Fantasy notes for July 5
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for July 5
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | R.A. Dickey | R | PHI | 9 | 12-1 | 2.15 | 0.88 | 3-0 | 1.41 | 0.50 |
| 2 |  | Matt Cain | R | @WAS | 10 | 9-3 | 2.53 | 0.95 | 2-1 | 2.93 | 0.98 |
| 3 |  | Cole Hamels | L | @NYM | 8 | 10-4 | 3.08 | 1.10 | 2-1 | 3.54 | 1.25 |
| 4 |  | Mat Latos | R | @SD | 10 | 7-2 | 4.42 | 1.23 | 3-0 | 3.41 | 0.83 |
| 5 |  | Matt Harrison | L | @CHW | 6 | 11-3 | 3.16 | 1.24 | 3-0 | 1.03 | 1.22 |
| 6 |  | Wade Miley | L | LAD | 6 | 9-4 | 2.87 | 1.06 | 2-2 | 3.76 | 0.99 |
| 7 |  | Lance Lynn | R | COL | 6 | 10-4 | 3.62 | 1.25 | 1-2 | 6.75 | 1.59 |
| 8 |  | Matt Garza | R | @ATL | 7 | 4-6 | 4.01 | 1.16 | 2-2 | 4.07 | 1.27 |
| 9 |  | Michael Fiers | R | MIA | 10 | 3-2 | 2.29 | 1.07 | 2-0 | 0.42 | 0.80 |
| 10 |  | Ross Detwiler | L | SF | 8 | 4-3 | 3.30 | 1.18 | 0-0 | 2.08 | 0.81 |
| 11 |  | Edinson Volquez | R | CIN | 5 | 5-7 | 3.68 | 1.40 | 3-1 | 2.96 | 1.36 |
| 12 |  | Rick Porcello | R | MIN | 5 | 6-5 | 4.35 | 1.49 | 3-1 | 2.52 | 1.36 |
| 13 |  | Mark Buehrle | L | @MIL | 3 | 7-8 | 3.48 | 1.15 | 2-1 | 3.79 | 1.26 |
| 14 |  | Bud Norris | R | @PIT | 5 | 5-5 | 4.90 | 1.42 | 0-1 | 6.00 | 1.33 |
| 15 |  | Jose Quintana | L | TEX | 6 | 3-1 | 2.19 | 1.07 | 1-0 | 2.45 | 1.00 |
| 16 |  | Jeremy Hellickson | R | @CLE | 6 | 4-4 | 3.44 | 1.36 | 0-2 | 12.79 | 2.37 |
| 17 |  | Scott Diamond | L | @DET | 3 | 7-3 | 2.63 | 1.21 | 2-2 | 4.28 | 1.24 |
| 18 |  | Jake Arrieta | R | @LAA | 4 | 3-9 | 5.81 | 1.38 | 1-1 | 4.18 | 1.31 |
| 19 |  | Luke Hochevar | R | @TOR | 3 | 5-8 | 5.23 | 1.41 | 2-1 | 2.40 | 1.10 |
| 20 |  | Garrett Richards | R | BAL | 1 | 2-1 | 2.81 | 1.50 | 1-1 | 3.79 | 1.68 |
| 21 |  | Jeff Karstens | R | HOU | 4 | 1-2 | 5.25 | 1.42 | 1-1 | 6.00 | 1.42 |
| 22 |  | Henderson Alvarez | R | KC | 2 | 5-6 | 4.15 | 1.34 | 2-0 | 5.63 | 1.69 |
| 23 |  | Josh Tomlin | R | TB | 3 | 4-5 | 5.85 | 1.48 | 1-2 | 8.24 | 1.93 |
| 24 |  | Nate Eovaldi | R | @ARI | 4 | 0-5 | 4.61 | 1.44 | 0-3 | 6.85 | 1.70 |
| 25 |  | Christian Friedrich | L | @STL | 1 | 4-5 | 5.52 | 1.59 | 0-3 | 4.87 | 1.52 |
| 26 |  | Mike Minor | L | CHC | 1 | 4-6 | 6.20 | 1.47 | 1-2 | 7.04 | 1.70 |
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
R.A. Dickey has been sensational at home this season, with a perfect 6-0 record and a 1.85 ERA. He'll take the top honors for the day, especially facing Cole Hamels, who has always found the New York Mets to be a nemesis (5-10, 4.34 ERA lifetime).
Matt Harrison has an extra "T" in his first name, but neither he nor counterpart Mat Latos has lost a game since May 12. The pair is a combined 12-0 in that span. Expect the good times to continue, as Harrison is 3-0 lifetime against the Chicago White Sox
Rick Porcello has gone 3-1 with a 3.30 ERA in his past five starts, four of which came on the road. Now he returns to Detroit to face a Minnesota Twins team that is hitting just .230 on the road this season.
Jeremy Hellickson was forced from his last start with a bruised shin after getting hit with a line drive. So far, he has suffered no ill effects from the injury and continues to be on track for Thursday, but given that the incident occurred in his first start off the disabled list, he's bound to have some rust.
Jake Arrieta had this start pushed back a day to allow Chris Tillman to make a Wednesday debut. However, on five days rest this season, Arrieta is 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA.
Garrett Richards saw his ERA jump over a full point after getting torched by the Blue Jays for 10 runs in his last start, and it could have been worse if not for the fact that five runs were unearned due to a Mike Trout error. Make no mistake, though, he got hammered, and we're not sure how well he'll rebound.
Mike Minor did earn a victory in his last start against the Washington Nationals, but he struck out only two batters, while walking five. He has allowed four earned runs in each of his past three outings and has pitched into the sixth inning only three times since May 5.
Hitter matchup ratings for July 5
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 8 | 10 | 1 | 4 | | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | |
| | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 6 | 9 | | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
| | 10 | 9 | 10 | 5 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | |
| | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | |
| | 5 | 7 | 1 | 5 | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 1 | |
| | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1 | | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 8 | 10 | 4 | 8 | | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |
| | 7 | 10 | 3 | 8 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 8 | 9 | 6 | 5 | | 8 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |
| | 8 | 10 | 2 | 4 | | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | |
| | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 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.
• At home, Christian Friedrich has a 9.62 ERA with 26 earned runs, but on the road he has a 2.75 ERA, only giving up 11 earned runs.
• B.J. Upton is batting .236 and has yet to hit a home run on the road this season. Upton has a .250 batting average and six home runs in Tampa this season.
• Entering Tuesday, Mike Napoli has struggled against lefties this year, going 13-for-80 (.163 BA), significantly lower than his career average of .276.
• Carlos Gomez is 8-for-21 (.381 BA) in his career against Mark Buehrle, including two home runs and 5 extra-base hits.
• Mets outfielder Scott Hairston is 10-for-26 (.385 BA) with 4 home runs and 4 doubles in his career against Phillies starter Cole Hamels.
• At PetCo Park, Joey Votto is 16-for-40 (.400 BA) in his career against the Padres with 4 home runs and 11 RBI. Petco is just 1 of 3 stadiums where Votto is batting .400 or better (min. 20 AB).
Dan Haren, SP, Angels: Lasted into only the fifth inning of Tuesday's start and felt some back soreness, which has prompted a doctor's visit and might well lead to a stint on the disabled list.
Jesse Crain, RP, White Sox: Will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, but he should return fairly soon after the All-Star break.
Andrew Cashner, SP, Padres: Strained a lat muscle while warming up in the third inning of Tuesday's game and likely will be out for quite some time to rest the injury.
Vin Mazzaro, SP, Royals: Optioned to Triple-A Omaha after another lackluster outing versus the Toronto Blue Jays in a 6-3 loss Tuesday.
Alex Presley, OF, Pirates: Left Tuesday's game with concussion-like symptoms after diving for a ball. Consider him day-to-day for now, but he could end up on the 7-day disabled list.
Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles: Placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right groin. Robert Andino goes back to starting at second base for Baltimore.
Chien-Ming Wang, SP, Nationals: Placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hip. Henry Rodriguez was activated from the DL and will rejoin the Washington bullpen.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
