The Daily Grind: Day of Aces

The Daily Grind keeps on keepin’ on.

AGENDA

1. Sanchez Double Donger
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. Hitters to Use
5. SaberSim Says…
6. TDG Invitational Returns!

1. Sanchez Double Donger

Well, you just missed your opportunity to buy low on Gary Sanchez. Not that anybody was selling low. Trust me, I tried so many times.

2. Weather Reports

There is a small risk of storms in Texas. Otherwise, it’s all clear.

3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse

Main Slate: It’s a pitching heavy day with Clayton Kershaw, Stephen Strasburg, Dallas Keuchel, Yu Darvish, and others on the agenda. Did you know Kershaw has yet to exceed 60 points on FanDuel? Meanwhile, Strasburg is coming off a dominant 76 point outing.

I thought German Marquez would be a great value play versus the Padres. He costs $8,800. Wut?

Below the mega-aces are some DFS aces of normal stature – Michael Pineda, Michael Fulmer, Rick Porcello, and Gerrit Cole. I expect Porcello to eventually get his act together, although Camden Yards isn’t the best venue for a first step. Pineda has been consistently solid despite my repeated predictions of rapid decline. I still think he’s a reliever – perhaps an even better version of Chris Devenski – masquerading as a starter.

Bargains look iffy tonight. J.C. Ramirez costs $8,400. I’d totally roster him if he was correctly priced around $6,800. I understand why Derek Holland is $7,800 – he’s been strangely consistent. I’d still prefer to target him around $7,000. The actually bargain priced pitchers come with deeper flaws. I guess FanDuel really wants us to spend on pitching tonight.

Stack Targets: Bronson Arroyo, Kyle Gibson, Alec Asher, Jose Urena, Christian Bergman, Francisco Liriano, Pat Corbin, Clayton Richard, Ty Blach

4. Hitters to Use

I’m very keen to use Yasmani Grandal at tiny Miller Park. Yea, I’ve been watching too many British shows. Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and other Dodgers are also fine to target versus Jimmy Nelson.

Tyler Flowers is the poor man’s version of Grandal at Cincinnati. You’ll want to use all the Braves versus Arroyo and his over 3.00 HR/9. Matt Kemp’s the big name to own.

Jose Altuve is priced affordably despite facing Yu Darvish. For $3,500, I’ll take a shot at one of the best hitters in the league.

You know me, I like contrarian picks. Jake Lamb has a good matchup, but his $4,000 price tag will be tough to roster, especially with more affordable alternatives at the position.

I have my eye on a few Phillies, most notably Tommy Joseph and Aaron Altherr. Betting on a couple Phillies is fine. Going with an entire stack is suicide.

5. SaberSim Says…

Kershaw, Strasburg, Marquez, Darvish, and Fulmer rank among the top five tonight. I guess FanDuel was on to something with their high price for Marquez. Joey Votto, Mookie Betts, Matt Kemp, Corey Seager, and Paul Goldschmidt are the top hitters. That’s four very good bats plus Kemp versus Arroyo.

6. The Daily Grind Invitational

Congrats to sawyer77. His 171 gave him an easy victory in yesterday’s Invitational. Zack Greinke, Jonathan Schoop, Mark Trumbo, and Kole Calhoun provided nearly all of production. Leaderboard.

We finish out the week on FanDuel.