The daily grind: 6-14-13

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.

I will be out for the next two weeks on honeymoon. I’m going to try to issue posts next week, but will be completely unavailable for the following week. Undoubtedly, some of you won’t read this and will be wondering why I’ve left you over the next two weeks.

Today’s grind

Pitcher (to start): You have some very good options sitting on the wire today. Top of the pile is Rick Porcello, who has upped his whiff and strikeout rates while maintaining the quality of his other peripherals. He faces the Twins.

Shaun Marcum is my number two pick for the day. He’s displaying strong command and control in recent outings. He’s opposed by Edwin Jackson, who is pick number three for me today. Expect lots of strikeouts, a few more walks than I’d like, and tons of ground balls.

Jake Westbrook is a good option to chase a win with the Cardinals taking on the Marlins. Just don’t expect strikeouts.

Pitcher (bum): Every day has exploitable pitchers. Today, Mark Buerhle faces Justin Grimm at Arlington in what could end up being a bit of a laser light show. I really do like Grimm but I swear all of his match-ups are terrible.

Scott Diamond has a tough assignment against the Tigers.

Hitter (power): I’m calling today’s class of sluggers retro chic for no reason at all. Try one or all of Garrett Jones, Lucas Duda, Dayan Viciedo or Cody Ross.

Hitter (speed): For speed, you have Drew Stubbs, Craig Gentry, and Will Venable all holding the platoon advantage.

Tomorrow’s grind

Pitcher (to start): Owners have been understandably slow to jump on the John Lackey train. He’s just 38 percent owned. His match-up with the Orioles is a bit of a challenge, but I consider him an every start guy at the moment.

I feel like I’ve been waiting to say Tyler Chatwood for weeks and now I’m uncertain. He had experienced slight peripheral improvements prior to his minor injury, but I’m worried those might go away.

A.J. Griffin is 52 percent owned and will face the Mariners. The drawback is that he’ll face Felix Hernandez.

Pitcher (bum): The Pirates are expected to use Brandon Cumpton in place of A.J. Burnett, but that’s not set in stone. I don’t actually know a single thing about Cumpton besides that his FanGraphs page is unimpressive.

Chad Gaudin is pitching well out of the Giants rotation, but I have to believe it’s all smoke and mirrors.

Josh Lindblom is not pitching well, while providing innings to the Rangers. Someone has to do the yeoman’s work.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Clayton Richard has had a tough season and he’s opposed by Wade Miley who has been little better.

Hitter (power): Hang onto Ross for the Richard match-up.

Give Chris Carter a spin against John Danks.

Scott Hairston will face Jon Niese.

Hitter (speed): Chris Denorfia will start against Miley.

I have this feeling that Alex Cobb is going to over-regress in his next few outings. No reason why. Do yourself a favor and don’t play my pure hunches, but you can still use Lorenzo Cain.

Noteworthy news

The Dodgers and MLB have settled on what the Dodgers own from their new, massive TV contract. Over the 25-year life of the deal, the Dodgers will keep $6 billion and MLB will receive between $2-2.5 billion for revenue sharing. I’d appreciate it if just one percent of that rounding error was dropped in my bank account.

Weather watch

The Tigers and Twins may see storms building throughout the game and the Cubs and Mets need to dodge a 30 percent chance for “few showers.” I don’t quite know how to interpret that. Is there a one-third chance that it kind of, sort of rains?


You can follow me on twitter @BaseballATeam
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BJ
10 years ago

Have the following four streamers available today, can only choose one:

Saunders @ OAK
E Jackson @ NYM
Nicasio vs PHI
Stults vs ARI

Any opinions? Thanks.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

Yes I do have an opinion, but I’m going to let you puzzle it out smile

Hint: I only list one of those names in my column.

jonny
10 years ago

Tomorrow starters – which one would you stream?
Feldman, Phelps or Danks?

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

I want to say none, but if I have to pick one it’s Feldman vs. the Mets.

Abdoozy
10 years ago

Brad, just want to say how much I appreciate your columns. You’ve helped me out of more than one situational jam.

Have you considered doing a Sunday Grind on Friday as well? I always feel empty and unprotected when the weekend rolls around.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

It’s been considered, but I would prefer to do a 7 day a week column that only covers the next day and changes to the current day. If life ever settles down enough, I may try to tackle that, but I don’t foresee that happening prior to the AS break.