Fantasy daily notes for August 13
Click through for information on specific matchups and injuries for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for August 13
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ryan Vogelsong | R | WAS | 9 | 10-5 | 2.27 | 1.11 | 3-1 | 2.05 | 1.10 |
| 2 |  | Cole Hamels | L | @MIA | 8 | 12-6 | 3.08 | 1.12 | 1-2 | 2.14 | 1.10 |
| 3 |  | Gio Gonzalez | L | @SF | 9 | 14-6 | 3.32 | 1.14 | 2-1 | 3.30 | 1.13 |
| 4 |  | C.J. Wilson | L | CLE | 8 | 9-8 | 3.34 | 1.30 | 0-2 | 6.08 | 1.86 |
| 5 |  | Jake Peavy | R | @TOR | 7 | 9-8 | 3.08 | 1.07 | 2-1 | 2.18 | 1.21 |
| 6 |  | Jeff Samardzija | R | HOU | 7 | 7-10 | 4.21 | 1.30 | 1-2 | 2.73 | 0.95 |
| 7 |  | Mike Minor | L | SD | 5 | 6-8 | 4.95 | 1.29 | 1-2 | 2.10 | 0.90 |
| 8 |  | Michael Fiers | R | @COL | 10 | 6-4 | 1.80 | 1.01 | 3-1 | 1.37 | 0.87 |
| 9 |  | Alex Cobb | R | @SEA | 9 | 6-8 | 4.32 | 1.30 | 2-1 | 2.14 | 0.86 |
| 10 |  | Jeff Karstens | R | LAD | 5 | 4-2 | 3.77 | 1.21 | 2-0 | 3.13 | 1.22 |
| 11 |  | Ryan Dempster | R | @NYY | 4 | 6-5 | 2.65 | 1.10 | 1-1 | 5.71 | 1.38 |
| 12 |  | Carlos Villanueva | R | CHW | 6 | 6-2 | 3.30 | 1.29 | 1-2 | 4.76 | 1.29 |
| 13 |  | Anibal Sanchez | R | @MIN | 7 | 6-9 | 4.37 | 1.34 | 1-3 | 6.55 | 1.68 |
| 14 |  | Aaron Harang | R | @PIT | 5 | 7-7 | 3.80 | 1.40 | 0-2 | 5.89 | 1.53 |
| 15 |  | David Phelps | R | TEX | 8 | 2-3 | 2.42 | 1.13 | 1-0 | 0.00 | 0.60 |
| 16 |  | Nate Eovaldi | R | PHI | 4 | 3-7 | 4.33 | 1.59 | 2-1 | 4.32 | 2.04 |
| 17 |  | Eric Stults | L | @ATL | 7 | 2-2 | 2.72 | 1.28 | 1-0 | 1.50 | 1.33 |
| 18 |  | Samuel Deduno | R | DET | 6 | 3-0 | 3.27 | 1.58 | 3-0 | 2.31 | 1.37 |
| 19 |  | Justin Masterson | R | @LAA | 6 | 8-10 | 4.68 | 1.42 | 2-2 | 6.75 | 1.58 |
| 20 |  | Blake Beavan | R | TB | 4 | 7-6 | 5.12 | 1.23 | 3-0 | 2.86 | 0.85 |
| 21 |  | Jeff Francis | L | MIL | 1 | 3-4 | 6.06 | 1.49 | 1-2 | 8.15 | 1.64 |
| 22 |  | Armando Galarraga | R | @CHC | 1 | 0-2 | 4.70 | 1.89 | 0-2 | 4.70 | 1.89 |
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.
Monday's docket is packed with tremendous pitching depth, as seven of the 22 starters are owned in at least 98 percent of ESPN.com fantasy leagues (Ryan Vogelsong, Cole Hamels, C.J. Wilson, Gio Gonzalez, Jake Peavy, Mike Fiers and Ryan Dempster), and two of the three pitchers owned in a majority of leagues, Mike Minor (56 percent) and Anibal Sanchez (79 percent), also have great pitching matchups, facing the San Diego Padres and Minnesota Twins, respectively. But there is still a wealth of good pitchers owned in fewer than 40 percent of ESPN.com leagues, with the four arms below being the best options for Monday:
Jeff Samardzija (38 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) continues to have a terrific summer, posting a 2.58 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 45 K's in 45 1/3 innings in seven starts since July 1. That hot pitching streak is unlikely to change course when he faces the worst team in the majors, the Houston Astros, on Monday. Even with a two-game win streak, Houston is still 6-34 in its past 40 games, posting a .223 BA/.294 OBP/.335 SLG. The Astros also have fanned 75 times in their past eight contests, giving Samardzija double-digit strikeout potential. Start the Cubs right-hander in all fantasy formats Monday.
Another pitcher who has been superb since July 1 is Alex Cobb (4 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership), who has three wins and a 3.34 ERA in these past six starts. Cobb is also dialing up the K's in August, punching out 13 batters with just one walk in 14 innings so far this month. On Monday, he'll take the mound in Safeco Field against a Seattle Mariners team that is the worst home hitting team in the majors, with a .208 BA/.284 OBP/.303 SLG line in Seattle. Although the M's pitching has propelled the club to seven straight wins at Safeco, don't expect that streak to continue with Blake Beavan opposing Cobb. Beavan has a 4.58 ERA at home this season, and the Tampa Bay Rays have punished their past four road opponents, outscoring them 28-9 with a .500 slugging percentage. Don't be afraid to start Cobb in any fantasy league Monday.
Jeff Karstens (5 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) carries a seven-start unbeaten streak, going 4-0 with a 2.80 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 7.4 K's per 9 during that span. The right-hander is always worth a look when he takes the hill at PNC Park. In four home starts this season, he's 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. Karstens also has a 2.63 ERA in three career home starts versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, his Monday opponent. L.A. has been struggling to score runs recently, scoring just 3.2 runs per game and slugging a dreadful .320 in its past 11 contests. Karstens is a strong play in deeper formats for Monday.
Carlos Villanueva (8 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) was dropped by more than 11 percent of ESPN.com owners in the past week, but you'd be hard-pressed to find another pitcher on the waiver wire with a 3.30 ERA and 9.5 K's/9 this season. He is also a perfect 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in four starts at Rogers Centre, posting 24 K's and eight walks in these 22 innings. Although the Chicago White Sox have a strong lineup, they are much less potent on the road (4.1 runs per game, .696 OPS) than they are at home this year (5.3 runs per game, .787 OPS). Villanueva is certainly worth a roster spot as a regular starter in AL-only formats for the rest of the year.
Hitter matchup ratings for August 13
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | No game scheduled | | 10 | 8 | 10 | 2 | ||||
| | 5 | 1 | 8 | 10 | | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | |
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
 | No game scheduled | | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | ||||
| | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 5 | 7 | 2 | 6 | | 7 | 10 | 1 | 5 | |
 | No game scheduled | | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | ||||
| | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | |
| | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| | 4 | 5 | 3 | 9 | | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |
 | No game scheduled | | 7 | 9 | 2 | 6 | ||||
| | 5 | 8 | 1 | 5 | | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
| | 7 | 10 | 2 | 8 | | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | | 2 | 3 | 1 | 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.
• Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez has locked down Giants sluggers Melky Cabrera and Marco Scutaro over their careers. The duo are a combined 5-for-26 (.192) against Gonzalez.
• Braves starter Mike Minor is 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA at home this season, allowing batters to hit .208 (2-6 with a 5.91 ERA on the road). He has not lost in his last seven home starts.
• Entering Sunday, Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin is 6-for-40 (.150 BA) with eight strikeouts over his last 13 games.
• Entering Sunday, Jonathan Lucroy is hitting .476 (20-for-42) against left-handed pitchers this season. In his career, Lucroy is a .327 hitter against lefties with 11 home runs in 202 at-bats.
• Anibal Sanchez, who faces the Twins on Monday, has really struggled since being traded to the American League, going 1-2 with a 7.80 ERA in three starts.
• Entering Sunday, Justin Ruggiano is 25 for 57 (.439 BA) with 16 XBH, including 5 HR vs. left-handed pitching this season.
Mike Napoli, C, Rangers: 15-day DL, left quad strain. This injury has been bothering Napoli for the past week, and Texas finally made the move Saturday. Geovany Soto will replace Napoli behind the plate, with Mike Olt likely to take Napoli's occasional DH spot.
CC Sabathia, SP, Yankees: 15-day DL, stiffness in elbow. David Phelps will take his spot in the rotation Monday, while veteran Derek Lowe was signed to replace Phelps in the bullpen. The team is not too concerned with Sabathia, because an MRI taken last week came back clean.
Huston Street, RP, Padres: 15-day DL, strained quad. He injured himself running to cover first base on Friday. Dale Thayer or Luke Gregerson will take over his closer role.
Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox: 7-day DL, concussion. The move was made Friday, but the team expects Konerko to be out for more than the mandatory seven days.
Ryan Cook, RP, Athletics: Temporarily removed from closer role. Cook will not close for the next couple of chances in an attempt to get his confidence back. Grant Balfour will pitch the ninth inning until manager Bob Melvin is ready to put Cook back into his late-inning role.
Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies, Day-to-day, lower back injury. It's unknown when he will be ready to return to action. Eric Young Jr. played center field Saturday, with Matt McBride starting in right field.
Brett Jackson, OF, Cubs: Day-to-day, soreness. He was banged up on Friday after an outfield collision and did not play Saturday. It's unclear when he will return to action.
Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians: Day-to-day, neck stiffness. He has not played since Aug. 8 because of his injury. Jason Donald is replacing him at second base.
Yunel Escobar, SS, Blue Jays: Day-to-day, sore elbow. He was hit by a pitch in the left elbow Saturday and may miss a few games.
Kelly Johnson, 2B, Blue Jays: Day-to-day, groin injury. He is not starting Sunday because of his ailment, but this doesn't appear to be anything serious.
Colby Rasmus, OF, Blue Jays: Day-to-day, right groin injury. He left Friday's game after re-injuring his troublesome groin. This does not appear to be a major injury that will keep him off the field for more than a couple days.
Brandon Inge, 3B, Athletics: Day-to-day, dislocated right shoulder. He injured himself Saturday, but since this a familiar injury to Inge, he was able to pop it back into place and should not require a DL stint.
Roberto Hernandez, SP, Indians: Will make season debut Wednesday. The pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona will finally finish his suspension for living under a false identity. He will replace Chris Seddon in the Indians' rotation.
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Red Sox: 15-day DL, fractured right wrist. Middlebrooks was hit by a pitch Friday and could miss the remainder of the season. Danny Valencia was recalled to fill his roster spot, but Pedro Ciriaco likely will split time with Valencia at third base.
Willie Bloomquist, SS, Diamondbacks: 15-day DL, lower back stiffness. Stephen Drew will continue to start at shortstop in Bloomquist's absence.
Jarrod Dyson, OF, Royals: Day-to-day, sprained left ankle. He was injured Friday and might not be ready to rejoin the starting lineup until the middle of this week.
Skip Schumaker, 2B, Cardinals: Day-to-day, sore left wrist. He hasn't played since Aug. 8 and may need a stint on the DL.
Eric Sogard, SS, Athletics: 15-day DL, strained back. The move was made retroactive to Aug. 7.
