Fantasy notes for September 21
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for September 21
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | CC Sabathia | L | OAK | 8 | 13-6 | 3.63 | 1.20 | 0-2 | 5.40 | 1.30 |
| 2 |  | James Shields | R | TOR | 6 | 14-9 | 3.77 | 1.20 | 2-1 | 2.70 | 0.73 |
| 3 |  | Jake Peavy | R | @LAA | 7 | 11-11 | 3.26 | 1.11 | 2-2 | 4.56 | 1.35 |
| 4 |  | Ryan Vogelsong | R | SD | 8 | 12-9 | 3.65 | 1.26 | 1-2 | 10.19 | 1.92 |
| 5 |  | Carlos Villanueva | R | @TB | 6 | 7-5 | 3.42 | 1.19 | 1-1 | 3.86 | 1.13 |
| 6 |  | Bronson Arroyo | R | LAD | 5 | 12-8 | 3.74 | 1.21 | 1-1 | 2.84 | 1.26 |
| 7 |  | Jonathon Niese | L | MIA | 5 | 11-9 | 3.46 | 1.18 | 1-2 | 3.00 | 1.39 |
| 8 |  | Jarrod Parker | R | @NYY | 6 | 11-8 | 3.51 | 1.28 | 3-1 | 3.46 | 1.27 |
| 9 |  | Wade Miley | L | @COL | 5 | 15-10 | 3.10 | 1.16 | 1-1 | 5.21 | 1.63 |
| 10 |  | Tommy Hanson | R | @PHI | 6 | 12-8 | 4.33 | 1.45 | 0-1 | 3.31 | 1.10 |
| 11 |  | Jon Lester | L | BAL | 6 | 9-12 | 4.95 | 1.38 | 1-2 | 4.78 | 1.52 |
| 12 |  | Shaun Marcum | R | @WAS | 7 | 5-4 | 3.91 | 1.28 | 0-0 | 7.23 | 1.82 |
| 13 |  | Hisashi Iwakuma | R | TEX | 5 | 6-5 | 3.39 | 1.30 | 1-2 | 3.31 | 1.29 |
| 14 |  | Ervin Santana | R | CHW | 5 | 8-12 | 5.08 | 1.28 | 1-1 | 2.29 | 0.92 |
| 15 |  | Jacob Turner | R | @NYM | 2 | 2-3 | 5.20 | 1.18 | 1-0 | 1.38 | 0.69 |
| 16 |  | Chris Carpenter | R | @CHC | 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 17 |  | Justin Masterson | R | @KC | 5 | 11-14 | 4.93 | 1.45 | 1-3 | 7.59 | 1.59 |
| 18 |  | Edwin Jackson | R | MIL | 4 | 9-10 | 3.89 | 1.20 | 2-1 | 4.94 | 1.27 |
| 19 |  | Joe Blanton | R | @CIN | 2 | 9-13 | 4.97 | 1.28 | 0-1 | 5.09 | 1.25 |
| 20 |  | Rick Porcello | R | MIN | 5 | 9-12 | 4.57 | 1.53 | 0-3 | 4.35 | 1.79 |
| 21 |  | Kyle Kendrick | R | ATL | 5 | 9-11 | 3.95 | 1.29 | 2-2 | 3.16 | 1.01 |
| 22 |  | Miguel Gonzalez | R | @BOS | 4 | 6-4 | 3.57 | 1.27 | 1-1 | 3.26 | 1.19 |
| 23 |  | Martin Perez | L | @SEA | 4 | 1-1 | 3.38 | 1.36 | 0-0 | 1.93 | 1.07 |
| 24 |  | Samuel Deduno | R | @DET | 4 | 6-4 | 3.84 | 1.47 | 1-2 | 4.24 | 1.35 |
| 25 |  | Luis Mendoza | R | CLE | 2 | 7-9 | 4.50 | 1.42 | 0-0 | 4.41 | 1.35 |
| 26 |  | Jeff Locke | L | @HOU | 3 | 0-1 | 5.49 | 1.22 | 0-1 | 7.04 | 1.50 |
| 27 |  | Drew Pomeranz | L | ARI | 3 | 1-9 | 5.06 | 1.47 | 0-1 | 4.50 | 1.70 |
| 28 |  | Edgar Gonzalez | R | PIT | 4 | 2-1 | 4.40 | 1.12 | 2-1 | 4.40 | 1.12 |
| 29 |  | Chris Volstad | R | STL | 2 | 3-10 | 6.26 | 1.62 | 2-1 | 6.20 | 2.16 |
| 30 |  | Casey Kelly | R | @SF | 1 | 2-1 | 5.85 | 1.50 | 1-1 | 8.36 | 1.79 |
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
Chris Carpenter will start for the first time this season after recovering from surgery to his right shoulder due to a nerve condition. We trust that, because the St. Louis Cardinals are in a playoff race, this start isn't being given to Carpenter on a whim. Nevertheless, fantasy owners should be cautious with him initially.
CC Sabathia is only 2-3 with a 3.95 ERA since a complete-game, 10-K win over Seattle on Aug. 3. That said, the current Oakland Athletics roster is hitting just .222 against him lifetime, so the big man gets our top spot for Friday.
Jake Peavy has gone six-plus innings in all but three of his starts this season. Even though he is just 3-4 since Aug. 1, six of his nine outings were quality starts and teams are hitting just .254 against him.
Ryan Vogelsong has gone 2-4 with a 10.31 ERA in his last seven starts. Not good. However, his last two games were in Coors Field and Chase Field, not exactly pitcher's paradises. At home this season, his ERA is still 2.36, so if he's going to get back on track, this meeting with the San Diego Padres is his best chance.
Jon Lester is a perfect 14-0 with a 2.49 ERA lifetime against the Baltimore Orioles, but before you put this one in the win column for Boston, keep in mind he has gotten two no-decisions in two starts against the Birds in 2012. He could keep the Red Sox close enough in this one for the game to go into extra innings. Once that happens, we know how things should play out.
Martin Perez takes over for Scott Feldman in the Texas Rangers' rotation after relieving the ineffective starter against Seattle last week and throwing 4 1/3 no-hit innings. We're not so confident the results will be the same when teams are ready for the hard-throwing lefty and can set their lineup accordingly.
Streamers delight: Jacob Turner threw seven shutout innings in his last start, a 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Certainly the New York Mets, hitting just .228 over the last 28 days, are an "easy" opponent, but will the youngster get enough run support from a lineup hitting just .209 at Citi Field this season?
Hitter matchup ratings for September 21
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 8 | 1 | 10 | 3 | | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | |
| | 7 | 8 | 4 | 1 | | 8 | 10 | 4 | 5 | |
| | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | | 10 | 4 | 10 | 10 | |
| | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6 | |
| | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| | 6 | 7 | 2 | 7 | | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | |
| | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | | 9 | 10 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 7 | 3 | | 9 | 10 | 5 | 9 | |
| | 6 | 1 | 7 | 2 | | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | |
| | 6 | 2 | 9 | 8 | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 | | 9 | 5 | 9 | 6 | |
| | 6 | 8 | 1 | 5 | | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | |
| | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| | 6 | 10 | 2 | 3 | | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
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.
• Since the All-Star break, Joe Blanton has struggled with a 2-5 record in 11 starts and a 4.96 ERA.
• Adrian Gonzalez is 3 for 26 (.115) in his career against Friday's starter Bronson Arroyo with 3 strikeouts.
• In 2 games played against Colorado this season, starter Wade Miley has a 0.82 ERA and has only given up one earned run in 11 innings pitched.
• Justin Morneau is batting .174 (4-23) against Rick Porcello, with 3 extra-base hits.
• Corey Hart is 6 for 11 (.545 BA) with 2 HR, 4 RBI, and an OPS of 1.797 against Edwin Jackson for his career.
• Rangers outfielder David Murphy is hitting .217 at Safeco Field in his career, his lowest batting average in any stadium in which he has at least 40 at-bats.
• Athletics starter Jarrod Parker is 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in his last 6 starts.
• In 2 starts against the Blue Jays this season, James Shields has dominated them, only allowing 3 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings pitched. He has held the Blue Jays hitters to .170 batting average in the 2 starts.
• Chris Carpenter makes his first start of the season Friday against the Cubs. Since joining the Cardinals in 2004, Carpenter is 5-1 with a 3.75 ERA in his first start of the season. He also is 11-6 with a 3.05 ERA in his career against the Cubs.
• Ervin Santana has a 2.29 ERA in 3 starts this month (21 K-6 BB). He allowed 2 earned runs over 6 innings against the White Sox in his only start against them this season back on August 4.
Brett Anderson, SP, Athletics: Will undergo an MRI to address a tight oblique muscle. He might miss a start, with Travis Blackley likely to step into the rotation in his stead.
Tyler Greene, 2B, Astros: Did not play Wednesday due to some loose particles in his right knee. Jose Altuve will return to second base while Greene is out.
Ryan Ludwick, OF, Reds: Got hurt while running the bases Wednesday and is day-to-day with some moderate groin tightness. If he sits, Chris Heisey likely will replace him.
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, Indians: Aggravated a right wrist injury and left Wednesday's game early. After missing most of last week because of the injury, it's hard to expect much playing time from the shortstop in the near future.
Brian Matusz, P, Orioles: Appears to be fine after an allergic reaction caused the pitcher to be rushed to the emergency room Tuesday. With the scare behind him, he was able to throw one-third of an inning in relief Wednesday.
Coco Crisp, OF, Athletics: Sidelined with a case of "pink eye" that has severely hampered his vision. Conjunctivitis is very contagious, so hopefully no other Oakland player will catch what Crisp has.
Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers: Threw on flat ground Wednesday, the first step toward a return to the rotation. However, it's a small step for someone with a hip impingement. It's still unclear if he'll be able to return to the mound at all in September.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
