The Daily Grind: Hoping For Hidden Balls?

There’s only one question on everyone’s mind today. Can Nick Dini the Magnificent save the Royals with a hidden ball trick?

AGENDA

1. TDG Invitational
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. SaberSim Says…
5. Nobody Yankees

1.The Daily Grind Invitational

A seven player Yankees stack was sufficient to land RaleighFingers atop the list. James Paxton, Gio Urshela, and Kyle Higashioka were the big performers. Congrats and Leaderboard.

We’ve an eight-game contest on FantasyDraft.

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

Sound the all clear.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Matt Boyd ($21,600) is the headlining act tonight. He’s opposite the Royals offense which tends to include interesting bargain plays but very little of true value. His opponent, Jorge Lopez, is unquestionably bad. He rarely even throws three innings let alone the five needed for a shot at the win bonus. Is he $9,200-level bad against this horrific Tigers offense? Yes, probably. If you want to be way too clever for your own good, give him a try.

Thomas Pannone ($8,100) will be one of the top stacking targets and is thus the ultimate contrarian target. There’s also a solid 50 percent chance he exceeds 10 points. He records a strikeout per inning which is the main factor in his favor. Of course, the smart money is on Domingo German ($18,400) to walk away from this one with a win, a quiver full of strikeouts, and a healthy point total.

Mike Clevinger ($21,200) is regularly atop my wish list for his double-digit strikeout ceiling. The potent Twins offense is likely to scare away some of his prospective owners, although the small slate might encourage others to give him a sniff. Dollar-for-dollar, I prefer the Kyle Gibson ($15,100) side of this equation. It’s a neutral matchup for a pitcher who usually wanders between 20 points performances and steaming poop.

Aaron Nola ($20,700) at Oracle Park makes for a heady brew. The Giants offense is obviously quite exploitable. Nola’s looked sharp lately too. Opposing him is a hidden Madison Bumgarner ($16,200). He’s a tidy bargain, but you wouldn’t know it if you trusted FDraft to tell you who is starting.

Chris Sale ($19,600) has flopped in four of his last six outings. Of course the other two were masterpieces. This is a nice opportunity to take advantage of an overreaction to recent performance. The Angels lineup includes several tough-to-K hitters, but Sale is a special case. He can still reach double-digit punchouts.

But wait, there’s more. Specifically Cole Hamels ($17,200) at Alex Wood ($14,700). Neither of these pitchers stand out as high ceiling or bargain targets, but they’re reasonable bets for solid mid-tier numbers. That can have value in a mid-sized slate, especially if a few pitchers draw most of the action.

Jon Gray ($16,300) has a favorable matchup against the righty-prone Padres. A strikeout per inning is bankable. The game is at Petco Park so Eric Lauer ($12,700) looks like a savvy play too. Like MadBum, he’s also unlisted.

Dallas Keuchel is in the same bucket as Hamels and Wood, except he doesn’t have to contend with GABP. Or an actual MLB-quality offense. The Marlins are hot trash. I like Elieser Hernandez in a general sense, but I’d avoid him tonight for $10,100.

Favorite Plays: Nola, Bumgarner, Sale, Pannone, Gray, Lauer

Stack Targets: Lopez, Dillon Peters, Pannone, Hernandez

4. SaberSim Says…

Sale, Nola, Boyd, Crouching Madison, and Gray are the best pitchers tonight. Hidden Bumbum, Sale, Gray, Pannone, and Lauer are the bargains. Glad to see we’re on the same page. Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, and Ronald Acuna are the hitters to want while Lewis Brinson, Isan Diaz, Kyle Higashioka, Johan Camargo, and Starlin Castro are the hitters to have.

5.Nobody Yankees 

I can’t trade this guy in my dynasty league because he’s 35. The contenders are missing out.

Your daily clip of nobody Yankees hitting five home runs.

Pretty.