The Daily Grind: “Taste the Crawling Chaos”

The best way to avoid traffic on I-95 is to not use I-95. Thus concludes today’s “Life Lesson” brought to you by Cthulhu Farm Animal Crackers. Taste the Crawling Chaos with Cthulhu Farm Animal Crackers.

AGENDA

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

1. The Daily Grind Invitational

I did not participate in yesterday’s Invitational and thus I have no updates about the outcome. If somebody would please post the top five finishers, I will update the Leaderboard.

In deference to a small slate, we’re doing a single-entry contest on FantasyDraft tonight. These tend to reach no more than two-thirds filled. The top eight slots are paid, thus you’ll have nearly a 50 percent chance to place in the money. Good luck.

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

There are some low-grade weather risks in the Northeast. Perhaps we’ll see a delay or two, but it’s pretty unlikely at this point.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Main Slate: We’re cooking with six games tonight. Clayton Kershaw ($23,300) is the runaway top arm of the slate. He’s $5,300 more than the next most-expensive pitcher and worth every penny. I’d steer clear of Austin Gomber ($16,100). Although he’s performed well since becoming a starter, a stingy and unsustainable home run rate accounts for most of his success. Regression is coming and the Dodgers are likely to kick it into action.

In two starts since returning from injury, Eduardo Rodriguez ($18,000) has pulled a Jekyll and Hyde act. He scored 36.35 points against White Sox before managing just 0.10 points versus the Astros. This was probably just a case of a good pitcher losing to a better offense. Expect over a strikeout per inning and some volatility with his ratios. The Blue Jays are a middling opponent. He should receive run support opposite Sam Gaviglio.

Steven Matz’s ($16,200) velocity is up over a recent four game hot streak which includes a 2.25 ERA and over 10.0 K/9. He’ll host the lowly Marlins at pitcher friendly CitiField. Sandy Alcantara ($14,800) is also a good value against a weak opponent. This is one of those rare slates where I think it can make sense to use pitchers from both sides of the same matchup.

Mike Leake ($14,800) is a solid cash game play. He’s a tad bland for GPP purposes. He’ll probably underperform his price tag, but only by a small amount.

Brett Anderson ($12,600) isn’t entirely hopeless, assuming he isn’t on a low pitch count. I haven’t seen anything published. Dylan Bundy ($12,900) sometimes doesn’t allow three home runs. He’s a high risk, modest reward play.

Reckless DFSers can try Stephen Gonsalves ($10,000) against a miserable Royals offense. Despite four terrible starts, Gonsalves is a prospect of some repute and could easily turn in a 15 point quality start

Stack Targets: Gaviglio, Gomber, Heath Fillmyer, Odrisamer Despaigne, Anderson, Bundy, Gonsalves

4. SaberSim Says…

Kershaw (duh), E-Rod, Matz, Bundy, and Alcantara top the charts tonight. I’d be wary of Bundy given his especially horrific recent performance. Gonsalvez, Bundy, Matz, and E-Rod are the top playable bargains. Premium bats consist of J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, Khris Davis, and Ramon Laureano. I like that latter name just fine, but I think we’re getting a little carried away taking him over the likes of Nellie Cruz and Andrew Benintendi. Logan Forsythe, Mike Zunino, Nelson Cruz, Laureano, and Trey Mancini lead the way in ValueLand.

5. Ouch

Off the rim.

Ouch.

I think if Bartolo Colon was a position player, he’d be Willians Astudillo.