RADIO
Lorenzo Cain With RBI In NLCS Game 5
10/18:Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain gave the Brewers the lead early in NLCS Game 5 Wednesday. His third-inning double drove Orlando Arcia to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead against Clayton Kershaw. Milwaukee had not led at any point during the 13 innings Tuesday. Cain was also thrown out trying to steal second base in the first inning. He disputed the call as he believed that his hand leaving the base was helped along by the fielder. Cain provides a strong average, elite speed and great defense at the top of the order. He will attempt to help kickstart the Milwaukee offense as they return home needing to win the next two games to advance.Source: ESPN.com
Brandon Woodruff Takes Loss In NLCS Game 5
10/18:Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Brandon Woodruff performed well in relief Wednesday versus Los Angeles. He came in with no one out in the first inning and kept the Dodgers down until an unearned run in the fifth inning. He would eventually struggle in the sixth and leave after 5 1/3 innings having allowed three runs (two earned). The Brewers offense would be held down for the second straight game helping to hand Woodruff the loss. The Dodgers lead the series three games to two so it is unknown whether Woodruff will pitch again in 2018.Source: ESPN.com
Jose Altuve To Return To Second Base Thursday
10/17:A nagging knee injury has kept Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (knee) as the designated hitter for Games 3 and 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox, but he is scheduled to return to the field on Thursday for Game 5, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Altuve had a great game in Game 3, getting on base four times while recording two hits. While he probably won't be 100 percent the rest of the year, Altuve remains one of the best hitters in baseball. He'll be fine.Source: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome
David Price Available In Relief Wednesday
10/17:Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price will be available out of the bullpen for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros on Wednesday, according to manager Alex Cora. Price has struggled mightily in his postseason career and allowed seven earned runs on eight hits (three homers) in 6 1/3 innings in his two starts this year, so the team might prefer to use him in relief at this point. However, if he doesn't make an appearance Wednesday, he could be tabbed as the Game 5 starter on Thursday with Chris Sale being under the weather. Price would only be a contrarian DFS play if he starts on Thursday.Source: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome
Chris Sale Won't Start Game 5
10/17:Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said starting pitcher Chris Sale (illness) will not start Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros on Thursday. "He still feels weak. He lost some weight. It’s hard to believe, but he did. ... He’s feeling better, but physically he’s not there," Cora said. Instead, the Red Sox will push him back to a potential Game 6 in Boston. Joe Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and David Price are all options for Game 5, depending on whether they are used on Wednesday. Sale's uncharacteristic wildness in Game 1 last Saturday was likely the result of his illness. With the lefty under the weather, it's probably best to avoid him in DFS is this series goes to a Game 6.Source: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
Wade Miley To Start Game 6 Of NLCS
10/17:Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Wade Miley was pulled after walking the only batter he faced in the first inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday, but he is now lined up to start in Game 6 against the Dodgers on Friday. Miley was only slated to face the first left-hander (Cody Bellinger) of the game. Brandon Woodruff has replaced Miley, and the Brewers will once again lean on their bullpen on Wednesday. Miley was excellent in Game 2 of the series against LA, but don't expect as good of a performance on Friday in Game 6.Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Alex Bregman Leading Off Wednesday
10/17:Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is hitting leadoff in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday against Red Sox starter Rick Porcello. George Springer will move to No. 2, while Jose Altuve will be in the third spot. While Bregman probably won't have the opportunity to drive in as many runs, he could receive an extra at-bat in this one. He's been one of the best hitters in this year's playoffs, going 7-for-15 (.467) with two homers, five RBI and 11 walks to just one strikeout. He'll remain a very popular DFS choice.Source: Baseball Press
Rafael Devers, Brock Holt Starting In Game 4
10/17:Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers and infielder Brock Holt are both in the starting lineup for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against Astros starter Charlie Morton. Devers is at the hot corner and is batting fifth, while Holt is at the keystone and is hitting seventh. Devers was expected to start with Eduardo Nunez tweaking his ankle in Game 3. Holt hit for the first ever playoff cycle in the Division Series, but his DFS value remains as a deep sleeper. Devers has four hits in three games this postseason and will be a low-price option on Wednesday.Source: Baseball Press
Cody Bellinger Leading Off, Max Muncy Starting
10/17:Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger will start in center field and bat leadoff in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday after playing the hero in the extra-inning walk-off win in Game 4 on Tuesday. Max Muncy is also starting at second base and is hitting fifth against Brewers left-hander Wade Miley. Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig will start on the bench. Manager Dave Roberts is riding the hot hand and going against his traditional choices against left-handed pitching. Bellinger hit just .226 with six of his 25 homers against lefties, but he certainly has DFS upside hitting leadoff while riding the high from Tuesday night. Muncy was a little bit better against lefties (.255, eight of 35 homers against), but he isn't as attractive as Bellinger in DFS.Source: Baseball Press
Hernan Perez Starting At Second Base Wednesday
10/17:Milwaukee Brewers infielder Hernan Perez is starting at second base and is hitting fifth against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday. Both Travis Shaw and Jonathan Schoop will start on the bench. Perez is 0-for-6 with an RBI and strikeout in his career against the southpaw, and he'll be a deep DFS sleeper for the slate on Wednesday.Source: Baseball Press
Mike Soroka Should Be Ready For Spring Training
10/17:Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Soroka (shoulder) faced hitters twice during the instructional league and should be ready for the start of spring training next year. Soroka went 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.4 K/9 over five starts for Atlanta in his rookie season before being shut down with arm issues. He's the team's top-ranked prospect and comes in at No. 20 in all of baseball. Stash him now in dynasty/keeper leagues if he's available, and will certainly be in play in mixed leagues in 2019 if he wins a rotation spot.Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - David O'Brien
Alex Reyes To Start Throwing Program In 6-7 Weeks
10/17:St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said that starting pitcher Alex Reyes (lat) is expected to begin a throwing program in around six or seven weeks, and the team plans to take a "very patient approach" with him in spring training. The Cardinals expect Reyes to be healthy for the start of the regular season, and he'll prepare as a starter even though he has thrown just 73 pitches in the majors since 2016. The pitching prospect missed the 2017 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and then suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out the rest of the year. Reyes remains the team's No. 1 prospect, and he's also listed as No. 36 in all of baseball. He should already be owned in dynasty/keeper formats and will be worth a late-round pick for his upside in mixed leagues as well.Source: MLB.com - Jenifer Langosch
Brewers Replace Gio Gonzalez On NLCS Roster
10/17:Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Zach Davies is replacing Gio Gonzalez (ankle) on the team's roster for the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers after Gonzalez suffered a high ankle sprain while fielding a ground ball in Game 4 on Tuesday. Gonzalez allowed a run in his lone inning of work and will now be ineligible to pitch in the World Series should the Brewers advance. Davies had a disappointing year mainly because of injuries and went 2-7 with a 4.77 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 6.7 K/9 over 13 starts. He'll be available out of the bullpen, beginning in Game 5 on Wednesday.Source: MLB.com
Gio Gonzalez's Season Likely Over
10/17:Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (ankle) has likely had his season ended after Tuesday's NLCS Game 4. Following allowing a run in the first inning, Gonzalez jumped to try to snag a batted ball by Yasiel Puig in the second inning. Upon landing, Gonzalez rolled his ankle and winced. After trying to work it out and warm up again, he was taken out of the game with no out in the bottom of the second inning. It was confirmed that he had a high ankle sprain so it looks like he will be removed from the roster for the NLCS. This would end his season since the rules say that if a player is removed from a series due to medical reasons, he is ineligible for the next series (which in this case would be the last possible series of the season).Source: Adam McCalvy on Twitter
Eduardo Nunez Injures Ankle In Game 3
10/16:Boston Red Sox infielder Eduardo Nunez (ankle) was taken out of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros on Tuesday in the fourth inning after twisting his ankle. Rafael Devers replaced him at third base. It was an aggravation of an injury that occurred on the last play of the Division Series last week. The injury isn't believed to be serious, but Devers is likely to start at third base in Game 4 on Wednesday. Nunez had a single in two plate appearances before being pulled. Devers has four hits in just 10 at-bats with two RBI in three games this postseason, so he'll be in play as a DFS sleeper if he gets the start Wednesday against Astros starter Charlie Morton.Source: Mass Live - Chris Cotillo
