The Daily Grind: Invited to the Invitational

This is your chance to defend the status quo. Do you accept the challenge?

AGENDA

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

1. Looming Changes to the Invitational?

We’ve had several contests fail to run recently because they did not fill. As a result, I’m making this a last call of sorts. I don’t like spamming twitter for entrants if I can avoid it, so I’m going to put the onus on you to recruit us up to 20 users. Failure to do so will result in changes next week – namely, a decline to 15 user contests.

2. Weather Reports

Thumbs up for the weather. The Rockies game looked suspect as of yesterday, but the forecast has cleared up nicely. There’s still a small risk – just make sure you check reports closer to game time.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Main Slate: If you wanted to use Trevor Bauer or Doug Fister, that’s too bad. Their game starts an hour before everybody else. Bauer has emerged as a volatile but productive pitcher in the second half.

Zack Greinke is the top horse in this race, and he costs under $10,000 on FanDuel. A tough matchup against the Astros eats into his value. However, despite the opponent, I’m not seeing anyone who projects to match his output.

Michael Fulmer is returning from an elbow injury. For that reason, he’ll be on a short leash. He’ll face the Rangers. When healthy, Fulmer is one of the few pitchers who regularly tosses eight innings.

I have reservations about fully buying into Kevin Gausman. The Orioles righty has developed a track record as a second half pitcher. He’s matched those expectations once again. A pairing opposite the Mariners is a fairly neutral assignment.

Jose Quintana is hosting the Reds. Expect six decent innings, making him a high floor, low ceiling option. Every once and awhile, he’ll reel off a complete game gem. The last such victory for Quintana came in 2016.

If you choose to eschew the top four arms, you can pick from varying degrees of gross. Jerad Eickhoff should do alright against the Padres. I think there’s a pretty good chance he can match Quintana and the average projections for Gausman/Fulmer. Of course, the latter pair has a much higher upside.

Adam Conley’s command has improved enough for him to work as a GPP gamble. Asher Wojciechowski and Jake Junis can also be used as bargain arms. You’ll probably walk away disappointed, but the same can be said of the much more expensive arms.

Stack Targets: Nick Tepesch, Travis Wood, Julio Teheran, Rafael Montero, Jharel Cotton, Yovani Gallardo, Martin Perez, Junis, Wojciechowski, Luis Cessa, Chad Bettis, Conley, Eickhoff, Ty Blach

4. SaberSim Says…

The Sim likes Quintana, Greinke, Gausman, Eickhoff, and Junis. I assume Steamer is overreacting to Junis’s 2.92 ERA, 10.90 K/9, and 1.90 BB/9 at Triple-A. To me, he looks like one of those pitchers who will need a couple years to figure out the majors.

Freddie Freeman, Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, Giancarlo Stanton, and Kris Bryant top the hitter list. Would that I could roster them all. Values include Rhys Hoskin, Wilson Ramos, Mallex Smith, and Kyle Schwarber. I’ll say this about Smith – he has a fantastic matchup on the bases opposite Miguel Montero.

5. The Daily Grind Invitational

Yes, it’s Monday and thus it is a FanDuel day. Please fill it.