Tim McCullough looks at the Pitcher vs. Hitter matchups for Wednesday-Thursday to serve up start/sit advice.
Note: This article is part of our series that highlights quality content from premium subscription sites. RotoExperts has been gracious enough to share a weekly article with our users for free. For additional RotoExperts insight, you can visit RotoExperts.com.
Wednesday Games
Mat Latos (Reds) @ Mets – David Wright is 2 for 11 (.182) against Latos, but the two hits were a double and a home run. Still, Wright is batting just .254 at Citi Field, as opposed to .359 on the road, so perhaps this is an occasion to bench the stud. Others to sit would be John Buck (0 for 8) and Ike Davis (0 for 6). Latos doesn’t have a great track record at Citi Field. In two starts there he is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA.
Jarrod Parker (A’s) @ Rangers – Parker has handled the Rangers with little difficulty. In three starts against them he is a perfect 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and he’s held Rangers batters to a .179 average. Nelson Cruz is 0 for 9, Ian Kinsler is 0 for 7 and even Adrian Beltre has just a .222 average against Parker.
Trevor Cahill (D-backs) @ Rockies – The Rockies haven’t been kind to Cahill during his short career. In seven outings against them he is 2-4 with a 4.87 ERA and the team is batting .288 against him. This shows up in the Pitcher/Batter stats pretty well too. Dexter Fowler leads the way with a .500 average (5 for 10), two triples and two stolen bases against Cahill. Josh Rutledge is 4 for 10, and Jordan Pacheco is 3 for 10 with a home run. Other samples are too small to bother with, but I wouldn’t hesitate to start any Rockies hitter against Cahill in Coors Field.
Jorge De La Rosa (Rockies) vs. D-backs – De La Rosa has been superb against the Diamondbacks with a career record of 7-4 in 14 starts with a 2.28 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He’s held the team to a career .212 batting average against him. Of course, there are many new faces on the Diamondbacks these days, so only Cody Ross (.296) and Gerardo Parra (.231) have samples large enough to consider. Given De La Rosa’s dominance of the team, he’s a strong start against them pitching at home in Coors Field.
Gio Gonzalez (Nationals) @ Giants – Gonzalez has “survived” the Giants at AT&T Park with a 1-1 record over three starts. He has a 3.38 ERA there, but his WHIP is 1.50 mainly because he’s walked eight batters and given up 20 hits in 18 innings, including three home runs. You should definitely start Andres Torres, who is 5 for 19 (.263) and sit Marco Scutaro who is 2 for 17 (.118) against Gonzalez.
Madison Bumgarner (Giants) vs. Nationals – Bumgarner is superb at home with a 21-13 record, 3.08 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 46 home starts. Several Nationals have had some luck against him, though, including Ryan Zimmerman (.300) with a home run, Ian Desmond (3 for 8) and Danny Espinosa (3 for 9). Sit Adam LaRoche, who has just two hits in 13 at bats (.154) against Bumgarner.
Jeff Samardzija (Cubs) @ Pirates – Samardzija has been a Pirate killer, especially at PNC Park, where his is 4-0 with a 0.60 ERA and 0.50 WHIP. Aside from Andrew McCutchen (.308), there isn’t anyone on the Pirates who’s been able to hit Samardzija, and even he has six strikeouts in 13 at bats. Gaby Sanchez is 1 for 10, Garrett Jones is 1 for 11, and both Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez are 2 for 10.
Francisco Liriano (Pirates) vs. Cubs – Liriano has pitched well in PNC Park; he has a 2-0 record in three stars with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. David DeJesus has been hitting well lately but against Liriano he is just 2 for 15 (.133).
Kevin Slowey (Marlins) vs. Phillies – Slowey already has two starts against the Phillies this season with a record of 1-0, a 0.73 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Michael Young is 3 for 12 and Ryan Howard is 3 for 7 against Slowey, so they are decent starts. The same can’t be said of Chase Utley (1 for 7), Delmon Young (0 for 5) or Domonic Brown (0 for 6).
Clay Buchholz (Red Sox) @ White Sox – Of course he’s been lights out this season; he’s 6-0 with a 1.78 ERA in case you’ve been under a rock since March. However, US Cellular Park has been a boondoggle for Buchholz in the past; he’s 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and he’s coughed up three homers in 11 innings there. To be fair, the poor start that killed his numbers was back in 2008. He actually had a great outing there in 2010, so perhaps I’m jumping the gun with the whole boondoggle thing. But be aware that Paul Konerko is 6 for 12 with a home run, and lowly Jeff Keppinger, he of the .199 current average, is batting .273 with a homer against him. Alex Rios is 2 for 13 and Gordon Beckham just 1 for 8.
Ubaldo Jimenez (Indians) vs. Tigers – Beware the Tiger(s)! There’s been lots written about how Jimenez has been better of late, but those starts came on the road, my friends. At Progressive Park he is a pitiful 1-2 with a 9.72 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and opposing batters, um, er, battering him with a .308 average. The Tigers have been especially tough on Jimenez over the years; in 14 starts against them, he is 5-7 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Victor Martinez (.333, 2 HR), Jhonny Peralta (.304, HR), Miguel Cabrera (.342, HR), Prince Fielder (.286), Austin Jackson (.333) and almost the whole darn team have battered Jimenez. Just for kicks, Torii Hunter is 2 for 13 and Andy Dirks is just 4 for 24 (.167).
Justin Verlander (Tigers) @ Indians – There’s hope for Jimenez after all because Verlander is a decidedly human 7-10 at Progressive Field with a 5.38 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Can you believe it? Michael Brantley digs hitting Verlander, as he has a .423 career average against him. Mike Aviles is 4 for 16 and Jason Giambi is 4 for 15 with a pair of homers against him. Nick Swisher has taken Verlander deep three times but has just a .214 average against him. Jason Kipnis (2 for 12) and Asdrubal Cabrera (.170).
C.J. Wilson (Angels) vs. Mariners – Wilson hasn’t lost his last three outings against Seattle dating back to September of 2011. But he hasn’t been particularly effective at home with a record of 8-10 and a 3.50 ERA in 24 starts there. Who says Brendan Ryan can’t hit? Against Wilson he’s 5 for 18 (.278) and Kendrys Morales is batting .300. Dustin Ackley (.200), Michael Saunders (.133) and Kyle Seager (.125) have all struggled against Wilson.
Jason Hammel (Orioles) vs. Yankees – The Yankees have been a bit of a problem for Hammel, who has faced them four times in the past two seasons. He is 1-1 with a 3.70 ERA, mainly because he’s allowed four homers in 22 innings pitched against the Yankees. Travis Hafner (.300, 2 HRs), Vernon Wells (.357, 2 HRs) and Robinson Cano (.385) have all crushed Hammel in the past. Curtis Granderson (.214) and Lyle Overbay (.071), not so much.
Hiroki Kuroda (Yankees) @ Orioles – Kuroda has been tough on the Orioles with a record of 2-1 and a 1.85 ERA in three starts. Nick Markakis (.364) and Adam Jones (.300) have had some success against the righty. J.J. Hardy (.154), Chris Davis (.200) and Nate McLouth (.100) have definitely not had any success.
Jeremy Hellickson (Rays) @ Blue Jays – Whatever you do, sit Brett Lawrie down against Hellickson; he is 0 for 11 against him. Maicer Izturis (.200), Rajai Davis (.125) and Colby Rasmus (.235) are also candidates to sit.
Thursday Games
Edwin Jackson (Cubs) @ Pirates – Jackson is 4-1 with a 3.09 ERA in seven starts against the Pirates. Garrett Jones is 3 for 12 with a homer, Brandon Inge is 6 for 23 and John McDonald is 5 for 15 against Jackson. Russell Martin is just 2 for 12 and Pedro Alvarez is 1 for 8.
Brandon Morrow (Blue Jays) vs. Orioles – Here’s another hurler who’s tough to recommend based on how he’s pitching this season, so I won’t do it. Chris Davis is 2 for 14 and Matt Wieters is 2 for 18, so sit both down against Morrow. Start Nick Markakis (.280) and J.J. Hardy (.278).
Scott Diamond (Twins) @ Tigers – Austin Jackson (.222) and Jhonny Peralta (.200), as well as Prince Fielder (.091) have all had a hard time at the plate against Diamond.
Rick Porcello (Tigers) vs. Twins – Josh Willingham treats Porcello like batting practice with a .600 average against him. Ryan Doumit (.400), Trevor Plouffe (.267) and Jamey Carroll (.368) have all hit him well. Justin Morneau is 6 for 26 and Joe Mauer is 6 or 27 against him.
Michael Bourn is 10 for 32 (.313) lifetime against Ryan Dempster.
Josh Hamilton is 10 for 37 (.270) with a pair of homers against Ervin Santana.
To view more great content like this, please visit our friends at RotoExperts.com & follow them on Twitter: @RotoExperts
