Thursday, June 07, 2012
The daily grind 6-7
Posted by Brad Johnson at 5:55amThe Daily Grind provides daily match-up advice based on my every-morning waiver wire search. I welcome advice to help make this column more effective. Ownership rates are from Yahoo!
Today's grind
I'd avoid the pitchers today. You could tryJ.A. Happ, Brian Matusz or Henderson Alvarez if you've got big balls, but don't hold me accountable when they blow up.
Rajai Davis is getting full time work which resulted in two steals and a home run yesterday. His ownership is up to six percent and set to skyrocket. He faces Jake Peavy today but that isn't why you want to pick him up.
Daniel Nava is set to face Matusz. The switch-hitter has had a great start to his season and is another guy you could consider rostering for more than a couple days.
For some reason, I expect Nate Schierholtz to start against Jason Marquis.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis has been on most of my rosters for so long that I forget he's freely available. Can anyone explain this phenomenon? In any case, he'll face Chien-Ming Wang whose name is funny because chien means "dog" in French.
I'll give "lefty-masher" Shelley Duncan another chance. He's failed to mash lefties in any sort of manner the last few times I've recommended him. If he can't mash Casey Crosby, he won't be invited back to TDG.
Tomorrow's grind
If Chase Utley is on your league's waiver wire, consider rostering him for tomorrow. Call it a gut feeling.
Felix Doubront has a manageable match-up against the Nationals.
Travis Wood is flaky, but so is the Twins offense. Which is flakier? We find out tomorrow.
Nathan Eovaldi isn't awesome or anything, but neither is the Mariners offense. Which is less awesome? We find out tomorrow.
Despite the fact that that Craig Gentry never seems to do anything when I recommend him, he's facing a lefty tomorrow, so give him a look.
Reliever watch
Jim Johnson earned the coveted blown save, vulture win.
Santiago Casilla has been available in emergency situations the past two games. Expect him to rest a few more days before returning to the closer role.
Huston Street was activated prior to last night's game. I guess that means you can cut Dale Thayer now.
Yesterday’s results
As you'll recall, I missed yesterday so I have make-up work to do. I'm going to list only the positive results today.
Chris Young was very Chris Young: 5 IP, 2 K, 3.40 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
Decent outing for A.J. Burnett, but good fantasy numbers. He got the win along with: 5 IP, 8 K, 5.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP
Matt Adams liked Lucas Harrell. He mashed a healthy 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and three RBI.
A lovely 4-for-5 evening for Gerardo Parra with one home run, three runs, and one RBI.
If you made the ballsy choice with Wei-Yin Chen, you earned yourself a win: 7 IP, 4 K, 1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
James Loney was 2-for-4 with one walk, one run, and one RBI.
Follow Brad on Twitter @baseballAteam. Email him at pitchin432 AT Yahoo.com
Regarding Nieuwenhuis, I think what really moves the ownership needle are hr and sb, and his 3 each is meh. As for Rajai Davis, I have had him in and out of my lineup for a few weeks now and have yet to get a sb, which I desperately need from him. It seems every time I start him he goes 0fer. Naturally he was benched last night.