The Daily Grind: Everyday Hustling

Last night, I had a lineup score 47.3 points on DraftKings. Said lineup included a 36 point performance from Mike Trout. It’s difficult to intentionally select two pitchers and seven position players who score only 17.3 points.

AGENDA

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

1. Hustle

They tell you to hustle on every player. As you get older, it becomes increasingly apparent that only a fool would hustle on every play. That’s how you suffer needlessly suffer injuries on pointless plays. Ian Happ is still young. He’s hustling on everything, even fly outs.

2. Weather Reports

Cincinnati and Baltimore may get some passing showers. No game is at any serious risk of delay or postponement.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Early Slate: Four games are early. Jacob deGrom and Zack Greinke headline the action. deGrom gets to face a Reds offense that failed to do anything against terrible Rafael Montero. I’m bitter because I expected 10 runs and/or three home runs. The Reds will call upon Robert Stephenson. The effectively wild righty is a wise bargain target versus a terribad Mets lineup. He costs just $6,700 on DraftKings.

Greinke has a tough assignment against his old friends from L.A. Kenta Maeda will start for the Dodgists. Greinke is generally very good, but he mixes in enough clunkers to annoy his owners.

Collin McHugh is both better than Maeda and $900 cheaper. He has a very good chance to earn a victory opposite Nick Martinez and the Rangers. It’s not that the Texas offense isn’t potent. McHugh should receive beaucoup de run support opposite crappy Nick Martinez.

Stack Targets: Martinez, Bartolo Colon, Miguel Gonzalez

Main Slate: Madison Bumgarner is the runaway top arm of the slate. He costs $12,100 for his matchup against the Cardinals at AT&T Park. Oddly he costs only $200 more than Gio Gonzalez – a $7,700 pitcher if I’ve ever seen one. Gonzalez has the ultra-volatile pairing with the Brewers.

Kyle Hendricks is having a frustrating season, perhaps too frustrating to justify paying $10,800. He’ll face Sean Newcomb and the Braves. Newcomb is an effectively wild righty similar in statistical output to Stephenson. Unfortunately, the Cubs offense in no way resembles that of the Mets.

Eduardo Rodriguez has glowing peripherals and mediocre results since returning from a knee injury. Facing the Yankees at their eponymous stadium is never an easy assignment.

Marco Estrada has a better grip on his command and control lately. He slumped through most of June and July while walking the world. He’s still walking more than his usual share, but he has it under control. The Orioles are kind of the AL version of the Brewers. They’ll strike out, but sometimes they’ll go wild too.

Stack Targets: Ben Lively, Odrisamer Despaigne, Newcomb, Jeremy Hellickson

4. SaberSim Says…

deGrom, Bumgarner, Gonzalez, McHugh, and Greinke are the top rated pitchers. I thought DraftKings was a little wacky to like Gonzalez that much, but I guess SaberSim seconds the nomination.

Bats include Giancarlo Stanton, Trea Turner, Josh Donaldson, Paul Goldschmidt, and Justin Smoak. I’m not paying $5,400 for Turner until he has himself a day. Smoak is dealing with a calf injury. Make sure he’s in the lineup. Ezequiel Carrera, Keon Broxton, Ryan Braun, and Nick Williams are among the top values.

5. The Daily Grind Invitational

Schweitz1986 built on his big lead with unlikely big nights from Ehire Adrianza and Albert Pujols. Trout and Robbie Ray were more predictably excellent. Those four combined for 135.8 of his 183.5 points. Congrats and leaderboard.

We’re sticking with DraftKings this week. Yesterday was a challenge to fill the 20 spots so I’m shifting back to 15.