Fantasy notes for June 15
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for June 15
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Chris Sale | L | @LAD | 10 | 8-2 | 2.05 | 0.92 | 3-0 | 1.11 | 0.66 |
| 2 |  | Clayton Kershaw | L | CHW | 10 | 5-3 | 2.65 | 1.00 | 1-2 | 4.39 | 1.28 |
| 3 |  | Gio Gonzalez | L | NYY | 6 | 8-2 | 2.35 | 1.00 | 2-1 | 3.50 | 1.06 |
| 4 |  | Ryan Vogelsong | R | @SEA | 10 | 5-2 | 2.26 | 1.18 | 3-0 | 2.25 | 1.18 |
| 5 |  | Jason Vargas | L | SF | 7 | 7-5 | 3.90 | 1.13 | 2-2 | 5.33 | 1.42 |
| 6 |  | Tommy Hanson | R | BAL | 8 | 7-4 | 3.55 | 1.32 | 2-1 | 4.91 | 1.25 |
| 7 |  | Dan Haren | R | ARI | 6 | 4-6 | 3.73 | 1.29 | 3-1 | 2.39 | 1.22 |
| 8 |  | James McDonald | R | @CLE | 6 | 5-2 | 2.39 | 1.00 | 2-0 | 2.00 | 1.00 |
| 9 |  | Kyle Lohse | R | KC | 5 | 6-1 | 2.90 | 1.09 | 1-0 | 2.88 | 0.92 |
| 10 |  | Trevor Cahill | R | @LAA | 6 | 4-5 | 3.36 | 1.29 | 2-1 | 2.42 | 1.30 |
| 11 |  | Yu Darvish | R | HOU | 5 | 7-4 | 3.72 | 1.51 | 1-2 | 5.94 | 1.86 |
| 12 |  | Anthony Bass | R | @OAK | 6 | 2-6 | 4.38 | 1.32 | 0-2 | 8.14 | 1.76 |
| 13 |  | Justin Masterson | R | PIT | 7 | 2-6 | 4.76 | 1.44 | 1-3 | 4.15 | 1.31 |
| 14 |  | Phil Hughes | R | @WAS | 6 | 6-5 | 4.76 | 1.34 | 2-0 | 4.35 | 1.26 |
| 15 |  | Vance Worley | R | @TOR | 7 | 3-2 | 3.17 | 1.35 | 0-0 | 3.60 | 1.40 |
| 16 |  | Dillon Gee | R | CIN | 6 | 4-4 | 4.42 | 1.31 | 1-1 | 2.60 | 1.08 |
| 17 |  | Carlos Zambrano | R | @TB | 6 | 4-4 | 3.55 | 1.18 | 2-1 | 6.19 | 1.44 |
| 18 |  | Travis Blackley | L | SD | 7 | 0-2 | 4.97 | 1.38 | 0-2 | 5.65 | 1.53 |
| 19 |  | Bronson Arroyo | R | @NYM | 4 | 2-4 | 3.79 | 1.28 | 0-2 | 5.71 | 1.33 |
| 20 |  | Ryan Dempster | R | BOS | 3 | 2-3 | 2.31 | 1.03 | 2-1 | 2.36 | 0.98 |
| 21 |  | Drew Hutchison | R | PHI | 5 | 5-3 | 4.66 | 1.34 | 2-1 | 2.66 | 0.98 |
| 22 |  | Matt Moore | L | MIA | 6 | 3-5 | 4.59 | 1.46 | 2-1 | 3.32 | 1.16 |
| 23 |  | Brian Matusz | L | @ATL | 3 | 5-6 | 4.82 | 1.55 | 1-2 | 4.70 | 1.57 |
| 24 |  | Francisco Liriano | L | MIL | 5 | 1-7 | 6.45 | 1.68 | 1-2 | 3.98 | 1.18 |
| 25 |  | Daisuke Matsuzaka | R | @CHC | 6 | 0-1 | 7.20 | 1.20 | 0-1 | 7.20 | 1.20 |
| 26 |  | Michael Fiers | R | @MIN | 4 | 1-2 | 4.50 | 1.39 | 1-2 | 4.50 | 1.39 |
| 27 |  | Vin Mazzaro | R | @STL | 1 | 2-1 | 3.60 | 1.47 | 1-1 | 3.00 | 1.56 |
| 28 |  | Jordan Lyles | R | @TEX | 1 | 1-2 | 5.40 | 1.53 | 1-1 | 5.51 | 1.53 |
| 29 |  | Jeff Francis | L | @DET | 1 | 0-1 | 21.60 | 3.30 | 0-1 | 21.60 | 3.30 |
| 30 |  | Casey Crosby | L | COL | 1 | 1-1 | 9.35 | 1.85 | 1-1 | 9.35 | 1.85 |
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
Even though Clayton Kershaw has a 2.37 ERA at home this season, all three of his losses have come at Dodger Stadium. So we'll give Chris Sale, 4-0 on the road, the edge in what is sure to be one of the more intriguing pitching matchups Friday.
In what should also be a low-scoring affair, Ryan Vogelsong and Jason Vargas engage in a battle in Seattle. After a rocky first few outings, Vogelsong is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA since May 8. Vargas has a 2.88 ERA at home, which is far more impressive than his 4.53 ERA on the road.
Better than the other guy: Current Kansas City hitters are batting just .241 against Kyle Lohse, who gets to square off with Vin Mazzaro (5.73 ERA versus St. Louis). … Yu Darvish has struggled of late (1-3, 6.53 ERA in his past four) but gets to pitch against the "not-so-perfect" Houston Astros, who counter with Jordan Lyles (0-2, 7.00 versus Texas).
Phil Hughes has won three straight decisions, and five of his past six. He also has allowed a home run in all 12 of his starts this season and faces the Washington Nationals, who have hit 10 homers in their past six games.
Vance Worley is still on "recovery road" after his stint on the disabled list with an inflamed elbow. He went only four innings in his first start back and stretched that out into six innings on June 9. At this point, going on the road to face a Toronto team averaging five runs per game at home gives us pause.
Anthony Bass might be a top-10 pitcher if he could simply get through the sixth inning, in which opposing hitters have posted a .472 batting average against the San Diego pitcher. Compare that to the .205 BAA over the first five innings of his outings and perhaps you may discover this is a mental block rather than a physical thing.
After fouling a ball off his own nose during a bunting drill, Brian Matusz had this start pushed back a day. While all seems to be well and a serious injury was avoided, the extra rest not only changes his routine, but also gives him more time to dwell on the lousy two-inning outing he had versus the Boston Red Sox in his last start.
The good news for Daisuke Matsuzaka in his first start of the 2012 season was the eight strikeouts in five innings. The bad news? Add in the four runs he allowed, and you'll see he needed 80 pitches just to get that far. Are we sure "erratic" isn't his middle name?
Hitter matchup ratings for June 15
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | | 5 | 1 | 6 | 8 | |
| | 9 | 1 | 10 | 5 | | 9 | 10 | 1 | 6 | |
| | 3 | 5 | 1 | 8 | | 7 | 10 | 2 | 5 | |
| | 6 | 7 | 4 | 10 | | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | |
| | 6 | 9 | 1 | 8 | | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | | 6 | 2 | 9 | 6 | |
| | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | | 4 | 8 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 5 | 6 | 3 | 8 | | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 5 | 10 | | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | |
| | 9 | 6 | 9 | 4 | | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |
| | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | |
| | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
| | 5 | 10 | 3 | 5 | | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | |
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.
• Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera and 1B Prince Fielder are a combined 5-for-27 (.185 BA) with 7 strikeouts lifetime against Rockies starter Jeff Francis.
• Left-handed batters are just 10-for-53 (.189 BA) with 4 extra-base hits this season against Blue Jays starter Drew Hutchison at the Rogers Centre.
• Right-handed hitters are batting .336 against Dan Haren this season, which is significantly higher than Haren's career mark of .264.
• Scott Podsednik is 19-for-51 (.373 BA) with 8 runs, 6 RBI, and 4 steals since being called up to the Red Sox on May 22nd.
• Andrew McCutchen is 0-for-14 in Cleveland and 6-for-34 (.176 BA) against Cleveland overall.
• Jason Vargas has a 2.88 ERA in 5 home starts this season and a 4.53 ERA in 9 road starts.
• Phil Hughes had a 6.67 ERA in his first 6 starts, but has allowed 2 ER or fewer in 5 of last 6 starts.
• White Sox DH Adam Dunn is 7-for-11 (.636 BA) with 3 HR in his career against Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.
• Carlos Gomez has faced Francisco Liriano 7 times during his career, recording 5 hits (.714 BA). In his only 2 games vs Liriano last year, Gomez was 4-for-5 with 2 HR.
Ian Stewart, 3B, Cubs: Placed on the 15-day disabled list with an injured left wrist. Joe Mather may see increased playing time as a result.
Chris Coghlan, OF, Marlins: After a lackluster 13-for-93 in 39 games, the 2009 Rookie of the Year has been sent back to Triple-A New Orleans.
Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Athletics: Left Wednesday's game in the second inning after having re-aggravated the hamstring injury that caused him to miss the past week. Jonny Gomes may be in the lineup for some time.
P.J. Walters, P, Twins: Left Wednesday's start with right shoulder pain after just four batters, all of whom got hits. Jeff Manship, who replaced him in the game, may end up taking over the rotation spot if an MRI brings bad news.
Scott Downs, P, Angels: Day-to-day with a sore ribcage. He may be ready to pitch on Friday but, if not, Ernesto Frieri will continue to handle the ninth-inning duties.
Drew Stubbs, OF, Reds: Still suffering from a combination of a sore oblique, and flu-like symptoms that have been touring the Cincinnati clubhouse. A stint on the disabled list still looms should he not improve quickly.
Andy Dirks, OF, Tigers: Though he is eligible to be activated from the disabled list Friday, Jim Leyland said he was not sure when he would be able to get his outfielder back. Dirks has yet begin a rehab assignment.
Adam Dunn, DH, White Sox: Day-to-day with a sprained ankle. Given that the team is playing in a National League park this weekend, he might not be able to play the field and could just be available to pinch-hit.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Mariners: Activated from the 15-day disabled list and should see his first action of 2012 in center field at some point this weekend. Michael Saunders should stay in the lineup, in left field, with Mike Carp going on the 15-day disabled list.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
