The Daily Grind: Day of Duds

If you thought to pony up for one or more of Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, or Carlos Carrasco, sorry for ya. The trio combined for 7.2 innings and 12 runs. That’s not what you want to see from a $13,000 investment.

AGENDA

1. Another Programming Note
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. SaberSim Says…
5. TDG Invitational Returns!

1. Another Programming Note

Readers who pay close attention and hang on my every word (i.e. none of you) will have noticed references to an upcoming publishing conflict. Tomorrow morning, I ride for the North Carolina mountains to witness a wedding. I will not have internet access and thus there can be no Daily Grind. Other reasons too. I’ll return either Monday or Tuesday. This evening, I intend to write a Grind for tomorrow, but it will be without a few of the standard attractions like weather, SaberSim picks, and the Invitational.

There will be no Grind on Friday or Sunday.

2. Weather Reports

Storms are possible in New York, Chicago (two games), and Texas (late). San Diego may see a sprinkle or two. None of the games appear to be a risk for postponement.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Early Slate: If you’re so inclined, there’s a wee three-game contest starting at 1:05pm ET. Ervin Santana is the obvious top target with Masahiro Tanaka playing second fiddle. Try not to choke on Luis Perdomo, Derek Holland, J.A. Happ, or Jordan Zimmermann.

Stack Targets: All of ’em

Main Slate: Dallas Keuchel struggled through his return to the rotation last week. And yet he costs over $10,000 on DraftKings. The southpaw is facing the Rays, a team that has some difficulty against left-handed studs. Smells high risk, high reward to me. Keuchel should get plenty of run support.

The next two best pitchers are against one another. Jake Arrieta is hosting Zack Godley. In both cases, we’re looking at good-not-great pitchers versus explosive offenses. Keep an eye the winds at Wrigley. They’re currently blowing in, but sometimes they switch mid-day.

Oh look, a cliff. After the top three names, things get pretty ugly. Rick Porcello isn’t matching his 2016 campaign, but he does throw his fair share of innings. You can usually count on him for a high floor and low ceiling. That’s an attractive combination today, even with a challenging assignment against the Indians.

Some of the bargains have… potential. Trevor Williams has turned into a poor man’s Godley. He features plenty of ground balls, decent command, and spacious PNC Park. He’ll face the Reds. Luke Weaver has better stuff and an attractive minor league track record. Consider him the anti-Porcello today. Weaver has a super volatile matchup against the strikeout prone, homer-happy Brewers at Miller Park. Brent Suter is on the other side of that one. Last and probably least. Brock Stewart will face a middling Braves offense. Even Freddie Freeman hasn’t been very scary of late. Go Brock Lobster!

Stack Targets: Chris Flexen, Tyler Chatwood, Vance Worley, Robert Stephenson, Ariel Miranda, Jake Thompson, Matt Moore, Daniel Gossett, Jeremy Hellickson, Julio Teheran, A.J. Cole, Trevor Bauer

4. SaberSim Says…

Looking at only the 12 game evening slate, the follow pitchers are most highly regarded – Moore, Keuchel, Arrieta, Weaver, and J.C. Ramirez. I listed Moore as a stack target (albeit one of the weaker options). Count me as a nonbeliever. I shied away from Ramirez because the Phillies offense is red hot. They’re top 10 in the league since the start of July.

Bats include Mike Trout, Charlie Blackmon, Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, and Manny Machado. aka the four top hitters in the league plus a guy the projections haven’t yet adjusted out of the top. Values include Mike Napoli, Adam Jones, and Hanley Ramirez

5. The Daily Grind Invitational

Congrats to galtocean for sealing the deal with steady production from every position. None of his players had a standout performance, nor did anybody zero out. Leaderboard.

Come join the last invitational of the week. We’re on DraftKings.