2011 Fantasy Baseball, Week 19 Sit Em/Start Em & Two-Start Pitchers: Kuroda Gets The Nod
Huroki Kuroda |Los Angeles Dodgers| (99.7%) – Huroki has been dominating as of late and it looks like he should be able to continue his current rend this week against the Phillies and Astros. Current Phillies hitters are only hitting .144 through 90 career-at bats. The heart of the order (Howard, Pence, Utley) have a combined six hits through 38 at-bats. Against the Phillies, Kuroda has a 0.84 ERA and 0.66 WHIP through 32 innings. Current Astros hitters are only hitting .228 and have a combined .267 OBP. In 37.2 innings against the Astros, Kuroda has a 1.91 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while holding Houston batters to a .196 avg.
Wandy Rodriguez |Houston Astros| (83.6%) – Rodriguez’s faces a two-start week against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers with both starts away from home. The Diamondbacks are one of the worst teams when facing left-handed pitchers. They are ranked 24th in baseball, hitting .241 against left-handed pitchers. His next opponent, the Dodgers, should be easier. Current Dodger’s hitters have a combined .236 average and .282 OBP against Rodriguez. In five career starts at Dodger stadium, Rodriguez has a 1.15 ERA.
Two-Start Pitchers to Sit
Matt Garza |Chicago Cubs| (95.9%) – Garza faces terrible splits this week against the Nationals and Braves. In 43 at-bats against Garza, current Nationals hitters are hitting .372 with a .400 OBP. In 7.2 career innings against the Nationals, Garza has a 10.57 ERA and a 2.60 WHIP. The competition gets tougher as the week goes on. Garza’s next start is in Atlanta against the Braves. This season, Garza’s away ERA stands at an alarming 5.20 ERA (compared to his 2.70 home ERA).
Justin Masterson |Cleveland Indians| (100%) – Masterson’s been living up to his potential this season and things shouldn’t change too much for the rest of the season. However, this week might be a challenge as Masterson faces two lineups that have given him some trouble throughout his career. First up for Masterson this week is the Detroit Tigers at home. In 117 career at-bats against Masterson, Tigers hitters have a combined .299 average and .368 OBP. In 34 innings against the Tigers, Masterson has a 4.76 ERA and 1.59 WHIP and has 0-3 win-loss record. Masterson stays home for his next start and faces the Twins. In 53 innings against the Twins, Masterson has a 3.74 ERA and 1.40 WHIP and 0-4 win-loss record. In 165 combined career at-bats against Masterson, current Twins hitters have a .291 average and .341 OBP. Nearly 25% of those hits are for extra bases.
Casey McGehee | 3B | Milwaukee Brewers – McGehee has been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments this year. Playing at a fairly shallow position McGehee’s production has dipped dramatically this season. The good news is since the All-Star break he has improved his numbers. In 19 games since the break McGehee is hitting .323 and has 12 RBI.
On the heels of a stellar series against the Cardinals McGehee once again gets to face the division rival with the NL Central title possibly up for grabs. In 94 career at-bats McGehee is hitting .287 with 5 home runs and 21 RBI. If that wasn’t enough evidence for you McGehee also gets to face Edwin Jackson again who he recently took deep 3 times in one game.
The Brewers end the week against another team in the NL Central race. In 61 at-bats against the Pirates McGehee is hitting .311 with a .394 OBP 2 hrs and 8 RBI. His second series of the is at home where McGehee is hitting .262 with 7 home runs and 30 RBI where his road splits are .218 Average with 1 home run and 18 RBI.
Jason Kipnis | 2B | Cleveland Indians – You gotta strike while the iron is hot and Kipnis is on fire. Cleveland’s young second baseman is hitting .280 with 4 home runs and 4 RBI in the last 7 days. Both series this week will be away from Pregressive Field were Kipnis is hitting only .136 as opposed to .375 on the road.
In his first matchup of the week Kipnis get to face Detroit. The Tigers have the 5th worst team ERA in the AL and the Indians will not have to face both Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
In his second series of the week Kipnis gets the Minnesota Twins. Being as he has only played 11 games in the big leagues he has not faced the Twins before and does not numbers against any of their pitchers. However, Minnesota has 3rd worst team ERA in the AL and there is no sign of that getting any better.
Sluggers To Sit
Brett Gardner | OF | New York Yankees – Gardner is one Yankee who actually hits better on the road (.295 ) than he does at Yankee Stadium (.261). For a player whose fantasy value is dependent on him getting on base to collect steals and runs a week full of home starts hurts his value.
Against the Angels pitching staff Gardner is hitting only .156 with 0 home runs and 2 RBI. The Angels also carry catchers who can’t hit a lick but are stellar behind the plate. These catchers will further diminish Gardner’s value if he can’t steal bases.
Against the Rays Gardner is hitting only .258 without a home run and only 3 RBI. He hits better against the Rays but will not face the starters that he hit best against. I would assume that Andruw Jones gets a start or two against the Rays.
Jon Jay | OF | St. Louis Cardinals – After the trade of Colby Rasmus to the Blue Jays Jay has become the premier Center Fielder in St. Louis. In his last 7 days Jay is hitting an awful .095 with 0 RBI or Stolen Bases.
In his career against the Brewers Jay is hitting just .118 and is only 2-18 against the three starting pitchers he’ll face in the series. With numbers like that against the Brewers I’d be surprised if LaRussa starts him more than once in the series.
There are not a lot of numbers to go by in Jay’s matchup with the Rockies. Jay only has 4 at-bats against the Rockies starter he will face so the suggestion comes from how Jay has hit in the past week.
Written by James Bryce & JJ Omar exclusively for TheFantasyFix.comFollow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter
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