Fantasy daily notes for September 8 – ESPN

Starting pitcher projected Game Scores for September 7
					2014 Statistics			Past 21 Days
GS	Team	Name	T	Opp	W-L	ERA	WHIP	W-L	ERA	WHIP
87		Clayton Kershaw	L	SD	17-3	1.70	0.83	3-0	0.75	0.75
71		Felix Hernandez	R	Hou	14-5	2.18	0.90	1-1	3.92	1.11
58		Sonny Gray	R	@CWS	13-8	3.25	1.23	1-1	5.31	1.28
56		Danny Salazar	R	LAA	6-6	3.80	1.35	2-1	1.08	0.96
56		Mike Minor	L	@Wsh	6-9	4.65	1.41	2-1	2.17	0.79
54		Marcus Stroman	R	ChC	9-5	3.83	1.22	2-1	3.86	1.45
52		Doug Fister	R	Atl	12-6	2.66	1.15	0-3	4.18	1.56
51		Hector Noesi	R	Oak	8-9	4.70	1.39	1-1	3.86	1.10
50		Jered Weaver	R	@Cle	15-8	3.56	1.22	2-1	2.88	1.28
50		Odrisamer Despaigne	R	@LAD	3-5	3.06	1.19	0-2	3.91	1.04
50*		Justin Verlander	R	KC	12-12	4.80	1.45	2-1	5.12	1.66
49		Yovani Gallardo	R	Mia	8-8	3.43	1.26	0-2	4.50	1.69
48		Jonathon Niese	L	Col	8-10	3.68	1.31	1-2	4.95	1.55
42		Jacob Turner	R	@Tor	5-8	5.54	1.59	1-1	3.75	1.50
47		Shelby Miller	R	@Cin	8-9	4.00	1.33	0-0	2.25	0.95
47		Miguel Gonzalez	R	@Bos	8-7	3.38	1.29	2-1	1.21	0.72
47		Joe Kelly	R	Bal	3-3	4.13	1.39	1-1	4.98	1.43
45		Kyle Kendrick	R	Pit	8-11	4.77	1.35	3-0	3.72	1.14
43		Brad Peacock	R	@Sea	4-8	5.01	1.55	1-0	2.16	1.02
43		Jeremy Guthrie	R	@Det	10-10	4.31	1.32	2-0	3.54	1.14
43		Jeff Locke	L	@Phi	6-4	3.75	1.27	2-1	3.86	1.53
43		Dylan Axelrod	R	StL	1-1	3.18	1.06	1-1	3.18	1.06
39		Jordan Lyles	R	@NYM	6-2	4.35	1.36	0-1	6.65	1.57
36		Brad Penny	R	@Mil	1-1	6.61	1.96	0-1	9.95	2.53
GS: The pitcher’s projected “Game Score,” from Bill James’ original formula, which accounts for past history (three years’ worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. A Game Score of 50 typically is typically regarded a quality start; anything over 70 is exceptional, anything under 30 poor. A “*” means that the pitcher lacks requisite career major league data to produce an accurate projected Game Score; these are the author’s projections. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. Opp: The pitcher’s opponent for the day. 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.

The elite (ranked for use in daily cash games such as 50/50s and double-ups)

Forget the acronyms such as BABIP, xFIP and wOBA. Today it’s real simple: heads it’s Clayton Kershaw, tails it’s Felix Hernandez. Everything is set up perfectly for both, as they’re at home against lesser lineups. Kershaw takes on a San Diego Padres club that was shut out twice by left-handers over the weekend in Coors Field. Hernandez faces the Houston Astros, a group that strikes out the third-most in the majors.

If I had to choose one, Kershaw’s matchup is a little softer, and he doesn’t have to face a designated hitter. But he’ll be priced a little higher, too, so in daily games it comes down to roster construction. If you’re able to find suitable sticks to fill in around Kershaw, he’s your man. If you’re a little uncomfortable with the quality, slide in The King and you’ll be just fine.

Solid (can be considered for both daily cash games and tournament play)

While Sonny Gray‘s August paled in comparison to his stellar July, he’s still throwing well enough to earn solid status, especially since he’s facing a Chicago White Sox squad that’s merely average at home while being generous with the strikeouts.

In a different year, Marcus Stroman‘s initial season could have earned Rookie of the Year consideration. He has a chance to add to his impressive resume Monday with a home date against the Chicago Cubs. Over the past month, the visitors are fanning at a 28 percent rate when on the road versus right-handers, availing Stroman the chance to rack up bountiful fantasy points.

Shelby Miller visits the Great American Ball Park to face a Cincinnati Reds team that is surprisingly weak at home, sporting a wOBA that is below league average while fanning more than most. Miller has tossed seven innings each of his past two outings and is looking to make sure he won’t be the forgotten man this postseason.

Doug Fister is in a tailspin, surrendering double-digit hits in each of his past two efforts while uncharacteristically serving up at least one homer in three straight. He has a good chance to right the ship as the Washington Nationals welcome the Atlanta Braves to Nationals Park. The visitors are well below average when traveling and facing right-handers and also have proven strikeout-prone.

Value Plays (best used in tournaments or on multiple-pitcher sites)

Like Fister, Jonathon Niese has scuffled lately, but he has an even more favorable matchup, as the Colorado Rockies head east for a series in Citi Field. Since the All-Star break, the Rockies are fanning at a bloated 31 percent rate on the road versus southpaws while sporting an anemic .267 wOBA.

Danny Salazar could be priced out of the value range, but he’ll be listed here since his opponent, the Los Angeles Angels, pose a challenge, pushing Salazar from solid status. Salazar still is loaded with strikeout potential, and he has not allowed a homer in his past four starts, covering 25 frames. The Angels are on a roll, but for the season, they’re merely average on the road against right-handers.

The St. Louis Cardinals lit up Jeff Locke last time out, but today’s opponent, the Philadelphia Phillies, are less daunting, even at home, where they sport a wOBA that is below average versus left-handers while punching out a bit more than average.