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FanDuel: SB Nation One Day Fantasy Leagues
Many of you play in season-long leagues, while more and more of you are playing one day fantasy leagues. If you like the action of the one day leagues, make sure you join the FanDuel/SB Nation one day fantasy baseball leagues. All you need to do is click on the link below and join a league.
FanDuel/SB Nation One Day Fantasy League
- Leagues start at 7pm every evening
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- Top prize of $10,000
- Click the link above to learn more and get started
- On most days, our own Tim Finnegan (@TimFinn521 on Twitter) offers his picks for your daily FanDuel rosters. His articles post at 6am daily.
Miguel Cabrera leaves game with left calf strain, DL bound?
One of baseball's biggest superstars, Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, left Friday's game in the fourth inning with a left calf strain after running to second base and pulling up lame. Miggy needed help getting off the field by the training staff, sporting an obvious limp, and he's set to undergo an MRI.
Manager Brad Ausmus already said he doesn't expect Miggy to avoid the disabled list, which is a big blow to the Tigers in the American League Central, as well as to fantasy owners making a playoff push. Cabrera is having another fantastic season, batting .350/.456/.578 with 15 home runs, 43 runs and 54 RBI. At this point, it certainly looks like Cabrera will hit the disabled list. The only question now is, "How long?"
Victor Martinez would be the obvious fill-in for Miggy at first base, but he hasn't played the field this season after undergoing knee surgery. The Tigers could also mix and match until Miggy is healthy, if he's only going to require a brief DL stint. Keep an eye on this one, as it the severity of the injury has huge fantasy implications for the second half of the baseball season.
Jeff Samardzija: Shark on the move?
Jeff Samardzija is just one of many offseason acquisitions by the White Sox that hasn't gone according to plan. The right-hander reportedly turned down a contract extension to stay with the Cubs last year and bet on himself before the North Siders shipped the Shark and Jason Hammel to Oakland for Addison Russell and Billy McKinney. Now on the White Sox, Samardzija, 30, has gone 5-4 with a 4.56 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 88/20 K/BB ratio in 108 2/3 innings, and it's becoming increasingly likely that Chicago will look to trade their right-handed pitcher who is set to become a free agent after 2015.
Although Samardzija posted an ugly 5.75 ERA in June, he's still going to be a popular trade target, capable of producing as a No. 3 SP for a contender. I'm not convinced the White Sox are going to get all they want for Samardzija, but there's little reason to hold on to the pitcher at this point, as Chicago is not contending and there are many teams - as always - looking to upgrade their starting rotation for a postseason run. Samardzija has been connected to the Astros and Blue Jays, and - to a lesser degree - the Cubs. While the Cubs fan in me would welcome Samardzija back with open arms, I'm not sure the Cubs are a legit destination.
Samardzija still offers plenty of value with a 4.40 K/BB ratio, and he certainly appears to have been unlucky this year with a .329 BABIP, as he owns a 3.65 FIP and 3.83 xFIP. I believe Samardzija's fantasy value has nowhere to go up if he's traded to a playoff contender, but, in the best-case scenario, I would like to see him get out of the American League. The buyers and sellers market should start to clear up in the coming weeks, and I wouldn't bet against Samardzija reestablishing himself as a top-50 pitcher on a new team. He's not going to give you front-line potential, but he is a cheap option capable of turning his season around if you're hurting right now. If/when he does get traded, a buy-low opportunity might no longer present itself.
Roto Roundup
Marlins first baseman Justin Bour went deep for the fourth straight game on Friday, providing the go-ahead run for the Marlins in a 2-1 win over the Cubs. Bour has driven in eight and scored four runs in the last four games, connecting for four home runs in his last nine games and bringing his season total to ten home runs with 21 RBI. Bour has stepped up since Miami lost their superstar, Giancarlo Stanton, but we're likely looking at a lucky stretch from the 27-year-old rook. I don't doubt Bour's power, but I do doubt his ability to provide consistent production for an offensively challenged Marlins team. By all means, ride the hot streak, but be prepared to move on just as quickly.
In lesser news, the Cubs announced the acquisition of Clayton Richard from the Pirates for cash considerations after Friday's loss. Richard went 4-2 with a 2.09 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in nine starts for Pittsburgh in Triple-A Indianapolis, and he'll draw the Fourth of July start against the Marlins in a matchup against Jarred Cosart. In a corresponding move, the Cubs reassigned Don Roach to Triple-A Iowa. Richard had some success as a member of the Padres from 2010-2013, winning 14 games twice, but he's not someone you should trust right away even in a juicy matchup against Miami. Richards struck out just 25 batters in 56 minor-league innings in Pittsburgh, and the Cubs aren't looking at him as a long-term solution.
Good news if you're a Sonny Gray owner. There was talk that the Athletics ace could end up on the disabled list, but he's starting to feel better, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Gray missed a start with salmonella poisoning, but now he's looking to rejoin the team early next week. Gray owns a 2.09 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 97/26 K/BB ratio in 107 2/3 innings. Bob Melvin said he'd like to get Gray back on Tuesday, enabling the starter to get two starts before the All-Star break.
Patrick Corbin (elbow) will make his 2015 debut today against the Rockies after his rehab was cut short. Corbin, 25, was expected to make one more start in Triple-A but the Diamondbacks higher-ups changed their minds and he'll instead start on the Fourth. Corbin made three starts in Double-A Mobile with a 2.76 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and an 11/5 K/BB ratio in 16 1/3 innings. Like any pitcher coming off Tommy John, it's advisable to proceed with caution. That applies to Corbin, who hasn't pitched on the big-league stage since 2013. That being said, he's still someone to stash, wait and see, as he does offer some value in deeper leagues.
With the Padres struggling to score runs, Yonder Alonso was moved to the leadoff spot Friday against the Cardinals. After starting the year on fire, San Diego has struggled to consistently put up runs. Offseason acquisitions' Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Derek Norris are all struggling, but the 28-year-old Alonso has been a pleasant surprise for the Padres. Alonso went 1 for 4 Friday, and he's now hitting .308/.396/.399 with two home runs, 22 runs and 20 RBI. I get what the Padres are doing, putting one of their best on-base guys at the top of the order, but I'm not sure it's the answer. Alonso has shown very little power, and I'm not sure this move will stick and provide any kind of valuable boost to his fantasy value.
The Rangers made a surprise move by designating Neftali Feliz for assignment. Some thought Feliz might even get a chance at some save opportunities down the line this year if he proved his worth. It's possible the Rangers hold onto Feliz and option him to the minor leagues, but at this point I think a trade is certainly a possibility for both parties. There should be interest in the 27-year-old despite his shaky season.
John Axford is back with the Rockies, but I wouldn't run to the waiver wire just yet. Axford has 13 saves, but the veteran relief pitcher has allowed five runs in his last four appearances. He continues to struggle with command, and Boone Logan and/or LaTroy Hawkins could still receive save opportunities. This is a closer situation I'm avoiding.
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