The daily grind: 8-21-13

The Daily Grind provides daily match-up advice for tinkerers and daily fantasy players. I welcome advice to help make this column more effective, including notice of impending weather events, new injuries, and changes to platoon situations. Ownership rates are from Yahoo!

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

Today’s weather watch

Baltimore has a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms at game time, but league-wide weather is looking promising.

Today’s grind

The standard fare is available today, ranging from very good to merely solid.

Tomorrow’s grind

Pitcher (to start): Tomorrow is not the day to stream. A lack of options forces me to point out Travis Wood against the Nationals. Wood is an interesting case as his peripherals do not back up his shiny 3.13 ERA. It is interesting to note that his .239 BABIP is similar to the .244 BABIP he posted in 2012, though I do not consider that information to be actionable. This is still a guy whose 4.43 xFIP should be taken as an expectation for future performance.

Jose Quintana is the guy to use today against the modest Royals lineup. Quintana does everything well but does not stand out in anyway, with the result being an average fantasy pitcher. Were he on a better team, he could be worth owning, but the White Sox’s terrible run support hurts his odds of winning ballgames. He may actually be over-owned at 19 percent.

Adventurous owners can consider lefty J.A. Happ against the Yankees. As I’ve pointed out in the past, the Yankees are not good against southpaws.

Pitcher (bum): Paul Maholm returns from the disabled list in time to be spanked by the Cardinals. Or so I assume. He’s opposed by Joe Kelly who has been dominant in recent outings for no discernible reason. While Kelly does feature some enviable cheddar, he also generates few whiffs.

Chad Bettis versus Kyle Kendrick is another game that could produce multiple crooked numbers.

The Yankees have TBA listed and it’s not Ivan Nova.

Hitter (power): Brett Pill could once again see action with the Giants facing another lefty. Be aware that it’s been a long time since he’s started a game.

Justin Maxwell will get the start against Quintana.

Nolan Arenado and Corey Dickerson are worth a look against Kendrick.

Cody Asche is a lesser owned, lower output option.

Hitter (speed): You can also consider Charlie Blackmon against Kendrick.

Pitchers to come

Friday: It’s interesting. I’m sticking with Todd Redmond against the Astros as the flavour du jour.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Saturday: Saturday does not look deep, with Hector Santiago the best available arm.

Sunday: Andrew Cashner and Tony Cingrani are the top two names I’m watching for Sunday.

Noteworthy news

Something about Alex Rodriguez

In more important news, Cingrani left mid-start due to an on-going lower back strain. He expects to make his next start, but keep your eye on this. He’s already succeeding in an unprecedented way, so I’m wary to use him at less than full strength—especially owners in redraft leagues.


You can follow me on twitter @BaseballATeam
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Skoolboy Jim
10 years ago

Any love for Chaz Morton tomorrow against the Giants?

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

Not really though I suppose it’s a decent chance for a win.

Eric Dykstra
10 years ago

Would you pick up Matt Kemp? I have a bye the next week and a half.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

Yes, but it depends on who you are dropping.