The Daily Grind: Stupid Silly Plays

They say that no one remembers your name when you’re strange, but I’m pretty sure that’s bass ackwards. Yep, strange of me to resurrect that ’90s phrase.

AGENDA

  1. Stupid Silly Plays
  2. Weather Reports
  3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
  4. SaberSim Says…
  5. TDG Invitational Returns!

1. Stupid Silly Plays

Yesterday included a ridiculous quantity of home runs (including multi-blasts) and web gems. Here’s the silliest of the gems.

And here’s the silliest home run of the barrage.

Head over to MLB.com/video to view a slew of blasts, stolen home runs, and glove flips.

2. Weather Reports

Watch out for storms in Atlanta today. It’s about a 50 percent chance from 7pm through midnight. Typically, Atlanta storm cells are splotchy and don’t move. In other words, they’ll probably either stay dry or get a soaking.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Early Slate: The five game early slate begins at noon ET. Jump on your internet horse if you want to field a roster. Madison Bumgarner stands alone among the aces, although Kevin Gausman has certainly strutted in recent outings. He’s scored 27 or more DK points in his last four starts. Bumgarner can’t make that claim. In a vacuum, I prefer MadBum at San Fran against the Cubs. Gausman is visiting pitcher friendly Angels Stadium. However, reality doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Since he costs nearly $3,000 less than Bumgarner, I’d start my roster with Gausman.

Kyle Hendricks is visiting AT&T Park. That’s got to be a good thing for the command and control righty. He’s pretty cheap too. Alternatively, Trevor Bauer is on one of those brief streaks when he looks like he might be figuring it out. People I know who watch him closely think he’s a compulsive tinkerer. Even if he finds the key to everlasting youth, he’ll switch up the formula.

Stack Targets: Troy Scribner, Rafael Montero, Martin Perez, Antonio Senzatela, Jharel Cotton, Yovani Gallardo

Late Slate: The main slate is headlined by… Gio Gonzalez? Well, it says that on DraftKings, but Zack Greinke and Alex Wood are the big names. Unfortunately, they face each other and their respective offenses. As somebody pointed out in yesterday’s chat, Wood’s velocity is down from earlier in the season, and his results have declined as a result. Greinke is probably the better investment.

Masahiro Tanaka has pitched masterfully since early June. Even during this hot streak, he’s mixed in a couple duds. For $9,400, he’s a solid investment against the Blue Jays. He should receive run support opposite Nick Tepesch.

Collin McHugh has a shiny matchup versus the measly White Sox. He too should receive run support, nor should he have any trouble keeping the Pale Hose off the scoreboard. McHugh tossed 100 pitches in his most recent outing. If he’s efficient, McHugh is probably free to fire seven plus frames today.

Rick Porcello is the ultimate high floor, low ceiling pick. Except, every once and a while he’ll toss eight or nine innings. He’s usually a safe bet for six frames and 15 points. The Rays aren’t a particular hard nor easy assignment.

Sean Newcomb is a solid volatility pick. The Phillies offense is rolling, but Newcomb could effectively wild his way through them. Either side of the Trevor Cahill at Mike Leake game offers potential for big value. People are getting excited about Brandon Woodruff after a solid debut outing. Reports emphasize his aptitude, which is scouting parlance for “we think he’s a major leaguer even though his stuff is fringy.”

Stack Targets: Tepesch, Miguel Gonzalez, Adam Conley, Travis Wood, Bartolo Colon, Cahill, Jake Odorizzi, Jerad Eickhoff

4. SaberSim Says…

Sometimes the early draft of SaberSim is wonky. I assume that’s the case today. Newcomb, Bumgarner, Justin Verlander, Greinke, and Bauer are the preferred arms. While I like Newcomb, ain’t no way he’s a top five projection today.

The Sim thinks George Springer is returning. Let’s skip him. That leaves Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Altuve, Eric Thames, Bryce Harper, and Mike Trout as the hitters to own. Values include Miguel Cabrera, Thames, Patrick Kivlehan, and Max Kepler.

5. The Daily Grind Invitational

Some days just go accordingly to plan. When you pay out the nose for Corey Kluber and Chris Sale, you hope they can combine for around 90 points while the rest of your roster is at least somewhat productive. DirtWolves hit the jackpot, earning those 90 points plus 130 more for a 221.15 finish. It’s one of the highest – if not THE highest – scores we’ve have this season. A double-dong from Max Kepler and a Jedd Gyorko rebound helped too. Leaderboard.

It’s a Wednesday which means it’s a DraftKings day. See ya there.





You can follow me on twitter @BaseballATeam

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mitchy
6 years ago

What is it that the Sim sees and likes about Kepler? I noticed you said the same thing yesterday, that he was a value play, and it didn’t make sense to me then except for the fact that he was facing a bad pitcher. He’s been pretty cold of late, but then he went out and hit 2 HRs. Just wondering.