Fantasy daily notes for June 23 – ESPN

Starting pitcher projected Game Scores for June 23
					2015 Statistics			Past 21 Days
GS	Team	Name	T	Opp	W-L	ERA	WHIP	W-L	ERA	WHIP
69		Madison Bumgarner	L	SD	7-4	3.09	1.07	1-2	3.26	0.96
67		David Price	L	@Cle	6-2	2.50	1.11	2-1	1.47	0.98
66		Zack Greinke	R	@ChC	5-2	1.81	0.94	0-1	2.60	1.12
65		Danny Salazar	R	Det	6-2	3.56	1.17	1-1	3.38	1.25
61		Chris Archer	R	Tor	8-4	2.18	1.00	3-0	2.33	1.04
60		Alex Wood	L	@Wsh	4-4	3.40	1.42	1-2	3.20	1.26
59		Carlos Martinez	R	@Mia	7-3	2.80	1.26	3-1	1.33	1.04
58		Mike Fiers	R	NYM	3-7	4.50	1.55	2-2	4.43	1.57
58		Jesse Chavez	R	@Tex	3-6	2.52	1.09	2-1	2.67	1.15
56		Stephen Strasburg	R	Atl	3-5	6.55	1.72	—	—	—
55		C.J. Wilson	L	Hou	5-5	3.39	1.12	2-2	3.86	0.96
54		Jason Hammel	R	LAD	5-2	2.89	0.98	2-0	2.66	1.14
54		Jeff Samardzija	R	@Min	4-4	4.67	1.34	0-2	6.84	1.56
54		Chi Chi Gonzalez	R	Oak	2-1	0.90	1.00	1-1	1.11	0.95
52		Ubaldo Jimenez	R	@Bos	5-3	3.27	1.28	2-0	3.57	1.50
52		Mike Montgomery	L	KC	1-2	2.73	1.14	1-2	2.73	1.14
51		Collin McHugh	R	@LAA	7-3	5.04	1.34	2-1	7.36	1.64
50		CC Sabathia	L	Phi	3-7	5.31	1.40	1-0	4.37	1.32
50		R.A. Dickey	R	@TB	3-6	4.96	1.31	1-1	2.88	1.28
49		Jonathon Niese	L	@Mil	3-7	4.21	1.49	0-2	3.60	1.25
48		Odrisamer Despaigne	R	@SF	3-5	4.92	1.30	1-2	4.44	1.29
47		Jose Urena	R	StL	1-3	4.18	1.33	1-2	2.55	1.14
46		Joe Kelly	R	Bal	2-4	5.32	1.44	1-0	3.27	1.41
46		Chase Anderson	R	@Col	3-1	2.84	1.15	2-0	3.42	1.23
46		Mike Pelfrey	R	CWS	5-3	2.97	1.28	1-2	3.38	1.35
46		Jeff Locke	L	Cin	4-3	4.74	1.45	1-1	4.84	1.43
45		Josh Smith	R	@Pit	—	—	—	—	—	—
43		Jeremy Guthrie	R	@Sea	5-4	5.55	1.49	1-1	3.13	1.13
40		Kyle Kendrick	R	Ari	2-9	5.95	1.44	0-3	4.88	1.54
40		Sean O’Sullivan	R	@NYY	1-5	4.79	1.44	0-1	4.76	1.63
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 author has adjusted the 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.

Elite

Pick an ace, any ace. If you’re willing to pay up for an ace in cash games, there are elite arms aplenty. However, there’s no clear-cut standout among the group, so DFS players will have some tough decisions to make.

The chart-topper on Tuesday is Madison Bumgarner, who has a home matchup against the Padres. Most of the Padres’ right-handed heavy lineup has the platoon advantage against Bumgarner, but they are also whiffing 23.8 percent of the time against lefties this season, the fourth-highest mark in the NL. A better pitcher at home this season (2.53 ERA), Bumgarner has double-digit strikeout upside in this matchup.

Speaking of double-digit whiff upside, Zack Greinke faces off against a Cubs team that’s fanning 25.1 percent of the time against right-handed pitching. The Cubs do have enough firepower to do damage if Greinke isn’t on his game, but Greinke is rarely not on his game. Only once in his past nine starts has he allowed more than two runs in a game, and that was a start at Coors Field.

In one of the better matchups of the day, David Price and Danny Salazar square off at Progressive Field. The Tigers don’t strike out much against right-handed pitching (19 percent), but Salazar is whiffing 11.2 batters per nine this season, third-best in baseball, and carries double-digit strikeout upside into every start. In fact, he whiffed 11 against the Tigers earlier this season. That said, Price offers a little more stability. He’s allowed just seven runs combined over his past six starts. While the Indians do hit left-handed pitching well, Price twirled a complete-game shutout against Cleveland when they last squared off a couple of weeks ago. Price has also thrived on the road this season, featuring a 1.92 ERA (3.29 at home)

Solid

Chris Archer often finds himself in the elite tier these days, but he gets knocked down a peg with the hard-hitting Blue Jays on tap. The Jays are averaging an MLB-best 6.4 runs per game in June and rank third in baseball with a .330 wOBA versus right-handed pitching this season. Archer looks like one of the best pitchers in the game when he’s locked in, and it’s worth noting that he’s tossed 14 scoreless innings against Toronto over two starts this season. That said, with so many other high-end options on Tuesday, he’s more of a contrarian play here.

Carlos Martinez is in a terrific spot on Tuesday, facing a Marlins team that’s anemic against right-handed pitching (.292 wOBA) and strikes out 20.6 percent of the time. The right-hander boasts a 2.56 road ERA this year and has allowed just earned six runs over his past seven starts. Martinez should have his way with the Marlins’ lineup on Tuesday.

There’s a slew of other midrange options worth consideration, including Alex Wood, Mike Fiers, Jason Hammel, Jesse Chavez, Colin McHugh and Jeff Samardzija. There are things to like about each hurler on Tuesday, but unless you’re really trying to save cap space, your cash-game lineups will be much safer with one of the arms highlighted above.

Streamers

C.J. Wilson‘s Game Score of 55 means he should be in the above tier, but given the glut of midtier options, I’m highlighting him here considering he’s unowned in nearly half of ESPN.com leagues. Wilson gets the Houston Astros on Tuesday. As we’ve discussed in this space before, the Astros are a very dangerous team, as they lead baseball in home runs and rank in the top five in runs scored. But they also strike out 25.2 percent of the time, more than any team in baseball. So if you can live with a little risk, Wilson has good upside in this matchup.

Jonathon Niese has encountered some rough patches this season, most notably when he posted a 5.56 ERA in May, but he’s since settled down. He holds a 3.60 in June and has an enticing matchup against the Brewers, who rank 28th in baseball with a .281 wOBA against lefties and whiff 22.6 percent of the time. Available in 90 percent of ESPN.com leagues, Niese is a strong streaming option on Tuesday.