Articles
Josh Friedman’s Bold Predictions – 2021 Fantasy Football
Bold is in the eye of the beholder. When it comes to “bold” predictions, some fantasy pundits go for shock value. Others play it safer, opting for calls with close to a 50% chance of coming true. Perhaps the industry needs to create a blue-ribbon panel to decree what qualifies as a bold prediction -- […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoHuascar Ynoa To Head For Rehab Assignment
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Huascar Ynoa (hand) will head for a minor league rehab assignment Sunday after his simulated game on Tuesday went well, according to The Athletic. Ynoa will be stretched out to start again but manager Brian Snitker said that plan could change based on need. Ynoa has been out since the middle […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoClayton Kershaw Moving Closer To Return
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (forearm) will pitch in another simulated game on Sunday and could return the following weekend against the Angels, MLB.com reported, citing manager Dave Roberts. The veteran has been sidelined since July 7 with left forearm inflammation. The Dodgers could use Kershaw with Trevor Bauer (administrative leave) having an […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoAaron Judge Late Scratch From Yankees Lineup
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was a late scratch from the lineup Wednesday night against Tampa Bay. No initial explanation was given. Judge, who has been the Yankees best hitter this season, had returned to action Tuesday and went 1-for-4 after being out since the start of the second half. Fantasy managers will need […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoEduardo Escobar Being Traded to Brewers
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Eduardo Escobar is being dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers in a deal still being finalized, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Cooper Hummel, who has played at catcher, outfield and first base this season and is slashing .254/.435/.508 at AAA, will head to the Diamondbacks in the trade. The third baseman and middle […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoChi Chi Gonzalez Joins Covid List
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez, who was scheduled to start Wednesday night in Anaheim, has been put MLB's Covid list, according to The Athletic. The team called up Jhoulys Chacin, who is now off the list. Lucas Gilbreath will start in a bullpen game for the Rockies. "I don't suspect Lucas will throw […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoPablo Lopez To Begin Throwing
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (shoulder) will begin his throwing progression on flat ground this week, according to MLB.com. Lopez was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 17 due to a right rotator cuff strain. Though the Marlins are sellers and out of the playoff hunt, fantasy managers with the roster space […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoShane Bieber's Progress Remains Slow
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (shoulder), who was moved to the 60-day injured list over the weekend as a procedural move, has yet to throw off the mound and his recovery from a strained muscle in his right rotator cuff hasn't gone as quickly as anticipated, Cleveland.com reported, citing Chris Antonetti, the team's president […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoBrandon Aiyuk (WR, SF) - 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Values
BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~59 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~69 ANALYSIS: Brandon Aiyuk came on strong in the second half of 2020 and ended up being as productive as just about any rookie receiver not named Justin Jefferson. Aiyuk was the ninth-best fantasy scorer during the 12 weeks when he was active, earning a 60-748-5 line and running for […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoBoom or Bust WR Predictions: Aiyuk, Kupp, Golladay
Wide receiver is at least the second most important position in fantasy. In certain PPR formats, it can be as crucial as running back. One simple way to increase your chances of success is to focus on pass catchers working with reliable quarterbacks while crossing off those forced to dive for ducks or mutter at […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoDeep-League Quarterback Sleepers
Some people climb stadium steps backward with weights strapped around their wrists and ankles. Others eat hot peppers by the jarful or build tiny ships inside bottles. The hardiest fantasy football degenerates test their mettle by playing in leagues so deep they must scrutinize the relative merits of, say, Andy Dalton and Drew Lock. They […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoBrandon Marsh Gets Major League Call-Up
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh was called up from Triple-A and will play center field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. At the start of the year, Marsh was ranked by RotoBaller as one of the top rookies for the 2021 redraft season, and if he […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoMookie Betts Expected Back Monday
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (hip) won't need testing on his sore right hip and could be back in the lineup as soon as Monday, according to The Athletic. Manager Dave Roberts said he sees "no reason why" Betts won't be able to be in the lineup for the series opener against San Francisco. […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoJazz Chisholm May Have Injured Shoulder
Miami Marlins second baseman Jazz Chisholm (shoulder) apparently sustained an injury on a defensively play Sunday, according to the Miami Herald. The 23-year-old rookie tried to dive backward to rob Bryce Harper of a hit and ended up grabbing his left shoulder. Marlins fans and fantasy managers will need to hope for the best, as […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoJose Urquidy Still Hasn't Resumed Throwing
Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (shoulder) has not resumed throwing yet, according to the Houston Chronicle, citing general manager James Click. Urquidy was put on the 10-day injured list on June 30 with right shoulder discomfort. His absence has been a tough blow for both the 'Stros and fantasy managers, as the 26-year-old was […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoBuster Posey Could Return On Monday
San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (thumb) could return to lineup on Monday for the team's key series at the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with a left thumb bruise and placed on injured reserve earlier in July, has been stellar in a comeback season, batting […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoByron Buxton Still Hasn't Done Much Hand Work
Byron Buxton (hand) has been doing lower-body activity but hasn't done much with his left hand yet, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "The gripping and the starting to do things baseball activity-wise with his hand has not really taken off yet, but we weren't expecting it to," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "It's still […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoKyle Muller May Get Start Monday For Braves
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Muller is likely to get the call for Monday's game against the San Diego Padres and Yu Darvish, according to The Athletic. The rookie left-hander has 15 strikeouts and two walks in 10 innings over two starts with a 1.80 ERA since his return to Triple-A. Touki Toussaint and Charlie […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoKe'Bryan Hayes, Jacob Stallings On Bench Against Mets
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes is on the bench Sunday against the New York Mets, with sizzling Wilmer Difo in the lineup and batting second. Difo, with a .938 slugging percentage over his past seven games, is a strong daily play in fantasy. Hayes has been cold lately but fantasy owners should be patient […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoDrew Smyly Goes For Sixth Straight Victory
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Drew Smyly is heading into Sunday's series finale against Tampa Bay on a heater. Smyly is 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in his past five starts, so he has a chance to win become the team's first starting pitcher to win six in a row since Kris Medlen in 2012, notes […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoJacob deGrom Heads To Injured List
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (forearm) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 15, according to The Athletic. That means he's out until at least next Sunday. DeGrom is getting treatment for forearm tightness and has been shut down from throwing, according to manager Luis Rojas. Though an MRI exam […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoCody Bellinger's Slump Deepens
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger went 0-for-4 on Saturday in the team's 9-2 win at Colorado as his struggles at the plate continue. The 26-year-old has been flailing since his return from the injury list and now is slashing .093/.180/.148 over his last 15 games. Still, he's got far too much talent to stay […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoRobbie Ray One-Hits The Rays
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray earned his seventh win of the season with a stellar outing on Sunday as his club defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1. Ray tossed seven innings of one-hit ball and struck out 11 to push his season-long total to 130 strikeouts in 100 2/3 innings to go along […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoYu Darvish Heads To Injured List
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (hip) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with left hip inflammation, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The move is retroactive to July 9, meaning he won't be eligible to start until the fourth game after the break. Nabil Crismatt has been recalled from Triple-A El […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoTyler Beede Optioned To Triple-A
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tyler Beede was sent to Triple-A Sacramento and Caleb Baragar was recalled in a corresponding move on Sunday, according to the Bay Area News Group. The 28-year-old Beede gave up three earned runs in one inning of work on Saturday against the Washington Nationals in his first start back from […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoHunter Greene Flashes In Latest Start
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene starred with his arm and bat on Sunday for Triple-A Louisville. He was 1-for-2 with an RBI and gave up an earned run and five hits while striking out two over five innings pitched. The 21-year-old, the Reds No. 2 prospect, is quickly learning that he cannot get by with […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoJulio Urias Gets Dodgers First Post-Break Start
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias will get the team's first start coming out of the All-Star break at Denver next Friday, according to The Athletic. Walker Buehler will go Saturday, while Sunday's starter is still to be determined, though veteran David Price could get the nod with Clayton Kershaw (forearm) on the shelf. […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoMax Fried Heads Into Break After Beating Miami
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried got his first career win against the Miami Marlins on Saturday in his ninth try against the division rival, beating fellow lefty Trevor Rogers. Fried gave up three runs and nine hits over five innings while striking out five. He is 6-5 with a 4.71 ERA on the season. […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoZach Plesac To Start Next Sunday
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Zach Plesac will start next Sunday at Oakland in the team's third game after the All-Star break, according to Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal. Eli Morgan will pitch Friday, followed by Cal Quantrill. J.C. Mejia and Triston McKenzie will then follow Plesac as the Indians continue to grapple with […]
Josh Friedman 3 years agoCal Raleigh Called Up By Mariners
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has been called up from Triple-A Tacoma, according to MLB.com. The coveted prospect has been one of the organization's best minor-league hitters, slashing .324/.377/.608 with nine home runs and 36 RBI in 199 plate appearances this season. The 24-year-old switch-hitter stands to be a solid fantasy contributor in the majors, […]
Josh Friedman 3 years ago