The daily grind: 7-30

The 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!

The Fanduel picks are a mixture of Daily League specific advice and information for the more typical fantasy owner.

Today’s grind

The Fanduel Daily League Players of the Day are:

Pitcher (to start) There are quite a few games for a Monday and even some nice options. Mike Leake couldn’t ask for a much better match-up than the Padres. Aside from a recent blow up against Arizona, he’s been very solid.

I’ll be leaning most heavily on Marco Estrada. He has been homer prone, but his ratios are elite and he’s set to spin his trade against the Astros.

Pitcher (bum): I expect Hisashi Iwakuma, Jeremy Hefner, and Ervin Santana to take a pretty thorough thumping today. They face the Blue Jays, Giants, and Rangers respectively.

Hitter (power): Keeping with the theme above, I’d lean on Travis Snider and Adam Lind to do some of that thumping.

Hitter (speed): David Murphy’s been a touch cool lately, but he’s still a five category contributor. Quintin Berry has a usable match-up against Clay Buchholz. Most of the usual suspects are “sits” today.

Tomorrow’s grind

I’m not a big Aaron Laffey fan, but he should be able to handle the Mariners offense at Safeco.

Kris Medlen has the Marlins and he’s one of the most criminally misused pitchers in baseball in my opinion. Which is not to say he’s amazing or anything, but he’s certainly a mid-rotation quality arm.

Team Player Handedness Opposing Pitcher   Team Player Handedness Opposing Pitcher
Angels         Brewers      
  Maicer Izturis R Derek Holland     Carlos Gomez R Dallas Keuchel
  Alberto Callaspo R Derek Holland     Norichika Aoki L Dallas Keuchel
Athletics         Cubs      
  Brandon Moss L James Shields     Tony Campana L A.J. Burnett
  Jemile Weeks S James Shields     David DeJesus L A.J. Burnett
  Coco Crisp S James Shields   Diamondbacks      
  Seth Smith L James Shields     Willie Bloomquist R Chris Capuano
Blue Jays         Dodgers      
  Yunel Escobar R Jason Vargas     A.J. Ellis R Wade Miley
  Rajai Davis R Jason Vargas   Giants      
Indians           Nate Schierholtz L Matt Harvey
  Johnny Damon L Luke Hochevar     Angel Pagan S Matt Harvey
  Travis Hafner L Luke Hochevar   Mets      
  Casey Kotchman L Luke Hochevar     Kirk Nieuwenhuis L Tim Lincecum
Mariners         Nationals      
  Casper Wells R Aaron Laffey     Jesus Flores R Cliff Lee
  Trayvon Robinson S Aaron Laffey     Steve Lombardozzi S Cliff Lee
Orioles           Tyler Moore R Cliff Lee
  Wilson Betemit S Ivan Nova   Padres      
  Jim Thome L Ivan Nova     Yasmani Grandal S Homer Bailey
Rangers           Yonder Alonso L Homer Bailey
  David Murphy L Jered Weaver     Carlos Quentin R Homer Bailey
Rays           Will Venable L Homer Bailey
  Sean Rodriguez R Tommy Milone   Reds      
  Elliot Johnson S Tommy Milone     Zack Cozart R Jason Marquis
Royals           Todd Frazier R Jason Marquis
  Salvador Perez R Derek Lowe     Chris Heisey R Jason Marquis
  Alcides Escobar R Derek Lowe          
  Lorenzo Cain R Derek Lowe          
Tigers                
  Brennan Boesch L Josh Beckett          
  Quintin Berry L Josh Beckett          
Twins                
  Ryan Doumit S Francisco Liriano          
White Sox                
  Jordan Danks L Nick Blackburn          
  Dayan Viciedo R Nick Blackburn          
Yankees                
  Raul Ibanez L Chris Tillman          

I’m tempted to put Carlos Gomez in the power category with all the long balls he’s hit recently. He’s got the platoon advantage tomorrow.

His peer, Rajai Davis, also have the platoon advantage.

Cliff Lee hasn’t been nearly as bad as his 1-6 record, but the 3.95 ERA doesn’t appear too off base. He lacks a put away pitch at the moment and his often pinpoint control has been off for most of the season. That said, I like Tyler Moore against him tomorrow.

Reliever watch

Alfredo Aceves blew the save yesterday but held on for a much deserved win. He pitched 2.1 innings.

Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford teamed up for an epic blown save. Axford really blew the save twice. With a four run lead in the eighth, K-Rod and Axford allowed the Nationals to tie the game. The Brewers then scored two more runs on the home half which Axford promptly surrendered in the ninth.


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Will H.
11 years ago

Random fact: In 175 previous appearances in the majors (all on an NL team) Axford had zero PAs. Which is why I cussed out my radio when the first pitch to him was a ball. He ended up without lifting the bat off his shoulder while getting KO’d.

starkweather
11 years ago

Adam Lind just hit the DL so he’s probably not a great option for today

Brad Johnson
11 years ago

grumble…

Thanks for the update, guess I’m watching the trade deadline rumors too closely.