Daily Joust: The Weekend Ahead
May 18th, 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. 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
Michael Cuddyer vs. Kevin Millwood: We all know that Millwood is nothing more than a place holder anyway. Put him in Coors Field and things could get ugly. Cuddyer has long enjoyed the matchup with the righty as he’s hit .429 with two homers in 28 at-bats. Jason Giambi (.421-3-5) and Todd Helton (.324-2-6) have also enjoyed considerable success in the matchup.
Albert Pujols vs. Jeff Suppan: The latest Padres scrap heap add, Suppan is 2-12 with a 1.69 ERA through three starts. He won’t keep that up much longer. He’s also in grave danger of being tattooed by Mr. Pujols who has suddenly has a 6-game hit streak including two homers and five RBI the last two games. Pujols is also 16-for-42, a .381 average, with a homer and six RBI against Suppan.
PITCHERS – FRIDAY
Edwin Jackson vs. Orioles: Jackson has pitched very well for the Nats this year with a 3.71 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 4.22 K/BB ratio in his first seven starts for the club. Friday he faces an Orioles club that he has long had success against. In nine career outings against the team from Baltimore he is 5-1 with a 3.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 40 Ks in 47.1 innings, numbers that don’t look at all out of place compared to his work this season.
Ted Lilly vs. Cardinals: In 2008-09 Lilly went 4-1 against the Cardinals and in his career against the Cardinals he’s also 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 14 starts. He’s also 5-0 this have allowed a single run in four of his six starts (the other two times out he’s allowed six runs leading to a 2.11 ERA for the year).
Carlos Zambrano vs. Indians: In seven starts this season only two times has Big Z allowed more than one earned run (he allowed four runs in six innings in his first start and three runs in six innings on April 27th). The result is a 1.88 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across his 48 innings. It’s hard to sit him against anyone right now.
HITTERS – SATURDAY
Adam Dunn vs. Ryan Dempster: The Cubs ace is pitching very well to start the year (1.74 ERA, .097 WHIP) but Dunn is performing equally as well for the White Sox (12 HR, 30 RBI, .947 OPS in 39 games) . In 27 career plate appearances against Dempster Dunn has hit .294 while he’s walked 10 times leading to an otherworldly .556 OBP (he has two homers and four RBI as well).
Adrian Gonzalez vs. Joe Blanton: AGone hasn’t lived up to expectations this year but he’s set up for a matchup Saturday that should certainly be advantageous to him. In 16 at-bats against Blanton he has seven hits, two of which are big flies, and he’s knocked in four runs leading to a .438 average and 1.283 OPS.
Ty Wigginton vs. Jon Lester: These two have only squared off 20 times but Wigginton has produced eight hits (.400) including a homer. Add in the four walks Ty has also been able to accrue and the Phillies’ batter has a video game like .538 OBP in the matchup.
PITCHERS – SATURDAY
Christian Friedrich vs. Mariners: How is this for a way to start your big league career. Take on the Padres in San Diego. Then fly north up the California coast to take on the Giants in San Francisco. How about you them hop on a plan to fly home to take on the Mariners. Has a pitcher ever had a better set of three opponents to take on to start his big league career? Through 13 innings the lefty with the dominating curve ball has 17 Ks, two walks allowed an a 1.38 ERA.
Derek Holland vs. Astros: He’s made two starts against the Astros, and though his ERA is 4.15 his WHIP is impressive at 1.08, as is his BAA of .234. Plus, the Astros are far from being an offensive juggernaut, right? There’s also the fact that over his last 14.1 innings that Holland has allowed one earned run.
Yovani Gallardo vs. Twins: The Twins are in the bottom five in many offensive categories this year including runs scored which should certainly help Gallardo who has allowed just four runs while striking out 14 batters over his last 12 innings. Gallardo has also impressed in four starts against the Twins in his career with a 2.48 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 27 Ks in 29 innings.
CONTESTS
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Get on it!
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Adam Dunn, Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, Carlos Zambrano, Christian Friedrich, Derek Holland, Edwin Jackson, Michael Cuddyer, Scot Rolen, Ted Lilly, Ty Wigginton, Yovani Gallardo
By greg on May 18, 2012
Hey Ray – follow-up to Gallardo above (he’s been great apart from the STL starts!) I’ve been offered Cano/Gallardo for my Holliday/R. Weeks. It’s a 10-team league that counts AVG, OPS, QS, K/9. Would leave me a little thinner at OF (Cargo, Victorino, Prado, Boesch and rotating 5th OF) and my staff is already pretty strong (Verl, Stras, Haren, Waino, Garza).
Does the OPS consideration (Holliday/Weeks) mean I’m sending too much? Or does it thin my OF too much? Love getting Cano, of course.
thanks for the input buddy!
By Mike on May 18, 2012
Rolen is on the DL.
By Ray Flowers on May 18, 2012
Mike – so right you are. Getting tired in my old age
By Ray Flowers on May 18, 2012
Greg – been offered Cano/Gallardo for my Holliday/R. Weeks
I’m about done with Rickie Weeks. Injuries always pop up, and his name carries a lot more weight than his game. I look at the deal this way.
Cano > or = Holliday
Gallardo > Weeks.
I’d do it… but you would then be smart to address your OF depth as you suggested.
By Brian on May 18, 2012
I am in a 12 team H2H 6×5 league (OPS Is the 6th hitting cat.) I would receive Tulowktzki/R. Zimmerman and He would get back Pujols and A. Escobar. I have Beltre to play 3rd base but would leave me Freeman to play 1B. What do you think about pulling the trigger? I am in last and have not won a weekly match up. I have stayed the course and Puljos is starting to hit. I need your superior advice!!!!
By wesley on May 18, 2012
Hey Ray, im in a deep 12 team roto . and i have middlebrooks as my util and hes going to get sent down and my whole bench is injured. Here are my best options to replace middlebrooks , Span, Espinosa, Elliot johnson, Abreu and M. moreland. Which 1 do you think would be my best bet util longoria, werth or crawford comes back.
Thanks again Ray
By Tyler on May 18, 2012
Hey Ray, I am negotiating a trade with a Giants fan where I give up Madison Bumgarner for either CJ Wilson, Brandon Morrow or Jake Peavy. I was thinking CJ but am wondering what you think. The trade would also net me A-Rod to play 3B instead of Youkilis. Do you like what you’re seeing from A-Rod this year? Thanks for all of your help.
Tyler
By Ray Flowers on May 18, 2012
Brian – I would receive Tulowktzki/R. Zimmerman and He would get back Pujols and A. Escobar.
As much as I’m a big Pujols fan, and he’s slowly coming out of it now, Alcides is just so far off from the other three players that I think you have to do this deal to get Tulo/Zimm.
By Ray Flowers on May 18, 2012
Wesley – Moreland hot right now, not a bad pickup short term. I’m a big Span fan, though he brings a totally diff skill set. Espinosa also a nice stash, he shouldn’t be on waiver in my opinion.
Just curious, hot deep is this “deep” 12 team lg? At least 23 starting players (14 hitters, 9 pitchers) with five or six man benches?
By Ray Flowers on May 18, 2012
Tyler – Huge Morrow fan. Not so on Peavy. Hard to think he can stay healthy, and he certainly can’t keep up the pace. You could move MadBum for Wilson, pretty equal value there for both sides.
A-Rod should have every chance of being a top-5 3B with all the injuries at the position. Should get his 30-100, and 10-15 steals seems possible.
By wesley on May 18, 2012
Yea ray , that’s deep to me lol 14 hitters and 9 pitchers and 6 bench. longoria , werth and crawford and rest pitchers for bench. So basically i should drop werth or a pitcher for espinosa ? thanks again ray have a good weekend.
By Regina on May 18, 2012
Hi Ray!
Received a trade offer: get Kinsler and Granderson for Tulo and Sabathia. League is H2H categories. I need another outfielder and can move Castro to SS. Would still have Beachy, Shields, Romero, Capuano, D Holland at SP. What do you think?
By prettyflowers on May 19, 2012
Hey Ray — thanks again for the site; it’s rare to see someone pay consistent attention & I greatly appreciate it.
I’m in a 12-team mixed keeper league & have some players coming off the DL (Chris Young is 1st) and I’m trying to decide who to drop. The replacement players are playing too well,(Altuve and Reddick), so the likeliest candidates are Gaby Sanchez, Lucas Duda, or Rex Brothers. Sanchez has been a debacle all season, Brothers is horrid lately but our league counts holds & he has a big arm. Duda is well, just a solid guy who gives me a teensy bit of positional flexibility. I’m leaning toward Sanchez because he’s been horrid & his ballpark is huge, plus I recently grabbed another holds guy to keep Brothers on the bench til he straightens out his issues. Conversely, I’ve been patient so far with Gaby & he has the best track record of the bunch the past two seasons. Any thoughts?
By Kevin on May 19, 2012
Hey Ray — I finished top-15 in the $250 FR. I got my $5 for finishing where I did, but didn’t receive the extra $5 for beating your score (woo!). Did DJ not let you know they stopped doing that, or am I just getting hosed?
By Andy on May 19, 2012
Hey Ray,
Down 24 pts. Which match up do you like better?
Nova vs CIN today or Cueto vs NYY tomorrow?
Thanks bud!
By Ray Flowers on May 19, 2012
Regina – get Kinsler and Granderson for Tulo and Sabathia.
I don’t see anything wrong with this deal. It’s a bunch of elite level talent switching hands. Obviously you need to be able to have a passable SS option (Castro is way more than that), and you will need to find a solid arm to enter into the rotation, but you’re getting two impressive bats.
By Ray Flowers on May 19, 2012
Prettyflowers – You got it my friend.
Rex Brothers seems pretty lost right now. Moving on from him, I don’t have an issue with. I think it’s easier to find a solid bullpen arm than it is to find a 20-75 type at first, though you are right, Sanchez has sucked wind so far. The new ballpark in Florida is no different than the one that was replaced really. Still, if you want to drop Sanchez, since you have Duda, no issue with it.
By Regina on May 19, 2012
Thanks Ray! I needed the sanity check.
By Ray Flowers on May 19, 2012
Kevin – I’ll look into that and get back to you. I’ll get some clarification.
By Ray Flowers on May 19, 2012
Andy – Not a huge fan of either. Cueto has been a star, but that’s a rough matchup. Nova is nowhere near as good, but seems in line for a better matchup. I’d go Cueto. He’s just the better pitcher.
By Dan on May 19, 2012
Hey Ray-
Brandon Morrow’s line from Monday was revised from 1 er to 6 er and I can’t find an explanation anywhere. Do you know what the deal is?
Thanks!
By Ray Flowers on May 19, 2012
Dan – Near as I can tell, the Rays challenged an error given on Matt Joyce’s ball. Ended up being ruled a hit causing six earned runs to be added to Brandon Morrow’s line on May 14th.