The Daily Grind: A Hero for Los Angeles

I know I need a vacation when I start running out of flippant nonsense to spew. I’ve got one coming up in about a week!

AGENDA

1. A Hero for All of Los Angeles
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. Hitters to Use
5. SaberSim Says…
6. TDG Invitational Returns!

1. A Hero for All of Los Angeles

Last night, Yasmani Grandal played hero twice in the ninth inning. First he hit a home run off a hanging slider from Cam Bedrosian. Then…

I have just one question… what was that white powder?

2. Weather Reports

Detroit and Chicago have a roughly 50 percent chance for storms. The risk of storms spikes late in the game in Chicago. Keep an eye on it.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

There’s a piddling little three game early slate. Eight games are late, leaving two games out in the wilderness.

Early Slate: Corey Kluber is quite obviously the top arm in mini contest. Not only is he hugely talented, he should receive beaucoup run support opposite Andrew Cashner. The other two matchups are more balanced. Michael Fulmer is obviously heavily favored over Jake Junis, but a squint at Junis’s minor league numbers offers hope for a surprise performance. Brad Peacock versus Daniel Gossett looks like a coin flip to me.

Stack Targets: Cashner, Junis

Main Slate: It’s Clayton Kershaw day. He’s facing the Trout-less Angels with an “affordable” $12,500 price tag. Run support should be plentiful opposite J.C. Romero, although the righty does sometimes get away with a quality start.

I’m always leery of paying for American League aces at National League venues. I don’t trust their managers to react normally to the pitcher hitting. For that reason, I hesitate to take Chris Archer at PNC Park. Otherwise, it’s a very favorable matchup versus Jameson Taillon.

If Dinelson Lamet or Jaime Garcia were appropriately priced, I’d consider targeting them as bargain options instead, Lamet costs $8,100 and Garcia runs $7,700. Absurd. They both should cost exactly $2,000 less.

David Price will eventually have a great outing. I’m not buying until after it happens. A $9,100 price isn’t that much of a discount. The Red Sox host the Twins.

Stack Targets: Homer Bailey, Kyle Gibson, Ubaldo Jimenez, James Shields, Ramirez, Jose Urena, Luis Cessa

4. Hitters to Use

The Brewers have finally committed to a starting catcher – Manny Pina. He’s not very powerful, but he does hit for average. And he has enough pop to escape a small ballpark. Other Brewers are obviously of high value versus Bailey – Eric Thames, Ryan Braun, Domingo Santana, and Travis Shaw among them.

I wish the Blue Jays had a few more hot bats because it’s always a good bet to target Jimenez. Justin Smoak and Josh Donaldson are the best options.

I use Jose Pirela pretty much every day. He’s a cheap high floor, high ceiling player.

If you’re up for targeting Price, then Miguel Sano, Brian Dozier, and Robbie Grossman are at the top of the food chain. The Minnesota offense has been a tad chilly of late.

Shortstop is a tad thin today. You’re either saving up for Corey Seager, Xander Bogaerts, or chasing a bargain hero.

5. SaberSim Says…

Let’s stick to just the main contest here. Kershaw, Archer, Price, Lamet, and Taillon are the top listed pitchers. It’s a very top heavy slate. Hitters include Mookie Betts, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Braun. Yasiel Puig, Hanley Ramirez, and Thames are among the top values.

6. The Daily Grind Invitational

Congrats to austinbeerdrnkr for his successful rostering of Sal Perez, Jose Altuve, Anthony Rendon, and George Springer. They combined for 109 of his 172.8 points. Leaderboard.

We return to FanDuel tonight.