Saturday Lineup Card: UnFreeseing At The Plate

Saturday Lineup Card: UnFreeseing At The Plate

This article is part of our A Look at the Free Agent Market series.

Projected Starters (All times Eastern)

DET (Max Scherzer - R) at KC (James Shields - R) 1:05 PM
LAD (Roberto Hernandez - R) at CHC (Felix Doubront - L) 1:05 PM
PHI (Jerome Williams - R) at OAK (Drew Pomeranz - L) 4:05 PM
TOR (Marcus Stroman - R) at NYY (Chris Capuano - L) 4:05 PM
ARI (Trevor Cahill - R) at COL (Eddie Butler - R) 4:10 PM
BOS (Rubby De La Rosa - R) at BAL (Chris Tillman - R) 7:05 PM
MIL (Matt Garza - R) at PIT (Edinson Volquez - R) 7:05 PM
CHW (Hector Noesi - R) at TB (Chris Archer - R) 7:10 PM
CLE (T.J. House - L) at MIN (Trevor May - R) 7:10 PM
NYM (Jon Niese - L) at ATL (Mike Minor - L) 7:10 PM
SEA (Chris Young - R) at HOU (Dallas Keuchel - L) 7:10 PM
WAS (Jordan Zimmerman - R) at MIA (Jarred Cosart - R) 7:10 PM
CIN (Mike Leake - R) at STL (Michael Wacha - R) 7:15 PM
SF (Yusmeiro Petit - R) at SD (Andrew Cashner - R) 8:40 PM
TEX (Colby Lewis - R) at LAA (Jered Weaver - R) 9:05 PM

Day game after night game: DET/KC, PHI/OAK, TOR/NYY, ARI/COL

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Charlie Morton, SP, PIT - Dealing with groin, abdominal and hip pain and will miss Sunday's start.
Evan Gattis, C, ATL - (Kidney stone) Out of the lineup Friday but attempted batting practice before the game.
Jason Heyward, OF, ATL - (Thumb) Out of the lineup Friday but available as a defensive replacement or pinch hitter.
Nick Markakis, OF, BAL - (Shoulder) Out of the lineup Friday.
Mark Trumbo, OF, ARI - Held out Thursday with a back issue.
Nolan Arenado, 3B, COL - Could miss the remainder of the season with pneumonia.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, LAD - (Shoulder) Doubtful to pitch again during the regular season, but hasn't ruled out taking part in the postseason.
Masahiro Tanaka, SP, NYY - (Elbow) Threw a bullpen session Thursday with no issues.
Tommy Milone, SP, MIN - (Neck) Took part in long toss before Friday's game but will not start Sunday.
Jason Kipnis, 2B, CLE - Left Thursday's game due to a sore hamstring and was out of the lineup Friday.
Alex Avila, C, DET - (Head) Felt disoritented after taking some swings Thursday and was out of the lineup again Friday.
David Peralta, OF, ARI - (Back) Available to pinch hit Friday and could return to the lineup Saturday.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, NYM - Passed a kidney stone Thursday and was out of the lineup Friday.
Juan Lagares, OF, NYM - (Elbow) Didn't travel with the team to Atlanta.
Welington Castillo, C, CHC - Left Friday's game with a left rib contusion.
Eduardo Escobar, 3B, MIN - (Shoulder) Out of the lineup Friday.
Josh Hamilton, OF, LAA - (Chest/rib) Out of the lineup Friday.
Craig Gentry, OF, OAK - (Concussion) Hasn't resumed any baseball activites.
Josh Reddick, OF, OAK - Didn't take BP Friday due to neck issue but was available off the bench.
Ryan Raburn, OF, CLE - Underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery Friday.
Tyson Ross, SP, SD - (Elbow) Status for the remainder of the season won't likely be made until Sunday.
Alex Rios, OF, TEX - (Thumb) Remained out of the lineup Friday.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, NYY - Left Friday's game with a right hamstring injury.

Out
Glen Perkins, RP, MIN - Out for the season with strained left forearm but no structural damage.
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI - Tested his strained hamstring before Thursday's game.
Jason Hammel, SP, OAK - Will miss scheduled start due to the birth of his child.
Bryan Morris, RP, MIA - Shut down from all baseball activities.

Players on the DL

Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS - (Hamstring) Will join the team in Miami after playing in an instructional league game Friday and will likely be activated Saturday.
Anibal Sanchez, SP, DET - (Chest) Scheduled to throw a simulated game Sunday.

Transactions

Activated from the DL

Edwin Jackson, SP, CHC

Called Up

Drew Rucinski, RP, LAA
Tim Collins, RP, KC

Closer Watch

Seattle Mariners - Fernando Rodney closed out Thursday's game for his league-leading 46th save. The save also marked a franchise record for the Mariners, despited his 2.70 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. In his most recent appearance before Thursday on Sept. 13, allowing the winning run after walking four batters. Although he is firmly entrenched as the Mariners' closer, he does struggle through innings (as his WHIP would suggest) but he manages to finish them off.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – September 20, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
A. AvilaCDET @ KC
1:05PM
J. Shields309326314.300.364.533.897
M. Cabrera3BDET @ KC
1:05PM
J. Shields52191028510.365.421.6351.056
J. MartinezOFDET @ KC
1:05PM
J. Shields15521216.333.375.600.975
A. GordonOFKC vs DET
1:05PM
M. Scherzer361473596.389.511.7501.261
O. Infante2BKC vs DET
1:05PM
M. Scherzer10400303.400.400.400.800
S. PerezCKC vs DET
1:05PM
M. Scherzer26942513.346.370.6541.024
J. WillinghamOFKC vs DET
1:05PM
M. Scherzer22632349.273.385.591.976
J. Donaldson3BOAK vs PHI
4:05PM
J. Williams20730113.350.381.500.881
C. GentryOFOAK vs PHI
4:05PM
J. Williams12510215.417.462.5831.045
J. LowrieSSOAK vs PHI
4:05PM
J. Williams13531310.385.429.7691.198
B. Moss1BOAK vs PHI
4:05PM
J. Williams15622734.400.500.8001.300
J. ReddickOFOAK vs PHI
4:05PM
J. Williams14631122.429.500.7861.286
E. SogardSSOAK vs PHI
4:05PM
J. Williams12821300.667.6671.0001.667
J. BautistaOFTOR @ NYY
4:05PM
C. Capuano22853556.364.500.8641.364
J. Rutledge2BCOL vs ARI
4:10PM
T. Cahill17620022.353.421.471.892
S. Gennett2BMIL @ PIT
7:05PM
E. Volquez10511112.500.545.8001.345
C. GomezOFMIL @ PIT
7:05PM
E. Volquez28933306.321.321.643.964
R. Weeks2BMIL @ PIT
7:05PM
E. Volquez19732342.368.500.7371.237
C. BarmesSSPIT vs MIL
7:05PM
M. Garza15422613.267.313.667.979
A. McCutchenOFPIT vs MIL
7:05PM
M. Garza12311120.250.357.500.857
G. Sanchez1BPIT vs MIL
7:05PM
M. Garza11410122.364.462.455.916
J. TabataOFPIT vs MIL
7:05PM
M. Garza18810212.444.474.5561.029
E. Bonifacio2BATL vs NYM
7:10PM
J. Niese11510101.455.455.6361.091
J. HeywardOFATL vs NYM
7:10PM
J. Niese28942827.321.387.607.994
G. LairdCATL vs NYM
7:10PM
J. Niese10520211.500.545.7001.245
J. UptonOFATL vs NYM
7:10PM
J. Niese20910232.450.522.5001.022
D. FowlerOFHOU vs SEA
7:10PM
C. Young10400133.400.538.400.938
C. Hart1BSEA @ HOU
7:10PM
D. Keuchel12322412.250.308.7501.058
S. Romero3BSEA @ HOU
7:10PM
D. Keuchel10320000.300.300.600.900
M. Adams1BSTL vs CIN
7:15PM
M. Leake18851302.444.444.8331.278
M. HollidayOFSTL vs CIN
7:15PM
M. Leake331341732.394.444.5761.020
B. PoseyCSF @ SD
8:40PM
A. Cashner12522310.417.462.9171.378
B. BoeschOFLAA vs TEX
9:05PM
C. Lewis23533618.217.240.609.849
K. CalhounOFLAA vs TEX
9:05PM
C. Lewis10641401.600.6001.3001.900
H. Kendrick2BLAA vs TEX
9:05PM
C. Lewis30932417.300.333.533.867
A. Pujols1BLAA vs TEX
9:05PM
C. Lewis12521311.417.400.7501.150
M. TroutOFLAA vs TEX
9:05PM
C. Lewis18521516.278.316.556.871
Hot Pitcher Matchups – September 20, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Chris TillmanBAL vs BOS
7:05PM
129238131839.178.279.261.540
Dallas KeuchelHOU vs SEA
7:10PM
10824727525.222.263.332.595
Michael WachaSTL vs CIN
7:15PM
7413613419.176.226.304.530
Cold Batter Matchups – September 20, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
R. DavisOFDET @ KC
1:05PM
J. Shields18210003.111.111.222.333
D. KellyOFDET @ KC
1:05PM
J. Shields11200001.182.182.182.364
L. CainOFKC vs DET
1:05PM
M. Scherzer15000007.000.063.000.063
J. DysonOFKC vs DET
1:05PM
M. Scherzer16200004.125.125.125.250
M. Moustakas3BKC vs DET
1:05PM
M. Scherzer315213010.161.161.290.452
J. Nix3BKC vs DET
1:05PM
M. Scherzer12000009.000.000.000.000
C. CrispOFOAK vs PHI
4:05PM
J. Williams21400121.190.250.190.440
E. Encarnacion1BTOR @ NYY
4:05PM
C. Capuano23332316.130.167.435.601
M. CuddyerOFCOL vs ARI
4:10PM
T. Cahill22421214.182.217.364.581
X. BogaertsSSBOS @ BAL
7:05PM
C. Tillman11211122.182.308.455.762
W. Middlebrooks3BBOS @ BAL
7:05PM
C. Tillman18000004.000.000.000.000
D. OrtizDHBOS @ BAL
7:05PM
C. Tillman24200056.083.241.083.325
G. ParraOFMIL @ PIT
7:05PM
E. Volquez18310213.167.211.222.433
M. Reynolds1BMIL @ PIT
7:05PM
E. Volquez12100045.083.313.083.396
J. SeguraSSMIL @ PIT
7:05PM
E. Volquez15000000.000.000.000.000
N. Walker2BPIT vs MIL
7:05PM
M. Garza17300247.176.333.176.510
D. Murphy2BNYM @ ATL
7:10PM
M. Minor21331504.143.136.381.517
K. Seager3BSEA @ HOU
7:10PM
D. Keuchel16400004.250.250.250.500
J. BruceOFCIN @ STL
7:15PM
M. Wacha11000007.000.000.000.000
T. Frazier3BCIN @ STL
7:15PM
M. Wacha11100013.091.167.091.258
B. Phillips2BCIN @ STL
7:15PM
M. Wacha12000003.000.000.000.000
D. Descalso2BSTL vs CIN
7:15PM
M. Leake10210101.200.200.300.500
J. PeraltaSSSTL vs CIN
7:15PM
M. Leake11110015.091.167.182.348
H. PenceOFSF @ SD
8:40PM
A. Cashner12100103.083.083.083.167
A. Beltre3BTEX @ LAA
9:05PM
J. Weaver7616515115.211.235.303.537
L. MartinOFTEX @ LAA
9:05PM
J. Weaver13210015.154.214.231.445
Cold Pitcher Matchups – September 20, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Jerome WilliamsPHI @ OAK
4:05PM
15954186201326.340.392.534.926
Jon NieseNYM @ ATL
7:10PM
16354154261531.331.393.470.863
Colby LewisTEX @ LAA
9:05PM
1695322831639.314.345.567.912

Recommended Pickup

David Freese, 3B, LAA - Freese collected a hit in his last start Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to eight games heading into Friday. He is the opposite of "Freesing" in September, hitting .353/.400/.608 for the month with three home runs and 11 RBI in just 51 at-bats. Two of the three home runs have come in the past week, giving him his eighth and ninth of the season. Given his horrid fantasy numbers over the first half of the season, he is still available in many leagues, but is worth a look given how much better he has been over the second half. The only possible quandary that could arise with those looking at picking him up for the final two weeks of the season is how much playing time he will receive now that the Angels have clinched a playoff spot. He was in the lineup Friday, however, and should continue to see a good amount of playing time to keep sharp for the playoffs.

Other Recent Recommendations:Wilmer Flores, Rusney Castillo, A.J. Pollock, and Juan Uribe

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Edinson Volquez, PIT ($8,000)
C: Yan Gomes, CLE ($3,900)
1B: James Loney, TB ($3,800)
2B: Wilmer Flores, NYM ($3,300)
3B: David Freese, LAA ($3,700)
SS: Jhonny Peralta, STL ($3,800)
OF: Evan Gattis, ATL ($3,800)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Chris Benzine plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Crispy272001, DraftKings: Crispy27.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Benzine
Chris is a sports editor for various sports on the site and also a consistent contributor in the college sports arena.
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