The daily grind: 6-6-13

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’m considering dropping the “Today” section of the column since I spend about 20 percent of my effort re-writing my words from yesterday. I would replace that section with “Amendments to yesterday’s Grind.” That would allow me to be slightly more thorough with the same time allotment. Thoughts?

Today’s grind

Pitcher (to start): Slim pickings today (and in general) for pitchers to start. Andrew Cashner is the best arm, but his start is at Colorado.

Shaun Marcum has had a rough start to the season but appears to have righted the ship. The Nationals haven’t been the hardest assignment this season.

Miguel Gonzalez doesn’t appear here often, but a match-up with the Astros promises strikeouts.

Pitcher (bum): Two games feature exploitable pitchers on both sides.

Mike Pelfrey versus Wade Davis could lead to high quantities of runs. Davis is actually a solid pitcher, but he seems to be having trouble with his transition out of the bullpen.

Tyler Cloyd and Wily Peralta are very different pitchers, but they both can be expected to allow runs.

Hitter (power): Ryan Doumit’s a solid option against Davis.

Scott Van Slyke will face Tim Hudson.

Hitter (speed): Craig Gentry will try to reach base against Jon Lester.

Aaron Hicks against Pelfrey or Lorenzo Cain against Davis may provide a steal or two.

Will Venable has a solid match-up against Jhoulys Chacin.

Tomorrow’s grind

Pitcher (to start): Francisco Liriano is pretty scarce at 65 percent owned, but he’s firing on all cylinders right now and the Cubs do not have an imposing lineup.

Felix Doubront is an interesting case study. Over four of his last five starts he’s produced solid results backed by terrible peripherals. Prior to those outings, he had four poor outcomes with strong peripherals. Altogether, he’s a stretch recommendation against the Angels. His velocity is still down, but he’s getting the strikeouts.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Jarrod Parker is 54 percent owned and demonstrating improved control in recent outings.

Pitcher (bum): Nate Karns seems a little green.

Esmil Rogers probably won’t pitch deep into the game even if the outing goes well. So the Rangers will bide their time for run scoring.

I don’t usually bet on the Phillies burning down the barn, but a match-up with Alfredo Figaro could result in some runs.

Edinson Volquez has the never pleasant Coors Field start.

Let’s throw Jeremy Bonderman on this list while we’re at it, since it’s no longer 2006.

Hitter (power): That Bonderman start makes Travis Hafner look attractive.

Hold onto Van Slyke, who will face lefty Paul Maholm.

Kelly Johnson should enjoy the match-up against Jason Hammel.

Hitter (speed): Matt Cain doesn’t seem to be himself, which makes a Gerardo Parra start palatable.

Chris Denorfia will square off against Jorge de la Rosa.

Try David Murphy and/or Leonys Martin against Rogers.

Noteworthy news

Johnny Cueto is back on the disabled list with a lat strain, which will eventually mean the return of Tony Cingrani. He doesn’t line up with Cueto’s next start.

Weather watch

The Mets and Nationals will deal with thunderstorms today.


You can follow me on twitter @BaseballATeam
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kubrick
10 years ago

Any idea when Cingrani would start?  Versus the Cards or the Cubs?  Also, I am in favor of dropping the today section.  The leagues I am in do not allow me to pickup and play someone the same day.

lee
10 years ago

start Ian Kennedy @Stl and or Holland @Bos?

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

Do you have to start either? It would be best if you didn’t.

lee
10 years ago

i can bench both. just looking for input.

Rob E
10 years ago

Think you crossed up Hicks and Cain in your speed matchups section.

Patrick
10 years ago

Uggla is killing me in avg. Would drop him for Cozart/Walker? (MI position)