Fantasy notes for July 13
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for July 13
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Clayton Kershaw | L | SD | 10 | 6-5 | 2.91 | 1.06 | 1-2 | 3.08 | 1.14 |
| 2 |  | Zack Greinke | R | PIT | 8 | 9-3 | 3.32 | 1.23 | 2-1 | 4.13 | 1.13 |
| 3 |  | Madison Bumgarner | L | HOU | 8 | 10-5 | 3.27 | 1.10 | 2-1 | 4.95 | 1.25 |
| 4 |  | Josh Johnson | R | WAS | 10 | 5-5 | 4.06 | 1.39 | 1-0 | 3.50 | 1.06 |
| 5 |  | Jordan Zimmermann | R | @MIA | 7 | 5-6 | 2.61 | 1.12 | 2-1 | 1.67 | 1.19 |
| 6 |  | Adam Wainwright | R | @CIN | 8 | 7-8 | 4.56 | 1.35 | 2-1 | 5.00 | 1.56 |
| 7 |  | C.J. Wilson | L | @NYY | 8 | 9-5 | 2.43 | 1.16 | 1-1 | 2.37 | 1.21 |
| 8 |  | Cliff Lee | L | @COL | 8 | 1-5 | 3.98 | 1.19 | 1-2 | 5.95 | 1.47 |
| 9 |  | Ian Kennedy | R | @CHC | 6 | 6-7 | 4.26 | 1.33 | 1-0 | 4.91 | 1.53 |
| 10 |  | Mat Latos | R | STL | 7 | 7-2 | 4.13 | 1.20 | 2-0 | 0.72 | 0.56 |
| 11 |  | Tim Hudson | R | NYM | 8 | 7-4 | 3.56 | 1.19 | 2-1 | 2.57 | 1.10 |
| 12 |  | James McDonald | R | @MIL | 6 | 9-3 | 2.37 | 0.97 | 4-0 | 2.51 | 0.94 |
| 13 |  | Francisco Liriano | L | OAK | 7 | 3-7 | 5.08 | 1.49 | 2-0 | 2.45 | 1.25 |
| 14 |  | Hiroki Kuroda | R | LAA | 7 | 8-7 | 3.50 | 1.26 | 2-0 | 3.20 | 1.12 |
| 15 |  | Jose Quintana | L | @KC | 9 | 4-1 | 2.04 | 0.98 | 2-0 | 2.86 | 0.91 |
| 16 |  | Clayton Richard | L | @LAD | 6 | 6-9 | 3.91 | 1.21 | 2-2 | 3.81 | 0.99 |
| 17 |  | Chris Young | R | @ATL | 8 | 2-2 | 3.41 | 1.27 | 1-1 | 3.72 | 0.93 |
| 18 |  | Jason Hammel | R | DET | 3 | 8-5 | 3.47 | 1.22 | 1-3 | 5.47 | 1.42 |
| 19 |  | A.J. Griffin | R | @MIN | 6 | 0-0 | 1.50 | 0.72 | 0-0 | 1.50 | 0.72 |
| 20 |  | Justin Masterson | R | @TOR | 6 | 5-8 | 4.40 | 1.35 | 2-2 | 4.44 | 1.18 |
| 21 |  | Ricky Romero | L | CLE | 6 | 8-4 | 5.22 | 1.47 | 1-3 | 9.00 | 2.05 |
| 22 |  | Derek Holland | L | @SEA | 6 | 5-4 | 5.05 | 1.33 | 0-0 | 4.50 | 1.33 |
| 23 |  | Bruce Chen | L | CHW | 4 | 7-8 | 5.22 | 1.32 | 2-2 | 5.82 | 1.43 |
| 24 |  | Paul Maholm | L | ARI | 3 | 6-6 | 4.57 | 1.36 | 2-1 | 3.38 | 1.50 |
| 25 |  | Franklin Morales | L | @TB | 5 | 1-2 | 3.50 | 1.17 | 1-1 | 4.08 | 1.19 |
| 26 |  | Doug Fister | R | @BAL | 6 | 2-6 | 4.75 | 1.45 | 1-3 | 8.85 | 1.92 |
| 27 |  | Jordan Lyles | R | @SF | 3 | 2-5 | 5.08 | 1.45 | 1-2 | 4.44 | 1.19 |
| 28 |  | Kevin Millwood | R | TEX | 2 | 3-6 | 3.69 | 1.31 | 0-1 | 3.68 | 1.16 |
| 29 |  | Jeremy Hellickson | R | BOS | 5 | 4-5 | 3.41 | 1.37 | 0-2 | 3.12 | 1.62 |
| 30 |  | Christian Friedrich | L | PHI | 1 | 4-6 | 5.98 | 1.61 | 0-3 | 6.86 | 1.53 |
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
With the All-Star break behind us, most teams have juggled their rotations and will serve up solid options for Friday's return to action. Clayton Kershaw has a 2.57 ERA at home this season, and the current San Diego roster is batting just .222 against him in 110 plate appearances. He'll lead the way.
Zack Greinke is 4-1 lifetime against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the pitcher with the best track record against his scheduled Friday opponent is Josh Johnson. The Miami starter has never lost to Washington, with an 8-0 record and 3.24 ERA versus the Nationals. Ironically, Jordan Zimmermann has never defeated the Marlins (0-3, 4.81 ERA).
The Los Angeles Angels have few options at the start of the rotation with Dan Haren and Jerome Williams sidelined and Jered Weaver having thrown in Tuesday's classic. C.J. Wilson was named to the All-Star team but backed out due to concerns over a blister. That leaves him in the mix for Friday's start, but Mike Scioscia has yet to make a decision.
Streaming options: The pool of pitchers is deep on Friday. Clayton Richard is 6-1 lifetime against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a 2.62 ERA. The Mets will not promote Matt Harvey, as he pitched in Thursday's Triple-A All-Star Game. Instead, Chris Young will take the ball on Friday so that Johan Santana can get a little more rest. Young could be worth a gamble, as he's thrown four straight quality starts.
Jeremy Hellickson will start for Tampa Bay, giving both James Shields and David Price a little extra down time before they begin their second halves. While Hellickson hasn't pitched too terribly of late, he is nevertheless 0-5 since May 17. This is a chance for a fresh start, but we'll pass until he proves he's shaken off the effects of a snakebitten first half.
A.J. Griffin's first three starts all went six innings, and the 1.50 ERA thus far is impressive. However, with only a 5.5 K/9 rate, we're not convinced the fantasy value will remain high with the youngster. Jordan Lyles has three quality starts in his past four outings, but went just 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA and a .495 slugging percentage against.
Hitter matchup ratings for July 13
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 8 | 4 | 9 | 9 | | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 4 | 6 | 1 | 5 | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | |
| | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | |
| | 8 | 5 | 8 | 7 | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 1 | |
| | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | | 3 | 5 | 1 | 7 | |
| | 6 | 10 | 3 | 5 | | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| | 7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | | 9 | 10 | 5 | 6 | |
| | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | | 7 | 1 | 8 | 4 | |
| | 1 | 6 | 1 | 7 | | 6 | 1 | 8 | 6 | |
| | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | | 7 | 8 | 4 | 6 | |
| | 5 | 1 | 7 | 6 | | 5 | 8 | 1 | 4 | |
| | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
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.
• Justin Ruggiano has seven multi-hit games in his past 11 starts while filling in for the injured Giancarlo Stanton.
• Lefties are hitting .279 against Justin Masterson this season (righties .218). The Blue Jays have just three regular starters who bat left-handed (Colby Rasmus, Kelly Johnson and Adam Lind). Masterson struck out a season-high 10 hitters in his only start against Toronto this season on April 5.
• Ryan Doumit, who qualifies at catcher and is owned in only 8 percent of leagues, is 19-for-44 (.432 BA) with a home run, 5 runs and 5 RBIs since June 22.
• Rickie Weeks has had a very disappointing season so far, but he might be turning it around. Since June 30 (9 games), Weeks is 11-for-33 (.333 BA) with 2 HRs, 7 RBIs and 9 runs, raising his season average from .182 to .199.
• Jose Altuve is 5-for-11 (.455 BA) with a home run in his career against Giants starter Madison Bumgarner.
• Jason Hammel is 5-0 with a 1.36 ERA and 0.92 WHIP when starting on five or more days of rest this season (3-5, 5.57 ERA, 1.52 WHIP on four days of rest).
• Dayan Viciedo is a .345 hitter with 8 home runs in 145 career at-bats against left-handed pitchers.
• Opponents are 131-for-139 (94.2 percent) in stolen base attempts against Chris Young in his 107 starts since 2006.
Blake Beavan, P, Mariners: Expected to be recalled early next week to join the Seattle rotation with Erasmo Ramirez sidelined.
Philip Humber, P, White Sox: Could be activated from the disabled list after one more rehab start. Expect him back in Chicago early next week.
Dillon Gee, P, Mets: Needs surgery to repair an artery damaged by a blood clot. The procedure will likely end his 2012 season prematurely. Reliever Josh Edgin was called up from the minors.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Red Sox: Will be activated from the disabled list in time to start the second half with Boston.
Carl Crawford, OF, Red Sox: Appearing for Triple-A Pawtucket this week and could be activated from the disabled list in time for Boston's next series.
Brian Fuentes, P, free agent: Cleared waivers after being released by the A's and will hope to find a team interested in his services.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
