The Daily Grind: Embarrassments

In today’s Streaming Wars, I’m mullin’ some waiver wire targets for the day before the sabath(ia).

AGENDA

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

1. The Daily Grind Invitational

Clay Buchholz plus steady production from the rest of his lineup (besides Alex Gordon) let mikespranger to victory. Mitch Moreland was probably the difference maker. Congrats and Leaderboard.

Prepare for the overlay. We have a tiny four game contest on FantasyDraft tonight with our usual multi-entry parameters. I love these small slates.

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

All clear. Wind is maybe blowing out at Wrigley.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Early Slate: Five games are early including basically all of the premium pitchers. Jacob deGrom ($23,100) is both most expensive and strangely cheap – perhaps because his chance for the win bonus is partially cancelled out by Madison Bumgarner ($14,600). It should be a low scoring game. Similarly, Max Scherzer ($22,400) and Aaron Nola ($17,900) are bargains at these prices. It’s too bad they face each other.

The other six pitchers are usable too. David Price ($14,100) looks like yet another bargain. The Red Sox should expect to win versus Adam Plutko ($8,400). Since Plutko costs next to nothing and should be barely owned, he’s still viable.

The Coors Field game features Kyle Freeland ($12,900) and Joey Lucchesi ($10,100). Obviously, it’s not an ideal setting for either pitcher. Freeland has a solid track record at home while Lucchesi’s fastball-changeup profile is similar to another guy who performs well at Coors Field – Tyler Anderson.

Lastly, bland ol’ Matt Boyd ($12,100) and James Shields ($10,200) are also discounted. They face each other’s decrepit offenses.

Stack Targets: Plutko and Lucchesi I guess

Late Slate: Our contest is headlined by Cole Hamels for $20,200. Did they take all the pitcher discounts from the early slate and add them to Hamels. Although the Cubs offense is the best-looking stack – meaning Hamels should receive run support – he’ll also have to contend with a solid opponent and hitter friendly conditions. I don’t like him at this price. Nor do I like Anthony DeSclafani for $15,300.

Trevor Cahill ($17,800) is my preferred target. This is par value for him at Minnesota. He should be handed an easy win by the Athletics offense along with something like six strikeouts over six innings.

Tyler Glasnow ($15,800) ought to draw a lot of attention. The Royals are visiting Tampa Bay. Glasnow has been stretched out to a normal starter’s workload, but I still worry about short outings. Since it’s just the Royals, I’m willing to look past the downside.

Sean Newcomb ($15,100) has struggled lately. I get the sense people are forgetting he’s a random number generator like Vince Velasquez. You pick him for a strikeout per inning and cross your fingers he also lasts six innings while preventing runs. Since he’s set to face the lowly Marlins, he looks a little better than normal.

Stack Targets: Kohl Stewart, Elieser Hernandez, DeSclafani

4. SaberSim Says…

Scherzer, deGrom, Glasnow, Hamels, and Boyd are the top rated pitchers today. Boyd, Scherzer, Shields, Glasnow, and Freeland look like the best playable values. Cubs hitters like Javier Baez, Daniel Murphy, and Anthony Rizzo headlines the bunch along with Khris Davis and J.D. Martinez. Bargain hunters should try Ian Happ, Murphy, Schwarber, and Jason Heyward. So… Cubs.

5. Embarrassments

The Twins didn’t even try. This is what you do in Little League because the fielders can’t reliably make throws. This is more embarrassing than that time Jose Ramirez fell over swinging at a 68 mph lobball.

Speaking of embarrassing.