The daily grind: 4-24-13

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 grind

Pitcher (to start): Yesterday’s postponement means that Zach McAllister faces Jose Quintana today, which gives me two pitchers I’m comfortable enough to recommend.

Wandy Rodriguez is a good option if he’s available in your league.

Ted Lilly is probably available in your league, but I’m staying away until I see something.

Pitcher (bum): Edinson Volquez has struggled this season and I expect the Brewers’ potent offense to continue pummeling him.

The three TBA I mentioned yesterday turned into Tyler Chatwood, Josh Stinson and Michael Roth. You can target against all three.

Hitter (power): Chris Carter has the platoon advantage versus Joe Saunders.

Jonny Gomes draws Brett Anderson as he attempts to stave off a trip to the disabled list.

John Mayberry will see another lefty today.

Hitter (speed): Will Venable might be the best gamble for steals today.

Tomorrow’s grind

Pitcher (to start): Garrett Richards appears to have the peripherals required to be useful, including an above-average whiff rate, velocity, and solid control. His repertoire isn’t advanced, but the Mariners don’t sport a great offense.

Jason Hammel is 44 percent owned. If he’s available in your league, he faces an effective Athletics lineup.

If you’re willing to look at Hammel, you probably should be willing to think about Kevin Slowey or Jorge de la Rosa. I know you shuddered upon reading those names, but their peripherals suggest an expected outcome similar to Hammel. I won’t be using them, for what it’s worth.

Pitcher (bum): Four names look particularly exploitable tomorrow.

Brandon Maurer and Vance Worley have the toughest assignments by opponent—the Angels and Rangers respectively. I actually like both pitchers long term, but they each have things they need to figure out right now.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Philip Humber’s assignment is nearly as difficult. He opposes the Red Sox.

By comparison, the Dodgers lineup is a gimme assignment for Jeremy Hefner, although I expect crooked numbers all the same.

Hitter (power): Daniel Nava has really transformed himself into a capable major leaguer. I expect him to like batting against Humber.

Let Vernon Wells take a stab at Mark Buehrle, unless someone in your league has already bought in on his resurgence. For what it’s worth, a quick perusal of the stat-ery leaves me uncertain that anything has changed for Wells.

I suppose I ought to recommend Seth Smith and Brandon Moss, even though I also recommended Hammel.

Hitter (speed): I like Nate Schierholtz’s mix of skills. He’s good roster glue.

Noteworthy news

Chad Billingsley once was a promising fantasy pitcher with upside. Now it’s been several years since he’s been relevant. Anyone who was hoping to see a dead cat bounce will have to wait while he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Jose Valverde had his contract purchased by the Tigers and will now serve as their closer. I wouldn’t rush to the wire unless you’re flat out desperate.

Weather watch

The Cubs and Reds might have a delayed start, but it looks like today is mostly clear.


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BJ
10 years ago

I have three sneaky tough decisions to make on my pitching – Samardzija @CIN, Brett Anderson @BOS, and Jaime Garcia @WAS. The three all pitched together last Friday and all gave me awful starts so none are in my good graces at the moment. I’m also currently last in my roto league in ERA. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

That’s rough. Is that a H2H or roto league?

BJ
10 years ago

12-team roto (W, L, SV, BB, K, ERA, WHIP)

Will H.
10 years ago

I actually like Tepesch versus Worley @ MIN. Also Buehrle, with the Yanks abysmal vs. lefties.

Btw, I’d like to say I was smart in picking up Correia but, like you, I almost did a dozen times before his originally scheduled start but never did until it was pushed back another day…

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

Yea I ended up using Correia in a H2H league after all.

If it’s a roto league I think I’d just throw the dice on all three. Each start is risky, but I’d bet on the combo of 3 being acceptable.

Edgardo
10 years ago

Just making a quick confession regarding Valverde’s news… I did run to the waiver wire and grabbed him immediately

AJ Leight
10 years ago

I’ve had him since he signed the minor league deal in one league. We start 5 RP each, so getting a closer on free agency is rare.

AJ
10 years ago

What’s that being based on that Valverde will be their closer? Everything else I’ve read says he’ll get an extended look in middle relief before they even consider it. Just curious if you’ve heard something different or if you’re just assuming? Oh, and did he really lose 40 pounds?!

AJ
10 years ago

Ah, never mind. Just saw the report. Huh, interesting. Thanks for the read.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

I had a similar reaction. smile