The Daily Grind: Holy Devers

I didn’t have enough skim milk for my cereal so I mixed in some whole milk.

AGENDA

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

1. Holy Devers

~Holy Devers, You’ve been down too long in the minor leagues.~

Now that Cody Bellinger is in the majors and Yoan Moncada is sidelined with an injury, the prospect drawing the most attention is Rafael Devers. Everybody is asking about him. From a fantasy perspective, I assume these guys – i.e. 20-year-olds with minimal upper minors experience – aren’t going to get an opportunity in the current season. For so many reasons. I was right about J.P. Crawford last year. Sometimes I’m wrong. This may be one of those times. There’s a certain rational to promoting Devers soon.

Over on the main site, Dave Cameron thinks Devers should receive a promotion sometime around mid-June. The salient points of his analysis are as follows:

• The Red Sox need a third baseman because… Deven Marrero.
• Rentals cost money and prospects.
• Devers has been out of his mind since last July – he may be flat out ready.
• A mid-June promotion gives the club over a month to evaluate Devers before making a decision about the trade market.

I’ll also add that he can’t really be worse than Marrero, right?

2. Weather Reports

The Cubs game has a 60 percent chance for rain. St. Louis and Cincinnati both range from a 25 to 45 percent chance for storms.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

The Brewers, Cubs, and cheese stand alone with a 2:20pm start. Everyone else is in the main slate.

Main Slate: The top of the pitching pool features Chris Sale at Oakland. Yonder Alonso is banged up and will probably sit. Not that Alonso is a threat to Sale.

For $1,600 less, you can try Jacob deGrom opposite the L.A. Trout. The righty is pitching well, although the results are merely decent. Perhaps he will twirl a gem. He should receive run support.

Breakout star Alex Wood tends to only pitch five or six innings. They’ve been high value frames. While I’d prefer him to trade a couple strikeouts for longer outings, there’s a good chance he’ll post the second best pitcher point total without even reaching the seventh frame. The breakout looks very real.

It’s Charlie Morton day! You know who I’m using. Or do you? Morton has a challenging matchup versus the Indians offense. If he’s had an issue, it’s with command – especially in the middle innings. Cleveland has a very patient lineup. On the flip side, the Houston offense should thump a couple big flies versus Trevor Bauer.

You want a bargain? I highly recommend reaching no deeper than Kendall Graveman. He’s very unlikely to earn a win opposite Sale. However, sometimes pitchers rise to their opponent’s level. With one exception, Sale hasn’t received much run support this season.

Stack Targets: Jered Weaver, Erasmo Ramirez, Trevor Williams, Nick Martinez, Justin Nicolino, Daniel Norris, R.A. Dickey, Jeremy Hellickson, Tyler Anderson, Ricky Nolasco, Lisalverto Bonilla, Bauer

4. Hitters to Use

Jonathan Lucroy has hit well lately, and he’s opposed by a currently mediocre southpaw. Flashing green light!

SaberSim says you have to roster $2,900 Kendrys Morales. He’s the second ranked first baseman. Personally, I much prefer Justin Smoak these days. That’s not to say I don’t also like Morales versus Chris Tillman. Both matchups are prime at lefty friendly Camden Yards.

Paul Goldschmidt is facing a BP pitcher. I’d actually avoid Jake Lamb in this one – it’s Weaver’s fly balls versus Lamb’s fly balls. Goldy’s a ground ball hitter. Sort of.

Nicolino is left-handed but also terrible. It’s a sneaky opportunity to use the Dodgers. They’re much maligned versus southpaws. They have enough weapons to overcome Nicolino.

I considered keeping this tidbit in my back pocket. I only check BvP data against knuckleballers. Jayson Werth is 13-for-27 versus Dickey with five walks, four strikeouts, and two homers. The crappier version of Ryan Zimmerman also has good career numbers versus Dickey. For what it’s worth, Harper has seven strikeouts in 20 plate appearances.

5. SaberSim Says…

Sale, deGrom, Wood, Luis Severino, and Taijuan Walker top the charts. I left off Severino because the Rays have quite a few mashy lefties. Severino is seemingly homer prone, making him a little more volatile than the guys priced immediately below him. Volatility usually implies more upside, but I don’t believe that to be the case today. Speaking of volatility, I usually avoid Walker. I might think about using him versus the Padres.

Bryce Harper, Goldschmidt, Trea Turner, George Springer, and Morales lead the hitters. Morales, huh? Harper and Turner zeroed out yesterday, screwing my otherwise solid roster. They’re risky options versus Dickey.

6. The Daily Grind Invitational

Congrats to sangamc. He recently complained of being snakebit. Not so yesterday – his roster homered four times. Ervin Santana paced the pitchers with a 15 point performance. Woof. Leaderboard.

We’re on FanDuel tonight.