The Daily Grind: Deadline Day

Trade Deadline! Pay attention as it’ll affect some DFS lineups. In traditional leagues, put a pin in your trade talks for half a day.

We’ll talk about FantasyDraft’s new model tomorrow.

AGENDA

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

1.The Daily Grind Invitational

Therizzo skipped Anthony Rizzo on his way to a potent victory. Justin Verlander, Drew Smyly, and Adam Duvall carried the team. Notably, Robinson Cano, Ronald Acuna, and Kyle Higashioka combined for two points. Imagine if they provided some firepower too! Congrats and Leaderboard.

It’s an eight-game main slate on FantasyDraft.

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2. Weather Reports

Philadelphia and Boston have “light rain” in the forecast. The last time I saw this reported, the Nationals preemptively postponed their game. So let’s keep an eye on it, shall we?

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Jacob deGrom ($23,100) is the expensive play in this slate. He’s visiting the White Sox, a team most notable for high strikeout and low walk rates. deGrom appears to be in top form. His opponent, Lucas Giolito ($19,400) has struggled lately. This might be a great opportunity to cash in against a middling Mets offense. Or it’s a trap!

Jose Berrios ($20,700) may rarely cross the 20 point threshold. When he does, it’s in a big way. The Marlins offense will usually roll over like a good doggo. Sandy Alcantara ($10,000) is very cheap – to the point where he looks playable. Even so, that Twins offense can go homer-mad.

Mike Minor ($19,800) isn’t doing it for me at this price when I can go after Giolito instead. That said, Minor has an easy path to victory and may feature a low ownership rate. He has a decent chance to be the top arm in the slate.

Bland ol’ Kyle Hendrick ($17,700) is visiting Miles Mikolas ($15,700). Not a lot to see here, just some playable but unattractive mid-tier action.

Jeff Samardzija ($16,200) is probably overpriced for a visit to the Phillies bandbox. Vince Velasquez ($14,500) is definitely overpriced. The Philadelphia offense has underperformed enough that Shark is acceptably contrarian. If you think the Giants offense will insta-regress or that Velasquez can replicate his success versus the Tigers, then you might also consider him. However, I expect fewer than five innings regardless of how well he pitches.

Jose Urquidy ($13,500) looks like an easy value based on his hefty strikeout rate and low walk rate. Run prevention might not (yet) be his strength. Watch out for a sub-five inning outing. I know Zach Plesac ($14,700) has some cachet, but I’ll pass on him tonight. He’s homer prone, and the Astros are homerific.

$14,100 feels like too much to pay for Ryan Yarbrough at Boston. If you want a less-popular cheap play than Urquidy, this is the lowest I would go.

Favorite Plays: deGrom, Berrios, Giolito, Urquidy

Stack Targets: Yarbrough, Matt Wisley, Alcantara, Brett Anderson, Jordan Lyles, Rick Porcello, Velasquez, Plesac

4. SaberSim Says…

deGrom, Berrios, Minor, Hendricks, and Velasquez are the top-rated pitchers. That’s some food for thought. Alcantara, Urquidy, deGrom, Velasquez, and Hendricks are the value plays. On the hitter side, Yordan Alvarez, Pete Alonso, Christian Yelich, George Springer, and Rafael Devers lead the way. Michael Conforto, Robinson Cano, Ji-Man Choi, Joey Wendle, and Starlin Castro represent savvy bargains – according to The Sim.

5. Wrong

You’ve probably seen this one. It takes some confidence (insanity) to charge an entire team by yourself.

When it clicks, you have to wonder how he doesn’t have 40 home runs already.

Well, I guess I was super wrong about Syndergaard.