Daily Joust: The Weekend Ahead
August 10th, 2012 | by Ray Flowers |
It’s Friday, and that means a couple of things. One, it’s about time to cut loose and have some fun. Two, I’ll be giving some plays for Friday and Saturday that would seem to be in prime position to succeed.
Today, I’ll give some advice on how you might choose to fill out your lineup for Friday or Saturday, and if you are interested in using that info to make a few bucks, DailyJoust can help you out.
HITTERS – FRIDAY
Carlos Beltran vs. Roy Halladay: Beltran is second in the NL with 27 homers. He’s also gone deep twice in four games and four times in 10 contests. The matchup might look like a tough one on paper, but Beltran has had a lot of success against the veteran Phillies’ ace going .326-2-10 in 43 at-bats.
Adam Jones vs. Luke Hochevar: Jones has hit .343 over his last 35 at-bats and he’s always enjoyed success against Hochevar with eight hits in 20 at-bats (.400-1-6).
Kendrys Morales vs. Felix Hernandez: Morales is hot. He’s hit .3555 with three homers in eight August games and he’s also hit .333 with a bomb and eight RBIs in 26 at-bats against the King.
PITCHERS – FRIDAY
Clay Buchholz vs. Indians: CB has been on quite the role of late as he’s allowed a total of four earned runs in his last four outings. That run of success just might be enough for him to overcome the fact that he’s got a 5.06 ERA in eight starts on the road this year.
Kyle Lohse vs. Phillies: He has a tough matchup against Roy Halladay, but with the way Lohse is pitching does it even matter? Not only has he won his last six decisions but Kyle has also allowed two or fewer earned runs in eight of his last nine starts. He’s also posted a 3.38 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 11 career starts against the Phils.
Paul Maholm vs. Mets: Once more into the breach… Maholm continues to be just about as hot as any pitcher in the game (even if few seem to be buying it. See Fleaflicker). The last seven times he has started he’s gone at least 6.2 innings each time. He’s also allowed one or zero runs six times with his only hiccup being the three runs he allowed last time out. When a guy is rolling like this you don’t ask questions you just say ‘thank you, may I have another?’
HITTERS – SATURDAY
Jerry Hairston Jr.: He is 0-for-12 the past week. Still, he’s hit .318 on the road this season and he’s always enjoyed success against Nolasco (8-for-16 with five doubles).
Reed Johnson vs. Johan Santana: Johan will be making his first start since hitting the DL with an ankle issue, and he was awful in his last three starts allowing 19 runs in his last 12.2 innings. Given that Johnson has hit .516 against Johan, that’s 16-for-31 folks, how do you not play Reed?
Carlos Lee vs. Joe Blanton: Lee is hitting .3109 since the All-Star break. He’s also rapping out hits at a .364 clip over his last 33 at-bats. When he faces Blanton he’s got nine hits in 18 at-bats, good for a cool .500 average.
PITCHERS – SATURDAY
Dan Haren vs. Mariners: Do the Mariners even have a team anymore? Ichiro is gone, Smoak was demoted, Ackley can’t hit his weight. They are awful. Haren has predictably dominated the Mariners in his career with a 2.43 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 20 starts and he’s also allowed just four runs in his last three starts as his back woes seem to have finally abated.
Jeremy Hellickson vs. Twins: For the season Hellickson has a 3.43 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. For his career those numbers are 3.17 and 1.20. In eight games on the road this year he has a 3.21 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. In three starts against the Twins in his career those numbers are 3.98 and 1.03. Can you spell consistency?
Francisco Liriano vs. Athletics: OK, so his leg is a bit sore. Still, that’s not enough to dissuade me from suggesting that Liriano makes a solid start Saturday. Liriano has faced current Athletics for 121 at-bats, and they have produced 22 hits leading to a .182/.233/.256 line. That’s a .489 OPS folks. Lock and load.
CONTESTS
Daily Joust is obviously still running baseball leagues for those of you diehard fans (give yourself a pat on the back for hanging in there given the incessant pushing of the NFL). However, if you’re also looking to sink you teeth into the football season, while concurrently still making it happen in baseball, they’ve got you covered there too. To sign up for any game with DailyJoust simply click on the link just provided.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Adam Jones, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Lee, Clay Buchholz, Dan Haren, Francisco Liriano, Jeremy Hellickson, Jerry Hairston Jr., Kendrys Morales, Kyle Lohse, Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson
By Morgan on Aug 10, 2012
Are you starting our boy Max Scherzer tonight?
By Ray Flowers on Aug 10, 2012
Morgan – If you need the Ks, start Scherzer. If you’re in a H2H setup, really tough to start. I’m sitting him tonight in the leagues I own him.
By Wesley on Aug 10, 2012
Whats up ray, love the football guide. But need assistance in baseball still. 12 team h2h. Somebody offered me ian Kennedy for shin soo choo. My other outfielders are justin and BJ upton, trout and holliday
Play 3 outfielders and 2util.
Quentin a free agent? Drop homer bailey for him
Wes
By Ray Flowers on Aug 10, 2012
Wesley – You can drop Homer Bailey for Quentin. Either guy is fine depending on need.
As for the deal… you’d still have four terrific outfielders. Quentin would be a decent 2nd UT option.
Do you really need pitching? Since you are dropping Bailey, it would seem you dont?
Kennedy is a better option than Bailey no doubt in my mind, but Kennedy is coming off a bad outing and his ERA and WHIP are worse than lg avg. Given his 10-9 record, I think sending out Choo is a high price considering that Choo has hit .310 over his last 62 games.
By Nick on Aug 12, 2012
I was offered Matt Cain, Jemile Weeks and Mitch Moreland for Brandon Morrow, Neil Walker and Rafael Soriano.
My closers would then be Motte, Henderson, Affeldt and Bell. It’s a 16 team h2h league. Would you make the deal? Thanks
By Ray Flowers on Aug 12, 2012
Nick – I was offered Matt Cain, Jemile Weeks and Mitch Moreland for Brandon Morrow, Neil Walker and Rafael Soriano
Morrow should be good, but coming off injury = concern.
Walker on fire.
Soriano continues to get it done.
Cain struggling, but he’s a horse.
Weeks, not much to like there.
Moreland – not likely to see full time work with olt around.
Only do this deal if you are desperate for a top level SP. Others, I’d pass, you just aren’t getting enough in the secondary parts.
By john on Aug 12, 2012
Last week i held off on a trade that was hamilton and sale for weaver..now seeing sale is healthy and will pitch regularly and its looking that hamilton is looking good, should i def do it? Also its a points league