The daily grind: 7-31

The Daily Grind provides daily match-up advice based on my every morning waiver wire search. I welcome advice to help make this column more effective. Ownership rates are from Yahoo!

The Fanduel picks are a mixture of Daily League specific advice and information for the more typical fantasy owner.

Today’s grind

Those in leagues with same-day moves should refer back to yesterday’s table. Some of those entries are already obsolete.

The Fanduel Daily League Players of the Day are:

Pitcher (to start): Neither pitcher is a must-start option, but Kris Medlen against the Marlins and Aaron Laffey against the Mariners strike me as playable.

Pitcher (bum): Keep a close eye out today as any probable pitcher who is dealt will result in an exploitable situation. Ryan Dempster is scheduled today, but if he’s traded it will be a bullpen day.

For more fixed starts, the potent Tigers lineup can probably get to Josh Beckett. And the White Sox face the ultimate bum – at least this season – Nick Blackburn.

Hitter (power): Tyler Moore against Cliff Lee has a chance to show some power. Not a recommendation I ever expected to make. Travis Snider has Dempster at the moment, but that could change suddenly.

Hitter (speed): Carlos Gomez has the platoon advantage, plenty of speed, and a surprising recent burst of power. His ownership is still only at 23 percent. Rajai Davis also has the platoon advantage and should be back to starting more frequently now that Snider and Eric Thames have been dealt.

Tomorrow’s grind

There are a ton of pitching options tomorrow, most of them guys I would have recommended weeks or months ago but not now.

That said, Carlos Villanueva against the Mariners at Safeco looks quite useful. Jake Westbrook is set to face the Rockies which is a survivable match-up and Zach McAllister has the Royals.

If you want something with a little more ceiling and uncertainty, Wade LeBlanc is paired off against the Braves and Ben Sheets.

Team Player Handedness Opposing Pitcher   Team Player Handedness Opposing Pitcher
Athletics         Brewers      
  Brandon Moss L Alex Cobb     Carlos Gomez R Jordan Lyles
  Jemile Weeks S Alex Cobb     Norichika Aoki L Jordan Lyles
  Seth Smith L Alex Cobb   Cubs      
Blue Jays           David DeJesus L Jeff Karstens
  Anthony Gose L Blake Beaven   Dodgers      
  Rajai Davis R Blake Beaven     A.J. Ellis R Josh Collmenter
Indians         Giants      
  Johnny Damon L Luis Mendoza     Angel Pagan S Jon Niese
Mariners         Nationals      
  Eric Thames L Carlos Villanueva     Steve Lombardozzi S Vance Worley
  Mike Carp L Carlos Villanueva   Padres      
  Trayvon Robinson S Carlos Villanueva     Yasmani Grandal S Bronson Arroyo
  Michael Saunders L Carlos Villanueva     Yonder Alonso L Bronson Arroyo
Rangers           Carlos Quentin R Bronson Arroyo
  David Murphy L Dan Haren     Will Venable L Bronson Arroyo
Rays         Phillies      
  Carlos Pena L Jarrod Parker     Laynce Nix L Edwin Jackson
Red Sox           Juan Pierre L Edwin Jackson
  Ryan Sweeney L Rick Porcello   Pirates      
Royals           Starling Marte R Travis Wood
  Salvador Perez R Zach McAllister     Casey McGehee R Travis Wood
  Alcides Escobar R Zach McAllister   Reds      
  Lorenzo Cain R Zach McAllister     Zack Cozart R Kip Wells
Tigers           Todd Frazier R Kip Wells
  Brennan Boesch L Aaron Cook          
  Quintin Berry L Aaron Cook          
Twins                
  Ryan Doumit S Jake Peavy          
  Denard Span L Jake Peavy          
  Ben Revere L Jake Peavy          
White Sox                
  Dayan Viciedo R Scott Diamond          
Yankees                
  Andruw Jones R Zach Britton          

Few match-ups for the gambling man tomorrow. Our old pal Andruw Jones is back again. And the duo of Seth Smith and Brandon Moss should be back in action.

Carlos Gomez and the Brewers face Jordan Lyles, but without the platoon advantage, it might be one of those games where Nyjer Morgan gets a tune up.

Reliever watch

The Dodgers acquired Brandon League from the Mariners, which really doesn’t mean a whole lot as far as we are concerned.

Francisco Cordero blew up in the seventh yesterday and really shouldn’t be pitching anywhere near a leveraged situation.


You can follow me on twitter @BaseballATeam
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Brad Johnson
11 years ago

Forget Ryan Sweeney. He lost a fight with a door and will hit the DL.