The Daily Grind: 7-10-13

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): There is a bushel of iffy pitchers to consider starting today. Jacob Turner, Zack Wheeler, Rick Porcello, Tyler Skaggs, Felix Doubront, Aaron Harang and Andrew Cashner all have some potential for a strong outing. I’ve selected Doubront for my own teams.

Pitcher (bum): John Hellweg is easy to bet against while his ERA rest north of 12.00.

Wade Davis has the stuff to be a decent innings eater but he’s had a rough go at it this season.

Josh Lindblom has done surprisingly well as a spot starter for the Rangers, but he’s an easy guy to bet against.

Hitter (power): Kyle Blanks, Brian Dozier and Travis Hafner all have favorable match-ups.

Hitter (speed): Chris Denorfia and Leonys Martin strike me as the best options for speed today.

Tomorrow’s grind

Pitcher (to start): Danny Salazar is a solid pitching prospect, but you don’t hear about him too often. He will be making his big league debut against a difficult Blue Jays lineup. Most Yahoo league will have him on waivers, so watch the game if you’re interested in him.

Erasmo Ramirez will get the start for the Mariners tomorrow. He features a big change-up and little else. Eno Sarris has more words about him.

Wade Miley is down to 39 percent owned and has a somewhat favorable match-up against the Brewers.

Pitcher (bum): Mike Pelfrey is back and showing improved velocity, so he might not be as ridiculously terrible as he was earlier in the season.

Drew Pomeranzz versus Chris Capuano is today’s pick for highest scoring game.

Hitter (power): Justin Smoak is heating up. He was one of my preseason picks to breakout this season along with Josh Donaldson, Domonic Brown, Brandon Belt (meh), Lorenzo Cain (meh) and Nolan Reimold (grumble).

Hitter (speed): Gerardo Parra could be a good source of runs today against Yovani Gallardo.

I’m going to keep trotting out Leonys Martin until he’s over 50 percent owned. He’s up to 46 percent now.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Speaking of Cain, I’d try him out against Andy Pettitte.

Noteworthy news

The Biogenesis scandal is heating up. Or more precisely, it is expected to be allowed to heat up once the All-Star break is over. The AP seems to think suspensions are likely and while that may be true, they’re far from certain given the information publicly available.

Weather watch

Storms continue to be scattered throughout the Northeast today. Games in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, and New York (AL) could be affected.


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

Which spot starter do you like better today. I am looking for a win, a quality start and some Ks.
Turner, Wheeler or Nova?
Thanks

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

Despite being the name I didn’t mention, I think Nova may be the best option for a W/QS.

Eric Dykstra
10 years ago

@TB: Nova for sure; he’s only one whose team is favored to win today. The Royals don’t strike out a lot, but Nova’s K rate is alright so he should pick up a few.

Brad Johnson
10 years ago

Agreed. None of those listed meet all three of your requirements, but really none of them are major strikeout threats.

TB
10 years ago

Thanks guys, I would be happy with a win and quality start!!