The Daily Grind: May Day

J’ai une migraine. We’re gonna keep this short and pithy. (As if I ever write another way…)

AGENDA

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

1.The Daily Grind Invitational

A bunch of hitters dominated the scene for yisman yesterday led by Vladito, Mike Zunino, George Springer, and Alex Bregman. Congrats and Leaderboard.

We’re on FantasyDraft so a “small” 12-game Friday night contest.

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

Looks fine to me.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Lance Lynn ($22,900) has a candy matchup against the Tigers. An already broken offense looks all the more exploitable after the trade deadline. This is a rare case when I’ll offer no reservations about Lynn’s high price.

Mike Clevinger ($21,300) frequently plays the role of second fiddle. The strikeout resistant Angels are a difficult matchup. I’m confident he can make this price tag work even if there’s more risk and less upside than normal.

Robbie Ray ($20,500) is always a fun random number generator. The Nationals have a few lefty mashers. I think I’d prefer to pay $19,500 for Ray.

Eduardo Rodriguez ($18,000) is also about $1,000 overpriced. He’ll face a par value James Paxton ($16,700). This game has the makings of a contest-altering outcome. Both offenses and pitchers are capable of carrying the slate. Or perhaps they’ll all fizzle.

Wade Miley ($17,800) is… also $1,000 overpriced. In his case, a cap on strikeouts is the issue.

Steven Matz ($15,600) has quietly upped his velocity. His results have followed suit. Last week, he tossed a 40.25 point complete game shutout against these same Pirates. Trevor Williams ($14,800) is an excessively boring alternative.

For the same $14,800, you can own the exciting debut of imposing ground ball pitcher Dustin May. The Padres are prone to right-handed pitchers. Pitcher debuts tend to be fraught with untold risks – unknown pitch counts, nerves, and the like.

Martin Perez ($14,900) should do just fine against the Royals. Not great. Not bad. Fine. Ditto Jason Vargas versus the White Sox, although bandboxy Citizen’s Bank Park might intervene.

Favorite Plays: Lynn, Clevinger, Matz, May

Stack Targets: Tyler Alexander, Dillon Peters, Joe Ross, Yusei Kikuchi, Kevin Gausman, Eric Lauer, Alex Wood, Glenn Sparkman, Ivan Nova

4. SaberSim Says…

Lynn, Ray, Vargas, Clevinger, and Miley bear the mark of Machine Preferred. Vargas, May, Lynn, Ross, and Miley are the value plays. Bats include Charlie Blackmon, Yordan Alvarez, Trevor Story, David Dahl, and Brandon Belt. Yep, it’s a Coors Field day. Belt, Scooter Gennett, Humberto Arteaga, Aaron Judge, and Robinson Cano occupy a brand name filled bargain bin.

5.Ouch

More of these. Check the second one.

Everybody whines about nets. In economics, we call these “positive externalities.”

You, uh, don’t see this too often.