The Daily Grind: Blew It

If you left, you reportedly blew it.

The radio call of Kurt Suzuki's #WALKOFF home run is the song of the summer.@CharlieSlowes // @DaveJageler pic.twitter.com/bOavak1BxI

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 4, 2019

AGENDA

1. TDG Invitational
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. SaberSim Says…
5. Blew It

1.The Daily Grind Invitational

Brewday found the proper combination of Jack Flaherty and a deep (and popular) Cubs stack. Meanwhile, I’m regretting my decision to downgrade from Flaherty to Zack Greinke so I could use Jake Bauers as my worst hitter. Congrats and Leaderboard.

We have eight games to use tonight on FantasyDraft.

2. Weather Reports

naaaaaaa

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Shane Bieber ($22,300) headlines the slate with a matchup against the swingerific White Sox. They’ll take their cuts… and probably go down hacking. This looks like both the best play in the slate and possibly a top bargain. We’ll see what Mr. Sim says in a moment. A win bonus is likely opposite a hot but not-improved Ivan Nova.

FDraft has finally restored Madison Bumgarner to the probable pitcher list. He looks like par value in a visit to the Cardinals mid-tier offense. He’ll run you $20,500 which is awkwardly placed. He’s close enough to the obviously superior Bieber to not earn much of an offensive upgrade yet far enough above the other solid pitchers in this slate to set off a serious opportunity cost. All of which is to say I think he’ll be low-owned despite a very playable situation. Michael Wacha is bad more often than not, but it doesn’t take much to earn a $11,900 salary opposite the Giants.

Zac Gallen ($18,600) is moving up 2020 draft boards. Imagine preferring Gallen to Chris Paddack ($16,300) just two months ago? As I’ve noted a couple hundred times, the Padres lineup is prone to right-handed pitching. While I’d definitely take Gallen in a straight race, the price difference with Paddack means both pitchers are quite attractive. This might be one of those rare times I cheekily use both sides of a single game.

People are out on Hyun-Jin Ryu ($17,800) after a series of disasters. While I won’t commit to using him myself (I might, I might not), I love going after very good pitchers on cold streaks. Sometimes, the slump is a signal for an injury or other woe, but there are enough times when the pitcher simply rebounds to his usual level of performance. A typical Ryu outing could compete with Bieber for top billing. A win is likely too.

I don’t want Tanner Roark ($16,400) or Patrick Sandoval ($15,200), both of whom I expect to underperform their respective prices. However, both pitchers have 20-point upside if you want to accept some volatility in exchange for more cash elsewhere.

Robert Dugger ($14,100) is visiting Trevor Williams ($12,800) in a battle of feeble pitchers versus feebler offenses. Who is deadliest?

The lone unlisted pitcher is Jakob Junis ($14,900) who looks like a juicy value versus the Tigers. Six frames and a strikeout per inning is right around the 55th percentile outcome.

Favorite Plays: Bieber, Gallen, Ryu, Junis

Stack Targets: Antonio Senzatela, Nova, Wacha, Edwin Jackson

4. SaberSim Says…

Bieber, Ryu, Gallen, Bumbum, and Junis are the top projected pitchers. Nailed it! Bieber Junis, Ryu, Williams, and Gallen project as the best values. Double nailed it!

On the hitting side, we have some spicy treats in the form of Cody Bellinger, Mike Trout, Jorge Soler, Nelson Cruz, and Mookie Betts on the premium end. Bargain City is run by Lewis Brinson, Josh Rojas, Willi Castro, Khris Davis, and Buster Posey. I feel it’s worth pointing out that Brinson is mostly a value because he gives you an opportunity to really load up the other roster spots. More often than not, he zeroes out. So you better spike those upgrades.

5. Blew It

This better shows the improbable outcome. Gotta imagine BVM wants that Kelenic trade back.

English.

Concurrent slides are always fun.