Friday Lineup Card: Dropping Dead Weight For Hot Bats And Arms

Friday Lineup Card: Dropping Dead Weight For Hot Bats And Arms

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Pirates (Vance Worley – R) at Cubs (Tsuyoshi Wada – L), 2:20
White Sox (Chris Sale – L) at Indians (T.J. House – L), 7:05
Royals (James Shields – R) at Yankees (Michael Pineda – R), 7:05
Phillies (Jerome Williams – R) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R), 7:05
Giants (Jake Peavy – R) at Tigers (Rick Porcello – R), 7:08
Mets (Bartolo Colon – R) at Reds (Alfredo Simon – R), 7:10
Braves (Aaron Harang – R) at Marlins (Jarred Cosart – R), 7:10
Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – R) at Rays (Alex Cobb – R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Drew Hutchison – R) at Red Sox (Allen Webster – R), 7:10
Mariners (Hisashi Iwakuma – R) at Rangers (Scott Baker – R), 8:05
Cardinals (John Lackey – R) at Brewers (Mike Fiers – R), 8:10
Angels (Matt Shoemaker – R) at Twins (Ricky Nolasco – R), 8:10
Padres (Eric Stults – L) at Rockies (Tyler Matzek – L), 8:40
Astros (Brett Oberholtzer – L) at Athletics (Jeff Samardzija – R), 10:05
Diamondbacks (Vidal Nuno – L) at Dodgers (Dan Haren – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Chad Jenkins, RP, TOR (Hand) – Expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks with a fractured hand.
Robinson Chirinos, C, TEX (Neck) – Received a cortisone injection on Thursday.
Miles Mikolas, RP, TEX (Shoulder) – Received a cortisone injection on Thursday.
Brad Ziegler, RP, ARI (Knee) – Expected to receive a second opinion over the weekend.
Matt Adams, 1B, STL (Oblique) – Did not start Thursday.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL (Wrist) – Expected to only miss a week.
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (Personal) – Will rejoin the Brewers on Friday after welcoming his first child into the world on Thursday.
Tommy Milone, SP, MIN (Shoulder) – Will skip Sunday's start.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB (Knee) – Has no timetable for return.
Chris Dickerson, OF, CLE (Back) – Did not start on Thursday.
Mike Aviles, SS, CLE (Concussion) – Will miss at least one week, likely more.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS (Concussion) – Passed all internal tests and waiting for official league clearance to get back into action.
Steve Pearce, OF, BAL (Abdomen) – Expected to take batting practice on Friday.
Torii Hunter, OF, DET (Foot) – Did not start on Thursday.
Martin Prado, 3B, NYY (Hamstring) – Did not start on Thursday.
Alex Avila, C, DET (Head) – Did not start on Thursday.

Players on the DL

Everth Cabrera, SS, SD (Hamstring) – Still feeling pain when running the bases and will not travel with the team this weekend.
Joe Thatcher, RP, LAA (Ankle) – Faced hitters in the batting cage on Thursday.
Matt Harvey, SP, NYM (Elbow) – Will conclude his rehab at the end of the month.
Shin Soo-Choo, OF, TEX (Elbow) – Moved to the 60-day DL.
Masahiro Tanaka, SP, NYY (Elbow) – Will throw a bullpen session on Saturday.
Homer Bailey, SP, CIN (Forearm) – Will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a torn flexor mass tendon.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS (Hamstring) – Could be used as a utility player upon his return.
Joakim Soria, RP, DET (Oblique) – Will likely throw another bullpen session on Friday after a positive session on Wednesday.
Yu Darvish, SP, TEX (Elbow) – May miss the rest of the season after another examination.

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

Activated from the DL

Michael Wacha, SP, STL

Called Up

Spencer Patton, RP, TEX
Xavier Scruggs, 1B, STL

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

Chris Nelson, 3B, SD
Caleb Gindl, OF, MIL
Joe Savery, RP, OAK
Carlos Triunfel, SS, LAD
Mike Carp, 1B, TEX

Closer Watch

Los Angeles Angels – If you're like me and traded for closer Huston Street before your league trading deadline then you just aren't getting what you paid for… unfortunately. And it hurts, doesn't it? Street has only locked down two saves since August 19, one of which came a few days ago. There's a solid chance that Street will get back on track assuming the Angels don't blow opponents out of the water from here on out, so you've got no choice but to stick with Street even as painful as it's been these last few weeks.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – September 5, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
R. RaburnOFCLE vs CWS
7:05PM
C. Sale23752538.304.385.6961.080
S. DrewSSNYY vs KC
7:05PM
J. Shields14731102.500.500.8571.357
M. ByrdOFPHI @ WAS
7:05PM
S. Strasburg17621616.353.389.588.977
C. RuizCPHI @ WAS
7:05PM
S. Strasburg13521202.385.385.6921.077
M. Cabrera3BDET vs SF
7:08PM
J. Peavy47155311414.319.365.553.919
T. HunterOFDET vs SF
7:08PM
J. Peavy19831712.421.450.7371.187
I. Kinsler2BDET vs SF
7:08PM
J. Peavy10520012.500.545.8001.345
V. MartinezDHDET vs SF
7:08PM
J. Peavy10322501.300.273.9001.173
R. SantiagoSSCIN vs NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon261140302.423.444.6151.060
A. HechavarriaSSMIA vs ATL
7:10PM
A. Harang12520113.417.462.6671.128
G. Jones1BMIA vs ATL
7:10PM
A. Harang271041623.370.400.593.993
M. OzunaOFMIA vs ATL
7:10PM
A. Harang13422521.308.400.7691.169
J. SaltalamacchiaCMIA vs ATL
7:10PM
A. Harang12630312.500.467.7501.217
G. StantonOFMIA vs ATL
7:10PM
A. Harang21831428.381.435.6191.054
L. Forsythe2BTB vs BAL
7:10PM
W. Chen10311211.300.364.600.964
J. Loney1BTB vs BAL
7:10PM
W. Chen10420000.400.400.6001.000
B. Zobrist2BTB vs BAL
7:10PM
W. Chen321231336.375.429.531.960
R. Cano2BSEA @ TEX
8:05PM
S. Baker14530102.357.357.571.929
A. JacksonOFSEA @ TEX
8:05PM
S. Baker17641211.353.389.7651.154
A. Beltre3BTEX vs SEA
8:05PM
H. Iwakuma281043513.357.379.7141.094
D. Freese3BLAA @ MIN
8:10PM
R. Nolasco15710104.467.467.5331.000
C. IannettaCLAA @ MIN
8:10PM
R. Nolasco11420404.364.364.545.909
A. Pujols1BLAA @ MIN
8:10PM
R. Nolasco2212831000.545.5221.1821.704
L. Overbay1BMIL vs STL
8:10PM
J. Lackey331260634.364.405.545.951
N. Arenado3BCOL vs SD
8:40PM
E. Stults15620100.400.400.6671.067
D. LeMahieu2BCOL vs SD
8:40PM
E. Stults18720102.389.389.556.944
C. CarterOFHOU @ OAK
10:05PM
J. Samardzija12542412.417.4621.0831.545
J. CastroCHOU @ OAK
10:05PM
J. Samardzija15530014.333.375.533.908
D. FowlerOFHOU @ OAK
10:05PM
J. Samardzija15421115.267.313.600.913
M. GonzalezSSHOU @ OAK
10:05PM
J. Samardzija13421111.308.357.615.973
J. Donaldson3BOAK vs HOU
10:05PM
B. Oberholtzer13651321.462.5331.0001.533
C. GentryOFOAK vs HOU
10:05PM
B. Oberholtzer11420101.364.364.545.909
J. LowrieSSOAK vs HOU
10:05PM
B. Oberholtzer15620101.400.375.600.975
A. Hill2BARI @ LAD
10:10PM
D. Haren311051607.323.344.613.957
C. OwingsSSARI @ LAD
10:10PM
D. Haren11920100.818.8181.0001.818
C. RossOFARI @ LAD
10:10PM
D. Haren15431304.267.267.600.867
Hot Pitcher Matchups – September 5, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Stephen StrasburgWAS vs PHI
7:05PM
159357311852.220.257.302.560
Michael PinedaNYY vs KC
7:05PM
6212524316.194.231.340.571
Hisashi IwakumaSEA @ TEX
8:05PM
10723749318.215.235.357.592
Jeff SamardzijaOAK vs HOU
10:05PM
137301148937.219.267.365.632
Cold Batter Matchups – September 5, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
M. BrantleyOFCLE vs CWS
7:05PM
C. Sale19210219.105.190.158.348
A. GordonOFKC @ NYY
7:05PM
M. Pineda10210003.200.200.300.500
C. BeltranOFNYY vs KC
7:05PM
J. Shields10100043.100.357.100.457
M. Teixeira1BNYY vs KC
7:05PM
J. Shields486000515.125.236.125.361
D. BrownOFPHI @ WAS
7:05PM
S. Strasburg12200016.167.231.167.397
R. Howard1BPHI @ WAS
7:05PM
S. Strasburg16300115.188.235.188.423
J. RollinsSSPHI @ WAS
7:05PM
S. Strasburg304112212.133.188.233.421
C. Utley2BPHI @ WAS
7:05PM
S. Strasburg22300015.136.174.136.310
R. DavisOFDET vs SF
7:08PM
J. Peavy10000002.000.000.000.000
D. KellyOFDET vs SF
7:08PM
J. Peavy12100014.083.154.083.237
N. CruzOFBAL @ TB
7:10PM
A. Cobb14300101.214.214.214.429
C. Davis1BBAL @ TB
7:10PM
A. Cobb13210045.154.389.308.697
A. JonesOFBAL @ TB
7:10PM
A. Cobb21400117.190.227.190.418
B. Phillips2BCIN vs NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon12100102.083.083.083.167
C. YelichOFMIA vs ATL
7:10PM
A. Harang15331327.200.294.533.827
Y. EscobarSSTB vs BAL
7:10PM
W. Chen17221100.118.118.353.471
S. RodriguezSSTB vs BAL
7:10PM
W. Chen21421224.190.261.381.642
K. Morales1BSEA @ TEX
8:05PM
S. Baker10100202.100.091.100.191
L. MartinOFTEX vs SEA
8:05PM
H. Iwakuma16200104.125.118.125.243
A. RiosOFTEX vs SEA
8:05PM
H. Iwakuma20421200.200.200.400.600
M. Dominguez3BHOU @ OAK
10:05PM
J. Samardzija12100103.083.083.083.167
R. GrossmanOFHOU @ OAK
10:05PM
J. Samardzija11300005.273.273.273.545
Cold Pitcher Matchups – September 5, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Aaron HarangATL @ MIA
7:10PM
14351206251328.357.402.585.987
Ricky NolascoMIN vs LAA
8:10PM
823415422114.415.411.6891.101
Eric StultsSD @ COL
8:40PM
762771609.355.346.513.860
Dan HarenLAD vs ARI
10:10PM
1223915312625.320.357.500.857
Recommended Pickup

Gregor Blanco, OF, SF – This is the time of year to take advantage of hot bats and arms and not hold onto those disappointing players you were expecting so much from, so if Blanco is there he's a great candidate while his bat is going well. Blanco is seeing full-time at-bats for the Giants and is 10-for-25 over his last seven games played, while he's knocked out two homers, scored seven runs and picked up seven RBI with one stolen base over the same period.

Other Recent Recommendations :Andrew Heaney, Maikel Franco, Dilson Herrera, Jordan Schafer, Wade Davis and Russell Martin.

Draft Kings Value Picks

SP: Alfredo Simon, CIN ($6,700)
C: Yadier Molina, STL ($3,400)
1B: Adam Lind, TOR ($3,400)
2B: D.J. LeMahieu, COL ($3,300)
SS: J.J. Hardy, BAL ($3,700)
3B: Lonnie Chisenhall, CLE ($3,800)
OF: Gregor Blanco, SF ($4,200)

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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