Fantasy daily notes for Aug. 1
Click through for information on specific matchups and injuries for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for August 1
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Matt Cain | R | NYM | 9 | 10-3 | 2.80 | 0.97 | 1-0 | 3.80 | 1.03 |
| 2 |  | Mike Fiers | R | HOU | 10 | 4-4 | 1.77 | 1.06 | 1-1 | 0.47 | 1.03 |
| 3 |  | Jake Peavy | R | @MIN | 9 | 8-7 | 3.15 | 1.06 | 1-2 | 4.95 | 1.45 |
| 4 |  | Ben Sheets | R | MIA | 5 | 3-0 | 0.50 | 1.00 | 3-0 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| 5 |  | Carlos Villanueva | R | @SEA | 8 | 6-0 | 2.92 | 1.28 | 3-0 | 2.60 | 1.15 |
| 6 |  | Yu Darvish | R | LAA | 6 | 11-7 | 4.05 | 1.39 | 1-2 | 6.41 | 1.53 |
| 7 |  | Bronson Arroyo | R | SD | 6 | 6-6 | 3.76 | 1.22 | 2-1 | 4.02 | 1.40 |
| 8 |  | Phil Hughes | R | BAL | 5 | 10-8 | 4.08 | 1.23 | 1-1 | 2.91 | 0.88 |
| 9 |  | Jarrod Parker | R | TB | 8 | 7-4 | 3.38 | 1.25 | 2-0 | 5.21 | 1.26 |
| 10 |  | Scott Diamond | L | CHW | 6 | 9-4 | 2.88 | 1.18 | 2-1 | 3.86 | 1.19 |
| 11 |  | Zach McAllister | R | @KC | 5 | 4-2 | 3.18 | 1.24 | 1-1 | 2.70 | 1.15 |
| 12 |  | Vance Worley | R | @WAS | 6 | 5-6 | 3.88 | 1.42 | 1-1 | 5.50 | 1.67 |
| 13 |  | Jonathon Niese | L | @SF | 6 | 7-5 | 3.86 | 1.20 | 0-1 | 4.50 | 1.05 |
| 14 |  | Stephen Fife | R | ARI | 10 | 0-0 | 1.46 | 1.30 | 0-0 | 1.46 | 1.30 |
| 15 |  | Alex Cobb | R | @OAK | 7 | 4-8 | 4.93 | 1.41 | 0-3 | 5.11 | 1.86 |
| 16 |  | Jeff Karstens | R | @CHC | 3 | 3-2 | 3.88 | 1.24 | 1-0 | 3.79 | 1.26 |
| 17 |  | Josh Collmenter | R | @LAD | 7 | 3-2 | 4.13 | 1.29 | 2-0 | 4.20 | 1.27 |
| 18 |  | Aaron Cook | R | DET | 1 | 2-4 | 4.50 | 1.13 | 0-2 | 4.67 | 1.04 |
| 19 |  | Wade LeBlanc | L | @ATL | 5 | 1-1 | 1.15 | 0.89 | 0-1 | 1.64 | 1.00 |
| 20 |  | Edwin Jackson | R | PHI | 5 | 6-6 | 3.52 | 1.16 | 1-2 | 2.37 | 1.26 |
| 21 |  | Kip Wells | R | @CIN | 5 | 2-3 | 3.82 | 1.58 | 1-1 | 5.40 | 1.60 |
| 22 |  | Blake Beavan | R | TOR | 4 | 6-6 | 5.20 | 1.25 | 3-0 | 3.05 | 0.77 |
| 23 |  | Rick Porcello | R | @BOS | 2 | 7-6 | 4.56 | 1.51 | 1-1 | 5.03 | 1.22 |
| 24 |  | Luis Mendoza | R | CLE | 3 | 4-7 | 4.47 | 1.53 | 1-2 | 4.34 | 1.55 |
| 25 |  | Drew Pomeranz | L | STL | 2 | 1-6 | 4.99 | 1.48 | 0-3 | 10.13 | 1.80 |
| 26 |  | Jordan Lyles | R | @MIL | 1 | 2-7 | 5.54 | 1.51 | 0-2 | 7.13 | 1.70 |
| 27 |  | Jake Westbrook | R | @COL | 4 | 9-8 | 3.61 | 1.28 | 2-1 | 2.95 | 1.08 |
| 28 |  | Travis Wood | L | PIT | 4 | 4-6 | 4.98 | 1.29 | 0-3 | 12.64 | 1.91 |
| 29 |  | Garrett Richards | R | @TEX | 1 | 3-2 | 3.91 | 1.55 | 1-1 | 3.00 | 1.25 |
| 30 |  | Zach Britton | L | @NYY | 3 | 1-0 | 5.74 | 1.72 | 1-0 | 5.74 | 1.72 |
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
After Tuesday's star-studded pitching schedule, featuring 12 pitchers owned in at least 95 percent of ESPN.com fantasy leagues, that number shrinks to three on Wednesday (Jake Peavy, Yu Darvish and Matt Cain). While this means there's a lack of no-brainer fantasy starters, the waiver wire is chock full of gems, most notably these four pitchers:
It's mind-boggling that Carlos Villanueva is owned in a mere 19 percent of ESPN.com fantasy leagues. In five starts this season, he's 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 9.2 K's per 9 (innings). On Wednesday, he will take the mound at Safeco Field to face a Seattle Mariners team that has a .204 BA, .281 OBP and .297 SLG on its home field, ranking last in the majors in all three categories. Although the M's are 8-2 in their past 10 games, the team has slugged just .326 with four homers during this stretch. In comparison, Villanueva's Toronto Blue Jays are slugging .484 with 15 homers in their past 10 games. Facing a subpar mound opponent in Blake Beavan (5.20 ERA this year), expect Villanueva to keep his win streak alive. Start him in all fantasy formats Wednesday.
Bronson Arroyo is not getting any respect from ESPN.com fantasy owners, as he's owned in a paltry six percent of ESPN leagues. He is 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and just one homer allowed in his past six starts, including a masterpiece against the San Diego Padres, the same team he faces Wednesday. In that July 6 start, Arroyo threw a shutout, allowing just three hits and one walk while fanning eight batters. Considering he pitches for the hottest team in baseball, the Cincinnati Reds (17-3 in their past 20 games), Arroyo is a superb win candidate and should be started in all fantasy formats Wednesday.
Scott Diamond (34 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) is 9-4 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, but he's still available in nearly two-thirds of ESPN.com leagues. What gives? Sure, the lefty doesn't rack up a ton of strikeouts, but he was able to punch out six batters in his three-hit shutout of the Cleveland Indians his last time out. Not only has Diamond been lights-out at Target Field, going 6-1 with a 2.28 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in eight starts, but he has been even better in seven daylight outings, posting a 5-0 mark with a 1.82 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in day games. Jake Peavy is a tough mound opponent, but Peavy's Chicago White Sox have lost seven of their past nine road games, scoring 3.2 runs per game with a slash line of .217/.267/.328. Diamond is a good start in most fantasy formats Wednesday.
Zach McAllister (8 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) has been a new man since his recall from Triple-A in late June, going 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 37 K's in 37 1/3 innings. He has punched out at least five batters in each of these six starts and held hitters to a .221 average in his past four outings. He has never faced the Kansas City Royals, but he's getting them at a great time, considering they've lost 16 of their past 20 games. McAllister has thrived in his four career road starts (2-1, 2.66 ERA, 23 K's in 23 2/3 IP), and is worthy of a pickup for deeper leagues Wednesday.
Hitter matchup ratings for August 1
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | |
| | 7 | 10 | 5 | 6 | | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | | 7 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |
| | 8 | 10 | 4 | 8 | | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | |
| | 5 | 9 | 2 | 7 | | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | |
| | 6 | 6 | 5 | 10 | | 8 | 3 | 9 | 7 | |
| | 8 | 9 | 5 | 4 | | 9 | 1 | 10 | 3 | |
| | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1 | | 6 | 10 | 1 | 4 | |
| | 9 | 10 | 5 | 4 | | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | | 4 | 5 | 2 | 6 | |
| | 6 | 4 | 7 | 5 | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | 10 | 10 | 2 | 8 | |
| | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | |
| | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | | 6 | 3 | 7 | 2 | |
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.
• Alfonso Soriano is 7 for 16 (.438 BA) with 2 home runs in his career against Pirates starter Jeff Karstens.
• Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish has had great success this season against the Angels' 3-4-5 hitters Albert Pujols, Mark Trumbo, and Kendrys Morales. The trio is a combined 1 for 22 (.045) with 10 strikeouts against Darvish.
• Jake Westbrook is 3-0 in his career against the Rockies with a 2.18 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Westbrook's 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings against Colorado is his second-highest rate against any team he has faced.
• After having a 2.31 ERA in 8 games before the All-Star break, Mike Fiers is even better in the second half with a 0.47 ERA in 3 games.
• Yankees outfielder Andruw Jones is slugging .486 against lefties this season entering Tuesday. Eight of his 12 home runs have come against them.
• Throughout the second half of the 2012 season, righties are batting 11-45 (.244) versus Tigers RHP Rick Porcello. On the flip side, Red Sox righty Will Middlebrooks is 4-24 (.167) against starting RHP over that same span entering Tuesday.
• Carlos Villanueva has gone 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his 5 starts since joining the rotation for the Blue Jays. He has a 29-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 28 1/3 innings pitched.
• At home, opponents are hitting .211 against A's starter Jarrod Parker with a .297 slugging percentage and 14 extra-base hits.
• Josh Collmenter has a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings on the road this season (4.96 ERA in 49 IP at home). He's allowed just two home runs on the road compared to 10 at home.
• Vance Worley was 1-2 with a 6.43 ERA in July. He allowed a season-high 11 hits in his only start against the Nationals this season on May 5.
Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers: Day-to-day, blisters on hand. He should return to action shortly.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees: Day-to-day, left wrist inflammation. He likely will miss at least a couple games.
Mark Trumbo, OF, Angels: Day-to-day, upper back spasms. He did not play Monday after injuring himself during batting practice, but he should return to action soon.
Angel Pagan, OF, Giants: Day-to-day, bruised right hand. He injured himself Monday taking out his frustrations and is likely to miss a couple of games.
Mike Aviles, SS, Red Sox: Day-to-day, turf toe. He hasn't played since Saturday, and is being replaced by Pedro Ciriaco. It is unclear when Aviles will return.
Yasmani Grandal, C, Padres: Out indefinitely, strained right oblique. He injured himself swinging the bat Monday and could require a stint on the DL. John Baker and Nick Hundley likely will share time behind the plate in Grandal's absence.
Tom Wilhelmsen, SP, Mariners: Day-to-day, paternity leave. Lucas Luetge picked up the save on Monday night in Wilhelmsen's stead, and likely will be the closer again Tuesday.
Ryan Sweeney, OF, Red Sox: 15-day DL, fractured left pinkie. He injured himself punching the dugout wall Monday and is expected to be out eight weeks.
Rafael Furcal, SS, Cardinals: Day-to-day, back tightness. He has not played since Friday but should return to action in the middle part of this week. Daniel Descalso is filling Furcal's spot at shortstop.
Adam LaRoche, 1B, Nationals: Day-to-day, back tightness. He injured himself Sunday and was replaced by Tyler Moore. LaRoche likely will be out at least a couple games.
Matt Garza, SP, Cubs: Out indefinitely, cramps in right triceps. Garza hasn't pitched since July 21 and is not expected to start again until later this week.
Adam Lind, 1B, Blue Jays: 15-day DL, tightness in lower back. The DL move was made retroactive to July 26, and the team expects him to return when eligible. Yan Gomes has been replacing Lind at first base.
Coco Crisp, OF, A's: Day-to-day, hamstring tightness. He injured himself Saturday, but it doesn't appear to be a major injury. He should return the middle of this week.
Logan Morrison, OF, Marlins: 15-day DL, right knee inflammation. He will undergo more tests in the next couple days, but he fears he could miss the remainder of the season since this is the same knee he had surgery on in the offseason.
Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals: Day-to-day, sprained right knee. He was injured Saturday, but he should return to the lineup in the next few days.
Jim Thome, DH, Orioles: Day-to-day, neck spasms. He has not played since Friday, and it's unclear when he'll return to action.
