could force them into a semifinal matchup with the United States

Can you believe were looking at the last Sunday of August? After this, theres only one more Sunday before baseball has to share center stage with football. Dont worry, baseball will always be the focus here in the Daily Notes. Youve come this far, now its time to bring home the gold. Heres what you need to head into the last week of August on a roll.PitchingEliteSan Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner is in a familiar spot, leading the pitching rankings once again. That said, the lefty is in a bit of a rut, tossing just five innings in three of his past five outings, allowing at least four runs in each. Bumgarner is in a great spot to regain momentum with the Atlanta Braves closing out a set in AT&T Park. It should be noted that while the visitors are among the weakest clubs versus southpaws this season, theyve picked up the pace over the second half. Still, there should be no reservations using one of the best arms in the game for all DFS formats.Over the course of the long season, some pitchers morph into high floor types better for cash games, while others become riskier with the high ceiling desired for tournament play. Chris Archer is this seasons poster child for GPP action. Sunday is no exception, as the Tampa Bay Rays wrap up a series with the strikeout-prone Houston Astros in Minute Maid Park. Injuries have rendered the hosts very right-handed, feeding even more into Archers whiff potential.Chicago Cubs southpaw Jon Lester is a cash game fixture, with ample dominance to be a tournament play in the right matchup. This is a borderline scenario as the host Los Angeles Dodgers fan at a slightly above average pace versus southpaws.SolidOne of the tricks to finding a hurler ready to take the next step is identifying those one skill away. Usually, that entails improving control. For Kevin Gausman, its doing a better job of keeping the ball in the yard. His ground ball to fly ball ratio is right around league average, suggesting that his home run per fly ball rate (HR/FB) is the culprit. Having Camden Yards as his home park doesnt help, but the fact remains that in three of his four campaigns, Gausman has sported an elevated HR/FB rate, well above league average. Some of that is bad luck, but if he wants to improve and break out, he needs to figure out a way to lower that mark. To that end, something Gausman can do Sunday is work around New York Yankees phenom Gary Sanchez, who has smacked 10 of his 11 long balls off of righties.Despite whiffing 17 in his last two outings (spanning 11 2/3 innings), Vince Velasquez gave up five runs in those starts. Despite the recent woes, Velasquez checks in as a decent GPP option as he and the Philadelphia Phillies are in Citi Field for the finale of a weekend set with the New York Mets.Jaime Garcia is also in a tailspin, having allowed 11 earned in just nine frames over his past two contests, spurred by five long balls. Next up for the St. Louis Cardinals veteran southpaw is a home interleague affair with the Oakland Athletics. The visitors are near the bottom of the charts in homers against lefties over the past month and will be devoid of their designated hitter. Garcia sets up nicely for cash games and could be a GPP candidate at the right price.StreamersDanny Salazar is owned in 93 percent of ESPN leagues, so why is he getting a mention as a streamer? Averaging fewer than three innings with a 12.30 ERA in his four starts since coming off the disabled list has his owners rightfully concerned. There isnt anything significantly different with his velocity or pitch selection since his return, so while his elbow may still not be right, its not detectable in that manner. My usual philosophy is not to wait for talented hurlers to have a couple good games, I prefer them on my active roster. However, were at the point of the week in head-to-head leagues and season in traditional leagues where category math takes precedence. My lean, though, is only to use Salazar if you have no other choice.After a couple of solid outings, Homer Bailey reminded us that those coming off Tommy John surgery are prone to a shellacking as they work back into form. Last time out, the Cincinnati Reds righty was knocked around by the Dodgers, allowing nine hits and six runs in just 2 1/3 frames. It wont be easy as Bailey looks to rebound against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the desert. A quality start with a whiff an inning is certainly plausible.Anibal Sanchezs ownership is creeping back up, though it still sits at 32 percent in ESPN leagues. The rejuvenated Detroit Tigers right-hander has allowed three or fewer runs in five of his seven outings since being reinserted into the rotation, tossing at least six frames in all but one of those outings. The Los Angeles Angels have been one of the softest clubs versus right-handers for the past month, setting Sanchez up for another solid contest.Since switching leagues, Ivan Nova has spun a 3.19 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in four Senior Circuit starts. The Pittsburgh Pirates trade deadline acquisition has also punched out 18 with just one free pass in those 25 1/3 frames. Look for that strikeout total to grow in the desert, with the Brewers and their 25 percent whiff rate against righties.The numbers land R.A. Dickey in the avoid range, as dictated by his projected game score of 45. However, what the math doesnt take into consideration is the huge variance associated with a knuckleball artist. Especially if youre chasing wins, Dickey is in play despite squaring off against a Minnesota Twins offense thats hitting well over the second half.AvoidTheres temptation to also lift Derek Holland from avoid status based on his history. Plus, he looked sharp in his return, punching out five Reds with one walk in six frames. In fact, in seasonal rotisserie formats, Im starting him. However, its defensible to leave the veteran lefty on the bench in tight ratio races for those playing in head-to-head leagues, as the Cleveland Indians have several switch hitters to keep Holland from having the platoon advantage over most of their hitters.Because its Sunday and start/sit decisions are so contextual, well open the floor for questions on any hurler not covered. Please post the details in the comments, or send me a tweet to @ToddZola and Ill guide you through the choice.HittingPerhaps 23-year-old Archie Bradley is running out of gas, as hes approaching 150 innings after amassing under 70 frames last season. Whatever the reason, August has not been kind to the Diamondbacks righty as he has surrendered 21 runs with 36 hits in 23 innings this month. This puts the Reds in the top spot, led by Joey Votto. Everyone is hitting against Bradley lately, so dont worry about platoon splits. Adam Duvall, Scott Schebler and Eugenio Suarez are all in play along with Billy Hamilton, Jose Peraza and Brandon Phillips.With Scott Kazmir on the disabled list, the Dodgers have again summoned Brock Stewart, hoping his minor league success carries over to the bigs this time around. If it were anyone but the Cubs as his foe, there could be a reason for optimism. But the way Kris Bryant is swinging the bat, hes in play against anyone. Joining the Cubs MVP candidate are the usual suspects: Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Willson Contreras.The Indians have quietly put together a versatile squad capable of matching up with righties or lefties. With southpaw Derek Holland on the hill, Rajai Davis should lead off, and?Mike Napoli will clean up with lefty-masher Brandon Guyer active as well. Add in switch-hitting stalwarts Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana and Jose Ramirez and you can understand the lean to sitting Holland in close ratio races.Chase Anderson has been pitching better lately and holds the platoon edge over a couple of the better Pirates sticks, so consider this your contrarian option. Its not a total shot in the dark as the Bucs hit right-handers well and are enjoying a big park boost in Miller Park. Yesterday, Matt Joyce and Adam Frazier got rare starts, though neither are assured of being in there back-to-back. Expect Gregory Polanco to be back in the lineup, joining switch-hitter Josh Bell, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen.Most likely to hit a home run: Im not sure anyone can keep Kris Bryant in the yard the way hes swinging the bat lately.Most likely to steal a base: Along with allowing a plethora of baserunners, Bradley isnt especially adept at curtailing the running game. This gives Billy Hamilton a good shot at getting on and a great shot at taking off when he does. Cheap Authentic Yeezy 350 . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Cheapest Yeezy Boost 350 . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. http://www.cheapyeezy350australia.com/ . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Yeezy 350 Wholesale . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Cheap Yeezy 350 Australia . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. RIO DE JANEIRO -- U.S. womens water polo coach Adam Krikorian shook his head in disgust after an ugly turnover in the third. He put in five new swimmers after China scored in the fourth, and then clapped his hands at his bench as if trying for a late wake-up call.And it hardly mattered. The United States was in complete control right from the start, never in danger of losing to overmatched China. It turns out winning isnt the only thing for the defending world and Olympic champions.Were more concerned with how we play and trying to be as consistent as possible, Krikorian said after the United States 12-4 victory on Thursday. I dont think I saw that in the second half and when you play every other day, theres no reason to rest. Were getting plenty of rest on our off days and we just got to keep it into a high gear there.The United States improved to 36-2 in 2016 with its 18th straight victory, rolling to titles on three continents before beating Spain 11-4 in its Olympic opener on Tuesday. It has scored in double figures 17 times during its win streak, totaling 231 goals overall and outscoring opponents by an average of seven goals.But captain Maggie Steffens dismissed any notion of complacency as the U.S. tries to become the first country to win consecutive Olympic titles in womens water polo.Each game is a gold-medal game, Steffens said. Each game is an opportunity for us to represent the USA, and thats the motivation.Steffens scored three of her four goals as the United States jumped to a 7-1 lead at the break. But it grew more careless with the ball as the game went along, including the third-quarter turnover during a rare 6-on-4 power play that prompted Krikorians exasperated reaction.We had too many turnovers that game, U.dddddddddddd.S. attacker Kaleigh Gilchrist said. China capitalized on a few, but they could have capitalized on a lot more, and knowing as we go ahead opponents are going to try to look to do that, so we have to tighten a few things up.The United States only two losses so far this year are to Australia, 5-4 on May 26 in California and 5-4 on May 31 in China. But the Aussie Stingers lost 8-7 to Italy on Thursday, a potentially costly result that could force them into a semifinal matchup with the United States.Australias Rowie Webster tied it at 7 with 2:37 to go, but Roberta Bianconi had a power-play goal for Italy with 34 seconds remaining.I think the game was won and lost in the extra-man goals that they scored and we potentially missed, Webster said.Australia faces winless Brazil on Saturday on the final day of the preliminary round. Italy, which leads Group A with four points, takes on Russia, Spain plays against China, and the United States faces Hungary. The quarterfinals begin Monday.Italys Giulia Gorlero, splashing the water at times in celebration or frustration, had 10 saves in the victory over the Aussies.Our match is very important for us, Golero said through a translator. But thats not enough. ... Our tournament starts in the quarterfinals.Also Thursday, Ekaterina Prokofyeva and Evgeniya Ivanova scored three goals apiece to lead Russia to a 14-7 win against Brazil, and Judith Forca Ariza scored in the fourth to help Spain hold on for an 11-10 victory over Hungary.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '