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About Josh Friedman
Fantasy and wagering enthusiast. Freelance journalist for media outlets including Substack, RotoBaller, and BettingPros. Former U.S. investing editor at Bloomberg and markets editor at the Los Angeles Times.
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Josh Friedman has written 148 articles so far, you can find them below.
Kyle Hendricks To Start First Game After Break
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks will next pitch on Friday at Arizona in the club's first game after the All-Star break, according to MLB.com. Cubs manager David Ross said Adbert Alzolay and Zach Davies will follow in the series. Hendricks improved to 11-4 last outing versus the St. Louis Cardinals, going 6 1/3 innings... Read More
Will Craig May Be Headed To Asia
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Will Craig is exploring opportunities with teams in Asia, which explains why he was a late scratch from Saturday night's Triple-A Indianapolis game, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported, citing general manager Ben Cherington. Craig had shown some power in the minor leagues with a .549 slugging percentage and .916 OPS this season,... Read More
Kansas City-Cleveland Game Postponed
Sunday's Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians game has been rained out and will be made up as part of a traditional doubleheader on Sept. 20, according to Cleveland.com. Right-handers Carlos Hernandez of the Royals and Eli Morgan of the Indians had been scheduled to start, so they will need to wait until after the... Read More
Cardinals-Cubs Game In Chicago Postponed
The Chicago Cubs game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday was rained out and will be made up Sept. 24 as the second part of a split doubleheader, according to MLB.com. Right-handers Adam Wainwright of the Cards and Trevor Williams of the Cubs had been scheduled to square off, so they will need to... Read More
Bryce Harper Heating Up Heading Into Break
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper is riding a six-game hitting streak as he heads into the last game before the All-Star break -- Sunday's matchup at Boston against right-hander Nick Pivetta. The 28-year-old, who said he would have skipped the Midsummer Classic to rest his back and shoulder had he made the All-Star squad, is... Read More
Teoscar Hernandez Has Promising Matchup Against Rays
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who went 1-for-3 in Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, has a juicy matchup Sunday, batting fifth against left-hander Rich Hill in the series finale. Against southpaws this year, Hernandez sports a 1.064 OPS. Hernandez has cooled off a bit since his scorching May but is slashing .297/.343/.818... Read More
Aaron Nola, Alec Bohm Placed On COVID-19 Injured List
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola and third baseman Alec Bohm have been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, along with pitchers Bailey Falter and Connor Brogdon, according to NBS Sports Philadelphia. Nola was supposed to start Sunday's game against the Boston Red Sox and will be replaced by Brandon Kintzler, who should be ignored... Read More
LaMonte Wade Jr. Out With Hand Strain
San Francisco Giants outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. (hand) was scratched Friday with a hand strain, according to MLB.com. Steven Duggar joins Alex Dickerson and Mike Yastrzemski in the Giants outfield against Washington Nationals right-hander Paolo Espino. Stay tuned for updates on Wade and consider him day-to-day for now. The 27-year-old has been quietly productive this season,... Read More
John Means Makes Another Rehab Start
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means (shoulder) took another step in his rehab effort, allowing four runs on two homers in three innings Friday night at Double-A Bowie, according to MLB.com. He threw 61 pitches, 41 of them for strikes. The talented left-hander's next rehab start will be at Triple-A, and if all goes well,... Read More
Clayton Kershaw's MRI Confirms Inflammation
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (forearm) had an MRI on Friday that confirmed left forearm inflammation, according to MLB.com, citing manager Dave Roberts. Kershaw, who was put on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, will start playing catch on Saturday and then the team will determine when he's able to get back to... Read More
Buster Posey Hits Injured List
San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list, according to The Athletic. Posey missed several games since taking a foul tip off of his left thumb in Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 34-year-old slugger is enjoying a rebound season, slashing .328/.421/.968 over 201 at-bats. Posey had been... Read More
Lucas Giolito Gets Bounce-Back Spot Against Orioles
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito gets a chance at redemption on Saturday with a favorable road start in Baltimore against Thomas Eshelman. Giolito was torched for 10 hits and six runs in five innings against the Detroit Tigers on Independence Day -- one of his worst starts of the year. The 26-year-old righty... Read More
Zach Thompson Scratched, Anthony Bass To Start
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Zach Thompson (illness) won't make his scheduled outing Friday against Atlanta because of illness, according to MLB.com. Thompson "fell under the weather like his teammates" with something is going around, according to reporter Christina De Nicola. Right-hander Anthony Bass will serve as the opener for what will be a bullpen game. Shawn... Read More
Adam Duvall Returns To Marlins Lineup
Miami Marlins outfielder Adam Duvall is back in the lineup and batting cleanup Friday against Atlanta right-hander Charlie Morton. Duvall sat out Wednesday's game after pinch hitting on Tuesday. He is only hitting .228 on the season, but the 32-year-old right fielder can be used as a reliable power source with 19 home runs and... Read More
Carlos Correa Placed On Injured List
Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (illness) was placed on the injured list due to the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the Houston Chronicle reported. Infielder Taylor Jones has been recalled in a corresponding move. Correa is having a career year in 2021 with 16 home runs, 61 runs scored, 52 RBI and a .288/.385/.510... Read More
Luke Voit Sitting After Getting Hit On Hand
New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit (hand) is out of the lineup Friday at Houston after getting hit in the right hand early Thursday, MLB.com reported. Voit has been raking since returning from an oblique injury on June 22, lifting his slash line to .243/.310/.688 on the season. There was no word on his... Read More
Endgame Primer: Drafting For Playoff Strength Of Schedule
You cruise to the best record in your league, only to get bumped off by that rival who barely snuck into the playoffs. It’s one of the sheer joys of fantasy football -- for your opponent anyway. Now is the time to take steps to prevent such heartache, or better yet, position yourself to be... Read More
Tejay Antone, Lucas Sims Targeted For Late-July Returns
Cincinnati Reds relief pitchers Tejay Antone (forearm) and Lucas Sims (elbow) are both now targeted for late-July returns, with manager David Bell saying Sims "might be a hair ahead," according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Amir Garrett could be line for save opportunities over the next few weeks but he makes for a highly volatile... Read More
Matt Manning Shelled In Shortest Outing
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning was chased in the third inning Sunday, the shortest start yet for the rookie right-hander. Manning was shelled for seven hits and two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings against the White Sox, lifting his ERA to 7.94 over four games. Scouts had expected Manning to struggle early as... Read More
Joey Gallo Returns To Rangers Lineup
Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo is back in the lineup and is hitting cleanup Sunday against the Seattle Mariners with right-hander Chris Flexen pitching. Gallo, who sat out on Saturday, has been mashing over his last seven games, slashing .435/.552/1.348 with seven home runs and 13 RBI. His return indicates that he was simply getting... Read More
Tyler O'Neill Could Return To The Lineup Soon
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill (hand) will take some swings before the game against Colorado on Sunday to see if he might be available, according to Zachary Silver of MLB.com. O'Neill was available to pinch run if Matt Carpenter had reached base in the ninth inning on Saturday night, but he was not going... Read More
Nelson Cruz Scratched With Neck Stiffness
Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz (neck) has been scratched from Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals because of a stiff neck, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Miguel Sano is the DH with Alex Kirilloff at first base. Cruz's fantasy managers should consider the slugger day-to-day for now and await further updates. The... Read More
Mitch Moreland Hits Injured List, Stephen Piscotty Reinstated
Oakland Athletics first baseman/designated hitter Mitch Moreland (undisclosed) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday, and the team reinstated outfielder Stephen Piscotty (wrist) in a corresponding move, according to MLB.com. Piscotty was sidelined since June 15 but hadn't been much of a fantasy threat this year with his .217/.284/.357 slash line that came with... Read More
Nico Hoerner Returns To Cubs Lineup
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (hamstring) will be back in action Sunday after missing 35 games with a left hamstring strain, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Hoerner, who has been out since May 26, will bat sixth against Cincinnati Reds left-hander Wade Miley. The 24-year-old infielder, who was slashing .338/.405/.837 with zero home runs and... Read More
Gary Sanchez Sitting For First Game Of Doubleheader
New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is on the bench for the first game of the Independence Day doubleheader against the Mets with right-hander Marcus Stroman on the mound. Kyle Higashioka is catching and batting eighth, while outfielder Tim Locastro will bat ninth with Miguel Andujar also on the bench. Higashioka and Locastro, who are... Read More
Starlin Castro Heating Up In The Last Week
Washington Nationals infielder Starlin Castro, who got two hits in his first two at-bats with an RBI on Sunday, has been on a 10-for-19 tear over his past seven games. Castro is mainly a backup in mixed leagues because of his limited pop, but he has lifted his slash line this season to .266/.319/.676. He is... Read More
Myles Straw's Speed Making Him Valuable
Houston Astros outfielder Myles Straw is batting second Sunday against Cleveland Indians right-hander Cal Quantrill. The 26-year-old has earned consistent at-bats due to injuries and his ability to patrol center field. Straw has picked up some hits along the way recently, slashing .333/.446/.426 over his past 15 games. He provides zero power with a .338... Read More
Jake Cronenworth Slows Down After Sizzling Week
San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who is batting third in Sunday's game in Philadelphia against right-hander Vince Velasquez, has gone hitless in his last three contests, cooling off after mashing his way to National League Player of the Week honors. Cronenworth is paying off big this season for his fantasy managers, showing that... Read More
Joc Pederson Sitting Against Cincinnati
Chicago Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson is on the bench for Sunday's game at Cincinnati with left-hander Wade Miley on the mound. Jake Marisnick, who is in center field and hitting seventh, is only an option in very deep and NL-only leagues, considering his .231 batting average and .746 OPS this year. Pederson has been a... Read More
Early ADP Variations: ESPN Overvalued & Undervalued
The surest path to the prizes in fantasy football this year is landing one of the five elite quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, or Dak Prescott. They’ll provide a sizable week-to-week scoring advantage, often with their legs as well as with their arms that warrant the draft cost and then some.... Read More
