it’s not only his two-seam that’s been bad, it’s his four-seam too – that 4SFB is producing a swinging strike rate about 3.1% lower than last year. I’m pointing out his two-seam because it’s been awful.

 

I would say that Gallardo is a buy-low option right now. If the price is right – maybe someone else is willing to take a shot on the B.J. Upton you’ve had on your bench for a month or you have one closer too many- I’m buying on him where I can. I also would like to think professional baseball managers, professional pitching coaches and professional pitchers are aware of the same information that I came across after an hour of research, even if it doesn’t seem like it sometimes.

Fantasy Baseball: FanDuel DFBC Qualifier

Come play tonight's DFBC qualifier for a chance to win $1 Million!

Come play Friday’s DFBC qualifier for a chance to win $200K and a trip to Vegas!

Are you ready for the biggest Fantasy Baseball contest of all-time? Our daily fantasy partner, FanDuel, has put together the Daily Fantasy Baseball Championship (DFBC) that will offer over $1 Million in guaranteed cash prizes and a trip to Las Vegas for the 45 finalists of the contest!
 
How Do You Enter?

Tonight’s tournament starts in less than two hours and all you have to do is enter by clicking here: DFBC 2013. You can enter the qualifying tournament for $10 (so don’t be a cheapskate!).
 
What Can You Win?

FanDuel is guaranteeing a prize pool of $1 Million and the winner of the DFBC will get a cold $200,000 (Second Place gets $50,000 and Third Place gets $35,000)! Cash prizes are awarded to the top 45 finishers so you could still win $2,500 even if you finish 45th.
 
In addition to all the great cash prizes, the 45 finalists will win:
 

  • One plane ticket to Las Vegas
  • One limo ride from the airport to the Palazzo Hotel and Casino
  • Two nights in a suite at the Palazzo
  • Friday night cocktail party with all the other winners
  • An amazing Saturday night of fantasy baseball at Lagasse’s Stadium

 
Not a bad deal, huh? I’ll be playing too and hopefully we’ll see each other in Vegas! And if you missed it before, you can enter here: DFBC 2013.

 

As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions!
 

Fantasy Baseball: Buy-Low, Sell-High, Hold-Steady

Is it time to sell, sell, sell Yasiel Puig?

Is it time to sell, sell, sell Yasiel Puig?

by Kipp Yates

 

This will be a new series implemented on FantasyTrade411 that will help you with trades and what to do with guys that are struggling.
 
Buy Low
 
Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels has been a great pitcher year in and year out on all of your fantasy teams. He is still somewhat young at the age of 29. Cole Hamels run support is the reason he can’t log any wins. He is an awful 2-9 on the season after going 17-6 in 2012. I can compare this to Cliff Lee in 2012 as he simply didn’t have help. He is having bad luck along with some minimal run support. Granted he did not pitch well at the beginning of April he has picked it up and has notched 8 quality starts. Cole Hamels is still your ace and 200 inning pitcher. The wins will come and he has performed well of late. Go Trade for Cole Hamels and thank me later!
 
Sell High
 
Yasiel Puig

It is tough for me to put him in this category especially with Don Mattingly recently saying he will stay with the big club. I love Yasiel Puig and I think he will have a big impact and be a great fantasy player in the upcoming years. Puig however, is still very raw and will run into struggles soon. Teams will figure him out as they see him more and he won’t be seeing at bats every day with the big money in the outfield when Kemp and Crawford return. I love him as a player with high energy but the return for a player you can trade him for right now is absurd. I have seen guys like Justin Upton, Jason Heyward, and Dustin Pedroia be traded for Puig. That is absurd and he has a lot of value in some leagues right now. Sell him now for an above average player and you will appreciate it when you are chasing your fantasy baseball championship with a more consistent proven player. Make sure you Thank ESPN for driving his value up as well.
 
Hold Steady
 
Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward was much anticipated to be an outstanding player this year. He has not returned numbers to fulfill his draft position in drafts this year. He was interrupted by an emergency Appendectomy that landed him on the 15 day DL. Heyward is still that same high upside player that can carry a fantasy team when producing. He has a 6 game hitting streak including 4 multi-hit games within it. He is a player that can do everything on the baseball field and he is starting to heat up. You should hold steady with him and enjoy the benefits later.
 
Smart Pickups
 
Wil Myers

Myers is one of the best hitters in MILB and could be called up within the next week. He should provide Power and RBI’s along with a respectable Avg while in the big leagues. He is worth a pickup in every league if you have a spot on the roster.
 
Zach Wheeler

The #6 pick in the 2009 draft will finally be getting the call. He has one more start in AAA before he will see his 2013 Debut. He is worth a pickup in every league as he is a highly regarded RHP prospect.
 
Gerrit Cole
The #1 overall pick in the 2011 draft that can throw a fastball in triple digits. He hasn’t pitched particularly awesome this year in the minors but he is still worth a pickup. He could run into a few more struggles than Zach Wheeler because he relies too much on his fastball, but he if he sticks and pitches how he is capable, then he could help your team to a championship.

 

by Kipp Yates 

 

Kipp is the newest addition to our FantasyTrade411 family. He covers Fantasy Football and the NFL Draft. He is on the younger side, but do not underestimate him! He has a passion for football and would love to do anything to help. Kipp is newer to fantasy baseball and basketball but is looking to learn more every day. Follow him on twitter @KippYates

 

Fantasy Baseball: Week 11′s Hot and Cold Hitters

 

This column is a highlight of some of the hottest and coldest players around the majors and gives some insight into their future outlooks from a fantasy perspective.  Today I will focus on the hitters who are heating up as the summer rolls along, the ones who are still stuck in a June gloom and I’ll even tell you why I’m not sold on “Puig Mania”.  Now, let’s light up that bar-be-que!!

 

 

HOT BATTERS:

 

Yasiel Puig: Fantasy baseball Superman or Clark Kent?

Yasiel Puig: is he fantasy baseball’s next Superman or Clark Kent?

Yasiel Puig, Dodgers:  Puig is hitting .486 with 4 HR and 10 RBI since his call up, but I should’t have to tell you that.  He’s been a media sensation, but despite his instant celebrity status, I think he’s playing above his head.  Crazy as it may seem, he has somewhat of a ceiling with this particular Dodgers team.  Batting leadoff he won’t score enough runs because the guys behind him can’t hit and batting cleanup he won’t drive in runs because the guys in front of him can’t get on base.  Batting 4th also puts a wrench in his base stealing potential. If you had the foresight to pick him up before last week’s onslaught, he should serve as great trade bait if you can find an owner willing to bite on the hype.

 

Nolan Arenado, Rockies:  Arenado was one of the earlier call ups before the dam broke on all the young players getting promoted to the majors this year.  After a hot first week (3 HR, 8 RBI), he cooled off substantially and disappeared from the headlines.  He’s been playing pretty much every day since, and that has seemingly allowed him to get more acquainted to big league pitching.  In June, he’s hitting .311 (14 for 45) with 7 extra base hits, raising his overall average from .229 to .252 in that span.  He’s only 22-years old, so you can expect him to continue improving as he garners more game experience.

 

Everth Cabrera, Padres:  The major league stolen base leader has been doing  a lot more than just swiping bases lately.  Over his past 20 games he’s batting a smoldering .386 (32 for 83), and has chipped in with 2 HR and 9 RBI.  With 24 runs driven in, he’s already matched last years numbers and his 4 HR are one off his career totals prior to this season.  Of course, he was one of the 20 players named in the Biogenesis reports earlier this month, but even though his long-term availability is up in the air, he remains a must-own player, as hitting in a red-hot Padres lineup has made him one of the top shortstops in fantasy baseball.

 

Honorable Mention:  Jacoby Ellsbury, J.J. Hardy, Adam Lind, Dexter Fowler, Jose Iglesias, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jason Heyward, Kyle Blanks, Mike Carp, Matt Holliday, Kyle Seager, Xavier Paul, Troy Tulowitzki, Ben Zobrist, Carlos Gonzalez, Adam Dunn, Howie Kendrick, Brett Gardner, Salvador Perez, Alex Rios, Tyler Flowers, Desmond Jennings, Jose Bautista, Jay Bruce, A.J. Pierzynski, Matt Carpenter, Jean Segura, Jose Lobaton, Russell Martin, Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez, Todd Helton, Pedro Alvarez, Jon Jay

 

 

 

COLD BATTERS:

 

Chris Young, A’s:  Since returning from the DL on May 18, Chris Young has been terrible.  Not to say he was good before his injury, but he has done nothing in the mean time to warrant being on fantasy team’s roster.  In that period he has only 12 hits in 69 at bats (.174), with just 4 of those hits going for extra bases.  In those games he has a 5/18 BB/K ratio and has zero stolen bases.  His 2010 campaign netted 28 stolen bases, but since then he has only 35 SB in the past three seasons combined.  Despite his poor numbers in recent years, he has found a niche by being able to crush left-handed pitching (2012: .267, 5 HR, 12 RBI; 2011: .285, 9 HR, 23 RBI), but those numbers have dropped significantly in 2013, as he’s hitting only .136 with 1 HR and 7 RBI vs. southpaws.  If he can’t hit lefties, don’t expect much out of him against righties, and the A’s now play a string of 15-straight games with right-handed pitchers scheduled to take the mound for the opposition.  Even with the possibility of Coco Crisp missing some time with a heel injury, Young should be nowhere on your radar.

 

Luke Scott, Rays:  Throughout his career Luke Scott been known for his arrogance, ignorance and outspokenness.  He’s had years where his stats have silenced his naysayers, but 2013 is not one of them.  After missing the first 25 games of the season with a calf injury, one he claims was due to “drinking too much alkaline water”, he was expected to add some much needed pop upon his return to the Rays lineup.  His paltry .207/.311/.324 ratios are making owners who stashed him away slam their fists against the wall.  He has only 4 multi-hit games this season and his DH-only eligibility makes that taste in your mouth even more sour.  He may be the guy the Rays send packing when super prospect Wil Myers finally gets his long-awaited call up.

 

Fantasy owners need Alex Gordon to start hitting in a "Flash"

Fantasy baseball owners need Gordon to improve in a “Flash”

Alex Gordon, Royals:  You can’t put all the blame on Gordon for his recent swoon, but if he’s on your fantasy team, you’ve been badly affected by it nonetheless. Manager Ned Yost has tinkered with the lineup card often in Kansas City, and while the new combination is working for the team, it’s not working for their star left fielder.  The Royals finished April with a 14-10 record and were nipping at the heels of the division-leading Tigers.  All the off-season work GM Dayton Moore had done seemed to be working.  But all good things must end, as they say, and they finished May with an 8-20 record, dropping them from a half game out of first, to 6.5 games back, and in dead last in the AL Central.  As May neared it’s end, and with new hitting coach George Brett on board, Gordon was moved from the #3 spot in the lineup back to leadoff.  From a baseball perspective, this was a no-brainer.  They put their best hitter in a spot that would help their offense the most.  For fantasy owners though, this was not ideal, as a lack of RBI was sure to follow.  It ended up being way worse than that, as not only has he failed to produce any power numbers, but his average has also been in a complete free fall.  On May 28 he was moved to the top of the order and since then he is hitting .151 (8 for 53) and has driven in only one run, dropping his average from .333 to .299.  The Royals have won 9 of 15 games since the switch, at one point winning 6 in a row, so no change seems imminent, and unfortunately for his fantasy owners, they’ll just have to ride this one out and hope he can make some mental adjustments.

 

Dishonorable Mention:  Anthony Rizzo, Neil Walker, Travis Hafner, B.J. Upton, Brian McCann, Conor Gillaspie, Ryan Hanigan, Freddy Galvis, Robinson Cano, Cody Ross, Vernon Wells, Alex Avila, J.P. Arencibia, Juan Francisco, Chris Carter, Michael Morse, Aramis Ramirez, Pedro Florimon, Josh Willingham, A.J. Pollock, Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Bourn, Lance Berkman, Kelly Johnson, Alberto Callaspo, Alcides Escobar, Buster Posey, Adrian Gonzalez, Kendrys Morales, Mike Napoli, Chris Denorfia, Nick Swisher

 

 

 

By Seth Klein (@SethDaSportsMan)

 

Seth is a writer for FantasyTrade411.com, specializing in fantasy baseball, basketball and football.  He was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, but has been a die-hard New York Giants, Knicks and Yankees fan since birth.  He has been playing fantasy sports since 1999 and has since developed a real knack for daily streaming and “working the wire”, which can be attributed to his keen analysis of in-season trends.  He is also a writer for BucketsOverBroadway.com, a New York Knicks website, and you can find him gracing the airwaves on @ThaSPORTSKRIB, a weekly show dedicated to sports.  Seth attended the University of Arizona, where he majored in “tardiness”, and is now a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist.  Feel free to send all your fantasy sports questions to Seth on Twitter: @SethDaSportsMan

 

 

 

 

 

Prospect Report: Mining the Farm

The Pirates decided the time is now to see what they have in the former first overall draft choice Gerrit Cole. The 6’4” righty has been steadily moving through the minors, and so far this year in Triple-A he owns a 5 – 3 record with a 2.91 ERA, 47 K, 28 BB, and 1.06 WHIP. Cole possesses three quality pitches, a 96-98 mph fastball, a plus Slider, and an above average change-up  He had some issues doling out some walks early on in the season, but has corrected that over the past few months. The Pirates have been making mini runs at the NL- Central over the past few season just to fall off after the All-Star break. Maybe Cole can start to correct the ship in a sense, by bringing some stability to the rotation. There’s a good chance he can stick even after Wandy’s DL stint, if he shows he can handle a big league lineup. Cole’s worth a look in all leagues; as he has the ability to add value to K’s, Wins, and ERA, but make sure to monitor how his WHIP is effecting your teams.

Cole also drives in his own runs.

Cole also drives in his own runs.

Big city living:

Anthony Rendon 2B/3B – Rendon has been a different man since the shift to the right side of the diamond. In 16 at bats he has a .375 Avg. and has 2 R, and 3 RBI. He’s still a bit of an unknown due to all the time missed with injuries last season, but he was highly regarded as the best pure hitter in the Nats system. He’s probably not going to mash a ton of home runs, though he should be an asset for Avg., R, and RBI. There’s no reason to believe he’s going to be sent back down, unless of course he plays himself into that situation. Fantasy status: Usable in all leagues if you need him, could be worth more as trade bait if you’re set at 3B/2B positions.

 

Jose Iglesias SS/3B – When Middlebrooks returned the Red Sox sent Pedro Ciriaco packing, thus allowing Iglesias to remain with the team. Also allowing him to continue to show everyone what he’s apparently capable of doing with the bat. Jose’s Triple-A line looks familiar enough (.202/.262/.319), the surprise comes when you look at the MLB stats. When on the 25 man roster this season Jose has a .446 Avg. to go with  14 R, 1 HR, 7 RBI, and  1 SB. Now it’s probably not sustainable, but if Ferrell is willing to give him regular playing time it could pay off in the short term. Maybe he’s finally figured out the one part of his game that was holding him back? Maybe not… but it’ll be fun to ride the wave while it lasts. Fantasy status: AL-Only owners should have scooped him up by now. Mixed leaguers can ride the streak if you’re looking for some help, but be prepared to dump and run at a moments notice.

Mike Zunino C – The M’s are making the move to add Zunino, who has been struggling down in Tacoma. Maybe a change of scenery can help him out? It would be an easier sell if he were arriving somewhere that’s not SafeCo, but it is so… there’s that. Let’s hope he asked the Wizard for patience at the plate on his way to the Emerald City, as he has struck out in 28.4% of his plate appearances. The good news for Mike is that the other catchers in Seattle have .202/.276/.322 line thus far. As long as he can be better than that, and shows he’s ready to handle the duties behind the plate he’ll be up for good.  Fantasy status: AL-Only and dynasty owners must own, otherwise pass for now and revisit in a week.

Panning for Gold:

 

Jose Alvarez SP – The Tigers 24 year-old lefty hurler has been pitching brilliantly this season in Triple-A, and did the same in his spot start last week against Cleveland. He pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball, with 7 K, and 1 BB in his MLB debut. Even more interesting was that 6 of his 7 strikeouts were on swings and misses. Alvarez was sent back down to Toledo, but after that showing he’s probably on the short list to get another call when needed. With guys like Verlander, Fister, Sanchez, and Scherzer it won’t be too soon for his return, unless of course there’s an injury. Fantasy status: Right no he’s AL-Only kind of guy, but keep an eye on him. He could be useful down the line.

Nick Castellanos OF/3B – In other Tigers news the rumor mill has been churning, and it seems that Castellanos’ name has been thrown around. Speculation that he will get a shot to play in Detroit’s outfield, and possibly supplant Andy Dirks in left is certainly worth a mention. Nick has a .295 Avg. with 45 R, 10 HR, 35 RBI, and 1SB down in Triple-A this season. It’s not like the Tigers are hurting for bats, but it could be a better overall lineup if he could continue those numbers at  the major league level. Until we hear something for Dombrowski, or Leyland this is all just wishful thinking. Fantasy status: He’s likely owned in dynasty and deep keeper leagues, and shouldn’t be owned in mixed leagues until we know more.

Nick Castellanos 3B/OF

Nick Castellanos 3B/OF

Untapped resources:

Miguel Sano 3B – The Twins prospect has just been called up… to Double-A, which is one step closer to the show. There was nothing left for him to prove in High-A, so the move up was a no brainer. Let’s hope he can carry his .330 Avg. 51 R, 16 HR, 48 RBI, and  9 SB, over against more advanced pitching.

Javier Baez SS -  The Cubs prospect has been putting together a good season down in High-A Dayton so far, and it may not be too long before he makes his move up to Double-A. He went 4 for 4 the other day which is pretty impressive by itself, but he went one… or four further hitting them all for home runs. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, though it is pretty impressive. Castro is still safe, for now.

 

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Robert now resides in Philadelphia, PA. Has been playing fantasy football since 2003, and is a former high school football coach. Always a student of the game, he uses knowledge of coaching for fantasy wins. He’s always available for advice on twitter at @RoJoPal.

Fantasy Baseball: Daily Notes for Monday, June 10th

Daniel Murphy is already only one home run shy of his 2012 total

Daniel Murphy is already only one home run shy of his 2012 total

Welcome to our Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes! Just like last year, I’ll be combing over box scores and scouring local beat writers’ reports each morning to help ensure  you have all the information you need in order to make the right decisions for your fantasy baseball lineup. So make sure you check back at this very spot for Hot/Cold Streaks, Injury News, Closer Updates, Daily Stats, and more so that you can stay one step ahead of the rest of your league!
 
If you’re looking for full daily gaming lineups, sign up as a FantasyTrade411 Member for exclusive access!
 
5 Good Nights, 5 Bad Nights

It’s a fact of life that every baseball player goes through hot and cold streaks. It’s important not to let those streaks influence a player’s fantasy baseball value too much, but it is important to be aware of how a player is doing within a short period of time (a seven-day sorter is always a good tool to use). A player’s short-term numbers can be the difference between winning and losing in daily games, and it can also make a huge difference in year-long leagues. For instance, if you can keep finding the second basemen on hot streaks and dropping them for another streaking second basemen once they get cold, you can piece together a very useful middle infielder-by-committee for your roto team. So before we get to today’s games, let’s take a spin through last night’s box scores to identify who had a good night and who had a bad night on Sunday, June 9th.
 
5 Good Nights

  • Dan Uggla: 2-2, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI
  • Jarrod Saltalamacchia: 2-4,  2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI
  • Daniel Murphy: 2-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, 1 steal
  • Jordan Zimmerman: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 Ks, W
  • Luis Mendoza: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, BB, 3 Ks

 

Honorable Mention: Matt Carpenter, Anthony Rendon, Ian Desmond, Freddie Freeman, Matt Holliday, Adam Lind, David Ortiz, Don Kelly, Cody Ransom, Carlos Gonzalez, Jay Bruce, Adam LaRoche, Dexter Fowler, Marco Scutaro, Brett Gardner, Jon Jay, Edwin Jackson, Kyle Lohse, A.J. Griffin, Felix Hernandez, Lucas Harrell, Hector Santiago, Jonathon Niese, Chad Gaudin, Bronson Arroyo, David Phelps, Mike Minor, Jose Alvarez, Jeff Locke,
 
5 Bad Nights

  • Luke Gregerson: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, K
  • Matt Moore: 5.0 IP, 12 H, 8 ER, BB, 6 Ks
  • Bobby Parnell: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 Ks
  • Josh Hamilton: 0-5
  • Mark Teixeira: 0-5

 

Dishonorable Mention: Justin Morneau, Ryan Doumit, Clete Thomas, Chris Davis, Allen Craig, Jurickson Profar, Koji Uehara, Joe Blanton, Scott Diamond, Tyler Skaggs, Justin Grimm, Lance Lynn, Jonathan Pettibone, Clayton Richard, Josh Johnson, Justin Masterson
 
Daily Grab Bag

Check back here for daily updates on injuries, closer battles, player news, and anything else that might affect your fantasy baseball team.
 

  • Jim Henderson was activated from the DL, but it looks like he may not close for a week or so as the Brewers are trying to get Francisco Rodriguez his 300th career save.
  •  Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) will not be activated from the DL today as originally expected, but he should rejoin the Marlins mid-week.
  • Pablo Sandoval is awaiting MRI results on his strained foot and it looks like a trip to the disabled list may very well be in his future.
  • Alexi Ogando has been placed on the 15-day DL with right shoulder inflammation.
  • Clay Buchholz left Saturday’s start with tightness in his neck and while he’s expected to make his next start, I’ve also heard rumblings that he may hit the DL.
  • After hitting .161 for the first two months or the season, Ike Davis was sent down to the minors yesterday and is droppable in all but the very deepest of leagues.

 

3 Up, 3 Down, and Throwing Darts

Starting and sitting the right pitchers on a day-to-day basis is often the lynchpin of winning any fantasy baseball league – roto, head-to-head, daily, and otherwise. In order to give you some help picking your pitchers for today, I’ve gone through all of the stats that I could (pitchers’ career numbers vs. certain hitters and lineups, home/road splits, lefty/righty splits, etc) and have made nine recommendations. I’m not going to proclaim that I’ll get these 100% correct all season, but anyone that does should be sitting on an island that they own in the Pacific – not writing fantasy baseball articles. The goal here is to play the odds the entire season and slowly build your “win” percentage closer to 100% than to 50%.
 
Here are today’s recommendations with, 3 Up (three pitchers you shouldn’t think of sitting), 3 Down (three pitchers with some warning flags for today), and Throwing Darts (three pitchers that I’ll be taking a flier on):
 
3 Up

Hisashi Iwakuma vs. Houston Astros

Clayton Kershaw vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Jered Weaver at Baltimore Orioles
 
3 Down

Scott Kazmir at Texas Rangers

Wade Miley at Los Angeles Dodgers

Jeremy Guthrie vs. Detroit Tigers
 
Throwing Darts

John Lackey at Tampa Bay Rays

Dylan Axelrod vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Ricky Nolasco vs. Milwaukee Brewers
 
Swings and Misses

A hitter’s career numbers against a pitcher don’t always tell the whole story, but it can be informative if used correctly. I’m of the opinion that some information is better than none, and while there are other pieces to the puzzle of setting your daily lineup (splits, weather, etc.), I think a hitter’s career numbers against a pitcher can be very indicative of future success or failure. Some guys just own certain pitchers, and vice versa. As such, I’ve gone through today’s matchups and picked the best (and worst) matchups I could find. Anything less than 10-12 career at-bats is a relatively small sample-size (so take those with a grain of salt), but sometimes that’s all that is available.
 
Swings

  • Paul Konerko is 4-for-11 with two home runs in his career against today’s starter, R.A. Dickey.
  • Josh  Hamilton is 4-for-12 with three home runs in his career against today’s starter, Freddy Garcia.
  • Colby Rasmus is 4-for-6 with two home runs in his career against today’s starter, Dylan Axelrod.

 

Misses
  • Mark Trumbo is 1-for-9 in his career against today’s starter, Freddy Garcia.
  • Matt Wieters is 2-for-13 in his career against today’s starter, Jered Weaver.
  • Paul Goldschmidt is 2-for-17 in his career against today’s starter, Clayton Kershaw.

 

If you have any questions, comments, complaints, or have a suggestion on a feature you’d like to see covered in these daily reports, please contact me @FantasyTrade411 or email me at FantasyTrade411@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to respond.

 

Fantasy Baseball: Week 11 Waiver Wire Wonders and Streaming Saviors (Catchers Edition)

 

Doumit man!  Stop pro-Kratz-tinating and pick these guys up off waivers!

Doumit man, stop pro-Kratz-tinating and go grab these catchers off the waiver wire!!

The catching position is always one of the most difficult to fill via free agency, but fortunately for you, I may have some answers.  Unless you’re ready to give up an arm and a leg for the Poseys, Mauers and Molinas of the fantasy world, keep reading and you’ll discover that there are in fact some decent options waiting for you in the abyss that is the waiver wire.

 

 

WAIVER WIRE WONDERS

(All suggested hitters are under 60% owned in both ESPN and Yahoo! leagues)

 

Ryan Doumit, (Twins):  Doumit was a sneaky late-round pick in fantasy drafts because he was coming off of an 18 HR/75 RBI season and because he garnered both catcher and outfield eligibility.  Unfortunately for his owners he started the season very poorly and was subsequently dropped in a majority of the leagues he was drafted in. After hitting .194 in April, manager Ron Gardenhire began benching him in favor of prospect Oswaldo Arcia, who showed his power stroke almost immediately after being called up from Triple-A.  Eventually Arcia cooled off, and he was sent back down to the minors, which seemingly lit a fire under Doumit.  In the 13 games since Arcia’s demotion on May 24, Doumit has gone 15 for 51 (.294, and has stroked 5 HR and driven in 16 runs, including the game-winning RBI in the 11th inning vs. the Nats on Saturday.  He won’t be a viable source for a high batting average, as his .270 career average suggests, but his power potential and dual eligibility at the aforementioned positions makes him a hot commodity right now.  (51.5% owned on ESPN; 49% owned on Yahoo!)

 

A.J. Pierzynski, (Rangers):  If you looked up the definition of “cagey vet” in the dictionary, A.J. Pierzynski’s name would appear next to it.  The 36-year old backstop has been making pitchers look silly for 16 seasons, and if you’re struggling to find a consistent catcher he could be a great addition to your fantasy team.  After a season to remember in Chicago in 2012, a year in which he hit 27 HR and had 77 RBI, Pierzynski signed a 1-year deal with Texas worth $7.5 million.  Prior to last season he had never hit more than 18 HR, so odds say he won’t replicate last year’s gaudy power numbers, but he’s currently hitting .301 and has hit safely in 12 of the 15 games he has played in since returning from an oblique injury.  Balls begin to start flying out of the Ballpark in Arlington as the summer heats up, so grab him if he’s still available in your league.  (39.4% owned on ESPN; 54% owned on Yahoo!)

 

Erik Kratz, (Phillies):  Carlos Ruiz’s hamstring injury presented Erik Kratz with a great opportunity for increased playing time, and with what he’s done with the stick, manager Charlie Manuel will have to think twice about putting Ruiz back into the starting lineup upon his return. Ruiz went on the 15-day DL on May 21, and since then Kratz has 5 HR and 13 RBI, to go along with a respectable .260 batting average.  At 32 years of age he’s no spring chicken, but Kratz has injected life into a Phillies team that was once destined for failure.  The Fightins are 10-8 since he donned the “tools of ignorance”, so now would be a good time to pry him off the wire and ride out this hot streak.  (2% owned on ESPN; 4% owned on Yahoo!)

 

 

 

STREAMING SAVIORS (Week of June 10-June 16)

(All suggested pitchers are under 75% owned in both ESPN and Yahoo! leagues)

 

  • Bud Norris, Astros (6/11 @ Seattle):  In my column last Sunday I suggested picking up a number of Houston Astros players and they and they have rewarded me for my good faith.  The Astros are winners of 8 of their last 13 games and will have another relatively easy schedule this week.  Bud Norris has been the ace of the staff with a 5-5 record and a 3.43 ERA.  He has registered a quality start in 8 of his last 10 games and will be facing the Mariners Aaron Harang, who was shelled in his last outing vs. the Yankees to the tune of 6 ER in 2.1 IP.
  • Tim Hudson, Braves (6/11 @ San Diego):  From May 10 to May 27, Hudson have up 5+ runs in 3 of his 4 trips to the mound and was evidently on the outs with fantasy owners as his ownership levels dropped dramatically.  Since then he has bounced back in a big way, allowing only 1 ER in his last 14.1 IP.  He has an opportunity to even up his record at 5-5 when he faces the the Padres at PETCO on Tuesday.  He has performed well vs. the Padres in his career, sporting a 2.70 ERA against them, which is 5th best of all the NL teams he has faced.
  • Jorge De La Rosa, Rockies (6/13 vs. Washington):  De La Rosa has been a revelation for Colorado this season.  He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011 and came back to pitch three very ugly games last year (9.28 ERA in 10.2 IP).  He put all of that aside and has come on strong in 2013, becoming the ace of the Rockies staff.  In his last 10 games pitched he has a 3.24 ERA, which includes 6 quality starts, and he has given up zero earned runs in three of those games as well.  He faces a sputtering Nats team at Coors, who will be without star slugger Bryce Harper.  Going against the status quo for Rockies pitchers, De La Rosa has a better ERA at home (3.15) than he does on the road (3.57)
  • Tyler Lyons, Cardinals (6/8 @ Miami):  It’s really hard these days to not recommend a pitcher when he is playing against the Marlins, but in this case it would be even more difficult to abstain.  The Cardinals will enter the week with the best record in the majors, and well, the Marlins will have the worst, and it’s not even close.  Lyons, the rookie from Oklahoma State, has fared very well in his four starts, putting together a 2-2 record, accompanied by a 3.51 ERA and a sparkling 0.97 WHIP.  Pitching against the inept Marlins offense (.227 team batting average) and having the Cards offense (2nd in BA, 4th in runs scored) backing him, this should be as easy of a win as a fantasy owner could ask for.
  • Scott Kazmir, Indians (6/10 @ Texas; 6/16 vs. Washington):  Kazmir has resurrected his career with the Indians this year.  Prior to this season he had pitched only one major league game since 2010.  No one wanted to have anything to do with him and he’d fallen so far out of favor with MLB scouts and personnel, that he was forced to play for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Independent League (the very same team that Roger Clemens made a spectacle with last year).  Come 2013, with Ubaldo Jimenez struggling early on and Brett Myers going down with an injury, Kazmir was called on by the Tribe to eat up some innings.  He has done much more than that though, winning 3 games for them and giving them a solid option in the rotation.  His 5.24 ERA isn’t pretty, but he gets strikeouts (12th in MLB with a 9.32 K/9) and has the 7th-highest scoring team in league hitting behind him.  Putting him in your lineup on Monday vs. the Rangers might not be a good idea, but his scheduled start at home against the Nationals is a good one.  He pitches much better at home, where he’s 3-0 with a 3.68 ERA, compared to 0-3 and a 6.66 ERA on the road.

 

 

LAST WEEK’S “STREAMING SAVIORS” RESULTS:

 

Erik Bedard, Astros:  7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K and W vs. LA Angels;  4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K and L vs. KC

Dan Straily, A’s:  7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K and ND vs. Chicago White Sox

Kyle Kendrick, Phillies:  9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K and W vs. Miami;  6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K and L vs. Milwaukee

Michael Wacha, Cardinals:  4.2 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K and ND vs. Arizona

Dan Haren, Nationals:  4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K and L vs. NY Mets

 

 

By Seth Klein (@SethDaSportsMan)

 

Seth is a writer for FantasyTrade411.com, specializing in fantasy baseball, basketball and football.  He was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, but has been a die-hard New York Giants, Knicks and Yankees fan since birth.  He has been playing fantasy sports since 1999 and has since developed a real knack for daily streaming and “working the wire”, which can be attributed to his keen analysis of in-season trends.  He is also a writer for BucketsOverBroadway.com, a New York Knicks website, and you can find him gracing the airwaves on @ThaSPORTSKRIB, a weekly show dedicated to sports.  Seth attended the University of Arizona, where he majored in “tardiness”, and is now a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist.  Feel free to send all your fantasy sports questions to Seth on Twitter: @SethDaSportsMan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball: Daily Notes for Friday, June 7th

Cespedes is ON FIRE with four home runs in his last three games

Cespedes is ON FIRE with four home runs in his last three games


Welcome to our Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes! Just like last year, I’ll be combing over box scores and scouring local beat writers’ reports each morning to help ensure  you have all the information you need in order to make the right decisions for your fantasy baseball lineup. So make sure you check back at this very spot for Hot/Cold Streaks, Injury News, Closer Updates, Daily Stats, and more so that you can stay one step ahead of the rest of your league!
 
If you’re looking for full daily gaming lineups, sign up as a FantasyTrade411 Member for exclusive access!
 
5 Good Nights, 5 Bad Nights

It’s a fact of life that every baseball player goes through hot and cold streaks. It’s important not to let those streaks influence a player’s fantasy baseball value too much, but it is important to be aware of how a player is doing within a short period of time (a seven-day sorter is always a good tool to use). A player’s short-term numbers can be the difference between winning and losing in daily games, and it can also make a huge difference in year-long leagues. For instance, if you can keep finding the second basemen on hot streaks and dropping them for another streaking second basemen once they get cold, you can piece together a very useful middle infielder-by-committee for your roto team. So before we get to today’s games, let’s take a spin through last night’s box scores to identify who had a good night and who had a bad night on Thursday, June 6th.
 
5 Good Nights

  • Yoenis Cespedes: 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
  • Yasiel Puig: 2-4,  R, HR, 4 RBI
  • Cameron Maybin: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, 2 steals
  • Zack Greinke: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 Ks, W
  • Phil Hughes: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 Ks, W

 

Honorable Mention: David Ortiz, Robinson Cano, Matt Adams, Wilin Rosario, Victor Martinez, Dominic Brown, Matt Holliday, Tim Hudson, Max Scherzer, Tyler Cloyd, Blake Beavan, Miguel Gonzalez, Shelby Miller, Wade Davis
 
5 Bad Nights

  • Aaron Harang: 2.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 Ks
  • Ian Kennedy: 4.0 IP, 13 H, 10 ER, 2 BB, 4 Ks
  • Wily Peralta: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 Ks
  • Carlos Gonzalez: 0-6
  • Troy Tulowitzki: 0-5

 

Dishonorable Mention: Adam Dunn, Jed Lowrie, Nick Hundley, Andy Dirks, Roberto Hernandez, Jhoulys Chacin, Dan Straily
 
Daily Grab Bag

Check back here for daily updates on injuries, closer battles, player news, and anything else that might affect your fantasy baseball team.
 

  • Jim Henderson (hamstring) is set to return this weekend and will take over for Francisco Rodriguez as the Brewers closer as soon as he returns.
  •  Daniel Hudson (Tommy John) experienced tightness in his elbow during a rehab start and also this could be nothing, it looks like he won’t be returning at any point this month.
  • According to various reports, Gerritt Cole will be called up to start against San Francisco on Tuesday. There is no word on whether the promotion is permanent, but Cole is worth an add in deeper leagues.

 

3 Up, 3 Down, and Throwing Darts

Starting and sitting the right pitchers on a day-to-day basis is often the lynchpin of winning any fantasy baseball league – roto, head-to-head, daily, and otherwise. In order to give you some help picking your pitchers for today, I’ve gone through all of the stats that I could (pitchers’ career numbers vs. certain hitters and lineups, home/road splits, lefty/righty splits, etc) and have made nine recommendations. I’m not going to proclaim that I’ll get these 100% correct all season, but anyone that does should be sitting on an island that they own in the Pacific – not writing fantasy baseball articles. The goal here is to play the odds the entire season and slowly build your “win” percentage closer to 100% than to 50%.
 
Here are today’s recommendations with, 3 Up (three pitchers you shouldn’t think of sitting), 3 Down (three pitchers with some warning flags for today), and Throwing Darts (three pitchers that I’ll be taking a flier on):
 
3 Up

Matt Harvey vs. Miami Marlins

Chris Sale vs. Oakland A’s

Justin Verlander vs. Cleveland Indians
 
3 Down

Matt Cain at Arizona Diamondbacks

Ubaldo Jimenez at Detroit Tigers

Edinson Volquez at Colorado Rockies
 
Throwing Darts

Jordan Lyles at Kansas City Royals

Jorge De La Rosa vs. San Diego Padres

Jarrod Parker at Chicago White Sox
 
Swings and Misses

A hitter’s career numbers against a pitcher don’t always tell the whole story, but it can be informative if used correctly. I’m of the opinion that some information is better than none, and while there are other pieces to the puzzle of setting your daily lineup (splits, weather, etc.), I think a hitter’s career numbers against a pitcher can be very indicative of future success or failure. Some guys just own certain pitchers, and vice versa. As such, I’ve gone through today’s matchups and picked the best (and worst) matchups I could find. Anything less than 10-12 career at-bats is a relatively small sample-size (so take those with a grain of salt), but sometimes that’s all that is available.
 
Swings

  • Wilin Rosario is 5-for-12 with two home runs in his career against today’s starter, Edinson Volquez.
  • Ryan Braun is 9-for-19 with three home runs in his career against today’s starter, Cliff Lee.
  • Adam LaRoche is 7-for-23 with two home runs in his career against today’s starter, Kevin Correia.

 

Misses
  • Carlos Beltran is 1-for-15 in his career against today’s starter, Mike Leake.
  • Andrew McCutchen is 1-for-13 in his career against today’s starter, Travis Wood.
  • Joey Votto is 2-for-20 in his career against today’s starter, Adam Wainwright.

 

If you have any questions, comments, complaints, or have a suggestion on a feature you’d like to see covered in these daily reports, please contact me @FantasyTrade411 or email me at FantasyTrade411@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to respond.

 

FanDuel DFBC Qualifier

Come play tonight's DFBC qualifier for a chance to win $1 Million!

Come play Friday’s DFBC qualifier for a chance to win $200K and a trip to Vegas!

Are you ready for the biggest Fantasy Baseball contest of all-time? Our daily fantasy partner, FanDuel, has put together the Daily Fantasy Baseball Championship (DFBC) that will offer over $1 Million in guaranteed cash prizes and a trip to Las Vegas for the 45 finalists of the contest!
 
How Do You Enter?

Tonight’s tournament starts in less than two hours and all you have to do is enter by clicking here: DFBC 2013. You can enter the qualifying tournament for $10 (so don’t be a cheapskate!).
 
What Can You Win?

FanDuel is guaranteeing a prize pool of $1 Million and the winner of the DFBC will get a cold $200,000 (Second Place gets $50,000 and Third Place gets $35,000)! Cash prizes are awarded to the top 45 finishers so you could still win $2,500 even if you finish 45th.
 
In addition to all the great cash prizes, the 45 finalists will win:
 

  • One plane ticket to Las Vegas
  • One limo ride from the airport to the Palazzo Hotel and Casino
  • Two nights in a suite at the Palazzo
  • Friday night cocktail party with all the other winners
  • An amazing Saturday night of fantasy baseball at Lagasse’s Stadium

 
Not a bad deal, huh? I’ll be playing too and hopefully we’ll see each other in Vegas! And if you missed it before, you can enter here: DFBC 2013.

 

As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions!
 

Fantasy Baseball: Daily Notes for Thursday, June 6th

So, uh, CarGo, huh?

So, uh, CarGo, huh?

Welcome to our Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes! Just like last year, I’ll be combing over box scores and scouring local beat writers’ reports each morning to help ensure  you have all the information you need in order to make the right decisions for your fantasy baseball lineup. So make sure you check back at this very spot for Hot/Cold Streaks, Injury News, Closer Updates, Daily Stats, and more so that you can stay one step ahead of the rest of your league!
 
If you’re looking for full daily gaming lineups, sign up as a FantasyTrade411 Member for exclusive access!
 
5 Good Nights, 5 Bad Nights

It’s a fact of life that every baseball player goes through hot and cold streaks. It’s important not to let those streaks influence a player’s fantasy baseball value too much, but it is important to be aware of how a player is doing within a short period of time (a seven-day sorter is always a good tool to use). A player’s short-term numbers can be the difference between winning and losing in daily games, and it can also make a huge difference in year-long leagues. For instance, if you can keep finding the second basemen on hot streaks and dropping them for another streaking second basemen once they get cold, you can piece together a very useful middle infielder-by-committee for your roto team. So before we get to today’s games, let’s take a spin through last night’s box scores to identify who had a good night and who had a bad night on Wednesday, June 5th.
 
5 Good Nights

  • Carlos Gonzalez: 3-5, 3 R, 3 HR, 6 RBI
  • Troy Tulowitzki: 5-5,  3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI
  • Marlon Byrd: 2-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI
  • R.A. Dickey: 8.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ks, W
  • Julio Teheran: 8.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 11 Ks, W

 

Honorable Mention: Mark Trumbo, Kyle Seager, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Ransom, Brandon Moss, Xavier Paul, Brett Gardner, Matt Dominguez, Anthony Recker, Anthony Rizzo, Jose Bautista, Gordon Beckham, Nick Franklin, Nolan Arenado, Hisashi Iwakuma, Dillon Gee, Cole Hamels, Alex Cobb, Bartolo Colon, Jason Marquis, John Lackey, Jeremy Guthrie, P.J. Walters, Jacob Turner, Clayton Kershaw, Joe Kelly, Alexi Ogando, Dylan Axelrod
 
5 Bad Nights

  • Freddy Garcia: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 Ks
  • Addison Reed: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, BB, 5 Ks, W
  • Dan Haren: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 Ks
  • Wilin Rosario: 0-5
  • Erick Aybar: 0-5

 

Dishonorable Mention: Cody Ross, Eric Young Jr., Daniel Nava, Jason Bay, Jason Vargas, Yovani Gallardo, Kevin Gregg, Barry Zito, Jon Garland, Corey Kluber, Matt Garza
 
Daily Grab Bag

Check back here for daily updates on injuries, closer battles, player news, and anything else that might affect your fantasy baseball team.
 

  • Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) is expected to return to the Marlins lineup on Monday.
  • Stephen Strasburg was officially placed on the 15-day DL with a sore lat muscle. As long as everything goes as planned, he’ll be eligible to return on June 15th.
  • Johnny Cueto was placed on the DL with soreness behind his pitching shoulder (for the second time this season) and Tony Cingrani will take his place in the rotation.
  • Jake Peavy will miss the next four-to-six weeks with a fractured rib and will be replaced in the rotation by Hector Santiago.
  • Mitch Moreland left last night’s game with a hamstring injury and while he’s currently listed as day-to-day, he did miss 31 games last year with a hamstring injury so this is something to monitor closely.
  • Wandy Rodriguez left last night’s start after a third of an inning with tightness in his forearm. The Pirates haven’t updated his status as of yet, but it looks like a stint on the DL is a very real possibility.

 

3 Up, 3 Down, and Throwing Darts

Starting and sitting the right pitchers on a day-to-day basis is often the lynchpin of winning any fantasy baseball league – roto, head-to-head, daily, and otherwise. In order to give you some help picking your pitchers for today, I’ve gone through all of the stats that I could (pitchers’ career numbers vs. certain hitters and lineups, home/road splits, lefty/righty splits, etc) and have made nine recommendations. I’m not going to proclaim that I’ll get these 100% correct all season, but anyone that does should be sitting on an island that they own in the Pacific – not writing fantasy baseball articles. The goal here is to play the odds the entire season and slowly build your “win” percentage closer to 100% than to 50%.
 
Here are today’s recommendations with, 3 Up (three pitchers you shouldn’t think of sitting), 3 Down (three pitchers with some warning flags for today), and Throwing Darts (three pitchers that I’ll be taking a flier on):
 
3 Up

Max Scherzer vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Gio Gonzalez vs. New York Mets

Shelby Miller vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
 
3 Down

Zack Greinke vs. Atlanta Braves

Ian Kennedy at St. Louis Cardinals

Jon Lester vs. Texas Rangers
 
Throwing Darts

Dan Straily vs. Chicago White Sox

Jhoulys Chacin vs. San Diego Padres

Bud Norris vs. Baltimore Orioles
 
Swings and Misses

A hitter’s career numbers against a pitcher don’t always tell the whole story, but it can be informative if used correctly. I’m of the opinion that some information is better than none, and while there are other pieces to the puzzle of setting your daily lineup (splits, weather, etc.), I think a hitter’s career numbers against a pitcher can be very indicative of future success or failure. Some guys just own certain pitchers, and vice versa. As such, I’ve gone through today’s matchups and picked the best (and worst) matchups I could find. Anything less than 10-12 career at-bats is a relatively small sample-size (so take those with a grain of salt), but sometimes that’s all that is available.
 
Swings

  • Nelson Cruz is 10-for-19 with two home runs in his career against today’s starter, Jon Lester.
  • Adrian Gonzalez is 8-for-17 with two home runs in his career against today’s starter, Tim Hudson.
  • Justin Upton is 5-for-9 with one home run in his career against today’s starter, Zack Greinke.

 

Misses
  • Ben Zobrist is hitless in 10 career at-bats against today’s starter, Max Scherzer.
  • David Freese is 1-for-10 in his career against today’s starter, Ian Kennedy.
  • Dustin Pedroia is 2-for-17 in his career against today’s starter, Derek Holland.

 

If you have any questions, comments, complaints, or have a suggestion on a feature you’d like to see covered in these daily reports, please contact me @FantasyTrade411 or email me at FantasyTrade411@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to respond.