Orlando Arcia Returns to Lineup

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia is back from paternity leave and batting eighth on Thursday against the Miami Marlins. Arcia has been one of baseball's worst hitters in 2019 despite 14 home runs and eight steals, batting just .218/.283/.345. With a line like that, a terrible lineup spot, and the game played at one of... Read More

The Cut List (Week 24) - Time to Let Go?

Time is running out to make a move in your league. You're still looking to hit on categories that are close while sacrificing those where you are fairly isolated in the standings with little to gain. Achievable gaps are only getting smaller, too. Harder to make up two or three home runs in three weeks... Read More

Gary Sanchez, Luke Voit Out Wednesday

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez and first baseman Luke Voit are not in the team's lineup Wednesday. It should be a standard off day for both, including Voit's first day off since returning from his sports hernia last week. Austin Romine is catching and batting eighth while Edwin Encarnacion takes first base batting cleanup... Read More

Brock Holt Batting Sixth Wednesday

Boston Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt is batting sixth on Wednesday while first baseman Mitch Moreland bats seventh and catcher Christian Vazquez hits eighth. It's a modest change from Tuesday when the six through eight hitters were Moreland, Vazquez then Holt. The Red Sox are facing the Minnesota Twins and starting pitcher Jose Berrios. The... Read More

Ryan O'Hearn Starting After Walk-Off

Kansas City Royals first baseman Ryan O'Hearn is batting seventh against the Detroit Tigers and starting pitcher Edwin Jackson on Wednesday, the day after his pinch-hit walk-off home run. It's rare that Kansas City hitters are solid DFS plays, but this could be one of those times, as Jackson has a whopping 9.35 ERA this... Read More

Colten Brewer Among Several Boston Call-Ups

The Boston Red Sox called up four relief pitchers on Wednesday: Colten Brewer, Bobby Poyner, Mike Shawaryn, and Trevor Kelley. All four have appeared in big league games this season already, led by Brewer with 48 innings of a 4.31 ERA and 44 strikeouts against 31 walks, down to a single three-run inning for Kelley.... Read More

Forrest Whitley Pitching From Bullpen in Triple-A Playoffs

Houston Astros starting pitching prospect Forrest Whitley will pitch for Triple-A Round Rock during their postseason, doing so out of the bullpen. Whitley has struggled in 2019, with a 7.99 ERA in 59 2/3 innings across four levels, including a 12.21 ERA in 24 1/3 innings (eight games, five starts) at Round Rock. Still only... Read More

Shane Bieber Looking At Big K's Wednesday

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber is lined up to face the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, and against the same lineup they used Tuesday night. Chicago's 25.6% strikeout rate as a club is the fourth-worst in MLB, while Bieber's 31.0% strikeout rate is eighth among qualified starters. That should be a recipe for numerous... Read More

Eugenio Suarez Remains Out

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who was hit on the hand by a pitch on Sunday, is out for a third straight game Wednesday. Alex Blandino, not Kyle Farmer as in the past two days, will take Suarez's third base spot on Wednesday. Blandino bats ninth and is not worth DFS consideration. Nor, really,... Read More

Bryse Wilson Optioned After One Day

Atlanta Braves pitcher Bryse Wilson, just called up Tuesday, was sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday. Wilson pitched against the Toronto Blue Jays in his day up, his first appearance since July 16. But he allowed two runs, including a Rowdy Tellez solo shot, in 1 1/3 innings and now goes back down despite... Read More

Power Hitting Risers & Fallers for Week 23 - Buy or Sell?

Crunch time it is as September has arrived. Once again, that means unpredictable playing time, and the need for quick roster turnover where required. Fortunately, one can use the standings and the degree to which a player is already a known quantity to try and predict the playing time. As for roster turnover, one thing... Read More

The Cut List (Week 23) - Time to Let Go?

September. That time of year where non-contending teams will end a player's season over a generally minor injury, or otherwise cut into the playing time of regulars with expanded rosters. While actionable consequences won't really show until next week, it's something to start considering. Fortunately, next season rosters will jump from 26 to 28 instead... Read More

Kevin Kiermaier Still Out Thursday

Despite hopes that he would be back, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is out for another day on Thursday. As a decent power-speed combo (13 HR, 19 SB), patience with Kiermaier is warranted in standard deep-ish leagues, especially for those who may need his steals. For now, this means another day in center field... Read More

Andrew Kittredge Opening For Trevor Richards Thursday

The Tampa Bay Rays are using Andrew Kittredge as an opener against the Houston Astros Thursday, with Trevor Richards to pitch the bulk of the innings. If you have Richards in a deeper league and don't want to risk him blowing up against Houston, remember to remove him from your lineups as he won't be... Read More

Royals Sticking With Bubba Starling

Kansas City Royals outfielder Bubba Starling continues to play nearly every day, batting seventh on Thursday. Kansas City is using the same lineup as Wednesday except at catcher, and the top half of their lineup is usable in DFS against Oakland starter Chris Bassitt, who has out-pitched his peripherals this season. But Starling? He debuted... Read More

Matt Chapman Out Thursday After HBP

Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman, who was hit in the head by a pitch Wednesday, is not in the lineup Thursday. Nor is DH Khris Davis, who is on paternity leave. Chapman is reportedly fine after the HBP but will sit. This leaves Chad Pinder with his eighth start at third base this season,... Read More

Miguel Cabrera Not in Thursday's Lineup

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera takes a seat Thursday, his second time in three games as he now deals with a biceps issue. That's particularly scary given the rupture that ended his 2018 season, and we'll see where it goes. On Thursday, Brandon Dixon will be the DH and bat sixth. Detroit, who along... Read More

Jason Kipnis Sitting Thursday

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis is not in the team's lineup for Thursday's day game against the Detroit Tigers. It appears to be a standard day off. In his place, Yu Chang plays third base and bats sixth while Mike Freeman plays second and bats seventh. Additionally, Greg Allen is back in the lineup... Read More

Adam Eaton Hit By Pitch, Leaves Game Soon After

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton was hit in the knee by a pitch in the bottom of the first inning Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles. He remained in the game for one batter before exiting after barely making it to third base on a double. Eaton's been on fire lately, so hold your breath if... Read More

Power Hitting Risers & Fallers for Week 22 - Buy or Sell?

Today's magic numbers: 5/14. Each riser has exactly five home runs in the past two weeks (August 13-26). The names are a little more interesting on the whole than the ones with six or seven (and have been less explored around here). As for falling power outputs, four of today's five have been risers in... Read More

The Cut List (Week 22) - Time to Let Go?

Welcome to the last Cut List of August. Wait, the last Cut List of August already? Yup, next Sunday is September 1. Most trade deadlines are past, so that option is out the window for big names. At this point, if you want to offload them, it's a cut. The 10-team list has three of... Read More

Power Hitting Risers & Fallers for Week 21 - Buy or Sell?

As with last week, the focus will be on the full season numbers. Not much else to say, so let's jump in. Weekly reminders: EVAB (pronounced ee-vab or ev-ab) is simply exit velocity on "air balls" - meaning fly balls and line drives, as shown on Statcast. Isolated power -- ISO -- is slugging percentage... Read More

The Cut List (Week 21) - Time to Let Go?

Thank you to Austyn Varney for filling in at the Cut List last week. Crunch time is approaching. If you're like me, you have multiple leads that are evaporating before your eyes, because fantasy baseball is never easy. Moments that require quick action can strike at any time. If your trade deadline has passed, the... Read More

Delino DeShields Leading Off Thursday

Texas Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields will be the team's leadoff hitter for Thursday's matchup against the Minnesota Twins and starting pitcher Michael Pineda. Shin-Soo Choo has the day off, hence DeShields' premium batting order spot. Nonetheless DFS players will want to avoid DeShields, who usually bats eighth, given his .167/.355/.250 line in August and .255/.347/.357... Read More

Luis Severino to Pitch to Hitters Sunday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (lat) will face three hitters on Sunday in preparation for a simulated game that would be followed by a minor league start. The developments in this situation have finally trended in a positive direction, although it's still not clear what Severino's role with the big-league club will be, even... Read More

Yasiel Puig Back From Suspension

Cleveland Indians outfielder Yasiel Puig has served his three-game suspension and will return to his usual cleanup spot Thursday night. Oscar Mercado is getting the day off. Cleveland looks to be facing a bullpen game with Chad Green starting for the New York Yankees. The game is in New York so Puig is a reasonable... Read More

Ketel Marte Out on Thursday

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman/outfielder Ketel Marte is not in Thursday's starting lineup. Arizona is going with an outfield of David Peralta, Jarrod Dyson, and Josh Rojas with Eduardo Escobar at second base. They are the team's top four hitters in the order as Arizona faces San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Dereck Rodriguez, who will be... Read More

Corey Dickerson Batting Cleanup Thursday

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Corey Dickerson will be the team's cleanup hitter for the first time this season as they face the Chicago Cubs and starting pitcher Yu Darvish. Roman Quinn is sitting for the first time since Sunday. Dickerson has the platoon advantage and a coveted lineup spot, but Darvish is on a roll lately... Read More

A.J. Puk to Start at Las Vegas Thursday

Oakland Athletics pitching prospect A.J. Puk will pitch for Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday and could soon be called up to the big leagues. The 24-year-old left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 but remains a consensus top-100 prospect. He is 4-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 23 2/3 innings at three levels this season,... Read More

Adam Eaton Initiates Nationals Explosion

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run on Wednesday as the Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 17-7. Eaton's home run in the fifth inning made it 6-1 as the Nationals scored 10 runs in the fifth inning (including additional home runs by Anthony Rendon and mixed-league catching option Kurt Suzuki),... Read More