The daily grind: 4-28-13

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): Wade Davis has a favorable match-up against Ubaldo Jimenez. I expect Davis to have a bit of a bumpy season, but he’s a solid pitcher and should have solid stats when all is said and done. He has a great chance to earn a win tonight.

Ted Lilly starts at home against the Rockies. Which is not a great match-up, but I don’t have much to point at today.

Dan Straily will start in place of Brett Anderson

Pitcher (bum): Did I just say I don’t have much to point at today? Here’s a laundry list:

{exp:list_maker}Tyler Chatwood
Tommy Hanson
Joe Saunders
Zach Britton
Jimenez
Clayton Richard
Mike Pelfrey {/exp:list_maker}

Eesh.

Hitter (power): Chris Carter has the platoon advantage against Andy Pettitte, although I’m not sure that’s worth a trip to the wire.

I’m becoming infatuated with Lucas Duda. He’s swinging at hardly anything this season and mashing when he does. Jose Fernandez is a talented pitcher, but I think Duda matches up well here.

New name alert! Wellington Castillo and Scott Hairston should both be happy to face Richard.

I should just put Brandon Moss and Seth Smith in the template. I recall thinking that last year, too. I love the A’s.

One more, Nolan Reimold against Saunders.

Hitter (speed): Lorenzo Cain is a little too heavily owned at 53 percent, but I need a competent speedster.

I suppose Gerardo Parra could be that guy.

Tomorrow’s grind

Pitcher (to start): Zach McAllister will face a mediocre Phillies lineup. He’s opposed by Roy Halladay, who’s no longer on my exploit list.

Kevin Slowey is back on the fringe of fantasy relevance. He’s getting more swinging strikes, so the 2011 version of Slowey is more likely to show up than the 2012 version.

I like what Jose Quintana has shown this year, but I’m not a fan of a start against the Rangers.

Pitcher (bum): Jarrod Parker has struggled this season, but I’m more concerned about his immediate match-up with the Angels than his long term outlook.

The Orioles can be a tough assignment for a pitcher like Brandon Maurer.

Vance Worley drew the short straw and is taking on Justin Verlander.

What’s more unimpressive, the Yankees lineup or Philip Humber?

Hitter (power): Travis Hafner is stuck with the UTIL only tag, but he’s also available in two-thirds of leagues and seemingly loves his new home.

Gio Gonzalez has been inconsistent, so Chris Johnson may be in line for a couple more line drives.

Moss and Smith again? Garrett Richards specializes in a hard fastball, which lines up with their strengths.

Hitter (speed): Something to keep in mind: Eric Young Jr. and Rajai Davis are both getting into a lot of games lately. Davis should play against Jon Lester, although that’s hardly an ideal match-up. It’s uncertain if Young will play against Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Craig Gentry will get the start against Quintana.

Noteworthy news

Nolan Arenado received the call-up over the weekend and Carlos Ruiz returned to action. You may be too late to grab either guy. You can probably pass on Arenado for re-draft leagues.

Weather watch

Isolated storms could affect the Padres, Cubs, Astros, and Yankees, but it doesn’t sound like anything to worry about.

Good enough for me

I’m going to direct you to the Mets section of my division update over at the main THT site. It has some more details on Duda’s no-swinging ways.