Friday Lineup Card: O'Happy Day

Friday Lineup Card: O'Happy Day

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Pirates (Gerrit Cole - R) at Cubs (Jon Lester – L), 2:20
White Sox (Carlos Rodon – L) at Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 7:05
Phillies (Jerad Eickhoff – R) at Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann – R), 7:05
Rays (Jake Odorizzi – R) at Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey – R), 7:07
Twins (Mike Pelfrey – R) at Tigers (Matt Boyd – L), 7:08
Braves (Ryan Weber – R) at Marlins (Jose Fernandez – R), 7:10
Orioles (Kevin Gausman – R) at Red Sox (Rich Hill – L), 7:10
Mets (Noah Syndergaard – R) at Reds (Anthony DeSclafani – R), 7:10
Indians (Carlos Carrasco – R) at Royals (Edinson Volquez – R), 8:10
Dodgers (Michael Bolsinger – R) at Rockies (David Hale – R), 8:10
Rangers (Yovani Gallardo – R) at Astros (Scott Kazmir – L), 8:10
Brewers (Ariel Pena – R) at Cardinals (Carlos Martinez – R), 8:15
Giants (Mike Leake – R) at A's (Sonny Gray – R), 10:05
Mariners (Vidal Nuno – L) at Angels (Garrett Richards – R), 10:05
D-backs (Rubby De La Rosa – R) at Padres (Casey Kelly – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

Key Injuries

Out

Greg Holland, RP, KAN (Elbow) – Has a significant tear in his UCL and will likely require Tommy John surgery.
Hanley Ramirez, OF, BOS (Shoulder) – Shut down for the 2015 season.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, BOS (Illness) – Season may be over due to pneumonia.
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN (Hip) – Will begin light agility drills soon, could resume hitting and throwing in early November.
Danny Espinosa, SS, WAS (Hamstring) – Has a slight tear, won't return in 2015.

Day-to-Day

Masahiro Tanaka, SP, NYY (Hamstring) – Scheduled to a throw a bullpen session Friday after Thursday's examination came back positive. Expected to start Monday or Tuesday against Boston.
Adam Wainwright, SP, STL (Achilles) – Will throw a simulated game this weekend, but his availability for the postseason remains in question.
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE (Shoulder) – Improving, and questionable to play Friday after missing the last two games.
Adam Jones, OF, BAL (Back) – MRI came back clean, but it's unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Jonathan Lucroy, C, MIL (Concussion) – Formally cleared to play, may start Saturday against Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia.
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (Back) – Missed his sixth straight game Thursday; season may be over.
Charlie Blackmon, OF, COL (Neck) – Sat for the second straight game Thursday.
Gregory Polanco, OF, PIT (Knee) – Likely to return to the lineup Friday after sitting Thursday.
Zach Britton, RP, BAL (Back) – Expected to play catch Friday.
James Paxton, SP, SEA – Left Thursday's start after 1.1 innings due to a torn fingernail.
Transactions

Dylan Bundy has been called up from Double-A Bowie and placed on the 60-day DL.
The Orioles purchased the contract of David Lough.
The Cardinals outrighted Xavier Scruggs to Triple-A Memphis.

Closer Watch

Kansas City Royals – Wade Davis will take over as the Royals' new closer with the news that Greg Holland is likely going to have Tommy John surgery.

Baltimore Orioles – See below (Recommended Pickup)

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – September 25, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
A. Rizzo1BCHC vs PIT
2:20PM
G. Cole14510123.357.471.429.899
A. Ramirez3BPIT @ CHC
2:20PM
J. Lester11510101.455.455.5451.000
G. Beckham2BCWS @ NYY
7:05PM
C. Sabathia231031414.435.458.6521.111
M. CabreraOFCWS @ NYY
7:05PM
C. Sabathia10322203.300.300.9001.200
A. RamirezSSCWS @ NYY
7:05PM
C. Sabathia301121311.367.387.500.887
C. Asche3BPHI @ WAS
7:05PM
J. Zimmermann15621315.400.438.6671.104
A. CabreraSSTB @ TOR
7:07PM
R. Dickey16642531.375.474.9381.411
A. GoseOFDET vs MIN
7:08PM
M. Pelfrey12520122.417.500.5831.083
J. HardySSBAL @ BOS
7:10PM
R. Hill10420020.400.500.6001.100
D. Pedroia2BBOS vs BAL
7:10PM
W. Chen351770533.486.526.7141.241
J. CastroCHOU vs TEX
8:10PM
Y. Gallardo20731136.350.435.6001.035
C. RasmusOFHOU vs TEX
8:10PM
Y. Gallardo22742478.318.483.6821.165
E. Hosmer1BKC vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Carrasco17530324.294.368.529.898
S. ChooOFTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir24721353.292.452.458.910
K. DavisOFMIL @ STL
8:15PM
C. Martinez10431112.400.455.9001.355
R. Cano2BSEA @ LAA
10:05PM
G. Richards22730023.318.375.500.875
L. Morrison1BSEA @ LAA
10:05PM
G. Richards15431131.267.389.600.989
S. SmithOFSEA @ LAA
10:05PM
G. Richards20631404.300.300.550.850
Y. Solarte3BSD vs ARI
10:10PM
R. De La Rosa10420201.400.400.6001.000
Hot Pitcher Matchups – September 25, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Jake OdorizziTB @ TOR
7:07PM
7112639910.169.256.353.610
Scott KazmirHOU vs TEX
8:10PM
23046115182051.200.273.295.569
Carlos CarrascoCLE @ KC
8:10PM
16034104131441.212.278.339.617
Rubby De La RosaARI @ SD
10:10PM
6513505515.200.257.270.527
Cold Batter Matchups – September 25, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
C. CoghlanOFCHC vs PIT
2:20PM
G. Cole11200114.182.286.182.468
A. McCutchenOFPIT @ CHC
2:20PM
J. Lester10100003.100.182.100.282
T. SniderOFPIT @ CHC
2:20PM
J. Lester11111207.091.091.364.455
C. RuizCPHI @ WAS
7:05PM
J. Zimmermann22411103.182.182.318.500
K. KiermaierOFTB @ TOR
7:07PM
R. Dickey18310112.167.200.222.422
J. BautistaOFTOR vs TB
7:07PM
J. Odorizzi11000044.000.267.000.267
E. Encarnacion1BTOR vs TB
7:07PM
J. Odorizzi11210010.182.250.273.523
A. SimmonsSSATL @ MIA
7:10PM
J. Fernandez10210010.200.273.300.573
M. BettsOFBOS vs BAL
7:10PM
W. Chen12100002.083.083.083.167
R. HaniganCBOS vs BAL
7:10PM
W. Chen13211222.154.313.385.697
J. Altuve2BHOU vs TEX
8:10PM
Y. Gallardo28700005.250.250.250.500
A. EscobarSSKC vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Carrasco20500305.250.250.250.500
A. GordonOFKC vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Carrasco264223512.154.290.385.675
M. Moustakas3BKC vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Carrasco15200023.133.235.133.369
S. PerezCKC vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Carrasco18400004.222.222.222.444
A. RiosOFKC vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Carrasco14111112.071.133.286.419
R. ChirinosCTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir11100114.091.231.091.322
C. CorporanCTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir11100003.091.091.091.182
D. DeShields Jr.OFTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir10100005.100.100.100.200
P. Fielder1BTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir21311323.143.208.286.494
M. Napoli1BTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir17200037.118.250.118.368
R. Odor2BTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir12210103.167.167.250.417
R. RuaOFTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir11210113.182.250.273.523
N. CruzOFSEA @ LAA
10:05PM
G. Richards22420112.182.217.273.490
B. MillerSSSEA @ LAA
10:05PM
G. Richards16300105.188.176.188.364
M. KempOFSD vs ARI
10:10PM
R. De La Rosa10100005.100.100.100.200
J. UptonOFSD vs ARI
10:10PM
R. De La Rosa10000123.000.167.000.167
Cold Pitcher Matchups – September 25, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Gerrit ColePIT @ CHC
2:20PM
98304111829.306.364.368.732
CC SabathiaNYY vs CWS
7:05PM
83299410614.349.393.554.948
Yovani GallardoTEX @ HOU
8:10PM
15145165151835.298.376.479.855
Edinson VolquezKC vs CLE
8:10PM
60196381114.317.401.550.951

Recommended Pickup

Darren O'Day, RP, BAL – With Zach Britton still working through a back ailment, O'Day is temporarily positioned as the Orioles' closer. O'Day picked up his third save in as many days Thursday in a win over Washington, and his elite ratios (1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) and peripherals (78:13 K:BB) can make him a useful staff filler for the final 10 days of the season even if Britton is healthy enough to close out games again.

Other Recent Recommendations:Jorge Lopez, Tyler Duffey, Starlin Castro, Justin Bour, Cliff Pennington

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Mike Leake, SF ($5,400)
C: John Jaso, TAM ($3,000)
1B: Justin Bour ($3,500)
2B: Scooter Gennett ($2,400)
SS: Alexei Ramirez ($3,300)
3B: Jake Lamb ($2,900)
OF: Chris Young ($2,700)

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. Derek VanRiper plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: RotoWireDVR, DraftKings: BentleysChair, Yahoo: d.vanriper,.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Derek VanRiper
Derek was a frequent writer and media host. During his tenure, he'd been a two-time finalist for the FSWA's Baseball Writer of the Year award, and winner of the Best Football Article on the Web (2009) and Best Baseball Article on the Web (2010) awards. Derek also had hosted RotoWire's shows on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (XM 87, Sirius 210).
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