Saturday’s full MLB schedule starts at 1:05 p.m. ET with the Rays-Yankees. There are five more afternoon games, including two more that start during the 1 o’clock hour, so be ready to set your lineups early. Good luck in all your daily fantasy baseball contests!
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Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Rankings
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Saves Sleepers
A non-save situation turned disastrous for Jean Machi on Friday. With the Red Sox leading 7-2 heading into the ninth, Machi got the call and, after getting two quick outs, gave up a single, homer, single and double. He was lifted before he could finish the inning, allowing Robbie Ross Jr. to pick up a one-out save. That’s the second straight shaky appearance for Machi, which is about all it took for Junichi Tazawa to lose his spot as Boston’s closer just last week. Tazawa, who struck out the side in the eighth inning on Friday, could get Boston’s next save chance, and it’s also possible that the Red Sox turn to a full-fledged closer-by-committee, with a lefty like Ross picking up more cheap saves.
Drew Pomeranz struggled for the second time in his past three appearances on Friday, allowing two hits, including a two-run homer. Pomeranz started the top of the ninth with the A’s down by a run – a spot where a team often uses its closer – but he only made things worse. Sean Doolittle threw his second straight perfect inning (the sixth), striking out two in the process. Doolittle hasn’t proven that he’s “back,” but at this point in the season it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get Oakland’s next save opportunity.
Weather Watch
No game has more than a 19-percent chance of rain on Saturday, so don’t expect any delays.
