The Daily Grind: Eleven Home Runs

Hellick’s Son Rode On through to the other side. And if that doesn’t make sense, you’ll just have to read today’s Streaming Wars.

AGENDA

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

1. The Daily Grind Invitational

We’re bouncing between high and low scoring contests. Yesterday was one of the highest scoring challenges with mmddyyyy winning a second straight day. Steve Pearce and a Dodgers stack went absolutely bananas. Congrats and Leaderboard.

We’ve got a whopper of a contest on FantasyDraft tonight. As usual, $2, two-entries each, no rake, and a long streak of overlays.

If you have not signed up for FantasyDraft, please use this referral link for tracking purposes. If I understand properly, by using the referral, you will receive a 10 percent return on any rakes you pay.

2. Weather Reports

Storms could influence the action in the northeast – specifically Philadelphia, New York, and Washington. Keep an eye on it.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Main Slate: Justin Verlander ($25,400) is the priciest pitcher in a potential playoff preview against the Dodgers. Frankly, I’ll take Jacob deGrom ($23,800) against the Braves every single time. deGrom should cost more than Verlander. I’d only go to the Astros ace as a contrarian play – except I’m not yet convinced he’ll have low ownership. Alex Wood ($16,300) and Anibal Sanchez ($15,500) are on the other side of these matchups. Sanchez in particular looks playable. The Mets are pooey.

Patrick Corbin is the third priciest in a neutral matchup versus the Giants. For $20,200, you’ll probably get what you paid for. The next three pitchers off the potential for considerably better value.

I worry Marco Gonzales ($18,800 against the Blue Jays) will be asked to make short starts for the rest of the season. Every inning counts for the Mariners, and Gonzales folds when facing batters more than twice. For this reason, I’m out. You can pencil Mike Clevinger ($18,100) in for a full six innings, especially if Mike Trout needs another day to heal. Luis Severino offers the maximum of risk and reward.  He’s struggled over his last three starts – two of them against bad opponents. The Red Sox are scary. Severino still has the ability to outperform every pitcher.

Chris Archer’s National League debut against a mid-tier Cardinals offense at pitcher friendly PNC Park is heinously underpriced at $15,900. He’s almost must-play. I say almost because Vince Velasquez costs less ($15,200) in a candy-coated matchup versus the Marlins. How could you not use that?

Other playable arms include Jake Odorizzi ($15,400 vs KC), Rick Porcello ($17,000 vs NYY), German Marquez ($14,900 at MIL), Gio Gonzalez ($13,500 vs CIN), and Jaime Barria ($12,100 at CLE).

Stack Targets: Ariel Jurado, Chris Stratton, Ryan Borucki, Lucas Giolito, Brett Anderson, Heath Fillmyer, David Hess, Blaine Hardy, Ryne Stanek and friends

Well. No shortage of stacks. Sometimes I wonder how often people @JustinMasonFWFB over his Stratton love.

4. SaberSim Says…

deGrom, Verlander, Velasquez, Archer, and Corbin are the top rated pitchers. Nailed it! Values include Velasquez, Archer, Junior Guerra (slumpy), and Sanchez. Bats like Eddie Rosario, Joey Gallo, Jose Ramirez, Shin-Soo Choo, and Rougned Odor are the Sim’s favs. The Rangers… Jonathan Villar, Logan Morrison, Logan Forsythe, and Adrian Beltre stand out among the bargains.

5.Eleven Home Runs

I rostered this and STILL didn’t scratch the money last night. Hell of a day.

It’s because these clowns knocked seven homers and I had none of them.

I still don’t see evidence of a Maikel Franco breakout, but that hasn’t stopped him from staying hot.