Articles
Ryan Braun Returns To Lineup Tuesday Batting Fifth
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Braun is back among the starting nine Tuesday against Minnesota for the first time since July 29, having been sidelined due to a finger infection. The move figures to zap much of the fantasy intrigue for Justin Smoak and Logan Morrison, who now have another bat competing for playing time […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoFanDuel MLB DFS Lineup Picks (8/11/20): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice
Whether owners will get a true “complete” slate at any stage in 2020 as the league adjusts to the COVID-19 pandemic on the fly remains to be seen, but Tuesday is a close microcosm of what a packed house main slate will look like. In addition to having to combat Coors Field, Max Scherzer and […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoDraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (8/10/20): NBA DFS Lineups
The bubble giveth, the bubble taketh. While the Orlando bubble has given NBA fans a respite from the laborious nature of a summer of quarantine, it has also begun to provide consternation for DFS players who are hitting refresh on injury update feeds with increased frequency. With many of the top stars on the slate […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoPatrick Corbin Set To Face Mets Again Monday
Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin struck out eight batters last Tuesday when he faced the Mets. Now, he gets set to make his next start, which also comes against the Mets, albeit this time at Citi Field. Corbin’s ERA last season away from Nationals Park jumped up to 4.18, as opposed to 2.40 at […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoLane Thomas Latest Cardinal To Test Positive For COVID-19
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lane Thomas is the most recent name released as a positive test for COVID-19 within the organization. The Cardinals have played just five games this season due to an outbreak, with their upcoming series against the Pirates already wiped out. Thomas has gone hitless in four plate appearances this season as […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJean Segura Without An Extra-Base Hit Yet In 2020
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Jean Segura was shifted over to third base upon the acquisition of Didi Gregorius during the off-season, but it also came with the caveat that Segura would need to hit in order to maintain everyday duties. Thus far, he has begun the year hitting .172 with a .466 OPS across his […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJorge Lopez Claimed Off Waivers By Orioles
Right-handed pitcher Jorge Lopez has been claimed off the waiver wire by the Baltimore Orioles after having been designated for assignment by the Royals on Friday. Lopez appeared just once out of relief this season and allowed two runs on three hits. He scuffled mightily last season with Kansas City across 39 appearances (18 starts), […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoLuis Perdomo Tabbed For Start Tuesday, Role Unknown
San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Luis Perdomo has been announced as the starter for Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers. Although having been a starter in the past, just one of Perdomo’s 50 appearances over the past two years have been as the starter, so it’s well within the realm of possibility that he is merely […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoMike Minor To Be Limited Around 75 Pitches For Tuesday
Texas Rangers left-handed pitcher Mike Minor has gotten off to a shaky start in 2020, which will force the club to cap his pitch count around 75 when he takes the mound Tuesday against Seattle. Pitching coach Julio Rangel cited the layoff as a reason that Minor is behind his expectations to open the year […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoAstros Add Brooks Raley To Injury-Depleted Staff
Left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley has been claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros after having been designated for assignment by the Reds earlier in the week. Houston’s bullpen issues have been exacerbated by elbow injuries to Roberto Osuna and Chris Devenski, which have forced rookies and inexperienced arms into key situations. Raley was back on […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoMichael Fulmer, Daniel Norris To Piggyback Monday
Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Michael Fulmer and left-hander Daniel Norris are slated to split Monday’s start against the White Sox with Fulmer going first, followed by Norris. The decision severely caps both men’s fantasy intrigue, as they likely will not pitch long enough to compile enough points. Fulmer had his second start pushed back due […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoGiants Add Luis Alexander Basabe To Pipeline
Outfield prospect Luis Alexander Basabe has been acquired by the San Francisco Giants after he was designated for assignment by the White Sox last Friday. Basabe now joins the Giants at their alternate training site, and while it is unclear if he’ll be tabbed for his big league debut, San Francisco sees the switch-hitting outfielder […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoScott Kingery Not A Fantasy Asset To Open Season
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Scott Kingery has held down full-time duties at the keystone to open 2020, but after having delivered just three singles in his first nine games, season-long owners will need to begin looking elsewhere for production. After collecting 57 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases last season, Kingery was a Top 200 Draft […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoDavid Dahl Has Seen Power Zapped Early In Season
Colorado Rockies outfielder David Dahl is still waiting for his power stroke to arrive in 2020, having compiled a .606 OPS through his first 14 appearances. In addition to being homer-less, Dahl isn’t hitting the ball particularly hard, ranking in the bottom five percent of the league in Hard Hit rate (22.7%). Curiously enough, Dahl […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoCharlie Blackmon On Historic Pace At Plate In 2020
Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon is a four-time All-Star who has a batting title to his credit, but he is on pace to potentially make history in 2020. Following another multi-hit contest Sunday, Blackmon is hitting a Major League-best .458 this year and is also tied for the NL led with 18 RBI. No hitter […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoMadison Bumgarner Battling Back Spasms After Start Sunday
Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner was removed from Sunday’s start against the Padres due to back spasms, per manager Torey Lovullo. The injury was not readily apparent upon his removal, as he had allowed four home runs in two innings of work as his fastball velocity continued to be a concern. While Bumgarner has […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoSean Doolittle Not A Fantasy Option At This Stage
Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher Sean Doolittle has been open about not yet having answers to correct what has gone wrong for him on the hill in 2020. With Daniel Hudson now entrenched as the team’s closer moving forward, Doolittle -- who yielded two home runs Saturday to bring his ERA to 18.00 -- is no […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoStarling Marte Wrecking Fastballs To Kickstart Hot Open To Year
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Starling Marte soared up draft boards in 2020 after having a bounce-back campaign last year with Pittsburgh. Early returns for the D-backs are encouraging, as Marte has hit .347 with a .958 OPS through his first 15 games. Fastballs have been particularly appetizing, as he has hit .483 against the hard stuff […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoWillson Contreras Reclaiming Elite Catcher Status In 2020
Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is off to a torrid start in 2020, having mashed a 167 OPS+ in his first 13 games. The addition of the designated hitter in the National League has been a boon for his production as he has already served as the DH three times this year, giving him extra […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoAdam Eaton Slumping Since Opening Day Blast
Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton got off to a hot start in 2020, homering in his first plate appearance against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. Since then, essentially nothing has gone right at the dish, as he has hit .222 through his first 12 games with a .626 OPS. Eaton is striking out at a higher […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoRamon Laureano Charges Bench Sunday, Suspension Likely
Oakland Athletics center fielder Ramon Laureano was hit by a pitch for the second time Sunday during the seventh inning against Houston, which led to him storming the Astros’ dugout, which sparked a bench-clearing melee. A significant suspension is likely on the horizon for Laureano -- in addition to the others who participated -- as […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoYasmani Grandal’s Power Absent Early In 2020
Chicago White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal has established himself as an offensive force behind the dish over the past half-decade, but he has yet to find his power stroke early on this season. Through his first 12 games, Grandal has yet to go deep and has compiled a .661 OPS, which would be the lowest […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoZach Plesac Sent Home Following Violation Of Team Rules
Cleveland Indians right-handed pitcher Zach Plesac reportedly went out from his hotel Saturday night, which is a violation of team rules as the league attempts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Plesac has gotten off to a splendid start in 2020, striking out 31.2% of batters he has faced, amassing a 1.29 ERA in his first […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoScott Barlow Records First Save Of Season Sunday
Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow notched his second career save and first of the season Sunday against Minnesota. While the outing was impressive for Barlow, it’s actually more noteworthy that he got the ball in front of Ian Kennedy, who seems to have been officially supplanted in the ninth-inning role by Trevor Rosenthal. […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoStephen Strasburg Has No Long-Term Concern For Hand Issue
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg looked excellent through his first four innings Sunday against Baltimore before the wheels fell off in the fifth. Strasburg finished with five runs allowed across 4 ⅓ frames in his season debut, having been continually bumped back due to a nerve issue in his pitching hand. After the game, […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoPirates-Cardinals Series Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Concerns
The upcoming series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals that was scheduled for Monday-Wednesday has been officially cancelled as the Cardinals continue to work through the positive COVID-19 tests that have dismantled their 2020 season. Monday’s contest had already been wiped out, but now the whole series will be tabled, making it at […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoHunter Dozier Activated From IL, Hitting Cleanup Sunday
Kansas City Royals first baseman/designated hitter Hunter Dozier was placed on the active roster for Sunday’s contest against the Twins, set to make his season debut after having missed the early part of the year after a positive COVID-19 test. While Kansas City signed Maikel Franco to become the third baseman, Dozier moves over to […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoSean Manaea Eyes First Quality Start Of 2020 On Monday
Oakland Athletics left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea entered the 2020 season with considerable pomp after a terrific five-start conclusion (4-0, 1.21 ERA) to last season. But things have gone completely sideways to begin the new year, with Manaea having yielded 13 runs (11 earned) in 12 ⅓ innings in three starts. The starkest difference is how […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoCharlie Morton Not Concerned About Early Exit Sunday
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton was removed from Sunday’s game against the Yankees after throwing only two innings due to tightness. But after the contest, Morton stated that he was “not worried about it” and was confident that he wouldn’t miss much time. Whether that means he will make his scheduled start next […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoReynaldo Lopez, Carlos Rodon Progressing In Rehab
Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Reynaldo Lopez and left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon are both currently absent from the team’s starting rotation, but are building towards their respective returns as of Sunday. Lopez threw a side session, per manager Rick Renteria, while Rodon played catch Saturday. Lopez has made just one start in 2020, recording two […]
Jesse Borek 4 years ago