Fantasy notes for May 3
Click through for information on specific matchups and injuries for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for May 3
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ian Kennedy | R | @WAS | 8 | 3-0 | 3.38 | 1.44 | 2-2 | 3.98 | 1.38 |
| 2 |  | Jake Westbrook | R | PIT | 6 | 3-1 | 1.30 | 1.01 | 2-1 | 1.50 | 0.79 |
| 3 |  | Anibal Sanchez | R | @SF | 7 | 1-0 | 2.73 | 1.03 | 0-1 | 6.52 | 1.24 |
| 4 |  | Dan Haren | R | TOR | 7 | 1-1 | 3.34 | 1.24 | 3-0 | 2.05 | 0.95 |
| 5 |  | Jeff Niemann | R | SEA | 8 | 1-3 | 3.86 | 1.10 | 1-2 | 4.05 | 1.43 |
| 6 |  | Ross Detwiler | L | ARI | 5 | 2-1 | 1.64 | 1.00 | 1-1 | 3.06 | 1.08 |
| 7 |  | Brandon Morrow | R | @LAA | 5 | 2-1 | 3.03 | 1.07 | 2-0 | 0.52 | 0.75 |
| 8 |  | Erik Bedard | L | @STL | 6 | 1-4 | 2.48 | 1.41 | 0-2 | 5.03 | 1.37 |
| 9 |  | Ryan Vogelsong | R | MIA | 8 | 0-1 | 4.19 | 1.19 | 0-0 | 3.38 | 0.75 |
| 10 |  | John Danks | L | CLE | 5 | 2-3 | 6.23 | 1.52 | 0-4 | 4.09 | 1.32 |
| 11 |  | Joe Blanton | R | @ATL | 4 | 2-3 | 3.81 | 1.31 | 0-1 | 4.58 | 1.07 |
| 12 |  | Randall Delgado | R | PHI | 5 | 2-2 | 6.30 | 1.75 | 1-4 | 7.89 | 1.85 |
| 13 |  | Homer Bailey | R | CHC | 5 | 1-2 | 3.60 | 1.36 | 1-2 | 7.98 | 1.84 |
| 14 |  | Justin Masterson | R | @CHW | 6 | 0-2 | 5.40 | 1.47 | 0-3 | 9.00 | 1.56 |
| 15 |  | Ryan Dempster | R | @CIN | 5 | 0-1 | 1.33 | 0.93 | 1-1 | 3.26 | 1.45 |
| 16 |  | Danny Duffy | L | NYY | 1 | 1-2 | 3.63 | 1.33 | 0-2 | 8.31 | 1.92 |
| 17 |  | David Phelps | R | @KC | 2 | 0-0 | 3.57 | 1.08 | 0-1 | 2.08 | 1.15 |
| 18 |  | Kevin Millwood | R | @TB | 2 | 0-2 | 5.24 | 1.61 | 3-1 | 2.57 | 1.05 |
Rk.: The author's ranking of that pitcher for that day only. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. Opp: The pitcher's opponent for the day. QR: "Quality Rating," or the starting pitcher's matchup rating -- separate from the author's ranking -- which accounts for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. OPS is the primary statistic used in the calculation. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. So, for example, a 10 is a must-start rating, while a 1 should be avoided (if possible); a 1-2 is poor, 3-4 is fair, 5-6 is average, 7-8 is very good and 9-10 is excellent. W-L: Pitcher's win-loss record. ERA: Pitcher's earned run average. WHIP: Pitcher's average number of walks plus hits surrendered per inning.
Mass' Rankings Notes
Ian Kennedy has allowed just a single earned run in each of his two road starts. He's a good bet to keep his undefeated 2012 season cruising along, and the top option on this shortened Thursday slate.
Jake Westbrook's track record against the Pittsburgh Pirates (0-4, 4.95 ERA) may be poor, but then again the same can be said about the Pirates' offense this season. They remain the only team to average fewer than three runs per game in 2012.
Good pasts: Anibal Sanchez is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA lifetime against the San Francisco Giants. Dan Haren also has a decent history when facing the Toronto Blue Jays, with a 7-2 record. Jeff Niemann is 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA versus the Seattle Mariners, but his lineup may not be as helpful with the likes of Elliot Johnson at third base.
Brandon Morrow may be 0-3 with a 5.03 ERA against the Los Angeles Angels, but this is a lineup that is still not right offensively, having hit just .173 as a team for the past week.
Maybe the Philadelphia Phillies' bats can do enough against struggling Randall Delgado to get Joe Blanton his first win on the road this season. So far in 2012, he's 0-3 with a 6.17 ERA when deprived that home cooking.
Reliever David Phelps replaces Freddy Garcia in the New York Yankees rotation, but it is unclear how many pitches he'll be allowed to throw. Expect around 5-6 innings at most this first time out.
Justin Masterson and Kevin Millwood are a combined 0-4 this season, but if we had to choose -- and we do -- we'd rate Masterson's chances of a good game a bit better. Current White Sox hitters are batting just .258 against the Tribe starter.
Hitter matchup ratings for May 3
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 8 | 6 | 8 | 5 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
 | No game scheduled | | 10 | 5 | 10 | 6 | ||||
| | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 6 | 9 | 1 | 5 | | 7 | 10 | 2 | 6 | |
| | 7 | 9 | 4 | 6 | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
| | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
 | No game scheduled | | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||||
 | No game scheduled | | 5 | 6 | 2 | 5 | ||||
| | 9 | 2 | 10 | 5 | | 9 | 10 | 7 | 6 | |
| | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
 | No game scheduled | | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | ||||
| | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
Hitter ratings account for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. "LHB" and "RHB" ratings account only for left- and right-handed batters, respectively. OPS is the primary statistic used in the calculation. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. So, for example, a 10 is a must-start rating, while a 1 should be avoided (if possible); a 1-2 is poor, 3-4 is fair, 5-6 is average, 7-8 is very good and 9-10 is excellent.
• Cardinals OF Matt Holliday is 5-for-11 (.455) lifetime against Pirates starter Erik Bedard.
• Left-handed batters are 2-for-23 (.087) with eight strikeouts this season against Pirates starter Erik Bedard.
• In two career starts at Nationals Park, Diamondbacks starter Ian Kennedy has a record of 2-0, including an ERA of 1.29 and 15 strikeouts.
• Alfonso Soriano is 1 for 13 (.077) in his career against Mike Leake.
• Luke Scott is 1 for 10 (.100) with five strikeouts in his career against Kevin Millwood.
• Brian McCann is 8 for 21 (.381) lifetime against Phillies starter Joe Blanton, including two home runs and a 1.147 OPS.
• Chone Figgins is 7 for 14 (.500) in his career against Jeff Niemann.
Mat Gamel, 1B, Brewers: Day-to-day; left Tuesday's game with a right knee injury after running into a wall.
Andy Dirks, OF, Tigers: Day-to-day after reaggravating his left hamstring. Brad Eldred might play in his stead should the injury prove serious.
Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins: Day-today; had an MRI on his left wrist, which revealed fluid buildup. He should avoid a trip to the disabled list.
Cory Luebke, P, Padres: Was skipped in the rotation due to left elbow tightness. The team hopes it is a one-time occurrence.
Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays: Placed on the 15-day DL; expected to miss at least four weeks after partially tearing his left hamstring. Will Rhymes was recalled from Triple-A to take his spot on the roster.
Johnny Damon, DH, Indians: He will debut this week and is expected to bat leadoff on those days he is in the lineup.
Jeremy Affeldt, P, Giants: Placed on the 15-day DL with a right knee sprain.
Nolan Reimold, OF, Orioles: Day-to-day; diagnosed with a bulging disk.
Jordan Schafer, OF, Astros: Day-to-day; missed Tuesday's game with a left oblique strain, Justin Maxwell played in center field in his absence.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
