David Bote Presents Upside Play For Game 2 Friday

Chicago Cubs infielder David Bote will draw the start at second base for Game 2 of Friday’s wild-card series versus Miami over veteran left-handed bat Jason Kipnis. With hard-throwing rookie right-hander Sixto Sanchez on the hill for the Marlins, Bote will hold down the keystone, having delivered reverse splits this year with an .801 vs. […]

Chad Wallach Remains Starting Catcher For Game 2 Friday

Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach will start behind the plate for the second consecutive postseason game Friday versus the Cubs and right-hander Yu Darvish. Wallach started just 13 games during the regular season, but seems to have supplanted Jorge Alfaro as the club’s everyday catcher at this stage. Wallach will have an extremely difficult matchup […]

Starling Marte Absent From Game 2 Lineup Friday

Miami Marlins outfielder Starling Marte (finger) is not among the starting nine for Game 2 of Friday’s wild-card series versus the Cubs. After having been diagnosed with a fractured pinky finger after being hit by a pitch during Game 1, Marte will cede way to Magneuris Sierra in center, who will bat eighth and face […]

Kenley Jansen Continues To Serve As Closer For Game 2

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Kenley Jansen looked a bit out of sorts despite locking down the save in Game 1 of the club’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee on Wednesday. Manager Dave Roberts reiterated before first pitch that Jansen was “absolutely” still the closer should a save situation present itself, which all but reassures that […]

Starling Marte's Status Unknown For Friday

Miami Marlins outfielder Starling Marte (finger) was slated to sit for Game 2 of the club’s wild-card series versus the Cubs on Thursday due to the fractured pinkie finger that he sustained after being hit by a pitch Wednesday. Magneuris Sierra had been announced as the starting center fielder against right-hander Yu Darvish before the […]

Francisco Lindor Plans To Remain With Club In 2021, Beyond

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor will be the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason, as he is scheduled to hit free agency at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Cleveland has been aggressive in moving soon-to-be free agents in years past and would likely receive a significant haul in return for Lindor. But despite […]

Justin Verlander Has Successful Tommy John Surgery

Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday to repair his right ulnar collateral ligament. Verlander attempted to work back from the injury earlier this season, before ultimately deciding to have surgery, which is expected to keep him out through the 2021 campaign. Verlander is slated to hit free agency […]

Ryan Braun Dealing With Oblique Strain

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Braun (oblique) provided additional clarity on the malady that has sidelined him Thursday versus Los Angeles, saying that he is dealing with a left oblique strain. Due to the nature of the injury, it would be highly surprising if Braun is available off the bench for Game 2 or at all in […]

Chad Pinder Playing At Less Than 100 Percent

Oakland Athletics utilityman Chad Pinder (hamstring) delivered the go-ahead knock in Game 3 of the wild-card series versus Chicago on Thursday, but he revealed after the contest that he is playing below 100 percent due to persistent right hamstring issues. Pinder was activated off of the injured list last Sunday and delivered a two-hit performance […]

Jacob Nottingham Draws Start For Game 2, Omar Narvaez Sits

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jacob Nottingham will join the starting lineup for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus Los Angeles and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Correspondingly, Omar Narvaez will head to the bench, but will presumably be available to pinch-hit for later in the contest. In an extremely small sample size, Nottingham demolished southpaws in 2020 […]

NBA DFS Cheat Sheet & Expert Lineups for October 2nd

With the NBA Finals presenting single-game slates for the rest of the postseason, we will be focusing our attention on the best plays and Showdown strategies. Whether you play on FanDuel or DraftKings, there are some appealing contests available for showdown/single-game, and my goal will be to give you how I would rank each play […]

Ryan Braun Not Among Starting Nine For Game 2 Thursday

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Braun (back) is being held out of Game 2’s starting lineup Thursday in the wild-card series versus the Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Braun was deemed day-to-day after exiting early Wednesday with back stiffness, with his absence confirmed by the presence of Ryon Healy at the DH slot Thursday with […]

Austin Barnes Enters Starting Lineup For Game 2 Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes will draw the start behind the plate for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee and right-hander Brandon Woodruff. Barnes caught nine of Clayton Kershaw’s 10 starts this season, helping the southpaw post a 1.86 ERA while holding the opposition to a .586 OPS. Will Smith will remain […]

Christian Yelich Returns To No. 2 Slot For Game 2 Thursday

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is back in the second slot in the batting order for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus the Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Yelich hit leadoff Wednesday, but with a southpaw on the hill, Avisail Garcia will open the game in the top spot. Yelich displayed reverse splits during […]

Jurickson Profar Not In Starting Lineup For Game 2

San Diego Padres second baseman/outfielder Jurickson Profar will begin Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus St. Louis on the bench. With Tommy Pham back in the outfield mix, and Jake Cronenworth holding down the keystone, manager Jayce Tingler decided to keep Profar on the bench as an opportunity to “pick and choose his spot […]

Garrett Crochet Leaves Game 3 With Forearm Tightness

Chicago White Sox left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet (forearm) was pulled from Game 3 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus Oakland after just nine pitches due to forearm tightness. Crochet struck out both batters that he faced, giving him a combined 6 ⅔ scoreless innings this season with 10 strikeouts. The nature of forearm tightness is never […]

Eloy Jimenez Departs Game 3 Early With Foot Injury

Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (foot) returned to the club’s starting lineup for Game 3 against Oakland on Thursday, but after giving it a go for two at-bats -- including a double -- he was lifted due to persistent foot soreness. James McCann entered the lineup as the designated hitter in his place. Jimenez […]

Dylan Carlson Remains In Cleanup Slot For Game 2 Thursday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson collected a pair of hits in his first career playoff game Wednesday, leading to him retaining the cleanup spot in the order for Game 2 on Thursday during the wild-card series versus San Diego and right-hander Zach Davies. Carlson’s DFS price tag should lend to considerable roster potential, especially […]

Mitch Moreland Returns To DH Spot For Game 2 Thursday

San Diego Padres first baseman/designated hitter Mitch Moreland will take over DH duties for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus the Cardinals and right-hander Adam Wainwright. While Moreland delivered an .894 OPS during the regular season overall, he had just a .609 mark in 20 contests after being acquired by the Padres at the […]

Ryon Healy, Tyrone Taylor Enter Starting Lineup For Game 2

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/designated hitter Ryon Healy and outfielder Tyrone Taylor are stepping into the starting nine for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus the Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw. Healy has not started since Aug. 5, having played in just four games during the regular season while spending most of the year at the […]

FanDuel MLB DFS Lineup Picks (10/1/20): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

After a historic eight-game day of postseason baseball Wednesday, we get to run it all back roughly 10 hours later with an equally epic five-game slate that features at least one club in each having its collective backs to the wall. With that in mind, if clubs deploy unconventional methods that make it seem like […]

Joc Pederson Presents Upside Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson is not among the starting nine for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee. That’s primarily due to the fact that Pederson has become strictly a platoon option for LA this season, but fortunately his platoon opportunity should come Thursday when the Brewers send righty Brandon Woodruff […]

Adam Wainwright Aims To Send Cardinals To NLDS On Thursday

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright will be tasked with starting Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus San Diego. He will take the ball at Petco Park for the seventh time (sixth start) in his career, looking for his first win at the yard since 2013. As has been the case for many […]

Yu Darvish Seeks Continued Wrigley Field Success In Game 2

Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish will get the ball for Game 2 of Thursday’s wild-card series versus Miami, needing a win to keep his club alive in the postseason. He made nine starts at Wrigley Field during the regular season and struck out fewer than seven batters just once; during September, he averaged nine […]

Luis Castillo Should Benefit From Game 2’s Early Start Time

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo will be tasked with keeping his club alive in the postseason for Game 2 on Thursday against Atlanta. While he has amassed a 4.12 ERA across seven starts on the road this year, the shadows that descended upon Truist Park may play the biggest factor. With Atlanta striking out […]

Clayton Kershaw Aims To Shake Postseason Bugaboo Thursday

Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw is set to start Game 2 of the club’s wild-card series versus Milwaukee on Thursday. Whether it’s an elimination game for the Dodgers, or an attempt to send the club to the NLDS, Kershaw will be looking to flip the narrative around his postseason performance. His 2.16 ERA […]

Brett Anderson Misses Wild-Card Series

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson (finger) was removed from his final start of the regular season Sunday due to a blister issue, which manager Craig Counsell said has not improved. Anderson has still been unable to throw since his 38-pitch outing, putting him in jeopardy of being unavailable should the club advance to the […]

Daniel Vogelbach Not At Full Strength Ahead Of Game 1

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach (quad) is batting cleanup for Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus Los Angeles and right-hander Walker Buehler, but manager Craig Counsell indicated that Vogelbach is far from 100 percent entering the series. Having battled a quad injury since Sunday, Vogelbach is healthy enough to swing the bat […]

Starling Marte Sustains Pinkie Fracture Wednesday

Miami Marlins outfielder Starling Marte (pinkie) is dealing with a fractured pinkie finger on his left hand after being hit by a pitch during Game 1 of Wednesday’s wild-card series versus the Cubs. Marte exited the game after being hit, and an X-ray revealed the damage, although there is optimism that Marte could attempt to […]

David Dahl Confirms He’ll Be Ready For Spring Training

Colorado Rockies outfielder David Dahl (shoulder) had his 2020 campaign prematurely ended due to surgery on his injured right shoulder. Dahl tweeted Wednesday that he came out of surgery unscathed and that he plans to return to the diamond in time for the opening of Spring Training next February. Not much went right this past […]