Fantasy daily notes for August 29
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for July 28
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Cole Hamels | L | NYM | 8 | 14-6 | 2.99 | 1.12 | 3-0 | 1.71 | 0.98 |
| 2 |  | Tommy Hanson | R | @SD | 8 | 12-6 | 4.40 | 1.47 | 0-1 | 5.73 | 1.73 |
| 3 |  | CC Sabathia | L | TOR | 8 | 13-3 | 3.44 | 1.18 | 2-0 | 2.57 | 1.00 |
| 4 |  | Matt Harvey | R | @PHI | 10 | 2-3 | 2.75 | 1.08 | 1-1 | 1.83 | 0.86 |
| 5 |  | Jeff Samardzija | R | MIL | 5 | 8-11 | 4.09 | 1.27 | 1-2 | 2.77 | 1.04 |
| 6 |  | C.J. Wilson | L | BOS | 6 | 9-9 | 3.83 | 1.32 | 0-2 | 7.59 | 1.78 |
| 7 |  | Mat Latos | R | @ARI | 7 | 10-4 | 3.84 | 1.21 | 0-1 | 3.33 | 1.11 |
| 8 |  | Matt Harrison | L | TB | 6 | 15-7 | 3.04 | 1.22 | 2-1 | 2.33 | 0.96 |
| 9 |  | Jacob Turner | R | WAS | 2 | 1-2 | 6.87 | 1.53 | 0-1 | 4.50 | 0.67 |
| 10 |  | Jason Vargas | L | @MIN | 7 | 13-8 | 3.75 | 1.16 | 1-0 | 4.26 | 1.32 |
| 11 |  | Eric Stults | L | ATL | 9 | 4-2 | 2.69 | 1.15 | 2-0 | 2.61 | 0.87 |
| 12 |  | Ross Detwiler | L | @MIA | 7 | 7-6 | 3.25 | 1.18 | 1-2 | 4.30 | 1.04 |
| 13 |  | Michael Fiers | R | @CHC | 8 | 7-6 | 2.98 | 1.13 | 2-2 | 6.65 | 1.29 |
| 14 |  | Wandy Rodriguez | L | STL | 4 | 8-13 | 4.01 | 1.32 | 1-3 | 5.31 | 1.57 |
| 15 |  | Joe Kelly | R | @PIT | 5 | 4-5 | 3.26 | 1.42 | 2-1 | 3.60 | 1.50 |
| 16 |  | Travis Blackley | L | @CLE | 7 | 4-3 | 3.83 | 1.14 | 0-0 | 6.39 | 1.34 |
| 17 |  | Barry Zito | L | @HOU | 5 | 10-8 | 4.31 | 1.37 | 2-0 | 4.50 | 1.38 |
| 18 |  | Patrick Corbin | L | CIN | 5 | 5-5 | 3.91 | 1.28 | 2-1 | 4.50 | 1.29 |
| 19 |  | Anibal Sanchez | R | @KC | 5 | 7-10 | 4.38 | 1.36 | 1-2 | 7.80 | 1.93 |
| 20 |  | Samuel Deduno | R | SEA | 4 | 4-2 | 4.24 | 1.67 | 1-2 | 6.55 | 1.95 |
| 21 |  | Joe Saunders | L | CHW | 3 | 6-10 | 4.22 | 1.36 | 1-2 | 8.64 | 1.62 |
| 22 |  | Drew Pomeranz | L | LAD | 4 | 1-7 | 4.78 | 1.44 | 0-1 | 4.85 | 1.23 |
| 23 |  | Alex Cobb | R | @TEX | 4 | 8-8 | 4.32 | 1.29 | 3-0 | 3.51 | 1.13 |
| 24 |  | Zach Stewart | R | @LAA | 1 | 1-2 | 6.00 | 1.50 | -- | -- | -- |
| 25 |  | Dallas Keuchel | L | SF | 5 | 1-6 | 5.40 | 1.54 | 0-2 | 4.86 | 1.02 |
| 26 |  | Dylan Axelrod | R | @BAL | 3 | 1-2 | 5.63 | 1.46 | -- | -- | -- |
| 27 |  | Corey Kluber | R | OAK | 1 | 0-2 | 5.32 | 1.73 | 0-2 | 3.72 | 1.60 |
| 28 |  | J.A. Happ | L | @NYY | 2 | 9-10 | 4.68 | 1.37 | 2-1 | 3.86 | 1.03 |
| 29 |  | Bruce Chen | L | DET | 3 | 9-10 | 5.41 | 1.38 | 2-1 | 4.13 | 1.25 |
| 30 |  | Joe Blanton | R | @COL | 1 | 8-12 | 5.02 | 1.27 | 0-3 | 9.60 | 1.93 |
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
It has admittedly been a bit difficult to find fill-in options on the waiver wire the past two days, but things are looking up for Wednesday, as there are four readily available pitchers(in most ESPN.com fantasy leagues), all four from the National League, that are worthy of a start in most fantasy formats. All four hurlers are ranked among the top 12 pitchers on the daily rankings chart. Sorry, AL-only owners, unless you want to take a flier on Travis Blackley against the woeful Cleveland Indians, all the other decent AL arms are not likely to be on your waiver wire. Back to those National Leaguers …
Matt Harvey (57 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) has been better than advertised since his call-up to the big leagues. In six starts, he has posted a 2.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .186 opponents' BA and 10.8 K's/9, punching out 43 batters in just 36 innings. On Wednesday, he visits the Philadelphia Phillies, who have won four straight but haven't been tearing the cover off the ball, with exactly four runs in each of those victories. And as good a mound opponent as Cole Hamels is, the Phils' lefty is just 5-10 with a 4.39 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 20 career starts against the New York Mets. The 23-year-old Harvey should be on every fantasy roster at this point.
Like Harvey, Jeff Samardzija (45 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) is another great pitcher on a bad team. Since July 1, the tall right-hander has a 2.80 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 3.4 K-to-BB ratio, fanning 68 hitters in 64 1/3 innings. And even though the Milwaukee Brewers have some hitters that can expose Samardzija's propensity to serve up home runs (six in his past three starts), the Brew Crew is a lot less dangerous on the road. Since the All-Star break, Milwaukee is 4-15 outside of Miller Park, with just six homers in 12 August road games before Monday's five-homer explosion. The Wrigley Field wind is expected to be tame on Wednesday, and Samardzija's mound opponent, Michael Fiers, has seemingly hit the rookie wall, with a 9.88 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in his past three starts. Samardzija will be a great asset to any fantasy team as September approaches.
Jacob Turner (0.2 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) was very impressive in his Miami Marlins debut last Wednesday, holding the Arizona Diamondbacks to three runs in six innings. Turner allowed just four hits and zero walks, with five strikeouts. His poise and efficiency are well beyond his 21 years of age, and led him to a 3.12 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over three minor league seasons. His relatively pedestrian strikeout rate in the minors (7.2 K's/9) limits his ceiling in five-category fantasy formats, but he could prove to be a valuable pickup now that he'll be throwing for the Marlins every fifth day. Even if Turner's immediate future doesn't equal stardom, he has a great matchup on Wednesday against the struggling Washington Nationals, who have scored a total of six runs, with a .573 OPS, during a four-game losing skid.
Eric Stults (1 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) has been a viable starter all season, going 4-2 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in his nine starts. None were more impressive than his last time out at Chase Field, when he shut out the D-backs for seven innings, allowing just three hits and one walk, striking out four. Stults was also outstanding on Aug. 13 against the Atlanta Braves, his Wednesday opponent. In that meeting, Stults threw a season-high 7 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on five hits, with zero walks and three punchouts. The Braves hitters are currently in a bit of a funk, losing seven of their past 10 games due to a mere 3.1 runs per game and a .212 BA/.293 OBP/.359 SLG in this stretch. Stults doesn't have the strikeout power to be a must-start in all fantasy leagues, but he'll provide quality innings for ERA and WHIP for the remainder of the season.
Hitter matchup ratings for July 28
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |
| | 9 | 5 | 10 | 7 | | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | | 8 | 4 | 9 | 4 | |
| | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | |
| | 8 | 1 | 10 | 3 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| | 6 | 10 | 3 | 1 | | 7 | 10 | 1 | 3 | |
| | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | | 5 | 2 | 5 | 8 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 10 | 4 | | 3 | 5 | 1 | 7 | |
| | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | | 7 | 9 | 6 | 8 | |
| | 7 | 2 | 7 | 4 | | 10 | 6 | 10 | 7 | |
| | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | | 5 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| | 8 | 1 | 10 | 3 | | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| | 4 | 1 | 5 | 8 | | 10 | 1 | 10 | 9 | |
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.
• Evan Longoria is 15 for 38 (.395) with 4 HR, 4 doubles and 11 RBI against left-handed pitching this year. Longoria has also dominated lefty Matt Harrison in his career, going 5 for 6 (.833) with 2 home runs and 7 RBI.
• San Diego starter Eric Stults has dominated lefties this year, only allowing 8 hits in 62 at-bats (.129). Current Atlanta left-handers Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman are a combined 2 for 13 (.154) against Stults in their career.
• Make sure you start Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, and Michael Morse because Jacob Turner has had trouble putting away right-handed hitters this year, allowing 15 hits in 40 at-bats (.375) with 5 home runs and 14 RBI (.176, 0 HR, 0 RBI against lefties).
• Joe Saunders has pitched well on the road with a 2.92 ERA in 11 starts, but at home he has a 5.80 ERA in 10 starts.
• Chris Johnson has had success in his career against Mat Latos, amassing 7 hits in 14 at-bats (.500) with 3 doubles and a home run.
• Curtis Granderson is really struggling in the month of August. Entering Tuesday, Granderson is sporting a .195 average (17-87) and 29 strikeouts in August.
• Cardinals teammates Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday are a combined 18 for 55 (.327) with 6 HR and 12 RBI against Pirates lefty Wandy Rodriguez.
• Entering Tuesday, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has hit the ball very well in the month of August (.408), but against Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez, he is only 8 for 38 (.211) with 6 strikeouts in his career.
• Matt Harvey has pitched well at night this season holding a 1.74 ERA in 5 games.
• Twins slugger Josh Willingham has struggled mightily against Mariners pitcher Jason Vargas in his career going 0-16, including 7 strikeouts. Willingham's teammate Jamey Carroll on the other hand has done well against Vargas going 6-14 (.429) in his career.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees: Out 1-2 weeks, strained calf. He injured himself Monday and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain. Eric Chavez and Casey McGehee are the most likely candidates to take his spot at first base.
Neil Walker, 2B, Pirates: Day-to-day, tight lower back. He was unable to play Monday due to his injury and was replaced by Josh Harrison. It's unclear when Walker will be ready to return.
Albert Pujols, 1B, Angels: Day-to-day, calf injury. He hasn't played since Aug. 22, but could return to the starting lineup Tuesday.
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Tigers: Day-to-day, ankle injury. He did not play Sunday due to his bothersome injury, but he's not expected to need a DL stint.
David Ortiz, DH, Red Sox: 15-day DL, right Achilles' tendon injury. Ryan Kalish replaced him on the roster, but Ryan Lavarnway should be the everyday DH until Ortiz returns, which he hopes will be sometime in mid-September.
Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies: Day-to-day, sore left knee. He did not play Sunday due to a lingering injury caused by a slide at home plate Thursday. He's expected to return to action shortly, though.
Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays: 15-day DL, wrist injury. Bautista left Saturday's game because of his injury, just one day after returning to the field after a six-week absence. His 2012 season is likely over, and Anthony Gose and Moises Sierra will platoon in right field.
Joe Saunders, SP, Orioles: Acquired from Diamondbacks. Saunders was traded to Baltimore for reliever Matt Lindstrom on Sunday, and expects to make his Orioles debut in the rotation on Wednesday or Thursday.
Gavin Floyd, SP, White Sox: Day-to-day, muscle strain in right elbow. He was removed from Sunday's start and likely will have his next start skipped. Floyd could eventually land on the DL as well.
Michael Morse, OF, Nationals: Day-to-day, right hand contusion. He is expected to return to action on Tuesday.
David Freese, 3B, Cardinals: Day-to-day, sore wrist. He was hit by a pitch in his wrist Friday and has not started since. However, he did pinch-hit Monday, which is a good sign that his return to the lineup is imminent.
Daniel Murphy, 2B, Mets: Day-to-day, strained right shoulder. He was injured in Sunday's game, but doesn't expect to miss much time.
Michael Saunders, OF, Mariners: Day-to-day, minor groin strain. He has not played since colliding with teammate Eric Thames during Friday's game, but should return this week.
Doug Fister, SP, Tigers: Day-to-day, discomfort in groin. He was scratched from Saturday's start and could wind up on the disabled list. Fister last pitched Aug. 19.
Aaron Laffey, SP, Blue Jays: Day-to-day, left calf contusion. He was hit by a comebacker in his left leg Monday and was forced to leave the game. It's unclear if he will be able to make his next scheduled start.
Roberto Hernandez, SP, Indians: Day-to-day, sprained right ankle. He left Monday's start early due to his injury, but the team expects him to make his next start.
Placido Polanco, 3B, Phillies: Day-to-day lower back injury. Polanco hasn't played since Aug. 23, and may wind up on the DL again. Kevin Frandsen will continue to replace him at third base.
