Fantasy notes for July 6
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for July 6
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Clayton Kershaw | L | @ARI | 10 | 6-4 | 2.65 | 1.05 | 1-1 | 2.67 | 1.22 |
| 2 |  | Stephen Strasburg | R | COL | 10 | 9-3 | 2.81 | 1.08 | 1-2 | 4.50 | 1.25 |
| 3 |  | C.J. Wilson | L | BAL | 9 | 9-4 | 2.33 | 1.17 | 2-0 | 2.45 | 1.47 |
| 4 |  | Johan Santana | L | CHC | 9 | 6-4 | 2.76 | 1.09 | 3-1 | 2.16 | 1.16 |
| 5 |  | Yovani Gallardo | R | @HOU | 7 | 6-6 | 3.87 | 1.39 | 1-1 | 2.84 | 1.38 |
| 6 |  | Tommy Milone | L | SEA | 8 | 8-6 | 3.73 | 1.19 | 2-1 | 0.86 | 0.81 |
| 7 |  | Jake Peavy | R | TOR | 8 | 6-5 | 2.96 | 0.99 | 0-3 | 3.13 | 1.09 |
| 8 |  | Tim Hudson | R | @PHI | 8 | 6-4 | 3.87 | 1.23 | 2-1 | 3.79 | 1.42 |
| 9 |  | Justin Masterson | R | TB | 7 | 5-7 | 3.92 | 1.29 | 3-1 | 1.55 | 0.86 |
| 10 |  | Hiroki Kuroda | R | @BOS | 5 | 8-7 | 3.17 | 1.22 | 2-1 | 2.14 | 0.95 |
| 11 |  | Bronson Arroyo | R | @SD | 7 | 3-5 | 4.06 | 1.26 | 1-1 | 4.94 | 1.23 |
| 12 |  | Jake Westbrook | R | MIA | 5 | 7-6 | 3.91 | 1.34 | 3-0 | 3.00 | 1.07 |
| 13 |  | Francisco Liriano | L | @TEX | 4 | 2-7 | 5.40 | 1.47 | 1-0 | 3.24 | 1.04 |
| 14 |  | Erik Bedard | L | SF | 7 | 4-9 | 4.57 | 1.48 | 0-3 | 7.65 | 1.80 |
| 15 |  | Josh Collmenter | R | LAD | 8 | 0-2 | 4.41 | 1.29 | 0-0 | 1.20 | 1.13 |
| 16 |  | Drew Pomeranz | L | @WAS | 8 | 0-3 | 3.72 | 1.55 | 0-1 | 0.00 | 0.83 |
| 17 |  | Barry Zito | L | @PIT | 6 | 6-6 | 3.84 | 1.40 | 1-3 | 5.91 | 1.73 |
| 18 |  | Alex Cobb | R | @CLE | 7 | 3-5 | 4.94 | 1.31 | 1-2 | 5.31 | 1.28 |
| 19 |  | Ricky Nolasco | R | @STL | 4 | 7-6 | 4.62 | 1.33 | 1-1 | 5.82 | 1.35 |
| 20 |  | Josh Beckett | R | NYY | 4 | 4-7 | 4.06 | 1.15 | 0-0 | 3.00 | 1.17 |
| 21 |  | Travis Wood | L | @NYM | 6 | 3-3 | 3.05 | 1.09 | 3-1 | 1.32 | 0.99 |
| 22 |  | Kevin Millwood | R | @OAK | 4 | 3-6 | 4.00 | 1.36 | 0-1 | 6.39 | 1.74 |
| 23 |  | J.A. Happ | L | MIL | 3 | 6-8 | 4.81 | 1.48 | 2-1 | 2.84 | 1.05 |
| 24 |  | Kip Wells | R | CIN | 6 | 1-1 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1-1 | 1.50 | 1.50 |
| 25 |  | Drew Smyly | L | KC | 2 | 3-3 | 4.54 | 1.30 | 1-1 | 8.38 | 1.45 |
| 26 |  | Aaron Laffey | L | @CHW | 4 | 0-0 | 2.14 | 0.81 | 0-0 | 1.50 | 0.83 |
| 27 |  | Jonathan Sanchez | L | @DET | 5 | 1-4 | 6.80 | 1.99 | 0-2 | 8.44 | 2.25 |
| 28 |  | Kyle Kendrick | R | ATL | 3 | 2-8 | 5.35 | 1.55 | 0-2 | 6.23 | 1.62 |
| 29 |  | Dana Eveland | L | @LAA | 3 | 0-1 | 4.11 | 1.37 | 0-1 | 5.79 | 1.50 |
| 30 |  | Martin Perez | L | MIN | 1 | 1-0 | 4.50 | 1.67 | 1-0 | 9.00 | 1.83 |
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
Clayton Kershaw is 7-2 with 1.92 ERA in his career when going against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The current slate of rattlers is slugging just .153 versus Kershaw in 140 plate appearances. He'll take top honors for the day.
Yovani Gallardo is just 2-1 in his past five starts, but all five have been quality and his ERA since June 10 is 2.51. Throw in his 10-2 career mark against the Houston Astros -- including a 5-0 record since 2010 -- and you have what should prove to be a solid outing.
Which Justin Masterson shows up today? Is it the one who has posted a 2.73 ERA at home in 2012 or is it the one who is 1-6 with a 6.80 ERA lifetime against the Tampa Bay Rays? Given his overall 1.93 ERA since June 3, we're hoping it's the former.
Josh Beckett has a 2.72 ERA since May 15 and, more impressively, a 3.78 strikeouts-to-walks rate in those seven starts. However, he faces the New York Yankees on Friday. Their current roster is batting .265 against him lifetime, with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs in 434 at-bats.
Travis Wood does have a 2.31 ERA in 11 2/3 innings pitched against the New York Mets for his career, though he is battling a rejuvenated Johan Santana, who has a decent track record against the Chicago Cubs (3-1, 1.89).
Poor histories: Ricky Nolasco is 0-4 with a 5.23 ERA when facing the St. Louis Cardinals. Kip Wells is a sad 2-10 with a 4.97 ERA versus the Cincinnati Reds. J.A. Happ's ERA in games with the Milwaukee Brewers is a gaudy 5.26.
Either Dana Eveland or Miguel Gonzalez is expected to get the ball from manager Buck Showalter on Friday, but regardless of his decision, you probably want to steer clear of the Baltimore Orioles' staff.
Kyle Kendrick has lost four of his past five starts and has looked pretty bad in the process, posting a 7.67 ERA in those games. The track record says he may be able to turn things around a bit against the Atlanta Braves, as he's 6-1 with a 2.53 ERA against them lifetime. Consider us skeptical.
Hitter matchup ratings for July 6
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | | 8 | 2 | 8 | 6 | |
| | 8 | 10 | 5 | 2 | | 10 | 1 | 10 | 4 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | |
| | 5 | 6 | 1 | 4 | | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | |
| | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | |
| | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 5 | 9 | 1 | 8 | | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | |
| | 4 | 6 | 1 | 7 | | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | | 5 | 9 | 1 | 4 | |
| | 5 | 1 | 5 | 8 | | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | |
| | 5 | 6 | 3 | 8 | | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | |
| | 9 | 6 | 9 | 4 | | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | |
| | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7 | |
| | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | |
| | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | 3 | 1 | 4 | 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.
• Rockies outfielder Dexter Fowler is hitting just .194 away from Coors Field this season, compared to .338 at home in 2012.
• Corey Hart is 8-for-18 (.444 BA) with five extra-base hits and a slugging percentage of .833 in his career against Astros starter J.A. Happ.
• The Pirates' Garrett Jones is 11-for-24 (.458 BA) is his past six games with five extra-base hits, including three home runs.
• Since joining the Yankees in 2011, Russell Martin is 10-for-32 (.313 BA) with five extra-base hits and nine RBIs in 33 plate appearances at Fenway Park.
• Oakland starter Tommy Milone is 5-1 with a 0.99 ERA at home this season and has given up one home run in 45.2 innings pitched at his home ballpark.
• In 10 starts this season, Royals starter Jonathan Sanchez has a 6.80 ERA, but in two starts against the Tigers, he has a 1.80 ERA and has held opposing hitters to a .139 batting average.
• Alfonso Soriano is 2-for-16 (.125 BA) in his career against Johan Santana, with no extra-base hits and five strikeouts.
Dee Gordon, SS, Dodgers: Dislocated his right thumb stealing third base on Wednesday night and will likely be out, at a minimum, through the All-Star break.
Brian Duensing, P, Twins: Took a ball off his ankle and had to leave Wednesday's start early. X-rays found no fracture, so it appears the pitcher will be fine for his next post-break start.
Jason Giambi, 1B, Rockies: Day-to-day with back stiffness, limiting the usefulness of a player already fairly low on the list in terms of playing time.
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Marlins: Had an MRI taken on his right knee and remains day-to-day after the results revealed a "loose body."
Carlos Lee, 1B, Marlins: Traded to Miami in a deal that included third baseman Matt Dominguez going to Houston. Gaby Sanchez was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans to clear the position for Lee.
Jeff Keppinger, 2B, Rays: Day-to-day with a bruised left triceps suffered when he was hit by a pitch in Wednesday's game.
Andrew Cashner, P, Padres: Placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lat muscle strain suffered during Tuesday's start. He will not likely return before August.
Andre Ethier, OF, Dodgers: Placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. The move was made retroactively, so Ethier could well return to action next Thursday.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
