The Daily Grind: A Break From A One Week Tradition

I’m breaking with this week’s theme because I’m the damned author and I can do that. I can write bad sentences too.

AGENDA

1. I Can’t Do This In One Word
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. Hitters to Use
5. SaberSim Says…
6. TDG Invitational Returns!

1. I Can’t Do This In One Word

There’s too much to unpack here. My favorite part is the passed ball out at the plate. There’s nothing more satisfying. It reminded me of a little league teammate who used to intentionally allow the ball by him so he could throw out runners.

Nothing like a seeing-eye roller for a walkoff hit. And up comes Hunter Pence! I love watching him spasm around the field.

2. Weather Reports

Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Detroit are at risk of storms tonight. These merit a closer eye later in the day.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Main Slate: It’s a 15 game mega slate. Max Scherzer is the prize pitcher. He’s visiting the Mets and costs $12,400. Scherzer is on a hot streak in which he’s supplied point totals of 72, 67, 73, and 50 with 10 or more strikeouts.

Behind Scherzer are a slew of affordable studs, several of whom can keep pace with Scherzer on the right day. Carlos Martinez is coming off a 70 point complete game against the Phillies. He has a much more difficult matchup at Baltimore. The Orioles are slumping as a team, but they’re still a lot better than Philly.

James Paxton and Alex Wood typically don’t last very long into their outings. They’re similar to Lance McCullers in that regard – a lot of value packed into a short burst. Those 70 point outings are mostly out of reach, but they can supply 50 points for less than $9,000. Paxton is visiting Texas while Wood will have to overcome tiny Great American Ballpark.

Want to go in a complete different direction? Dan Straily is very likely to provide between 25 and 35 points versus the Braves. It’s too bad the game is in Atlanta where Straily’s fly ball tendencies may come back to haunt him.

I’m wary of Junior Guerra, but the Padres offense has a way of upgrading their opponents. Plenty of potential for strikeouts, a long outing, and a win.

Joe Biagini will host the White Sox, aka the fourth worst offense against right-handed pitchers. He has an attractive combination of decent strikeout rate, low walk rate, and high ground ball rate. A repeat of his 40 point start against the Yankees is quite possible.

Jeff Samardzija is having a good, albeit erratic season. Most DFSers will be scared off by Coors Field, but he’s performed well at altitude (34 inning sample). I’m more worried about the potency of the Rockies offense than the ballpark.

Stack Targets: Nik Turley, Tyson Ross, Trevor Williams, Kevin Gausma, Erasmo Ramirez, Antonio Senzatela, Tim Adleman, Mike Fiers, Pat Corbin, Steven Matz, Miguel Diaz

4. Hitters to Use

Yasmani Grandal at GABP? Yes please. Also Chase Utley, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, and anybody else in the lineup.

Cameron Rupp is one of the top values opposite a bad southpaw. If memory serves, Rupp is roughly a .300/.400/.500 hitter against lefties.

Coors Field includes solid matchups for Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Hunter Pence, and other Giants. Some of them are even affordable like $3,500 Belt.

A healthy Brewers stack versus Diaz should include Eric Thames. And anybody else who tickles your fancy.

Jacob Lamb seems like a fine and worthy investment opposite Aaron Nola. I’m not looking to stack Diamondbacks though. Just Lamb and Goldy.

5. SaberSim Says…

Scherzer, Matz, Luis Severino, Sean Newcomb, and Carlos Carrasco are the top rated pitchers tonight. I obviously have concerns about using a rusty Matz against the Nationals offense. Severino and Carrasco are fine, but I prefer the others at their price point. Newcomb is interesting as a high strikeout, below average command guy.

Belt, Charlie Blackmon, Thames, Edwin Encarnacion, and Paul Goldschmidt are the preferred hitters. Good luck rostering four first basemen.

6. The Daily Grind Invitational

A first place tie! Congrats to jfud81 and fronski33. It turned out to be a weird slate. If you used Chris Sale, your roster kinda picked itself. It’s why I (incorrectly) opted for a less talented pitcher. Leaderboard.

One more on FanDuel before the weekend break.