ESPN

June 22, 2009, 4:43 PM

Mazzaro to battle with Lincecum

Comment Email Print Share

By Adam Madison
Special to ESPN.com
Archive

Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore is also scheduled to return from the disabled list Tuesday, so make sure to get him in your lineup against the likes of Ian Snell.

For starters

Starting pitcher rankings for June 23, 2009

Rk	Team	Name	T	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K/9	OPSA	Opp	OPS	CT%
1		Tim Lincecum	R	6-2	2.72	1.16	10.50	.608	@OAK	.668	81.6%
2		Zack Greinke	R	8-3	1.96	1.02	9.45	.596	@HOU	.740	83.1%
3		Edwin Jackson	R	6-4	2.39	1.06	6.87	.611	CHC	.723	77.7%
4		Carlos Zambrano	R	4-2	3.44	1.30	7.51	.670	@DET	.750	81.1%
5		Max Scherzer	R	4-4	3.58	1.38	9.12	.735	TEX	.775	76.5%
6		Brad Penny	R	6-2	4.94	1.55	5.96	.833	@WAS	.751	77.1%
7		John Danks	L	5-5	4.48	1.35	8.48	.736	LAD	.766	81.0%
8		David Price	L	1-1	3.46	1.58	10.73	.759	PHI	.791	80.2%
9		Brian Tallet	L	4-4	4.68	1.31	6.31	.704	CIN	.710	80.6%
10		Vin Mazzaro	R	2-1	1.75	0.97	4.91	.494	SF	.695	78.7%
11		Hiroki Kuroda	R	1-3	3.86	1.11	6.75	.686	@CHW	.722	80.4%
12		Joel Pineiro	R	5-8	3.76	1.27	4.20	.719	@NYM	.762	83.6%
13		Francisco Liriano	L	2-8	5.91	1.52	7.88	.839	@MIL	.757	76.1%
14		Ubaldo Jimenez	R	6-6	3.73	1.38	7.66	.681	@LAA	.770	81.7%
15		Chien-Ming Wang	R	0-5	12.30	2.43	7.18	1.151	@ATL	.716	82.3%
16		Jeff Suppan	R	5-4	4.48	1.59	4.83	.868	MIN	.774	80.4%
17		Andrew Miller	L	2-3	4.56	1.56	7.54	.729	BAL	.761	83.3%
18		Koji Uehara	R	2-4	4.30	1.25	6.82	.739	@FLA	.718	76.5%
19		Livan Hernandez	R	5-1	4.18	1.39	5.08	.802	STL	.752	82.0%
20		Chad Gaudin	R	2-6	5.98	1.62	8.73	.789	@SEA	.707	82.7%
21		Ervin Santana	R	1-3	7.47	1.85	6.03	.954	COL	.782	78.1%
22		Tommy Hanson	R	2-0	4.08	1.58	6.11	.794	NYY	.822	83.0%
23		John Lannan	L	4-5	3.38	1.34	4.43	.752	BOS	.805	79.7%
24		Matt Harrison	L	4-4	5.43	1.56	4.83	.851	@ARI	.721	76.4%
25		David Huff	L	2-2	7.09	1.64	5.73	.915	@PIT	.729	79.6%
26		Russ Ortiz	R	3-2	3.60	1.60	6.84	.763	KC	.720	80.3%
27		Micah Owings	R	4-7	4.50	1.53	5.63	.762	@TOR	.784	83.3%
28		Ian Snell	R	2-7	5.08	1.59	5.88	.853	CLE	.772	77.1%
29		Garrett Olson	L	2-1	4.23	1.23	4.93	.760	SD	.693	78.8%
30		Jamie Moyer	L	4-6	6.35	1.53	5.23	.911	@TB	.819	77.9%

Rk.: The author's ranking of that pitcher for that day only. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. 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. K/9: Pitcher's average number of strikeouts per nine innings. OPSA: Pitcher's on-base plus slugging percentage surrendered to opponents. OPS: Pitcher's opponent's composite team on-base plus slugging percentage. CT%: Pitcher's opponent's success rate putting the ball in play (versus striking out).

Selected notes: The biggest problem with David Price so far has been his lack of efficiency. In his first four starts, Price failed to pitch six innings before tossing 100 pitches, and 18 walks in 26 innings won't cut it. Some growing pains were expected, however, and he didn't walk a batter in seven innings against the Rockies in Coors Field in his last start. The Phillies can be susceptible to quality left-handed pitching, they may be without Ryan Howard and are already without Raul Ibanez, and maybe most importantly, Price has a great chance for a win if he can make it through six innings with Jamie Moyer on the mound against the majors' top offense, so bank on Price this time around. … Bats are supposed to heat up in the summer heat, right? Well, the Rangers have the majors' worst on-base percentage in June -- by 15 points, even -- and they also have the worst road OBP in the majors. So it seems like Max Scherzer is running into the Rangers at the perfect time, and you have to like his chances to pile up the K's, too, when you consider the Rangers are second in the AL in strikeouts. … Chien-Ming Wang did garner 12 ground ball outs to just five fly ball outs in his last start versus the Nationals, so there is hope. But the Nationals have struggled this month, and yet Wang still allowed three runs in five innings. It's all about baby steps, however, and his next opponent, Atlanta, hasn't been any better -- the Braves' on-base percentage is actually 13 points worse this month -- and maybe the ease of National League lineups is exactly what Wang needs to get back on track. … There is something strangely appealing about Joel Pineiro when you delve into his peripherals. Batters may be hitting .291 off him, but their OBP is only .317 thanks to his microscopic walk rate, and they're slugging only .402 in large part because he leads the majors in ground ball percentage. He's backed by a good Cardinals defense, one which should only get better now that Khalil Greene has moved to the hot corner, so he could continue to be a nice option when the matchup calls for it. The Mets, who slug below .400 as a team against right-handed pitching, seem to fit the bill. … After tossing six consecutive quality starts in May -- an impressive feat considering the Indians, Yankees and Red Sox (twice) were on the schedule -- Brian Tallet has since been inconsistent, allowing five, zero, eight and one run in his next four starts. But he gets recommended for Tuesday solely due to his opponent, the Reds, who are awful against left-handed pitching and have been particularly awful as a whole in June, sitting last in batting average and slugging percentage. They have Ramon Hernandez hitting fifth against left-handers, which says it all. … It's nice to see Brad Penny's strikeout rate rise in recent starts; he has 25 K's in 28 innings over his past five starts. He's pitched into the seventh inning only three times all season, but what does it matter when a high-quality offense is backing you? Pit Penny against a slumping Nationals offense, and in turn let the Red Sox's offense have a shot against the hittable John Lannan, and the result is a recipe for fantasy success for Penny.

Now batting

Hitters' count:

• J.D. Drew, OF, Red Sox: Left-handed hitters are teeing off on John Lannan, as 16 of the 26 hits Lannan has allowed to southpaws have gone for extra bases, including seven home runs. That equates to a .633 slugging percentage allowed, 300 points higher than his average against righties, and while Lannan is a lefty hurler himself, he has allowed lefties to slug significantly higher against him throughout his career.
• Mark DeRosa, 2B/3B/OF, Indians: The streaky DeRosa is having his most productive month in June, and faces the hittable Ian Snell on Tuesday, a pitcher who is allowing right-handers to slug .506 against him. In fact, DeRosa is already 5-for-10 lifetime versus Snell.
• Carlos Pena, 1B, Rays: In 20 at-bats against Jamie Moyer, Pena is batting .500, with five extra-base hits, including two long balls and three doubles.
• Rick Ankiel, OF, Cardinals: Ankiel has lost all semblance of plate discipline this month (18 strikeouts to three walks), but he still has his power: Nine of his 18 hits have gone for extra bases, including three dingers. He went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run earlier in the season against Livan Hernandez, who is a pretty hittable pitcher in his own right, so it's a gamble worth taking.
• Mark Reynolds, 1B/3B, Diamondbacks: Thirty-nine percent of the hits Matt Harrison has allowed to right-handers have been of the extra-base variety; all but three of the extra-base hits Harrison has allowed have been slugged by righties. Overall, they are hitting .341 against him, and with numbers like those, it's not hard to see where his 5.43 ERA comes from. Reynolds, to say the least, should benefit.
• Juan Rivera, OF, Angels: Thanks to a 2-for-4 performance on Sunday, Rivera hasn't gone two consecutive games without a hit for 26 games now. The power's been there, too, with 16 extra-base hits -- eight of them home runs -- in that span, so it almost seems a little easy to insert him in this space. Then again, he's owned in fewer than a third of ESPN leagues, so more than a few owners need a heads-up.
• Geovany Soto, C, Cubs: Soto is 6-for-16 (.375) over his past five games, with five extra-base hits as well, going deep twice. That's the power owners have been waiting for all season long, and overall seven of his 11 hits this month have been of the extra-base variety, and if he can get his average up even a little more, he could be set to go on quite the hot streak.
• Michael Cuddyer, OF, Twins: He's been in the zone recently, going 10-for-25 (.400) since June 12, with seven extra-base hits in seven games -- three doubles, two triples and two home runs.

Pitchers' count:

• Adam Dunn, OF, Nationals: Brad Penny has struck out Dunn in 14 of their 28 at-bats, while Dunn has mustered just five hits otherwise. Although two of those hits left the park, that still leaves Dunn with a .179 average and a sub-.400 slugging percentage, nothing to write home about.
• Brandon Inge, 3B, Tigers: Although Inge has slugged eight home runs against right-handers this season, it's come attached with a .244 average. Toss in his high strikeout rate -- K's in 30 percent of his at-bats against righties -- and the fact that he's facing a righty the caliber of Carlos Zambrano, and Inge is better left on the bench.
• Alfonso Soriano, OF, Cubs: After hitting .284 in April, Soriano is hitting only .195 since, so let's kick a man while he's down, right? He will snap out of his slump eventually, but there's no reason to start him against Edwin Jackson, as batters have a paltry .609 OPS against him, second-best (next to Zack Greinke) in the AL.
• Jack Cust, OF, Athletics: Cust has struck out four times in seven at-bats against Lincecum, limited to just one hit in the process, and you would kind of expect a hitter who strikes out as often as Cust -- or any hitter, really -- to be particularly susceptible to the Tim Lincecums of the world.
• Jay Bruce, OF, Reds: In 206 career at-bats against left-handers, Bruce is hitting .184 with four home runs. He hits 82 points worse against southpaws and his slugging percentage drops over 300 points, and, oh, he's also hitting .177 in June.
• Andre Ethier, OF, Dodgers: Another batter straddling the Mendoza line against lefties this season, Ethier also loses his power: He has just nine home runs in 401 career at-bats against southpaws.

If you're hardcore

• Garret Anderson, OF, Braves: Although he's not hitting for any kind of power, Anderson is nonetheless hitting .371 (13-for-35) over his past 10 games, and going back even further, he's hitting .315 since May 10. Since he rarely walks, that average has a lot of value, and batting behind Brian McCann results in a lot of RBI opportunities. He's becoming a solid NL-only grab.
• Jonny Gomes, OF, Reds: Gomes has been a lefty killer in his career, with 26 home runs in 435 career at-bats en route to a .883 OPS. The Reds are aware of this, as he normally hits fourth or fifth in the lineup against lefties, and so far he's 10-for-23 (.434), including a 2-for-3 day against Mark Buehrle on Sunday.
• Gabe Kapler, OF, Rays: Kapler has a 1.045 OPS against left-handers, thanks to four home runs, all of which have come in June. He doesn't play much, but with Jamie Moyer on the mound Tuesday, he'll likely start over Gabe Gross, and right-handers are hitting .342 off Moyer, so Kapler could have another huge game.
• Mike Jacobs, 1B, Royals: Jacobs is hitting an awful .189 in June, but at least he has three extra-base hits over the past week. It's a bit of a reach considering the slump Jacobs is in, but come on, he's facing Russ Ortiz, who has allowed left-handers to crush him to the tune of a .365 AVG/.477 OBP/.641 SLG the prior three seasons. And for what it's worth, Jacobs is 3-for-4 with a home run and a double off Ortiz in his career.
• Seth Smith, OF, Rockies: It will be interesting to see whom the Rockies utilize as a DH as they head to AL parks. Chances are they will go with a platoon between Smith and Ryan Spilborghs, and with the Rox facing a righty on Tuesday, that's a matchup that favors Smith. Smith has hit well in limited playing time, a trend that is not limited to just this season, and his 22-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio is promising. And who knows how effective -- or healthy -- Ervin Santana will be.
• Josh Willingham, OF, Nationals: After a superb month of May (.303 average, eight home runs), June has been something of a lost month for Willingham, first due to injury (viral infection) and then the death of his younger brother. He returned on Saturday, however, and all that missed time means he's owned in 98 percent of ESPN leagues. Austin Kearns, supposedly his main competition for playing time, has just two hits in June, so the battle is between Willingham and Willie Harris, and since Harris is also hitting below the Mendoza line in June, Willingham should resume playing regularly soon.

Triage

Injury list: Out

• Endy Chavez, OF, Mariners (15-day DL, torn ACL): Chavez will miss the remainder of the season.

Injury list: Day-to-day

• Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets (knee)
• Russell Branyan, 1B, Mariners (arm): Branyan was hit by a pitch Saturday, and sat out Sunday after he felt sore the following day. He's aiming for a Tuesday return.
• Jermaine Dye, OF, White Sox (calf; available to pinch hit): Word is the White Sox held Dye out over the weekend, with his return planned for Tuesday.
• Khalil Greene, SS, Cardinals (ankle): Greene was hit in the ankle by a Gil Meche pitch on Sunday.
• Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies (illness): Howard had played in a major league-high 343 consecutive games before missing Sunday's contest, so one could say he was due for a rest. He has been diagnosed with acute sinusitis, which is being treated with antibiotics; it's unknown whether he'll be able to play Tuesday.
• Jason Kubel, OF, Twins (illness)
• Jose Lopez, 2B, Mariners (bereavement)
• Mike Lowell, 3B, Red Sox (hip): Lowell was unavailable over the weekend, but factoring in Monday's off day, he'll have three days of rest, so there's a good chance he'll be back in the lineup Tuesday.
• Placido Polanco, 2B, Tigers (leg)
• Ervin Santana, SP, Angels (elbow): Santana had his start pushed back a week due to forearm tightness in his pitching arm. He's been pounded since initially returning from the disabled list back in May, so his start versus the Rockies should tell a lot about his health.
• Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians (15-day DL, elbow): "My elbow feels good. I haven't had any setbacks, but we're only going to find out how it really is by playing every day," Sizemore said. Maybe not the most comforting comments, but regardless, Sizemore is expected to be activated from the disabled list in time for Tuesday's contest.
• Chris Young, OF, Diamondbacks (groin): D-backs manager A.J. Hinch is reportedly "very optimistic" Young will return Tuesday.

Weather concerns

• A whopping six games are weatherproof, with domes in Toronto (Reds-Blue Jays), Tampa (Phillies-Rays), Houston (Royals-Astros), Milwaukee (Twins-Brewers), Arizona (Rangers-Diamondbacks) and Seattle (Padres-Mariners).
• Nothing out of the ordinary in Miami, with a 40 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms. A minor chance of a few showers in Flushing (30 percent) hangs over the Cardinals-Mets contest.