Thursday Lineup Card: Middle Infield Help In Flores

Thursday Lineup Card: Middle Infield Help In Flores

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Dodgers (Zack Greinke – R) at Reds (Anthony DeSclafani – R), 12:35
Angels (Matt Shoemaker – R) at Tigers (Randy Wolf – L), 1:08
Blue Jays (Marco Estrada – R) at Rangers (Yovani Gallardo – R), 2:05
Orioles (Chris Tillman – R) at Royals (Yordano Ventura – R), 2:10
Cubs (Dan Haren – R) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 3:45
Mets (Jon Niese – L) at Phillies (Aaron Harang – R), 7:05
Padres (Andrew Cashner – R) at Nationals (Joe Ross – R), 7:05
Twins (Tommy Milone – L) at Rays (Drew Smyly – L), 7:10
Pirates (Gerrit Cole – R) at Marlins (Justin Nicolino – L), 7:10
Mariners (Roenis Elias – L) at White Sox (Carlos Rodon – L), 8:10
Cardinals (Carlos Martinez – R) at Diamondbacks (Rubby De La Rosa – R), 9:40

Day Game After Night Game: LAD/CIN, LAA/DET, TOR/TEX, BAL/KC and CHC/SF

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Gregor Blanco, OF, SF (Hip) – Was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.
Brandon Crawford, SS, SF (Oblique) – Expected to only miss a few days of play.
Dexter Fowler, OF, CHC (Hand) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY (Leg) – Pinch hit on Wednesday.
Greg Garcia, SS, STL (Hand) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Francisco Cervelli, C, PIT (Foot) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Roughned Odor, 2B, TEX (Finger) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB (Knee) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Grant Green, 2B, LAA (Knee) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Yasmani Grandal, C, LAD (Shoulder) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Brennan Boesch, OF, CIN (Ankle) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Felix Doubront, SP, OAK (Foot) – Expected to make his next start on Saturday.

Players on the DL

Tim Lincecum, SP, SF (Forearm) – Expected to be activated on Sep. 1.
Tim Hudson, SP, SF (Shoulder) – Expected to be activated on Sep. 1.
Marcus Stroman, SP, TOR (Knee) – Expected to throw a simulated game Friday before beginning a rehab assignment.
Clay Buchholz, SP, BOS (Elbow) – Expected to resume throwing next week.
Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI (Wrist) – Expected to play again this season, according to manager Pat Mackanin.
Rafael Soriano, RP, CHC (Shoulder) – Has joined Triple-A Iowa for a rehab assignment.
Steven Matz, SP, NYM (Side) – Scheduled to throw 60 pitches in a rehab assignment.
Reed Johnson, OF, WAS (Foot) – Pulled an oblique muscle after sneezing.
Mike Minor, SP, ATL (Shoulder) – Expected to throw this week.
Kyle Blanks, 1B, TEX (Achilles) – Expected to begin a rehab assignment next week.
Curt Casali, C, TB (Hamstring) – Was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday.
J.R. Graham, RP, MIN (Shoulder) – Was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday.
Carlos Corporan, C, TEX (Thumb) – Started a rehab assignment on Wednesday.
Boone Logan, RP, COL (Elbow) – Has resumed throwing on Tuesday.
Jose Fernandez, SP, MIA (Biceps) – Expected to return mid-September.
Phil Hughes, SP, MIN (Back) – Scheduled to play catch over the next day.
George Springer, OF, HOU (Wrist) – Expected to take batting practice on Friday.
A.J. Burnett, SP, PIT (Elbow) – Targeting a mid-September return.
Matt Belisle, RP, STL (Elbow) – Expected to throw off the mound soon.

Out

David Ross, C, CHC (Personal) – Was placed on family medical emergency leave.

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

Activated from the DL

Michael Pineda, SP, NYY
Cody Anderson, SP, CLE
Rick Porcello, SP, BOS
Blaine Boyer, RP, MIN

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

Curt Casali, C, TB
Carlos Carrasco, SP, CLE
Grayson Garvin, RP, TB – place on the 60-Day DL.
J.R. Graham, RP, MIN

Called Up

J.P. Arencibia, 1B, TB
Nick Goody, RP, NYY
Matt Szczur, OF, CHC

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

Chris Capuano, RP, NYY
Chris Rearick, RP, TEX
Jonathan Aro, RP, BOS
Nick Rumbelow, RP, NYY

Closer Watch

Atlanta Braves – Arodys Vizcaino doesn't get many opportunities with the toned-down Atlanta offense after the Braves made some deadline trades to move significant talent. When Vizcaino pitches, it's hard to ignore what he's done to this point even if he's not locking down saves left and right. It's highly doubtful that Vizcaino is out there for you to snag, but if he is? Come on; give him a whirl even with his limited save chances.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – August 27, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
J. Votto1BCIN vs LAD
12:35PM
Z. Greinke271273342.444.516.9261.442
A. Pujols1BLAA @ DET
1:08PM
R. Wolf4212631323.286.306.571.878
S. VictorinoOFLAA @ DET
1:08PM
R. Wolf23641412.261.292.565.857
E. Encarnacion1BTOR @ TEX
2:05PM
Y. Gallardo14533630.357.4711.0001.471
T. TulowitzkiSSTOR @ TEX
2:05PM
Y. Gallardo241151412.458.480.7501.230
B. Zobrist2BKC vs BAL
2:10PM
C. Tillman37643433.162.225.432.657
S. CastroSSCHC @ SF
3:45PM
M. Bumgarner241010105.417.417.458.875
B. Belt1BSF vs CHC
3:45PM
D. Haren11431201.364.333.8181.152
M. ByrdOFSF vs CHC
3:45PM
D. Haren331493618.424.457.9091.366
D. Murphy2BNYM @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang26961513.346.370.6541.024
R. TejadaSSNYM @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang19830033.421.522.5791.101
D. Wright3BNYM @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang301351878.433.526.6671.193
C. RuizCPHI vs NYM
7:05PM
J. Niese321141448.344.417.531.948
I. DesmondSSWAS vs SD
7:05PM
A. Cashner10320111.300.364.500.864
Hot Pitcher Matchups – August 27, 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 "hot" today.
Cold Batter Matchups – August 27, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
J. BruceOFCIN vs LAD
12:35PM
Z. Greinke336115010.182.182.273.455
B. Phillips2BCIN vs LAD
12:35PM
Z. Greinke22310104.136.174.182.356
C. IannettaCLAA @ DET
1:08PM
R. Wolf13220035.154.313.308.620
J. BautistaOFTOR @ TEX
2:05PM
Y. Gallardo11100024.091.231.091.322
M. MonteroCCHC @ SF
3:45PM
M. Bumgarner32610208.188.212.219.431
A. Rizzo1BCHC @ SF
3:45PM
M. Bumgarner10200024.200.333.200.533
T. d'ArnaudCNYM @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang10100010.100.182.100.282
C. GrandersonOFNYM @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang17210042.118.286.176.462
J. Uribe3BNYM @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang18220014.111.158.222.380
D. BrownOFPHI vs NYM
7:05PM
J. Niese11210101.182.182.273.455
F. GalvisSSPHI vs NYM
7:05PM
J. Niese13211105.154.154.385.538
R. Howard1BPHI vs NYM
7:05PM
J. Niese264114112.154.207.269.476
D. Ruf1BPHI vs NYM
7:05PM
J. Niese11211212.182.250.455.705
D. Espinosa2BWAS vs SD
7:05PM
A. Cashner10110113.100.167.200.367
R. Zimmerman3BWAS vs SD
7:05PM
A. Cashner11211300.182.182.455.636
J. Mauer1BMIN @ TB
7:10PM
D. Smyly13200012.154.214.154.368
A. CabreraSSTB vs MIN
7:10PM
T. Milone11210002.182.182.273.455
D. JenningsOFTB vs MIN
7:10PM
T. Milone10210011.200.273.300.573
Cold Pitcher Matchups – August 27, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Dan HarenCHC @ SF
3:45PM
923116613315.337.356.6551.011
Andrew CashnerSD @ WAS
7:05PM
75237114610.307.346.428.774
Recommended Pickup

Wilmer Flores, SS, New York Mets – Flores gets second base time as well, along with qualifying at shortstop, so he's a nice bonus for middle infield help. There's power and overall quality bat production out of Flores, and while he may be a tad undervalued you can pick him up in most leagues. Flores has scored 10 runs over his last eight games, while providing some recent pop. If Flores is there, he's certainly worth a grab at this point in the season with the Mets trying to push for a playoff spot.

Other Recent Recommendations:Aaron Altherr, David Wright, Lance McCullers, Byron Buxton, Derek Dietrich, Travis Shaw and Gregor Blanco

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Justin Nicolino, MIA ($6,800)
C: Russell Martin, TOR ($3,900)
1B: Kendrys Morales, KC ($3,800)
2B: Yangervis Solarte, SD ($3,500)
SS: Jimmy Rollins, LAD ($3,600)
3B: Daniel Murphy, NYM ($3,800)
OF: Gerardo Parra, BAL ($4,000)

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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