The daily grind: 4-10-13

The Daily Grind provides daily match-up advice for tinkers 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 Fanduel picks are a mixture of Daily League specific advice and information for the more typical fantasy owner. Use the team-by-team TDG eligible players spreadsheet for more detailed information.

Today’s grind

The Fanduel Daily League Players of the Day are:

Pitcher (to start): I’ll grudgingly recommend Chad Billingsley here, but I wouldn’t use him.

Pitcher (bum): Now here’s where it gets interesting. TBA is pitching for the Indians after Brett Myers had to bail out Carlos Carrasco yesterday. Yet I still think that Jonathan Sanchez will have the worst outing of the day. There are plenty of others to choose from beyond that pair.

Hitter (power): Juan Francisco, Nolan Reimold, and Lucas Duda all have a power stroke and the match-up to use it.

Hitter (speed): I’m going to drop Collin Cowgill from the recommendation list. He’s leading off, but he shouldn’t be. That leaves Domonic Brown who I’m more excited about in a general sense rather than as a base stealer. Will Venable is more of a pure burner and Billingsley’s first start isn’t a bad place to play that card.

Tomorrow’s grind

Pitcher (to start): I’m going to stick my neck out a bit and recommend Carlos Villanueva. I’ve liked him for years.

A.J. Griffin may be a more reliable choice, although he faces the Angels’ stacked lineup.

Pitcher (bum): The Marquis de San Diego (ahem, Jason Marquis) ought to struggle a bit. He’s one of the few pitchers that I’m pretty sure I could bat above .250 against.

I’m playing heavily against used-to-be-talented veterans in the early going. I don’t think Dan Haren is going to have a good year, which should mean runs for the White Sox.

Hitter (power): Nate Schierholtz doesn’t really fit in either category, but Ryan Vogelsong is hittable.

Same as Schierholtz, Daniel Nava isn’t much of a power threat, but he should start against Chris Tillman.

Michael Morse is no longer widely available, but if he wasn’t picked up in your league, a start against Matt Harrison looks very attractive.

Hitter (speed): Try out Jackie Bradley Jr. against Tillman too.

Noteworthy news

Jered Weaver is out with a broken elbow, although no surgery is needed. Jason Motte may need surgery on his elbow though.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

In his return from injury and a suspension for hitting Billy Butler in 2011, Carlos Carrasco was ejected for intentionally hitting Kevin Youkilis and may be suspended again. This is how life is meant to be lived.

Weather watch

It’s looking quite stormy today. The Reds, Cardinals, Mets, Phillies, Brewers, Cubs, Jays, Tigers, Rays, Rangers, Yankees, Indians, Orioles, and Red Sox all have a risk of rain or thunderstorms. None of the games appear at risk of a full rain-out, but delays could be rampant.


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Will H.
10 years ago

I might just be desperate enough to start Haren. It was a stupid last minute decision to put him back in the lineup at Cincinnati, but aren’t the White Sox rather righty-heavy? (Grasping at straws here.)

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

You mean for our league? You probably have to. Your innings problem is even worse than mine. At least I’m getting about 9 K/9, although so is everybody else…

For anyone who’s curious, we have a 1550 IP roto league. I’m trotting out 4 SP, 5 RP, and 2 stream slots and Will has 4 SP, 7 RP, and Tommy Milone (who may or may not be streamed?) I figure we’re both about 150 IP short of the innings limit.

Billy M.
10 years ago

In my league, guys are picking up spot starters two days in advance, so I’m looking at Friday’s matchups to fill a need for another starter.  I need some help, I like three of the possibilities.  Happ and Mendoza square off against each other.  Both sported a 2:1 K/BB ratio in their first start, with a low HA and ERA.  Which should I bank on, or should I stretch my neck out for Tommy Hanson getting an easy matchup against the Astros?  Thanks for the help.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

That Astros match-up might be the only time I’d consider Hanson right now.

I’d lean towards Happ, he’s a pretty solid pitcher when he’s on, although I didn’t see him last week.

Billy M.
10 years ago

well, since the Astros just tacked up 16 runs on 22 hits yesterday, I’ll take your advice and stay away from Hanson.  Thanks for the help; I’ll probably write again on Friday to ask Tepesch, Wood, or Lincecum on Sunday unless you’d like to give your thoughts now.

Joe
10 years ago

wow, nice calls on Duda and Francisco!

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

I have my good days wink like when I recommended Phil Humber on his perfect game day last year. I also have my bad days, like when I recommended Phil Humber on any other day.

qSHmoqFL
10 years ago