The Daily Grind: Full Monty

I had a dream I was attacked by the old Tigers logo.

AGENDA

1. TDG Invitational
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. SaberSim Says…
5. No Fraternizing

1.The Daily Grind Invitational

Congrats to Jaymcstell for avoiding the siren song of Trevor Bauer. He was also the only owner (including me) to take my advice about Dylan Covey. Freddie Freeman was his top performer. Leaderboard.

It’s the full monty, a 15-game Friday night slate on FantasyDraft. See ya there.

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

A number of venue have a very small chance of passing sprinkles. Nothing with which to concern ourselves.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Jacob deGrom ($22,100) correctly leads the way with an easy-peasy visit to Miami. His most recent outing was a 30-point drubbing of these same Marlins. Alternative aces include Max Scherzer ($21,400) and Gerrit Cole ($20,700). Scherzer draws the Cubs while Cole is visiting the Red Sox. Obviously, those are much harder matchups than deGrom’s pairing. As such, I except a flood of deGrom lineups and a modest rate of Scherzer and Cole rosters.

Fourth on the list is Cole Hamels ($18,400). That’s a hard pass for me opposite Scherzer and the Nationals. He doesn’t induce enough strikeouts to justify the investment. I’d want him at $16,400.

I very much like the idea of a Dodgers stack at Great American Ballpark. I’m less enthused about trying Rich Hill ($17,900) at the homer-happy venue. Once again, a low $16,000s cost would be more appropriate.

Frankie Montas ($17,000) has my attention as a solid mid-tier play. The Tigers, as we all know, offer a rather limp offense. Montas’ new splitter has resulted in a big step forward. The Tigers stack may be semi-popular because it’s very cheap. It’s one of the better stack options with a double-ace lineup. I still expect Montas to win the battle, and thus using him works as a nice contrarian play. (Of course, after that recommendation, it probably won’t be contrarian in the TDGI).

Let’s skip to Jordan Lyles ($15,900) at Joey Lucchesi ($16,100). Sometimes it’s necessary to take bland, mid-tier pitchers. These are you best choices in the category. Lucchesi is opposed by one of the worst offenses against left-handed pitchers. Lyles, simply put, is pitching well. There’s more downside for a disappointing outing from Lyles than Lucchesi.

I see two bargain targets worthy of discussion. The first is Aaron Sanchez ($13,700). He’s facing the White Sox, a team with the fourth-worst strikeout rate and fifth-worst walk rate. Sanchez’s biggest shortcomings are too few strikeouts and too many walks. He’s throwing more curves this season to address the first problem. Walks are still and issue. This particular seems tailor made.

Brad Keller ($11,800) has the pairing we all aim to avoid – the Angels. Although they aren’t a top offense, their general unwillingness to strike out really makes it difficult for opposing pitchers to accrue points. Keller’s already a pitch-to-contact type. He’ll need the win bonus to provide value.

Favorite Plays: deGrom, Montas, Lucchesi, Sanchez

Stack Targets: Rangers, Ivan Nova, Matt Harvey, Jhoulys Chacin, Cole Irvin, Dylan Bundy, Jefry Rodriguez, Daniel Norris, Rick Porcello, Jon Gray

4. SaberSim Says…

What have we here? deGrom, Scherzer, Cole, Lucchesi, and Hill, that’s what. Values are deGrom, Scherzer, Trevor Richards, Lucchesi, and Sanchez. Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Max Muncy, Mike Trout, and Paul Goldschmidt at the premium bats. Niko Goodrum, Brian Dozier, Danny Jansen, Kyle Schwarber, and Chad Pinder are the preferred bargains.

5.No Fraternizing

Baseball has come full circle. Home runs are anathema. Bunts are sexy.

There is no fraternizing in baseball. It’s literally a rule.

The Orioles are really good.