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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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), […]

Power Hitting Risers & Fallers for Week 20 - Buy or Sell?

Since the past few weeks, through players like Trey Mancini, have demonstrated that a player's track record is more important than their Statcast numbers during a hot or cold spell, it's time to reorient a little towards season numbers. Each player's entry starts with a line of their key numbers over the course of the […]

Power Hitting Risers & Fallers for Week 19 - Buy or Sell?

The last edition of Power Hitting Risers & Fallers came out on the trade deadline. News had broken about a big trade involving Cleveland. So far, in this very young post-deadline campaign, both sluggers Cleveland acquired have had a rough couple of weeks. Before we get there, there's the happier news of several risers to […]

Zach Davies Reportedly to Injured List

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Zach Davies is heading to the injured list with a not-yet disclosed ailment. Davies held a 2.20 ERA after 12 starts which has since regressed to 3.74. His peripherals in those first 12 starts did not inspire confidence but perhaps this injury became a hindrance as well. Once the move is […]

Franmil Reyes Hitting Eighth Monday

Cleveland Indians designated hitter Franmil Reyes has been dropped from sixth to eighth in the batting order Monday after a four-strikeout game on Sunday. Jordan Luplow gets a bump to sixth in the order, from ninth. Reyes is hitting just 2-for-15 since coming over in the Trevor Bauer trade. While Reyes' future remains bright, and […]

70-Pitch Limit for Spencer Turnbull

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull is returning from a back injury on Monday, and will be limited to roughly 70 pitches according to manager Ron Gardenhire. The limit makes Turnbull even less enticing as a fantasy option Monday, especially for those who need wins, considering also Detroit's league-worst offense facing Chicago White Sox starter […]

Gleyber Torres In Lineup At Designated Hitter

New York Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres is batting cleanup on Monday as the designated hitter against the Baltimore Orioles. Torres exited Sunday's game with a core injury but appears to be fine enough to hit, if not take the field. Gio Urshela also sustained an injury Sunday and is not in the lineup. DFS players […]

Trent Grisham Leading Off Again as Keston Hiura Returns

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Trent Grisham is leading off for the second consecutive game on Monday. Second baseman Keston Hiura is back after a day off Monday, batting cleanup, while Ryan Braun (for a second consecutive day) and Travis Shaw sit. Milwaukee is facing the Pittsburgh Pirates and pitcher Dario Agrazal. While the game is in […]

Derek Dietrich Heading For Injured List

Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Derek Dietrich was placed on the injured list Monday with shoulder inflammation. Dietrich had only played in two of Cincinnati's previous five games. He has slumped badly since hitting 12 home runs in May and it seems unlikely he will be a contributor during the stretch run, now for multiple reasons. He […]

Jordan Zimmermann Placed on Injured List

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann was placed on the injured list on Monday with a right cervical spasm. Zimmermann, who still has one year remaining on a $110 million contract he signed with Detroit in 2016, has been a fantasy negative all year with a 1-8 record, 7.13 ERA, and just 52 strikeouts in […]

Freddie Freeman Returns to Lineup

After a simple day off on Sunday, Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is back in action at his usual third batting order spot on Monday. Austin Riley heads back to the bench while Matt Joyce will be the designated hitter for a visit at the Minnesota Twins. Freeman is always a premium DFS option […]

Travis d'Arnaud, Avisail Garcia Out Monday

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Travis D'Arnaud and outfielder Avisail Garcia are among those not in the team's Monday lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays. Mike Zunino is behind the dish batting eighth for the second straight game while Ji-Man Choi and Kevin Kiermaier return to the lineup after sitting vs. a left-hander Sunday. Jacob Waguespack […]

Aristides Aquino Gets Cleanup Spot

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino is batting fourth for the first time in his young career on Monday, playing right field. Josh VanMeter and Phillip Ervin are sitting for Cincinnati against Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval, who will be making his Major League debut. Aquino, 25, already has a home run in just […]

Ryan O'Hearn Back in Lineup

Kansas City Royals first baseman Ryan O'Hearn is starting Monday, his first start since Wednesday. He will bat sixth as shortstop Humberto Arteaga sits. O'Hearn is hitting a putrid .176/.272/.309 in 231 PA this season, for a wRC+ a full 100 points lower than last season (153 to 53). His .283 xWOBA by Statcast is […]

Matt Skole In Lineup As White Sox Regain DH

Chicago White Sox first baseman Matt Skole will bat sixth in his first start of the 2019 season on Monday. Jose Abreu is still in the lineup batting third, just as the designated hitter for a road game in Detroit. Skole only has three pinch hitting appearances so far this season, with two singles and […]

The Cut List (Week 19) - Time to Let Go?

The trade deadline has come and gone. Arguably only one widely-rostered player, Luke Jackson, became unusable thanks to a trade at the deadline. So not much has changed around here. It's now really getting to that point in the fantasy season where cuts are going to be highly based on statistical needs, which are much […]

Stephen Strasburg Tattooed By Arizona

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg gave up nine runs in 4 2/3 innings Saturday, taking the loss as Washington fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 18-7. Strasburg was coming off of July NL Pitcher of the Month honors, but you wouldn't know it from the nine hits, two walks, and three home runs he allowed. […]

Marlins Trade Zac Gallen To Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired starting pitcher Zac Gallen from the Miami Marlins in exchange for shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm on Wednesday. Gallen has a 2.72 ERA this season but just 4.46 xFIP. His fantasy value is about where it was before -- worth a flyer in 12-teamers and keeper/dynasty formats -- given the better team, […]

Tanner Roark Traded To Athletics

The Oakland Athletics traded for starting pitcher Tanner Roark from the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Roark is 6-7 with a 4.24 ERA this season, but now goes to a friendlier home park and a slightly better team. That will provide a modest bump to his fantasy value if he holds down a rotation spot, in […]

Giants, Brewers Swap Drew Pomeranz, Mauricio Dubon

The San Francisco Giants traded pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black to the Milwaukee Brewers for infield prospect Mauricio Dubon. Pomeranz has a 5.68 ERA this season, but a 3.26 in June and July. Going from AT&T Park to Miller Park hurts his value more than the Brewers better supporting cast helps. Dubon, 25, is […]