Daily Joust: The Weekend Ahead
May 11th, 2012 | by Ray Flowers |
It’s Friday, and that means a couple of things. First, the weekend is nearly upon us (thank goodness). Second, it’s time to get your drink on. Third, it’s time to get ready for your weekend of fantasy baseball with DailyJoust.com.
For those of you unaware of just what DailyJoust is and what the offer, click on the link to BBGuys Partners with DailyJoust. The bottom line is DJ allows you the chance to play daily fantasy baseball, choose a team today an another one tomorrow if you want, all the while giving you the chance to make some real money. Today, I’ll give some advice on how you might choose to fill out your lineup for Friday or Saturday.
HITTERS – FRIDAY
Robinson Cano/Nick Swisher/Mark Teixeira: All three of these Yankees face King Felix, and in most cases that is a recipe for a benching. However, the three Yankees bats have had ample success against the Mariners’ ace.
Cano: .355/.429/581 with two HRs, 4 RBI in 31 at-bats
Swisher: .238/.333/.548 with 4 HRs, 5 RBI in 42 at-bats
Tex: .321/.393/.679 with five HRs, 9 RBIs in 53 at-bats
Sometimes things don’t make a lot of sense.
Casey Kotchman: Clay Buchholz has allowed only 10 hits to all the players currently on the Indians, it just so happens that six of them have been to Kotchman in 11 at-bats, and that’s good for a .545 average. Kotchman is also eight for 23 of late good for a .348 average the past eight days.
Adrian Beltre: The Rangers’ slugger is back to playing third base after dealing with a lower body injury for a while now, and he’s likely looking forward to facing C.J. Wilson given that he has seven hits in 19 at-bats against the lefty (.368/.429/.684).
Jeff Baker/Geo Soto: The two Cubs batters face the always moderately effective Randy Wolf (if you’re looking for a cheap play, Baker is your guy. Look at how many teams over at Fleaflicker have him rostered). The duo has combined to hit four homers with 13 RBI in 54 at-bats against Wolf with Soto hitting three of the bombs with a .333 average while Baker has hit .417 in the matchup.
PITCHERS – FRIDAY
Chris Capuano is undefeated through six starts with a 2.21 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 36 Ks in 36.2 innings. He faces a Rockies club that has hit just .235 against him, and Capuano is 5-1 in his career at Dodger Stadium where the game will take place.
Gio Gonzalez faces a Reds club that he has held to a .109 batting average over 14 innings. The Reds hitters have only managed to bat .109 against Gio who has allowed just three runs in his last five outings this season.
I know I wrote earlier about three hitters from the Yankees that have had a lot of success against Felix Hernandez, but that doesn’t mean King Felix is a bad play Saturday. He is 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA in his outings at the new Yankees Stadium.
Johan Santana has been fantastic this year with a 2.61 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 34 strikeouts through 31 innings. He faces the Marlins Saturday, a team that he has gone 6-1 against with a 1.46 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 81 punchouts in 68 innings.
HITTERS – SATURDAY
Michael Bourn/Jack Wilson: In 25 at-bats against Adam Wainwright Bourn has hit .320 whereas Wilson has hit .364 in 22 at-bats against the righty from St. Louis.
Omar Infante: The guy just keeps on hitting everyone, including going deep with a greater frequency than we’ve ever seen from the slap hitter. Infante has had immense success against the Mets’ R.A. Dickey with 12 hits in 25 at-bats, good for a .480 batting average.
Andrew McCutchen: Hitting .330 through 28 games, McC has only two bombs on the year, though they have come in the past five days. McCutchen faces J.A. Happ Saturday, a hurler who he has beat around for three homers and five RBI in just 22 at-bats (he has also hit .364 against Happ).
David Wright: This guy has flat out murdered the Marlins’ Ricky Nolasco. Wright, in 57 at-bats, has hit .386 with a 1.118 OPS. He’s also gone deep four times with 13 RBI against the perpetually underachieving Nolasco who has actually performed pretty well this year.
PITCHERS – SATURDAY
R.A. Dickey faces a Marlins club that continue to struggle to score despite the talent they possess. Dickey shut down the Marlins earlier this season with a one run, seven inning effort that led to a victory. Dickey was bombed in one start this season but in five of his six outings this season he has produced a “quality start.”
Doug Fister faces the Athletics, arguably the worst offense in baseball. Fister also tossed seven shutout innings in his first start back from the DL to up his season long mark to 10.2 shutout innings. Fister has enjoyed plenty of success in his career against the Athletics with a 5-3 record in 10 outings. Fister has also posted a 2.55 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over those 60 innings.
Shaun Marcum is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in three games against the Cubs. Rather amazingly he also has 17 Ks and just one walk in 20 innings against the Cubbies.
Adam Wainwright is 6-0 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.14 WHIP against Braves in 44 innings. Wainwright has also gone 2-0 with only five runs allowed in his last three starts this year as he rounds into form as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery.
CONTESTS
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By Ray Flowers
Tags: Adam Wainwright, Adrian Beltre Jeff Baker, Casey Kotchman, Chris Capuano, David Wright, Doug Fister, Felix Hernandez, Geovany Soto, Gio Gonzalez, Johan Santana, Mark Teixeira, Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, Omar Infante, R.A.Dickey, Robinson Cano, Shaun Marcum
By Matt on May 11, 2012
my god, pujols is horrible this year.
By Fish on May 11, 2012
Ray,
Love ya buddy, but when do we get back to real baseball articles instead of just shilling for Daily Joust? I hope they’re paying you guys a boatload, cause between the website and the XM shows, it’s really annoying.
For a guy who hates head to head leagues because they don’t represent real value, how can you even like Daily Joust? No need to respond – it’s a rhetorical question, but please don’t forget us traditional roto players in lieu of the daily gamblers.
BTW, in spite of my criticism, I do listen to The Drive every night – it’s my favorite show on XM. You, Kyle and Kay are the best. Thank you.
By Ray Flowers on May 11, 2012
Fish – To be clear, DailyJoust is NOT mentioned on the radio show. Other outlets are, but NOT DailyJoust.
Friday’s I’ll be looking at players for Friday/Saturday matchups each week. You don’t have to play daily games to get something out of the piece. It should still help plenty of people set their lineups who play in daily roto leagues.
By jon on May 11, 2012
Quick one, Ray: Scherzer/Casilla for Haren. Good buy low?
By Dale Murphy on May 11, 2012
Ray bone
Need some advice on a trade that seems pretty lateral….a little background…its a head to head 16 team league…lots of categories….like 17 total, but almost equal bat and arm categories….all the standards including holds as well as saves, K-BB, W-L, QS, etc – it is important to note that we keep 10 players, and we keep them as long as we want…
anyway. I have been offered Tommy Hanson and Sean Marshall for Josh Johnson and K Rod….I have no closer except for Casilla and Street…
So I think its pretty much a push, im trying not to let the fact Im a braves fan impact my view….I know JJ is an injury risk – but so is Hanson….
I think JJ has higher upside but Hanson is younger….Is one more of a risk than the other? I also have Timmy Jim….Recently, the other owner has offered to take K rod out of the deal and do JJ for Hanson and Marshall….but im still not sure…i tried to get him to throw in Valverde instead but no dice…
Sorry for the long email, but i have been struggling with this decision….and you are the best in the business, and I trust your thoughts….Look forward to your input. Thanks
By Ray Flowers on May 11, 2012
Jon – Big fan of Scherzer and that power arm, and with the way closers are going down, Casilla has a lot of value all of a sudden. Haren is clearly the best arm here, no doubt. If you can cover the loss of saves, do it.
By Ray Flowers on May 11, 2012
Dale Murphy – I have been offered Tommy Hanson and Sean Marshall for Josh Johnson and K Rod.
Given that you can keep guys forever, I’d rather have Hanson who, despite health concerns, has fewer than JJohnson. Marshall also has a great K/9 and K/BB this year – he’s been very unlucky with his BABIP and HR-rate – he’s an elite arm. Get that duo, especially if you can hold on to KRod.
By KevinB on May 12, 2012
Hey Ray!
I am in a 7×7 league where the 2 added pitching categories are Holds and K/BB. Focusing on holds, which middle relievers and/or setup man do you feel would be good for a holds while helping in ERA, WHIP and K/BB for the remainder of the season?
I know this is kind of like predicting the future so I am looking for sleepers that meet that criteria (i.e. good for a holds while helping in ERA, WHIP and K/BB) who may fly under the radar.
On a side note, I agree with you on the SHLD (Saves + holds) category and may bring this to the attention of a few of my keeper league commissioner or I may just start a league featuring this category. I am really not sure if any of the main fantasy sites would allow me to do this but I need to do some research on that soon.
By Ray Flowers on May 12, 2012
KevinB – There is no way for me to answer your question without names. I have no idea who is available in your lg, likely not many great options given the fact that your league does count holds.
SOLDS – http://baseballguys.com/2010/04/14/around-the-horn-april14-2010/
By Mark on May 12, 2012
Simple trade question- Given what’s blown up this past week, would you trade Josh Johnson for Josh Beckett? I have Beckett.
By Craig D on May 12, 2012
Ray – I was offered Miggy Cabrera for Cargo and Prado. My remianing OF would be: Matt Holliday, BJ Upton, Heyward, and Mike Trout.
I guess it boils down to who will have the better production moving forward? Cargo/Prado or Miggy/Trout?
Thanks!
By KevinB on May 12, 2012
REPOST …
Hey Ray!
I am in a 7×7 league where the 2 added pitching categories are Holds and K/BB. Focusing on holds, which middle relievers and/or setup man do you feel would be good for a holds while helping in ERA, WHIP and K/BB for the remainder of the season?
I know this is kind of like predicting the future so I am looking for sleepers that meet that criteria (i.e. good for a holds while helping in ERA, WHIP and K/BB) who may fly under the radar.
Byrdak
Peralta
Bastardo
Wilhelmsen
Romo
Guerra
Marmol
Ondrusek
H. Santiago
Medlin
Mujica
J. McGee
…
By Ray Flowers on May 12, 2012
Mark – I wrote about Beckett on Friday here – http://www.rotowire.com/baseball/showArticle.htm?id=15197
I think this one is a toss up. I’d favor Beckett over Johnson, but both obviously bring with them some serious concerns.
By Ray Flowers on May 12, 2012
Craig D – I was offered Miggy Cabrera for Cargo and Prado.
I wouldn’t do this.
Coming into the year I had both Miggy and CarGo in my top-10. Close enough that you could go in either direction. Add in a .300 hitter in Prado, a guy who qualifies at multi positions, and I want the duo.
By Ray Flowers on May 12, 2012
KevinB – There are some impressive arms here. I would say that Romo and Peralta are must adds in this format.
Mujica a nice arm setting up Bell.
Santiago not a great arm, but he’s still in line to get some save chances.
Guerra figures to get hold chances, though his skills aren’t elite by any means.
McGee has a big arm and is worth keeping an eye on.