Fantasy notes for June 22
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for June 22
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Zack Greinke | R | @CHW | 7 | 7-2 | 3.10 | 1.25 | 2-0 | 1.93 | 1.18 |
| 2 |  | Chris Sale | L | MIL | 10 | 8-2 | 2.46 | 1.00 | 2-0 | 2.78 | 0.97 |
| 3 |  | Cliff Lee | L | TB | 9 | 0-3 | 3.48 | 1.12 | 0-1 | 4.79 | 1.40 |
| 4 |  | Jon Lester | L | ATL | 8 | 4-4 | 4.53 | 1.35 | 1-0 | 3.66 | 1.27 |
| 5 |  | Dan Haren | R | LAD | 7 | 4-7 | 3.97 | 1.31 | 1-2 | 5.94 | 1.80 |
| 6 |  | Chris Capuano | L | @LAA | 5 | 8-2 | 2.71 | 1.14 | 1-1 | 4.24 | 1.50 |
| 7 |  | Andy Pettitte | L | @NYM | 7 | 3-2 | 2.77 | 1.05 | 1-0 | 1.77 | 0.93 |
| 8 |  | James Shields | R | @PHI | 5 | 7-4 | 3.72 | 1.34 | 1-1 | 2.84 | 1.42 |
| 9 |  | Jason Hammel | R | WAS | 5 | 7-2 | 2.87 | 1.16 | 1-0 | 2.25 | 1.10 |
| 10 |  | Jordan Zimmermann | R | @BAL | 6 | 3-5 | 2.92 | 1.10 | 0-0 | 3.32 | 1.16 |
| 11 |  | Anibal Sanchez | R | TOR | 7 | 3-5 | 3.47 | 1.13 | 0-2 | 6.63 | 1.37 |
| 12 |  | Joe Saunders | L | CHC | 5 | 4-5 | 3.44 | 1.38 | 1-2 | 2.89 | 1.66 |
| 13 |  | Clayton Richard | L | SEA | 7 | 4-7 | 3.94 | 1.28 | 2-1 | 2.00 | 1.26 |
| 14 |  | Jarrod Parker | R | SF | 8 | 3-3 | 2.82 | 1.25 | 2-1 | 2.70 | 1.05 |
| 15 |  | Homer Bailey | R | MIN | 6 | 5-4 | 4.03 | 1.29 | 1-1 | 5.09 | 1.42 |
| 16 |  | Tim Lincecum | R | @OAK | 9 | 2-8 | 6.19 | 1.57 | 0-2 | 7.56 | 1.56 |
| 17 |  | Ubaldo Jimenez | R | @HOU | 8 | 6-5 | 5.00 | 1.59 | 1-1 | 2.75 | 1.02 |
| 18 |  | A.J. Burnett | R | DET | 2 | 7-2 | 3.52 | 1.28 | 3-0 | 3.32 | 1.37 |
| 19 |  | Doug Fister | R | @PIT | 8 | 1-3 | 2.68 | 1.21 | 1-0 | 0.00 | 0.67 |
| 20 |  | Roy Oswalt | R | COL | 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 21 |  | Vin Mazzaro | R | STL | 3 | 3-1 | 2.57 | 1.33 | 2-1 | 1.80 | 1.33 |
| 22 |  | Jonathon Niese | L | NYY | 3 | 4-3 | 3.82 | 1.26 | 1-1 | 1.80 | 1.10 |
| 23 |  | Jeff Samardzija | R | @ARI | 4 | 5-5 | 4.04 | 1.35 | 0-2 | 8.36 | 2.07 |
| 24 |  | Ricky Romero | L | @MIA | 7 | 7-1 | 4.28 | 1.32 | 1-0 | 5.29 | 1.47 |
| 25 |  | Kevin Millwood | R | @SD | 5 | 3-5 | 3.69 | 1.33 | 0-1 | 4.20 | 1.53 |
| 26 |  | Lucas Harrell | R | CLE | 3 | 6-5 | 5.07 | 1.41 | 2-1 | 6.27 | 1.18 |
| 27 |  | Christian Friedrich | L | @TEX | 1 | 4-3 | 5.60 | 1.62 | 1-2 | 5.63 | 1.69 |
| 28 |  | Joe Kelly | R | @KC | 1 | 0-0 | 2.89 | 1.71 | 0-0 | 2.89 | 1.71 |
| 29 |  | Nick Blackburn | R | @CIN | 1 | 3-4 | 7.48 | 1.76 | 2-0 | 5.63 | 1.75 |
| 30 |  | Jair Jurrjens | R | @BOS | 3 | 0-2 | 9.37 | 2.45 | -- | -- | -- |
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.
Rankings Notes
It's been some time since Zack Greinke has visited the Chicago White Sox, but he did go 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA against them in 2009. The current lineup is hitting just .250 against him lifetime, so we'll give the Zack Attack top honors in what should be a fun matchup versus Chris Sale.
Jason Hammel has a perfect 4-0 record against the Washington Nationals and was just a Jason Heyward single in the seventh inning away from a no-hitter his last time on the mound.
Clayton Richard of the San Diego Padres moves up a day to start on Friday. Ross Ohlendorf will be skipped this series versus the Seattle Mariners and instead take the mound Monday against Houston. Richard pitched seven innings of one-run ball against the Mariners on June 12.
Streamers take note: Ubaldo Jimenez is 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA lifetime when facing the Houston Astros. … A.J. Burnett is 5-2 against the Detroit Tigers, and Pittsburgh has won the past eight games he's started. … Vin Mazzaro, when working on six days of rest, is 3-2 with a 4.37 ERA as a starter.
Roy Oswalt returns to the major leagues, making his 2012 debut at home for the Texas Rangers against the Colorado Rockies. In four minor league starts, the veteran went just 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA, but more importantly, got his endurance up to the point where he was able to get to 100 pitches in his final tuneup.
Joe Kelly has looked solid in his first two big league starts, but he will be facing Kansas City for the second time in a week, and he's yet to make it out of the fifth inning.
Jair Jurrjens returns to the Atlanta Braves rotation after being sent down to Triple-A in April. With Brandon Beachy headed for Tommy John surgery, Jurrjens has a chance to be up to stay, but with a 5.27 ERA in his nine minor league starts, we'll take a wait-and-see approach.
Hitter matchup ratings for June 22
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 7 | 8 | 5 | 10 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |
| | 7 | 9 | 3 | 6 | | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | |
| | 9 | 3 | 10 | 1 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 4 | 6 | 1 | 5 | | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 8 | 10 | 5 | 7 | | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | |
| | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | |
| | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | | 5 | 1 | 6 | 6 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 1 | 1 | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| | 7 | 1 | 7 | 4 | | 10 | 10 | 9 | 3 | |
| | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | |
| | 5 | 10 | 2 | 6 | | 7 | 6 | 7 | 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.
• Braves starter Jair Jurrjens has a career 3-1 record in eight interleague starts (53 2/3 innings) with an ERA of 1.34.
• Of the five home runs that current members of the Rays have against Cliff Lee, three of them have been hit by Carlos Pena.
• Jay Bruce and Joey Votto could have big games Friday, because lefties have owned Nick Blackburn this year, going 35-for-89 (.393 BA) with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and only eight strikeouts against the righty.
• Dodgers pitcher Chris Capuano has a 1.57 ERA at home with eight earned runs in seven starts, but on the road he has a 4.02 ERA in seven starts.
• Marlins righty Anibal Sanchez is 0-2 with a 6.63 ERA in three June starts, while the Blue Jays have hit 29 home runs in 18 games this month (second in MLB).
• In his past 12 games, Rockies OF Dexter Fowler is 5-for-37 (.135 BA) with 17 strikeouts. Entering Thursday, Fowler is 12-for-71 (.169) with 27 strikeouts on the road this season.
• Mets 3B David Wright is 11-for-24 lifetime against Andy Pettitte. Wright's .458 career BA is the second-highest of any active player versus Pettitte (min. 20 PA), trailing only Pettitte's Yankee teammate Mark Teixeira (.478).
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies: Expected to miss a minimum of six weeks after being scheduled for arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue from his groin.
Jerome Williams, P, Angels: Placed on the 15-day disabled list with asthma and anxiety. As a result, Garrett Richards will remain in the Los Angeles rotation.
Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays: Day-to-day with a sore right knee that forced him from Wednesday's game. The team does not believe the injury to be serious.
Salvador Perez, C, Royals: Caught a complete game at Triple-A Omaha and appears to be on a fast track to return to the big leagues, perhaps as early as this weekend.
Allen Craig, 1B, Cardinals: Left Wednesday's game with an apparent wrist injury suffered while diving for a ball. X-rays were negative, and he is not expected to miss any further playing time.
Casey Coleman, P, Cubs: Got hit in the hand with a broken bat and left Wednesday's game, but X-rays were negative. He should be fine to pitch again in a few days.
Matt Carpenter, 1B, Cardinals: After a stint on the disabled list, he is expected to return to the team in time for this weekend's series in Kansas City. With a DH in play, no other players' playing time should be immediately impacted.
Gerald Laird, C, Tigers: Injured his left hamstring while running the bases and may end up getting placed on the disabled list now that Alex Avila is set to return to the team.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
