Fantasy daily notes for September 25
Click through for information on specific matchups, injuries and weather for the day's games.
Starting pitcher rankings for September 25
| Name | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Kris Medlen | R | MIA | 10 | 9-1 | 1.51 | 0.94 | 3-0 | 0.90 | 0.73 |
| 2 |  | Cole Hamels | L | WAS | 9 | 15-6 | 3.05 | 1.12 | 1-0 | 3.15 | 1.05 |
| 3 |  | Zack Greinke | R | SEA | 9 | 14-5 | 3.47 | 1.19 | 2-0 | 1.48 | 0.79 |
| 4 |  | Yu Darvish | R | OAK | 10 | 16-9 | 3.90 | 1.27 | 3-0 | 1.80 | 0.57 |
| 5 |  | David Price | L | @BOS | 7 | 18-5 | 2.58 | 1.12 | 1-0 | 3.14 | 1.12 |
| 6 |  | Phil Hughes | R | @MIN | 6 | 16-12 | 4.05 | 1.25 | 3-0 | 2.95 | 1.04 |
| 7 |  | Clay Buchholz | R | TB | 7 | 11-6 | 4.16 | 1.28 | 0-2 | 2.43 | 1.08 |
| 8 |  | Wandy Rodriguez | L | @NYM | 6 | 11-13 | 3.76 | 1.28 | 2-0 | 3.04 | 1.10 |
| 9 |  | Tim Lincecum | R | ARI | 7 | 10-14 | 4.91 | 1.47 | 2-0 | 2.41 | 1.50 |
| 10 |  | Erasmo Ramirez | R | @LAA | 10 | 1-2 | 3.28 | 0.96 | 1-0 | 2.25 | 0.69 |
| 11 |  | Josh Beckett | R | @SD | 7 | 6-13 | 4.88 | 1.32 | 0-1 | 3.79 | 1.26 |
| 12 |  | Anibal Sanchez | R | KC | 5 | 8-13 | 4.14 | 1.31 | 1-2 | 3.55 | 1.07 |
| 13 |  | Mike Fiers | R | @CIN | 7 | 9-8 | 3.38 | 1.22 | 1-2 | 6.61 | 1.96 |
| 14 |  | Lucas Harrell | R | STL | 5 | 10-10 | 3.89 | 1.35 | 0-1 | 4.67 | 1.67 |
| 15 |  | Jaime Garcia | L | @HOU | 7 | 5-7 | 4.25 | 1.42 | 2-1 | 3.22 | 1.39 |
| 16 |  | Edinson Volquez | R | LAD | 5 | 10-11 | 4.30 | 1.44 | 1-1 | 4.76 | 1.59 |
| 17 |  | Tommy Milone | L | @TEX | 2 | 13-10 | 3.86 | 1.27 | 2-1 | 4.95 | 1.90 |
| 18 |  | Francisco Liriano | L | CLE | 6 | 6-11 | 5.24 | 1.44 | 1-0 | 6.23 | 1.15 |
| 19 |  | Bruce Chen | L | @DET | 2 | 11-12 | 5.22 | 1.33 | 1-2 | 5.76 | 1.24 |
| 20 |  | Joe Saunders | L | TOR | 3 | 8-12 | 4.08 | 1.34 | 2-1 | 2.10 | 1.01 |
| 21 |  | Mike Leake | R | MIL | 2 | 8-9 | 4.73 | 1.36 | 1-1 | 7.63 | 1.63 |
| 22 |  | Nate Eovaldi | R | @ATL | 4 | 4-12 | 4.36 | 1.56 | 0-2 | 3.71 | 1.35 |
| 23 |  | Jorge De La Rosa | L | CHC | 6 | 0-1 | 12.27 | 2.18 | 0-1 | 12.27 | 2.18 |
| 24 |  | John Lannan | L | @PHI | 4 | 3-0 | 4.43 | 1.43 | 1-0 | 5.79 | 1.71 |
| 25 |  | Corey Kluber | R | @CHW | 1 | 1-4 | 5.36 | 1.59 | 1-1 | 5.66 | 1.50 |
| 26 |  | Aaron Laffey | L | @BAL | 2 | 3-6 | 4.80 | 1.38 | 0-1 | 7.15 | 1.76 |
| 27 |  | Esmerling Vasquez | R | NYY | 3 | 0-2 | 6.75 | 1.70 | 0-1 | 6.28 | 1.67 |
| 28 |  | Tyler Skaggs | L | @SF | 3 | 1-3 | 5.83 | 1.47 | 0-2 | 10.50 | 1.83 |
| 29 |  | Collin McHugh | R | PIT | 1 | 0-2 | 3.86 | 1.13 | 0-2 | 6.17 | 1.54 |
| 30 |  | Chris Rusin | L | @COL | 1 | 1-2 | 6.00 | 1.71 | 1-1 | 7.31 | 2.06 |
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
The Atlanta Braves simply don't lose when Kris Medlen is on the mound. They are 10-0 in his starts this season, averaging 6.01 runs per game. Two of those wins came against the Miami Marlins, who have scored just one run on eight hits against Medlen when he has started.
Both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Angels are using Monday's off day to tweak their rotations for the homestretch. Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke are the pair who will get the call Tuesday, and both should be started in all formats.
Clay Buchholz is 0-3 with a 4.07 ERA in his past six starts, but he has held the Tampa Bay Rays to a .231 batting average in five starts this season, including seven scoreless innings (with just four hits allowed) against them last Thursday.
Mike Fiers has had four starts in September and has not lasted longer than five innings in any of them. The rookie might be running out of gas, but if there's anything left in the tank, then perhaps a battle with the Cincinnati Reds, whom he has held to a .167 batting average this season, will help things.
Joe Saunders gets a rematch with a Toronto Blue Jays squad that he stymied for seven innings back on Sept. 3, winning 4-0. As a team, the last-place Jays are batting just .225 over the past four weeks.
Nate Eovaldi is 0-4 with a 5.33 ERA in his past five starts, and since he has joined the Marlins, opposing hitters have a .288 batting average against him. If you're the gambling type, though, you might want to look at his last start -- eight scoreless innings, with just four hits allowed, in a no-decision against the Braves -- and hope that lightning strikes twice.
Jorge De La Rosa threw 70 pitches in his first start of the 2012 season, lasting just 3 2/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants in a 9-2 loss. De La Rosa is 4-0 with a 1.63 ERA against the Chicago Cubs lifetime, but those games were a long time ago. Today he's just trying to get his feet back under him following Tommy John surgery.
Hitter matchup ratings for September 25
| Overall | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | | 9 | 9 | 8 | 3 | |
| | 8 | 10 | 2 | 6 | | 6 | 4 | 8 | 4 | |
| | 10 | 8 | 10 | 3 | | 5 | 2 | 5 | 9 | |
| | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7 | |
| | 6 | 1 | 6 | 3 | | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | |
| | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | | 7 | 2 | 8 | 7 | |
| | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | |
| | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7 | | 5 | 7 | 3 | 7 | |
| | 10 | 7 | 10 | 10 | | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | |
| | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | | 10 | 1 | 10 | 2 | |
| | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 | | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | |
| | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | | 8 | 10 | 6 | 4 | |
| | 6 | 4 | 6 | 10 | | 8 | 1 | 9 | 3 | |
| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
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.
• John Lannan has been abysmal against the Phillies for his career, going 2-12 with a 5.79 ERA in 17 starts against them. He has also been horrible at Citizens Bank Park, where he's gone 1-5 with a 7.06 ERA.
• Torii Hunter could be a nice play this week as the Angels take on the Mariners. This season, Hunter's line is .406/.457/.531 against the Mariners, including a home run in 8 games.
• Start your St. Louis fringe players Tuesday against Houston starter Lucas Harrell. David Freese, Yadier Molina and Allen Craig all have great numbers against Harrell. Freese and Molina are both 5 for 10 (.500) against Harrell with a home run. Craig is 4 for 10 (.400) vs. Harrell.
• Jason Bay is 10 for 22 (.455) with 6 extra base hits in his career against Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez.
• Diamondbacks OF Chris Young has been abysmal in his career against Tim Lincecum. In 51 at-bats, Young has a mere 8 hits and 5 RBI and has struck out 17 times. That's good enough for a .157 batting average and a .259 OBP.
• Alfonso Soriano is someone you should look to start on Tuesday as the Cubs travel to Coors Field. In his career Soriano has batted .355, his highest batting average at any park in the majors where he has at least 15 at-bats.
Hanley Ramirez, 3B, Dodgers: Fouled a ball off his foot and left Sunday's game after finishing his at-bat. Consider him day-to-day.
Matt Holliday, OF, Cardinals: Though he has not missed any action, Holliday is suffering from back tightness, which could conceivably cause him to sit out for a day if it worsens.
Chris Johnson, 3B, Diamondbacks: Suffered a bruised left hand when he was hit by a pitch, and he'll sit for a day or two. X-rays did come back negative. While Johnson sits, Ryan Wheeler is expected to man the hot corner.
Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros: Had to depart Sunday's game because of a groin injury and is considered to be day-to-day.
Justin Ruggiano, OF, Marlins: Got hurt diving for a ball Friday and has not yet returned to the lineup. While Ruggiano waits for his sprained right shoulder to heal, Bryan Petersen should see more action.
Ryan Kalish, OF, Red Sox: Shut down for the remainder of the 2012 season because of a sore right shoulder.
- AJ Mass is a fantasy football, baseball and college basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
- Author; How Fantasy Sports Explains the World.
