MLB Weekly Preview: Aug 30 – Sept 5

Hello my FG Fam! I am wrapping up the vacation, but as promised, here is a condensed version of the MLB weekly preview so that I’m not leaving you hanging for a potentially important week…

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In memory of John Cannella Sr.

As always, if there are any requests for information I can provide or a player/team you would like me to cover, drop a line in our VIP Chat Room or hit me up on Twitter, @Rob_Povia.

MLB GAME BREAKDOWN GRID

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WEEKLY INTERLEAGUE OUTLOOK

Rivalry Series: None

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TOP TWO-START PITCHERS

IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE – SUPERSCRIPT NUMBER IS OVERALL RANK
EXPECT FEWER OPTIONS ROS AS MORE TEAMS GO SIX-MAN

1. Corbin Burnes³ (@SF, STL)
2. Zack Wheeler⁸ (@WSH, @MIA) ← Appears Philadelphia wants to give Wheeler an extra day of rest and push him to 9/6… well GD! Big blow for those aiming for the chip this week. He lines up for two next week now for those still playing, but let this be a warning of things to come.
3. Julio Urías¹⁰ (ATL, @SF)
4. Robbie Ray¹⁵ (BAL, OAK)
5. Charlie Morton¹⁶ (@LAD, @COL)
6. Luis Castillo²¹ (STL, DET)
7. Germán Márquez³⁰ (@TEX, ATL)
8. Alex Wood³⁴ (MIL, LAD) ← Placed on CVD-19 IL 8/30; has tested positive (symptoms unclear) and vaccination status will determine second start/how much time is missed
9. Austin Gomber³⁷ (@TEX, ATL)
10. Zac Gallen⁴⁹ (SD, SEA) ← Loses second start due to Luke Weaver returning to rotation on 9/1
11. Cole Irvin⁵⁴ (@DET, @TOR)
12. Taijuan Walker⁵⁸ (MIA, @WSH)
13. Johnny Cueto⁶⁰ (MIL, LAD)
14. Zach Plesac⁶³ (@KC, @BOS)
15. Elieser Hernandez⁶⁵ (@NYM, PHI)
16. Corey Kluber⁷² (@LAA, BAL) ← Kluber will pitch in tandem with Andrew Heaney, at least for the first start.

Other Options: Chris Flexen⁷⁴ (HOU, @ARI), Casey Mize⁷⁵ (MIN, @CIN*), Josiah Gray⁸² (PHI, NYM), Chris Paddack⁸⁴ (@ARI, HOU), Mike Minor⁸⁹ (CLE, CHW), Drew Smyly⁹² (@LAD, @COL), Luis Patiño⁹⁶ (BOS, MIN), Nick Pivetta¹⁰⁵ (@TB, CLE), Patrick Corbin¹¹⁰ (PHI, NYM*), Bailey Ober¹²⁹ (@DET, @TB), Tyler Gilbert^NR (SD, SEA), Luis Garcia³¹ (@SEA, @SD)

*Mize’s second start could go to Tyler Alexander (either spot or bulk following an opener). UPDATES: Minor bumped to 9/2; Corbin is likely to lose his second start due to 9/1 PPD; Ober loses second start with Randy Dobnak’s return plus a spot start by Joe Ryan; T. Alexander scheduled to pitch 9/3, so Mize’s second start looks on track; Garcia gets second start due to Zack Greinke going on CVD-19 IL.

Danger Zone: Jon Lester^NR (@CIN, @MIL), Zach Davies^NR (@MIN, PIT), Chris Ellis^NR & Keegan Akin^NR (@TOR, @NYY)

For a detailed breakdown of two-start pitchers who may be available on your waiver wire, check out Vlad’s FAAB Values!

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STARTING PITCHER RANKINGS FOR AUG 30 – SEPT 5

PITCHING MATCHUPS

Sunday, September 5, 2021

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Taijuan Walker (RHP, NYM)	7-9		3.89		4.48		4.42		4.29		22.3%		8.3%		39.2%		41.4%
Josiah Gray (RHP, WSH)	0-2		4.73		4.71		4.17		4.03		26.7%		9.3%		34.9%		55.8%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Keegan Akin (LHP, BAL)	2-8		6.90		5.20		4.84		5.26		19.7%		9.3%		41.8%		44.4%
Corey Kluber (RHP, NYY)	4-3		3.61		4.23		4.29		3.97		25.5%		10.5%		36.7%		37.6%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Cole Irvin (LHP, OAK)	9-12		3.74		4.92		4.91		4.92		15.6%		5.2%		39.4%		38.6%
Robbie Ray (LHP, TOR)	10-5		2.71		3.21		3.14		3.39		31.9%		6.2%		42.8%		41.9%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Zach Plesac (RHP, CLE)	9-4		4.49		4.57		4.56		4.41		16.9%		5.1%		43.4%		36.2%
Nick Pivetta (RHP, BOS)	9-7		4.67		4.50		4.32		3.97		25.9%		10.7%		39.3%		43.9%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Casey Mize (RHP, DET)	7-7		3.59		4.41		4.48		5.09		18.9%		7.1%		40.1%		32.5%
Luis Castillo (RHP, CIN)	7-14		4.30		3.72		4.11		3.70		23.5%		9.5%		37.9%		25.1%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Griffin Jax (RHP, MIN)	3-3		6.71		5.67		5.12		6.11		18.6%		9.3%		46.7%		50.6%
Luis Patiño (RHP, TB)	4-3		4.24		4.93		4.47		4.12		23.7%		9.0%		38.0%		50.3%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
BP Game* (PHI)	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Elieser Hernandez (RHP, MIA)	1-1		3.62		4.14		3.88		4.38		23.1%		4.3%		42.7%		41.0%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Dylan Cease (RHP, CHW)	11-6		3.82		3.86		3.63		3.59		30.8%		9.2%		35.9%		45.0%
Brady Singer (RHP, KC)	3-9		4.87		4.29		4.44		4.50		22.0%		9.7%		37.0%		28.5%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Jon Lester (LHP, STL)	5-6		5.05		5.12		5.37		5.09		14.1%		8.7%		39.1%		32.8%
Corbin Burnes (RHP, MIL)	9-4		2.27		2.39		2.64		1.96		34.6%		4.8%		31.3%		30.9%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Wil Crowe (RHP, PIT)	3-7		5.46		4.95		4.89		5.37		20.8%		10.8%		37.7%		37.7%
Zach Davies (RHP, CHC)	6-10		4.91		4.88		5.20		5.88		17.6%		10.7%		43.2%		32.5%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Charlie Morton (RHP, ATL)	12-5		3.52		3.20		3.47		3.32		29.1%		7.9%		32.9%		27.2%
Ryan Feltner (RHP, COL)	5-2		2.85		4.03		—		—		26.8%		7.4%		—		41.5%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Taylor Hearn (LHP, TEX)	4-4		3.96		4.60		4.29		4.44		23.5%		10.4%		37.6%		42.0%
Janson Junk* (RHP, LAA)	6-3		2.81		4.06		—		—		25.9%		7.2%		—		27.2%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Luis Garcia (RHP, HOU)	10-6		3.23		3.68		3.59		3.67		28.8%		7.5%		38.1%		41.8%
Chris Paddack (RHP, SD)	7-6		4.98		3.66		3.87		4.50		22.8%		4.8%		42.2%		33.7%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Chris Flexen (RHP, SEA)	11-5		3.52		4.50		4.65		4.32		16.4%		5.0%		39.7%		35.1%
Tyler Gilbert (LHP, ARI)	1-2		2.93		4.83		4.97		3.12		17.9%		8.9%		33.3%		39.0%

	W/L		ERA		xFIP		SIERA		xERA		K%		BB%		HH%		FB%
Walker Buehler (RHP, LAD)	13-2		2.05		3.54		3.65		2.94		26.8%		6.4%		35.5%		36.6%
BP Game* (SF)	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—

STOLEN BASE TARGETS

If you have been paying attention to the new rule changes for minor league baseball, you can see the commissioner’s office desires a return of a long-lost element to the game… the stolen base. Let’s get ahead of the curve while also maximizing on the few pilferers of the dirt in 2021. Jack Kitchen (@JAXvicious), a long-time sub, reached out this offseason, asking if I could add a section on stolen base targets. As I have said from Day One of this column, your wish is my command!

So, I have imported one of the many fine tools we offer on our sister site, Elite Fantasy. Along with stolen base targets, our DFS MLB package offers daily articles and livestreams, a 24/7 chat, ownership projections and Fantasy Cruncher optimizer, BvP data, batter splits, park factors, umpire factors, weather reports and cheat sheets. The data alone is worth well over $1200! These weapons of mass destruction aid fantasy success in all formats, DFS and seasonal. JOIN TODAY!