Fantasy notes for June 21
Click through for information on specific matchups and injuries for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for June 21
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Gio Gonzalez | L | TB | 8 | 8-3 | 2.52 | 1.02 | 1-2 | 4.24 | 1.29 |
| 2 |  | Clayton Kershaw | L | @OAK | 9 | 5-3 | 2.86 | 1.04 | 1-1 | 5.26 | 1.40 |
| 3 |  | James McDonald | R | MIN | 7 | 5-3 | 2.32 | 0.98 | 1-1 | 2.81 | 1.06 |
| 4 |  | Matt Moore | L | @WAS | 7 | 4-5 | 4.16 | 1.37 | 3-0 | 2.37 | 1.11 |
| 5 |  | Vance Worley | R | COL | 7 | 3-3 | 2.80 | 1.30 | 0-1 | 2.12 | 1.18 |
| 6 |  | Kyle Lohse | R | @DET | 3 | 6-2 | 2.98 | 1.14 | 1-1 | 3.16 | 1.13 |
| 7 |  | Carlos Zambrano | R | @BOS | 4 | 4-5 | 3.92 | 1.27 | 1-2 | 9.00 | 1.92 |
| 8 |  | Travis Blackley | L | LAD | 6 | 1-2 | 4.60 | 1.34 | 1-2 | 5.87 | 1.63 |
| 9 |  | Daisuke Matsuzaka | R | MIA | 7 | 0-2 | 5.73 | 1.18 | 0-2 | 5.73 | 1.18 |
| 10 |  | Jacob Turner | R | STL | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 11 |  | Liam Hendriks | R | @PIT | 1 | 0-3 | 7.83 | 1.87 | 0-1 | 3.60 | 1.80 |
| 12 |  | Jeff Francis | L | @PHI | 2 | 0-1 | 12.46 | 2.54 | 0-1 | 12.46 | 2.54 |
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
Matt Moore allowed just one hit in seven innings against the Miami Marlins in his last start. He has done well of late thanks to the benefit of a ton of run support. In his past three starts, all wins, Tampa Bay has outscored the opposition 32-8. Let's see how he does when the Rays don't score tons, a likely scenario against Thursday's top option, Gio Gonzalez.
Current Oakland Athletics hitters are batting just .118 against Clayton Kershaw, and as a team they are batting just .216 against left-handed starters this season.
Carlos Zambrano has a lifetime 5.91 ERA in 10 2/3 career innings against the Boston Red Sox. The Big Z also didn't make it out of the third inning in either of his past two starts and has had back issues. In this case, the "Z" stands for Ziggy!
In his last start, Travis Blackley won for the first time in the majors since 2004. He'll get another chance Thursday, with the Athletics looking to give Jarrod Parker an extra day of rest to keep his innings count down.
Jacob Turner makes his 2012 debut for the Detroit Tigers, with Doug Fister getting an extra day of rest. Turner started three games last season, making it into the sixth inning only once and compiling an ERA of 8.53. Add to that the pressure of pitching against St. Louis, his hometown team, and the adrenaline will be pumping.
Jeff Francis has made two starts at Citizens Bank Park and has a 10.80 ERA with a .359 BAA in those games. The Colorado Rockies just want him to eat up innings and aren't concerned about how many runs he gives up. You should be.
Hitter matchup ratings for June 21
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
 | No game scheduled | | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | ||||
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
| | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
 | No game scheduled | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||
 | No game scheduled | | 10 | 6 | 10 | 4 | ||||
 | No game scheduled | | 10 | 6 | 10 | 6 | ||||
 | No game scheduled | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | ||||
| | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
 | No game scheduled | | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | ||||
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
| | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 5 | 8 | 1 | 8 | | 4 | 10 | 2 | 5 | |
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.
• Left-handed hitters are 18-56 (.321 BA) against Rays left hander Matt Moore this season.
• Entering Wednesday, Will Middlebrooks is 4 for 24 (.167 BA) versus right-handed pitchers in the month of June. This after batting .339 versus righties in May. Middlebrooks will face right-handed pitcher Carlos Zambrano on Thursday.
• Carlos Zambrano lasted fewer than 3 innings each of his last two starts, allowing a combined 11 runs and 9 walks in 4 1/3 IP. In 2 career starts versus the Boston Red Sox, Zambrano has failed to finished 6 IP in either start, allowing a combined 7 runs and 6 walks.
• Entering Wednesday, Jhonny Peralta is hitting .455 (15-33) against right-handed pitching this month. He hit .235 against righties through May.
• Trevor Plouffe is 17-37 (.459) in his last 10 games, including seven home runs.
• Vance Worley has struggled at home this season compared to on the road. At home, Worley is 1-1 in 4 games with a 4.30 ERA versus on the road where he is 2-2 in 6 games with a 1.89 ERA.
Rafael Furcal, SS, Cardinals: Day-to-day with a bruised shin. Tyler Greene may see an increase in playing time at shortstop as a result.
Mitch Moreland, 1B, Rangers: Day-to-day with a left hamstring strain. This may well lead to a stint on the disabled list. Michael Young could play more at first base if that happens.
Jose Valverde, RP, Tigers: Hurt his right wrist during warm-ups on Tuesday and will undergo an MRI. Joaquin Benoit and Phil Coke could get some save chances if the absence is lengthy.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox: Though the reason is unclear, he left Tuesday's game early, presumably because of something related to his nagging thumb. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Joel Peralta, RP, Rays: Ejected from Tuesday's game due to a foreign substance being discovered on his glove. Possible further disciplinary action may be forthcoming from the league
Matt Joyce, OF, Rays: Left Tuesday's game early due to back tightness and is considered day-to-day.
Jemile Weeks, 2B, Athletics: Has been dropped to second in the Athletics' lineup due to some leg soreness, which may also account for his lack of stolen base attempts of late.
Freddy Galvis, 2B, Phillies: Suspended 50 games by the league after reportedly testing positive for a PED. He is currently on the disabled list with a lower back fracture, and can serve the penalty while he is out.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
