Friday Lineup Card: Late-Season Treasure In Valencia

Friday Lineup Card: Late-Season Treasure In Valencia

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters - A look at Friday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Cubs (Kyle Hendricks – R) at White Sox (Jeff Samardzija – R), 4:10
Athletics (Undecided) at Orioles (Ubaldo Jimenez – R), 7:05
Yankees (Ivan Nova – R) at Blue Jays (David Price – L), 7:07
Pirates (J.A. Happ – R) at Mets (Bartolo Colon – R), 7:10
Mariners (Mike Montgomery – L) at Red Sox (Joe Kelly – R), 7:10
Diamondbacks (Robbie Ray – L) at Braves (Julio Teheran – R), 7:35
Rays (Nate Karns – R) at Rangers (Martin Perez – L), 8:05
Angels (Jered Weaver – R) at Royals (Danny Duffy – L), 8:10
Indians (Corey Kluber – R) at Twins (Trevor May – R), 8:10
Tigers (Alfredo Simon – R) at Astros (Dallas Keuchel – L), 8:10
Phillies (Adam Morgan – R) at Brewers (Wily Peralta – R), 8:10
Marlins (David Phelps – R) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – L), 8:15
Padres (Tyson Ross – R) at Rockies (Yohan Flande – L), 8:40
Reds (Anthony DeSclafani – R) at Dodgers (Alex Wood – L), 10:10
Nationals (Max Scherzer – R) at Giants (Matt Cain – R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Yasmani Grandal, C, LAD (Shoulder) – Did not play on Thursday.
Erick Aybar, SS, LAA (Back) – Scratched from Thursday's game.
Lucas Duda, 1B, NYM (Back) – Expected to return to action on Friday.
Salvador Perez, C, KC (Wrist) – Did not play on Thursday.
Starling Marte, OF, PIT (Hand) – Did not play on Thursday.
Sonny Gray, SP, OAK (Back) – May return to the rotation over the weekend after suffering back spasms.
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX (Knee) – Underwent an MRI on Thursday.
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, TOR (Finger) – Did not play on Thursday.
Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI (Wrist) – Expected to return to the lineup in a couple of days.

Players on the DL

C.J. Wilson, SP, LAA (Elbow) – Expected to undergo season-ending surgery to remove bone spurs.
Norichika Aoki, OF, SF (Concussion) – Was placed on the 7-day DL.
Tim Hudson, SP, SF (Shoulder) – Expected to throw a few innings on Friday for High-A San Jose.
Diego Moreno, RP, NYY (Elbow) – Was transferred to the 60-day DL.
Michael Pineda, SP, NYY (Forearm) – Will pitch on Sunday for Double-A Trenton.
J.B. Shuck, OF, CHW (Hamstring) – Started a rehab assignment on Thursday.
Tommy Milone, SP, MIN (Arm) – Will be activated from the DL to start on Sunday.
Phil Hughes, SP, MIN (Back) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Reed Johnson, OF, WAS (Foot) – Started a rehab assignment on Thursday.

Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.

Activated from the DL

Justin Turner, 3B, LAD

Placed on the DL (15-day DL, unless otherwise noted)

Diego Moreno, RP, NYY – transferred to the 60-day DL
Phil Hughes, SP, MIN
Nori Aoki, OF, SF

Called Up

Greg Bird, 1B, NYY
Chi Chi Gonzalez, SP, TEX
Ryan Lollis, OF, SF

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

Joey Butler, OF, TB
Ryan Kelly, RP, BOS
Jose Peraza, 2B, LAD
Nick Martinez, SP, TEX
Nick Goody, RP, NYY

Signed

Chris Heisey, OF, TOR
Matt Bywater, RP, ATL

Closer Watch

Texas Rangers – Who would have thought Shawn Tolleson would have 21 saves to this point, and, better yet, a great shot at 30 saves by season's end? Tolleson has pitched outstanding for the Rangers after the team suffered through some rocky closer issues early on in the season. The Rangers have stuck by Tolleson, and rightfully so, as he threw 11-of-14 pitches for strikes in shutting down the Twins in the ninth inning on Wednesday.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – August 14, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
B. Butler1BOAK @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez28921556.321.424.464.889
J. ReddickOFOAK @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez10321105.300.364.7001.064
J. EllsburyOFNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
D. Price531871436.340.386.547.933
C. Headley3BNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
D. Price10410212.400.455.6001.055
B. McCannCNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
D. Price19933713.474.500.9471.447
M. Teixeira1BNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
D. Price601263867.200.284.400.684
J. BautistaOFTOR vs NYY
7:07PM
I. Nova15511463.333.524.5331.057
E. Encarnacion1BTOR vs NYY
7:07PM
I. Nova24821623.333.385.500.885
C. GrandersonOFNYM vs PIT
7:10PM
J. Happ11321434.273.429.6361.065
K. Johnson3BNYM vs PIT
7:10PM
J. Happ10222301.200.200.8001.000
C. StewartCPIT @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon14511113.357.400.571.971
N. CruzOFSEA @ BOS
7:10PM
J. Kelly11500221.455.538.455.993
I. Kinsler2BDET @ HOU
8:10PM
D. Keuchel19611222.316.381.474.855
K. Morales1BKC vs LAA
8:10PM
J. Weaver12821120.667.7141.0001.714
B. Zobrist2BKC vs LAA
8:10PM
J. Weaver24741416.292.320.583.903
C. McGehee3BMIA @ STL
8:15PM
J. Garcia17521522.294.350.529.879
C. BlackmonOFCOL vs SD
8:40PM
T. Ross13421214.308.357.615.973
I. DesmondSSWAS @ SF
10:15PM
M. Cain14521214.357.400.6431.043
Hot Pitcher Matchups – August 14, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Bartolo ColonNYM vs PIT
7:10PM
8425836213.298.314.460.774
Corey KluberCLE @ MIN
8:10PM
1583012314746.190.234.312.546
Cold Batter Matchups – August 14, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
S. DrewSSNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
D. Price10000015.000.091.000.091
B. GardnerOFNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
D. Price22300245.136.269.136.406
C. YoungOFNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
D. Price11100013.091.167.091.258
Y. CespedesOFNYM vs PIT
7:10PM
J. Happ19310415.158.200.211.411
S. MarteOFPIT @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon10100002.100.100.100.200
M. MorseOFPIT @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon14200001.143.143.143.286
J. SaltalamacchiaCARI @ ATL
7:35PM
J. Teheran12211218.167.231.417.647
L. Valbuena3BHOU vs DET
8:10PM
A. Simon16321332.188.316.438.753
A. EscobarSSKC vs LAA
8:10PM
J. Weaver11200003.182.182.182.364
B. Dozier2BMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Kluber28310019.107.138.143.281
E. EscobarSSMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Kluber15200002.133.188.133.321
T. HunterOFMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Kluber18310107.167.167.222.389
M. Prado3BMIA @ STL
8:15PM
J. Garcia15110001.067.067.133.200
N. Arenado3BCOL vs SD
8:40PM
T. Ross17300003.176.176.176.353
D. Espinosa2BWAS @ SF
10:15PM
M. Cain10211115.200.273.500.773
Cold Pitcher Matchups – August 14, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
There are no pitchers who qualify as "cold" today.
Recommended Pickup

Danny Valencia, 3B, Oakland Athletics – Since the A's claimed Valencia from the Blue Jays a couple of weeks ago, he's been shredding the ball, with nine hits over his last seven games, including three home runs and seven RBI. Valencia also offers some sweet positional flexibility, qualifying at 1B, 3B and OF in leagues with a five-game played minimum requirement. And, Valencia is only a couple of games away from qualifying at 2B, which is an added bonus. As long as the A's keep giving Valencia at-bats, expect solid production from here on out. Valencia is well worth the grab right now.

Other Recent Recommendations:Khris Davis, Chris Bassitt, Jose Peraza, Hector Olivera, Luis Severino and Kyle Parker.

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Alex Wood, LAD ($7,600)
C: Derek Norris, SD ($4,200)
1B: Kendrys Morales, KC ($4,000)
2B: Kolten Wong, STL ($3,800)
SS: Jhonny Peralta, STL ($4,100)
3B: Justin Turner, LAD ($3,800)
OF: Danny Valencia, OAK ($3,600)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dave Hunter plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: TheRolyPolyBoy, DraftKings: TheRolyPolyBoy.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dave Hunter
Dave is a former RotoWire contributor. He, a long-time veteran of fantasy sports, began his career in 2004 at TalentedMrRoto.com. After a recent seven-year stint at ESPN.com managing the fantasy Q&A platform "The Answer Guys," Dave's writings have appeared on ESPN.com, SI.com, MLB.com, and other sites. Dave will try to keep his priorities straight by not ignoring his wife, two kids and menagerie of animals.
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