The Daily Grind: DFS, Streaming, and More for August 5

Agenda

1. Play the Scoreboard
2. The Daily Grind Invitational and Leaderboard
3. Daily DFS
4. SaberSim Observations
5. Tomorrow’s Targets
6. Factor Grid

1. Play the Scoreboard

I get dozens of trade questions sent to me every day. Should I do X for Y+Z? The answer is always “it depends.” Specifically, it depends upon your category needs. This is an easy calculation in roto leagues. I just count up the number of points I think I could gain or lose. I want to know which categories can give me a jolt in the standings, but I also want to know where I need to firm up my roster to prevent losing ground.

H2H owners have it a little tougher. I still use the roto categories as a rough gauge of my team needs, but you can also target specific opponents. Most H2H leagues have about five weeks left in the regular season. You know who you’ll be facing, and you know their general rosters. Now is a good time to decide if you can beat them with a power heavy approach, take the steals category by adding one burner, or wipe them out on the pitching side.

At this point in the year, I start evaluating trade proposals solely on the benefits to my place in the standings. There will be scenarios where some of you can achieve a large benefit by receiving the lesser side of a trade. For example, if 10 steals could net you six points, then trading Manny Machado for Jonathan Villar (or Starling Marte) may be a win for you (subject to other categories).

2. The Daily Grind Invitational and Leaderboard

Yesterday was a low scoring affair. Fourseasons captured the victory with just 132 FD points. J.A. Happ plus decent production from four lineup spots was enough to win. Congrats! The leaderboard is updated.

As is the pattern, it’s a FanDuel day.

3. Daily DFS 

Yesterday’s Grind

As with any 15 game contest, there are some aces and there are some scrub lords. It’s up to you to decide if you’re prioritizing pitcher or lineup tonight. It’s been over a month since Noah Syndergaard threw more than six innings. The Mets are currently seventh in the NL, but they’re only one game behind the Marlins and Cardinals for the second Wild Card slot. Their division hopes are next to dead. With their playoff hopes beginning to dwindle, they’ll continue to be careful with Syndergaard’s golden arm. Count on another short start.

Justin Verlander is on the other side of the Syndergaard matchup. He’s officially adapted to his lesser-but-still-good stuff. July’s pitcher of the month dealt in five of six outings. The Mets lineup is cracked. It’s also very lefty heavy.

Jon Lester is visiting Oakland. The club has more than a couple right-handed power bats, but it’s not as if Lester is easily exploitable. There’s also a general lack of stolen base threats which tends to be his greatest weakness. He’ll probably earn an easy win opposite Dillon Overton.

While none of the mid-tier options are particularly thrilling, several of them are viable. Jaime Garcia hasn’t done much since that time he was overshadowed by Vincent Velasquez. He’s due for a strong outing versus the Braves. He should earn an easy win too opposite Joel de la Cruz.

Anthony DeSclafani is visiting Jameson Taillon at PNC Park. The pitcher friendly venue should help both hurlers pitch to their potential. We’ll see plenty of balls in play since neither pitcher walks anybody.

Although the Twins haven’t supplied the necessary run support to earn him many victories, Ervin Santana is on a hot streak. He’s tossed two complete games in his last five starts. The Rays offense is partially gutted which could help Santana net a third strong start.

Stack Targets: Overton, de la Cruz, Dillon Gee, David Phelps, Christian Friedrich, Chase Anderson, Yovani Gallardo, Braden Shipley, Tim Lincecum, Jorge de la Rosa, Martin Perez, Miguel Gonzalez

4. SaberSim Observations

Blake Snell is the top regarded pitcher per SaberSim? No grazi. Michael Pineda versus the Indians has an almost identical projection to Snell. I don’t like that one either. There’s potential for a strong outing for both guys, but I see a whole heap of downside. Syndergaard, Dallas Keuchel (blech), and Taillon round out the top five. I knew it was going to be one of these days.

A Coors game, Nationals, Cubs, Astros, Orioles, Brewers, and Cardinals make up the top rated stacks.

5. Tomorrow’s Targets 

Pitchers to Start: Lefty Tyler Skaggs has a tough assignment versus a platoony Mariners offense. Skaggs has yet to allow a run through 12.1 innings. He’s rung up over a strikeout per inning with a low walk rate. Lookin’ sharp Skaggs, lookin’ sharp.

Also consider: Jose Berrios, Mike Foltynewicz, Homer Bailey

Pitchers to Exploit: The Phillies are calling upon prospect Jake Thompson against the Padres. Earlier in the season, I would have been all over using Thompson in this scenario. Now I foresee doom. Scouts love Thompson’s stuff, but he hasn’t exactly dominated with it in Triple-A. He’ll need to be damned good at contact management to survive with a 6.04 K/9.

Also consider: CC Sabathia, Sonny Gray, Eduardo Rodriguez, Matt Cain, Carlos Rodon, Logan Verrett, Matt Boyd, Lucas Harrell, Doug Fister, Andrew Cashner, Chad Bettis, Matt Garza, Pat Corbin, Paul Clemens, Ivan Nova

Hitters (power): I’ve under-represented Matt Joyce in recent weeks. He’s batting in the heart of the lineup most days, and he’s back to annihilating right-handed pitching – .282/.409/.573. he’s a defensive nightmare, but you don’t have to deal with that directly.

Also consider: Franklin Gutierrez, Mike Zunino, Alex Dickerson, Yangervis Solarte, Ryan Schimpf, Derek Dietrich, Preston Tucker, Wilmer Flores, Brad Miller

Hitters (speed): Rajai Davis has been slumpy. However, I can report that he’s still alive. He swiped two bags last night as part of a two hit game. Mayhaps he’ll steal another tomorrow.

Also consider: Cesar Hernandez, Travis Jankowski, Hernan Perez, Cameron Maybin, Ben Revere

6. The Factor Grid

The table below indicates which stadiums have the best conditions for hitters today. The color coding is a classic stoplight where green equals go for hitters. The weather conditions are from SI Weather’s home run app. A 10/10 means great atmospheric conditions for home runs. A 1/10 means lousy atmospheric conditions.

Storms are lurking in Denver.

The Link.

This post is not brought to you by any DFS platform. The current author is quite pleased to present a DFS ad free environment.