The daily grind: 5-16-13

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): Today is not a good day to stream. If you must, Jose Quintana, Jerome Williams, Francisco Liriano and Felix Doubront look like the best options.

Pitcher (bum): Hiram Burgos is probably exploitable on a good day and he’s had a long rest. Most pitchers don’t like that.

Aaron Harang still seems like he’s a few starts from putting it all together.

Edinson Volquez will face a depleted Nationals lineup. It sounds like Harper could miss another game.

Hitter (power): Travis Hafner and Lyle Overbay face Harang.

Garrett Jones draws Burgos.

Hitter (speed): Eric Young Jr. continues to be an everyday option for steals. I have a suspicion he may be coming off the bench tonight in favor of Charlie Blackmon.

Tomorrow’s grind

Pitcher (to start): Jeanmar Gomez will face the Astros, who have turned into a feast or famine unit. They starve a lot more frequently than they feast, but Gomez is still hard to justify using.

Pitcher (bum): Jordan Lyles seems to be having trouble adjusting to life in the major leagues.

Brandon Maurer versus Ubaldo Jimenez could produce many runs. The same goes for Jeremy Hellickson versus Jason Hammel.

The Rangers will aim to exploit Rick Porcello. Free Drew Smyly.

There are other exploitable pitchers, but I’ll draw the line at Vance Worley against the Red Sox.

Hitter (power): Lucas Duda will face Edwin Jackson, whose 6.02 ERA is balanced by a 3.50 FIP.

Continue using Jones.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Daniel Nava is a good play against Worley.

Brett Pill may start against Jorge de la Rosa in place of Brandon Belt.

Hitter (speed): Lorenzo Cain goes against Jarrod Parker.

Chris Denorfia will see Gio Gonzalez.

Noteworthy news

Francisco Rodriguez is expected to join the Brewers soon. Don’t expect him to take over the closer’s gig immediately. In fact, I wouldn’t speculate on him unless you’re in desperate need of saves or don’t have any other use for the roster spot.

Yasmani Grandal is starting his minor league assignment and is expected to return to the Padres May 28. He will likely platoon with Nick Hundley until he can prove himself.

Weather watch

The Mets and Cardinals might see thunderstorms, but otherwise the coast is clear.


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Motley Yu
10 years ago

Who do you like better for Saturday? Feldman vs Mets, or McAllister vs Mariners?

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

I’m a big fan of McAllister.

everydayJay
10 years ago

Brett Lawrie was dropped earlier this week???  I should def drop James Loney for him right? I mean Lawrie looks to be back on track.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

I think you absolutely have to speculate on Lawrie over Loney.

Frank Grimes
10 years ago

Ryan Howard was just made available in my league. I’ve never been a huge fan of his, but would you rather have him or Mitch Moreland ROS?

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

That sounds like an ideal platoon if you have a setup reliever or marginal SP you can dump.

I’d definitely prefer Moreland RoS by a fair margin, but Howard against mid-tier RHP is a great player.

AJ
10 years ago

14 team, 10 keepers, previous year salary (in 2013 we use the players 2012 salary) league…Arcia or McLouth for bench work? Hosmer, Lind, Moss or Gattis starting at 1B for next week? Weekly roster locks. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

I didn’t look at the schedule so be sure to adjust for that.

I expect McLouth to have the superior RoS, although Arcia may out-homer and RBI him.

Lind and Gattis will likely sit out some days, so it has to be between Moss and Hosmer. I would see how many righties the A’s are expected to face.

Anthony
10 years ago

When Justin Maxwell comes back, him or Daniel Nava ROS in a 10 team AL only roto league, with OBP as a 6th offensive category?

AJ Leight
10 years ago

Thanks. I appreciate the advice and agree for the most part. I just don’t know if Lind’s or Gattis’ 3 or 4 starts may produce more counting stats than a full week of Hosmer & Moss. I think I’ll roll the dice with McLouth and Lind and just hope for the best. Machado, Beltran and Kinsler should keep me competitive either way. Have a good one!

ichirosan
10 years ago

What about picking K-Rod for holds? It’s not as if the Brewers have a bonafide setup man.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

That’s a little more reasonable. I would hold him on the bench until he shows that he’s not going to walk the world.