Fantasy daily notes for September 17
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for September 17
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | R.A. Dickey | R | PHI | 8 | 18-5 | 2.68 | 1.04 | 2-1 | 1.99 | 1.24 |
| 2 |  | Cliff Lee | L | @NYM | 9 | 5-7 | 3.36 | 1.14 | 3-0 | 0.99 | 0.95 |
| 3 |  | Madison Bumgarner | L | COL | 6 | 14-10 | 3.32 | 1.10 | 0-2 | 7.98 | 2.05 |
| 4 |  | Tim Hudson | R | @MIA | 8 | 14-6 | 3.66 | 1.23 | 2-2 | 3.51 | 1.32 |
| 5 |  | Chris Tillman | R | @SEA | 5 | 7-2 | 3.39 | 1.20 | 1-0 | 1.80 | 0.90 |
| 6 |  | Doug Fister | R | @CHW | 8 | 9-8 | 3.49 | 1.19 | 2-0 | 2.37 | 0.89 |
| 7 |  | Travis Wood | L | PIT | 7 | 6-11 | 4.23 | 1.18 | 2-1 | 2.05 | 0.84 |
| 8 |  | Alex Cobb | R | BOS | 4 | 9-8 | 4.26 | 1.31 | 1-0 | 3.86 | 1.41 |
| 9 |  | Jose Quintana | L | DET | 3 | 6-4 | 3.52 | 1.26 | 1-2 | 9.24 | 1.89 |
| 10 |  | Kevin Correia | R | @CHC | 4 | 10-9 | 4.29 | 1.33 | 1-1 | 2.45 | 1.36 |
| 11 |  | Jhoulys Chacin | R | @SF | 7 | 2-5 | 4.86 | 1.62 | 1-2 | 2.79 | 1.60 |
| 12 |  | Wade LeBlanc | L | ATL | 4 | 2-4 | 2.95 | 1.19 | 0-1 | 4.15 | 1.00 |
| 13 |  | Hector Noesi | R | BAL | 3 | 2-11 | 5.54 | 1.31 | 0-0 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| 14 |  | Aaron Cook | R | @TB | 2 | 3-10 | 5.18 | 1.38 | 0-3 | 7.24 | 1.76 |
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
Monday has a light schedule, with just 14 of the 30 MLB teams in action. Five of the 14 starting pitchers remain must-starts in most any fantasy league: R.A. Dickey, Cliff Lee, Madison Bumgarner, Tim Hudson and Doug Fister. The other nine arms are all likely available on your waiver wire, as all nine are owned in 15 percent or less of ESPN.com fantasy leagues. Here are the four best of those lesser-owned options for Monday:
Chris Tillman (4 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) left his last start on Sept. 2 because of elbow soreness, but he felt great in his most recent bullpen session, which is outstanding news for his fantasy owners, especially considering he faces the light-hitting Seattle Mariners, whom he has already beaten twice this season, allowing just one earned run and 10 baserunners in 15 2/3 innings. He also beat them last year, making his career numbers against the M's rather ludicrous: 3 GS, 3-0 record, 0.83 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, .173 opponents' slugging percentage (Tillman is 11-17 with a 5.44 ERA and 1.55 WHIP versus all other teams in his career). And yet another reason to start Tillman is his unaccomplished mound opponent, Hector Noesi, who will make his first start since July 4, when the Baltimore Orioles rocked him for four runs in five innings. Not only is Noesi 2-11 with a 5.77 ERA as a starter this year, but he also posted a 5.74 ERA in 11 starts in Triple-A. All of this makes Tillman a must-start in any fantasy league.
Travis Wood (6 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) made me look great Wednesday when I recommended him in the majority of fantasy leagues despite one win in his previous 11 starts. Wood took the mound in Minute Maid Park and held the Houston Astros to one run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings, racking up six strikeouts in a 5-1 victory. That gives Wood eight good starts (3 ER or less) in his past nine tries, compiling a 3.20 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and .221 opponents' BA in nine outings since Aug. 1. He has faced the Pittsburgh Pirates, Monday's opponent, twice in this span, holding them to two runs on four hits in 11 innings. When he faced the Bucs on Sept. 7, he held them to one hit in six shutout innings. This was just one of several brutal offensive outputs for Pittsburgh, which is 3-10 so far this month with a .231 BA and just 3.7 runs per game. Go ahead and start Wood in all fantasy formats Monday.
Alex Cobb (12 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) was ineffective his last time out against the Orioles, allowing nine baserunners in a laborious 4 2/3 innings. However, he picked up a no-decision in that 3-2 defeat, moving his personal unbeaten streak to eight straight starts. During this run, Cobb is 5-0 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 7.5 K's/9. He has also been great at Tropicana Field this year, going 4-3 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 8.6 K's/9 in seven home starts. On Monday, Cobb takes on the slumping Boston Red Sox who are 4-13 in their past 17 contests, posting 2.9 runs per game and a paltry .280 on-base percentage during this slide. Cobb is a superb win candidate opposing Sox right-hander Aaron Cook, considering Cook is 0-5 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in his past six starts. Start Cobb in most fantasy formats Monday.
Jose Quintana (15 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) doesn't have the favorable pitching matchup that Tillman and Wood do; he must face the Detroit Tigers. However, the Tigers did very little against the left-hander one week ago, pushing across just one run in his 7 2/3 innings, with seven strikeouts, in a 6-1 loss. Quintana has been strong at U.S. Cellular Field, posting a 3.49 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in his 10 home starts this year. He should also get a good amount of run support, considering his Chicago White Sox are 25-10 at home since June 23, scoring 5.7 runs with an impressive slash line of .290/.348/.522. This makes Quintana a strong play in deeper leagues Monday.
Hitter matchup ratings for September 17
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
| | 7 | 10 | 4 | 6 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 8 | 10 | 5 | 6 | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
 | No game scheduled | | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | ||||
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
| | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
| | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | |
 | No game scheduled | | 8 | 7 | 7 | 2 | ||||
 | No game scheduled | | 9 | 10 | 5 | 4 | ||||
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
 | No game scheduled |  | No game scheduled | |||||||
| | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 |  | No game scheduled | ||||
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.
• Madison Bumgarner has pitched well at home this season going 8-3 with a 2.39 ERA versus on the road where he is 6-7 with a 4.21 ERA
• Chris Tillman could be a great spot start against the Mariners Monday. Tillman has already faced Seattle twice this year. In those games, Tillman combined for two wins, a 0.57 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
• Andrew McCutchen is 1 for 10 (.100) with 2 strikeouts in his career against Travis Wood.
• Starlin Castro is 7 for 17 (.412) in his career against Kevin Correia.
• Through Saturday, Dustin Pedroia is batting .400 (16 for 40) with three homeruns and a slugging percentage of .700.
Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers: Day-to-day, sore hip. He was scratched from Sunday's start and will visit a hip specialist Tuesday to determine the severity of his injury.
Brian McCann, C, Braves: Day-to-day, tendinitis in right hamstring. He left Saturday's game early because of his injury, and it's unclear how long he'll be out. David Ross replaces McCann behind the plate.
Aroldis Chapman, RP, Reds: Day-to-day, left shoulder fatigue. He hasn't pitched since Sept. 10, but he expects to return to action by the middle of this week.
Michael Morse, OF, Nationals: Day-to-day, bone bruise in left wrist. He hasn't played since Sept. 11, but hopes to return Tuesday.
Mark Reynolds, 1B, Orioles: Day-to-day, numbness in left biceps. He injured himself swinging the bat Saturday, but he might not miss any time.
Corey Hart, 1B, Brewers: Day-to-day, left foot injury. He hasn't played since Sept. 9, but the team hopes he will rejoin the lineup early this week.
Joe Mauer, C, Twins: Day-to-day, strained muscle in rib cage. He hasn't played since Sept. 10, but he is expected to return to action early this week.
Carlos Quentin, OF, Padres: Day-to-day, sore right knee. He hasn't played since Sept. 10, as he has been bothered by his surgically repaired knee. His return to action is still uncertain at this time.
Ryan Doumit, C, Twins: Day-to-day, strained muscle in rib cage. He hasn't played since Sept. 12, and it's unclear when he will return to action.
Jason Hammel, SP, Orioles: Day-to-day, sore knee. It's unclear when Hammel will make his next start for Baltimore.
Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals: Out for season, strained right hamstring. Jason Bourgeois is expected to be the team's regular center fielder for the rest of 2012.
Xavier Nady, OF, Giants: Day-to-day, mild hamstring strain. He injured himself Sept. 5 and hasn't played since. Nady should be back on the field in the early part of this week.
Mike Olt, 1B, Rangers: Out 1-2 weeks, plantar fasciitis in right foot. An MRI taken Thursday confirmed his injury.
Wilson Betemit, 3B, Orioles: Likely out for season, wrist injury. He hurt himself in batting practice Friday, and his 2012 season is probably over. Jim Thome (neck) is expected to be ready next week to be the regular DH for Baltimore.
