MLB Quick Hits: Mariners to skip Felix's Monday start
Felix Hernandez's fantasy owners will be without their ace tonight, as the Mariners are planning to skip his Monday start to keep him fresh for September. Manager Lloyd McClendon said he'll do the same with Taijuan Walker at some point in September. This could happen with other starters - probably Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey, Washington's Joe Ross after 2-3 more starts - so keep a close eye on any of your starters with bright futures.
In other news ...
Nice no-hitter, Jake Arrieta. Even better pajamas.
No no sorry about that !!!! #wearegood and @JArrieta34 is the best in the game pic.twitter.com/DcgPrMcf0R
— miguel montero (@miggymont26) August 31, 2015
The Marlins are targeting a Friday return for OF Giancarlo Stanton (hand).
Lots of Astros news today. SS Carlos Correa (hamstring) has missed four straight games, and thinks he'll play sometime in this week's series versus the Mariners. Max Stassi - who isn't much of a hitter - has been called up to replace the injured Jason Castro (quad), but look for Hank Conger to get plenty of playing time. OF George Springer (wrist) began a rehab assignment over the weekend, and hopes to be activated sometime this week.
Nationals SP Stephen Strasburg left his Sunday start after four innings due to back tightness, but hopes to be ready for his next turn.
Jean Machi has replaced Junichi Tazawa as the Red Sox closer. Machi isn't especially good, but if his manager is going to give him the ball in the ninth inning, who are we to argue? Machi is owned in 1.5 percent of FOXSports.com leagues.
Nationals 3B Yunel Escobar hasn't played since Thursday due to a hand injury, and is still day-to-day.
If you're hunting for a starter, Rangers SP Derek Holland threw a three-hit shutout on Sunday, whiffing 11 Orioles.
It sounds like the Royals will activate OF Alex Gordon (groin) on Tuesday, but he'll play four or five games per week for starters.
Twins OF Aaron Hicks (hamstring) should be ready for activation when eligible on Friday.
Tonight's streaming starter is Cubs SP Kyle Hendricks (owned in 14 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) against the Reds, who have been one of baseball's worst offenses (.290 wOBA) in August.
DFS advice (based on 50/50 games, salaries from DraftKings): If I'm going to pay big starter money, it'll be for Chris Archer ($12,300) against the struggling Orioles ... Depending on how much you'd like to spend for an SP2, you could go with Tyson Ross ($9,700) or Hendricks ($6,700) ... Small-sample BvP alert: Rays 1B/2B Logan Forsythe ($3,600) has three homers in 22 at bats vs. Wei-Yin Chen ... Phillies C Cameron Rupp ($3,100) has four homers in his last 10 games, and faces the homer-plagued Bartolo Colon ... Astros SS/3B Marwin Gonzalez ($2,700) has hit LHP pretty well this season (.342 wOBA), and has averaged 7.9 DK points in his last seven games. If he bats second, he's OK ... The Diamondbacks and Rockies start a series at Coors Field, and neither of Monday's starters (Ray, Bettis) has been pitching well ... Marlins 3B/OF Derek Dietrich ($3,000) has 10 home runs in 202 plate appearances, and will probably bat fourth or fifth versus lefty-challenged Mike Foltynewicz.
This blog will be updated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through the end of baseball's regular season. If you need additional advice, please tweet me at @jhalpin37.
