4 months agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Walker Buehler will start Game 3 of the World Series against the Rays on Friday. Buehler started Game 1 in the first three rounds of the playoffs, but he just pitched on Saturday in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. Instead, lefty
Clayton Kershaw will be pitching on normal rest in Game 1 on Tuesday. Buehler will be going on five days of rest on Friday after he tossed six scoreless innings last Saturday against Atlanta. The right-handed Buehler would be set up to start a deciding Game 7, if necessary. Buehler is likely to be matched up against veteran right-hander
Charlie Morton in Game 3 on Friday. He'll be a fine DFS play in the Fall Classic's third game.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Ken Gurnick
4 months agoLos Angeles Dodgers three-time National League Cy Young winner
Clayton Kershaw will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Rays on Tuesday. Kershaw will be going on normal rest after he threw five-plus innings and allowed four runs in the Game 4 loss to the Braves in the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers have lost each of the left-hander's last three World Series starts, with his lone win in the Fall Classic coming in Game 1 of the 2017 World Series against the Astros, when he struck out 11 hitters in seven innings of one-run baseball. Kershaw's lackluster postseason track record makes DFS players hesitant to rely on him, but the future Hall of Famer hasn't looked terrible this postseason and has a dynamite Dodgers lineup backing him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Ken Gurnick
4 months agoTampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher
Tyler Glasnow will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Tuesday, while left-hander
Blake Snell will get the nod in Game 2 on Wednesday. Glasnow has a 4.66 ERA in four starts this postseason with 25 strikeouts in his 19 1/3 innings. Snell has sported an ERA of 3.20 in the playoffs and has given up two or fewer runs in three of his four postseason starts. Both Tampa pitchers will be facing a juggernaut of a Dodgers lineup this week, but Snell may have the advantage in terms of DFS upside with the potential to limit Los Angeles' left mashers in
Cody Bellinger,
Max Muncy,
Joc Pederson and
Corey Seager.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 months agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Cody Bellinger (shoulder) popped his shoulder out of socket during a celebration with
Kike Hernandez after his go-ahead home run in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Braves on Sunday. The training staff popped Bellinger's shoulder back into place and he returned to the field in the eighth inning. The left-handed hitter was 4-for-23 with nine strikeouts entering Game 7 of the NLCS, but he broke out with his huge game-winning home run. His shoulder felt sore but functional, and he should be fine for Game 1 of the World Series against the Rays on Tuesday, but it will be something to watch heading into the Fall Classic.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
5 months agoFormer Atlanta Braves left-handed closer
A.J. Minter will make his first career start in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers on Friday as the Braves look to close out the series and advance to the World Series for the first time since 1999. It will be a bullpen game for Atlanta, with each of their key relievers available to follow Minter.
Mookie Betts, the Dodgers leadoff hitter, batted .200 with a .531 OPS against lefties during the regular season and has gone 2-for-12 against them in the playoffs.
Corey Seager has been mashing all postseason and even hit a homer against Minter in Game of the NLCS. Lefties hit .269 (7-for-26) with a .462 slugging percentage against Minter this year. He'll be a poor DFS choice because he'll likely only be tabbed for an inning or two, at the most.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
5 months agoLos Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander
Dustin May will start Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Friday against the Braves with the Dodgers trying to stave off elimination in the series. Gingergaard went 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 12 outings (10 starts) during the regular season, and he hasn't give up a run in 4 2/3 innings over three playoff appearances. He'll be the third-youngest pitcher in Dodgers history to make a postseason start with the team facing elimination at 23 years and 40 days old. May tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in Game 1 on Monday. The right-hander sits in the high-90s with his fastball and has wicked movement on his offspeed pitches, but he may be on a short leash with all hands on deck in this elimination game, making him a risk/reward DFS pick.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Ken Gurnick
5 months agoSan Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller is confident starters
Mike Clevinger (elbow) and
Dinelson Lamet (biceps) will not need surgery. Both frontline starters experienced arm issues to end 2020, derailing their seasons and the Friars playoff hopes. After extensive tests, both pitchers were recommended rest and recovery and should be ready for 2021. Clevinger suffered from an elbow impingement and was limited to one postseason inning after tossing 19 frames with the Padres and posting a 2.84 ERA. Lamet, diagnosed with arm fatigue, enjoyed a breakout season with a 2.09 ERA and 35 percent strikeout rate across 12 starts prior to being shut down after his final regular season appearance. Expected to form a one-two punch in the Padres rotation, both right-handers should slot as quality SP2s entering fantasy drafts.
--Andrew Le - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
5 months agoThe Houston Astros will go with rookie pitcher
Luis Garcia as the starter in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Rays on Thursday. Garcia appeared in just five games in 2020, making only one start in the abbreviated season. He had a 2.92 ERA and nine strikeouts in his 12 1/3 innings. Thursday will mark his first appearance in the playoffs. The 23-year-old right-hander had an FIP of 4.25 with a 0.97 WHIP in his five outings this year, walking five and allowing four earned runs in his 12 1/3 frames. With their season on the line, don't expect the Astros to leave Garcia in for long against Tampa, making him a poor DFS choice in his playoff debut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 months agoThe Tampa Bay Rays will use right-handed pitcher
John Curtiss as their opener for Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros on Thursday. Curtiss went 3-0 with a sparkling 1.80 ERA in 25 inning during the shortened regular season. But it hasn't been smooth sailing in the playoffs, as he's posted a rough 10.38 ERA in 4 1/3 innings of action. The 27-year-old is unlikely to go more than an inning or two in what the Rays hope is the final game of the series, as they are currently up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. That will make Curtiss a DFS option to avoid during the championship series, especially since he's been off his game so far in the playoffs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
5 months agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Clayton Kershaw (back) will start Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Braves on Thursday, according to manager Dave Roberts. Kershaw was scratched from the Game 2 start on Tuesday after suffering back spasms during a Saturday bullpen session, but the lefty made steady progress each day. He threw a "pretty aggressive" bullpen session on Tuesday. While the future Hall of Famer has been known to fold in the playoffs, he's gone 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and a 19:1 K:BB ratio over 14 innings this season. Given his shakiness in the playoffs in the past, his recent back injury and a solid Braves lineup on the other side, Kershaw will be a risk/reward DFS play on Thursday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Los Angeles - Alden Gonzalez
5 months agoTampa Bay Rays infielder
Brandon Lowe and outfielder
Kevin Kiermaier (hand) were both out of the starting lineup for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros on Wednesday. Kiermaier was hit on the left hand by a pitch in Game 3 on Tuesday, but X-rays came back negative and he is available off the bench.
Manuel Margot started in center field and hit leadoff in place of Kiermaier against Houston starter
Zack Greinke.
Yoshitomo Tsutsugo also returned to the lineup in the eighth spot in the order as the designated hitter. Lowe, an All-Star, is sitting because of his struggles with offspeed pitches, and Greinke's ability to command multiple offspeed offerings. Lowe hit 14 home runs during the regular season but is just 3-for-39 in 10 playoff games this year, so a mental break could go a long way.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Juan Toribio
5 months agoSan Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller said there's "interest on both sides" regarding a contract extension for superstar shortstop
Fernando Tatis Jr., but neither side has taken the initial steps to begin negotiations. Tatis has one more season before he starts salary arbitration and has four years of team control left before he can become a free agent after the 2024 season at age 25. The youngster hit .277/.366/.571 with 17 home runs and 11 steals in the shortened season and should be near the top of the National League MVP voting. Tatis finished the playoffs hitting .318/.444/.682 with two home runs and five RBI in six games. You'll have to pay a pretty penny for this All-Star talent in the early rounds of fantasy drafts in 2021.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
5 months agoNew York Yankees third baseman
Gio Urshela (elbow) did not need surgery for a bone spur in his right elbow after the team was eliminated by the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the American League Division Series. The 29-year-old will go with rest and recovery in the offseason. Urshela has played extremely well the last couple of seasons in the Bronx and has solidified his spot at the hot corner moving forward. He slashed a healthy .298/.368/.490 with six home runs, 30 RBI and 24 runs in 151 at-bats over 43 regular season games during the shortened season. Urshela had five hits in his 28 postseason at-bats, including a big grand slam against the Indians in the wild-card round.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
5 months agoAtlanta Braves right-handed starter
Bryse Wilson will get the start in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday in what will likely be a bullpen game for the Braves. Wilson has started seven of his 15 career regular season appearances, including two starts to close out the 2020 regular season. His longest career start lasted six innings when he allowed two runs against the Phillies in July of 2019. Wilson has never pitched against the Dodgers, but regardless, he'll be a poor DFS choice against a stacked Los Angeles lineup. The righty had a 4.02 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings over six games (two starts) this year, but he has a 5.91 career ERA in parts of his three seasons in Atlanta.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Matt Kelly
5 months agoNew York Yankees catcher
Gary Sanchez is not locked in as the team’s starting catcher for 2021, with general manager Brian Cashman refusing to commit to Sanchez filling that role on Wednesday. Sanchez endured a miserable 2020 season with a .618 OPS and a 36% strikeout rate over 49 games, and catcher
Kyle Higashioka started in 15 of the team’s last 31 games this year. It seems likely that Higashioka will catch for starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole next season at the very least, and Sanchez’s playing time could suffer even more with a poor spring training.
--Sam Chinitz - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
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