Friday Lineup Card: Surprise Help Down The Stretch

Friday Lineup Card: Surprise Help Down The Stretch

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Braves (Shelby Miller – R) at Cub (Kyle Hendricks – R), 4:05
Indians (Carlos Carrasco – R) at Yankees (Masahiro Tanaka – R), 7:05
Brewers (Jimmy Nelson – R) at Nationals (Gio Gonzalez – L), 7:05
Twins (Tommy Milone – L) at Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – L), 7:05
Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L) at Pirates (Jeff Locke – L), 7:05
Rangers (Colby Lewis – R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander – R), 7:08
Royals (Johnny Cueto – R) at Red Sox (Henry Owens – L), 7:10
Phillies (Aaron Harang – R) at Marlins (Kendry Flores – R), 7:10
Diamondbacks (Rubby De La Rosa – R) at Reds (David Holmberg – L), 7:10
Dodgers (Brett Anderson – L) at Astros (Mike Fiers – R), 8:10
Mets (Bartolo Colon – R) at Rockies (Jonathan Gray – R), 8:40
Rays (Drew Smyly – L) at Athletics (Chris Bassitt – R), 10:05
Blue Jays (David Price – L) at Angels (Hector Santiago – L), 10:05
White Sox (Chris Sale – L) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R), 10:10
Cardinals (John Lackey – R) at Padres (Andrew Cashner – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Glen Perkins, RP, MIN (Neck) – Not expected to return to action until Tuesday.
Omar Infante, 2B, KC (Back) – Did not play on Thursday.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY (Leg) – Did not play on Thursday.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN (Biceps) – Expected to miss some time.

Players on the DL

Steven Matz, SP, NYM (Side) – Pitched 41 pitches in 2.2 innings on Thursday.
David Freese, 3B, LAA (Finger) – Hoping to begin a rehab assignment over the next few days.
Mike Wright, RP, BAL (Calf) – Expected to throw a three-inning simulated game on Saturday.
Alex Gordon, OF, KC (Groin) – Will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday.
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA (Wrist) – Hoping to rejoin the team before Sept. 1.
Jordy Mercer, SS, PIT (Leg) – May return this weekend.
Josh Harrison, 3B, PIT (Thumb) – May return this weekend.
Anibal Sanchez, SP, DET (Shoulder) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Jeremy Hellickson, SP, ARI (Leg) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX (Knee) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Jake McGee, RP, TB (Knee) – Will undergo surgery on Friday.
Steve Pearce, OF, BAL (Oblique) – Will begin a rehab assignment on Friday.
Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAD (Hamstring) – May see a reduction in playing time with the acquisition of Chase Utley.
Michael Pineda, SP, NYY (Forearm) – Will make a rehab start on Friday.
Daniel Norris, SP, DET (Oblique) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Randal Grichuk, OF, STL (Elbow) – Will not return to action for 14-20 days.

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

Activated from the DL

Gerald Laird, C, ARI
Nori Aoki, OF, SF

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

Daniel Norris, SP, DET
Anibal Sanchez, SP, DET
Aaron Hicks, OF, MIN
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX
Jeremy Hellickson, SP, ARI
Hunter Pence, OF, SF

Called Up

Scott McGough, RP, MIA
Ryan LaMarre, OF, CIN
Darnell Sweeney, 2B, PHI
Guido Knudson, RP, DET
Vincent Velasquez, SP, HOU
Nick Tropeano, RP, LAA
Jose Valdez, RP, DET
Chase Anderson, SP, ARI
Byron Buxton, OF, MIN

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

Gerald Laird, C, ARI
Mike Morin, RP, LAA
Tomas Tellis, C, MIA
Josh Fields, RP, HOU

Traded

Randy Wolf, RP, DET – from Toronto Blue Jays for cash
Marlon Byrd, OF, SF – from Cincinnati Reds for Stephen Johnson, RP.

Released

Drew Stubbs, OF, COL
Garrett Jones, OF, NYY

Signed

Ryan Gebhardt, OF, ATL
Travis Snider, OF, PIT

Closer Watch

Boston Red Sox – I love saying "Junichi Tazawa". Seriously, it's a rad name. Tazawa snatched his second save in two days, shutting down the Royals on 10 pitches, as he struck out one hitter and retired the others on minimal pitches. It's doubtful that Tazawa is there on your free agent list for saves, but, if he is, you'd be smart to snag him.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – August 21, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
C. Davis1BBAL vs MIN
7:05PM
T. Milone11432212.364.4171.0001.417
J. HardySSBAL vs MIN
7:05PM
T. Milone12510001.417.417.500.917
M. Machado3BBAL vs MIN
7:05PM
T. Milone11521101.455.455.8181.273
A. Lind1BMIL @ WAS
7:05PM
G. Gonzalez11410113.364.462.455.916
B. Dozier2BMIN @ BAL
7:05PM
W. Chen13511112.385.429.6151.044
E. NunezSSMIN @ BAL
7:05PM
W. Chen11420100.364.364.545.909
T. Plouffe3BMIN @ BAL
7:05PM
W. Chen13431413.308.357.6921.049
A. Ramirez3BPIT vs SF
7:05PM
M. Bumgarner18641320.333.381.6671.048
M. ByrdOFSF @ PIT
7:05PM
J. Locke14532515.357.375.8571.232
A. AvilaCDET vs TEX
7:08PM
C. Lewis15532233.333.444.8001.244
V. Martinez1BDET vs TEX
7:08PM
C. Lewis17930300.529.529.7061.235
M. Moreland1BTEX @ DET
7:08PM
J. Verlander15640525.400.471.6671.137
D. DeJesusOFLAA vs TOR
10:05PM
D. Price10410110.400.417.500.917
C. IannettaCLAA vs TOR
10:05PM
D. Price18621114.333.368.556.924
B. Butler1BOAK vs TB
10:05PM
D. Smyly14721112.500.533.7861.319
R. Cano2BSEA vs CWS
10:10PM
C. Sale16530015.313.353.500.853
N. CruzOFSEA vs CWS
10:10PM
C. Sale13622421.462.533.9231.456
J. Montero1BSEA vs CWS
10:10PM
C. Sale10311102.300.300.600.900
Hot Pitcher Matchups – August 21, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Carlos CarrascoCLE @ NYY
7:05PM
7415535518.203.272.345.617
Felix HernandezSEA vs CWS
10:10PM
112237211425.205.229.304.533
Cold Batter Matchups – August 21, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
S. CastroSSCHC vs ATL
4:05PM
S. Miller11110004.091.091.182.273
A. JonesOFBAL vs MIN
7:05PM
T. Milone12210001.167.167.250.417
J. EllsburyOFNYY vs CLE
7:05PM
C. Carrasco14300004.214.214.214.429
M. Teixeira1BNYY vs CLE
7:05PM
C. Carrasco11100023.091.231.091.322
A. McCutchenOFPIT vs SF
7:05PM
M. Bumgarner10200022.200.333.200.533
M. MorseOFPIT vs SF
7:05PM
M. Bumgarner10211213.200.273.500.773
D. MurphyOFLAA vs TOR
10:05PM
D. Price10210215.200.250.300.550
A. Pujols1BLAA vs TOR
10:05PM
D. Price15322200.200.200.600.800
J. Donaldson3BTOR @ LAA
10:05PM
H. Santiago16211224.125.211.313.523
G. Beckham2BCWS @ SEA
10:10PM
F. Hernandez29532325.172.226.414.640
A. RamirezSSCWS @ SEA
10:10PM
F. Hernandez30820206.267.267.333.600
M. KempOFSD vs STL
10:10PM
J. Lackey13200007.154.154.154.308
M. Upton Jr.OFSD vs STL
10:10PM
J. Lackey326325113.188.212.406.618
A. JacksonOFSEA vs CWS
10:10PM
C. Sale302102212.067.125.100.225
Cold Pitcher Matchups – August 21, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Wei-Yin ChenBAL vs MIN
7:05PM
73231038611.315.367.544.911
Colby LewisTEX @ DET
7:08PM
983412414811.347.400.543.943
Recommended Pickup

Travis Shaw, 1B, Boston Red Sox – Okay, Shaw is just someone that can't be ignored. I know this isn't going to last, but I wouldn't feel right if I didn't suggest Shaw. I mean, come on, dude has been lighting the world on fire to the tune of a .382 AVG, 4 HR, 8 RBI over his last eight games. Snag Shaw if you need the CI help down the stretch. Cha-ching!

Other Recent Recommendations:Travis Shaw, Raisel Iglesias, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Rodon, Eugenio Suarez and Danny Valencia

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Wei-Yin Chen, BAL ($8,300)
C: J.T. Realmuto, MIA ($3,600)
1B: Greg Bird, NYY ($3,900)
2B: Justin Turner, LAD ($3,400)
SS: Eugenio Suarez, CIN ($3,100)
3B: Matt Carpenter, STL ($3,900)
OF: Ender Inciarte, ARI ($3,900)

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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