The Lineup Card: (Wednesday's Edition) Ramirez Back on the DL

Projected Starters - A look at Wednesday’s matchups:


Rays (James Shields – R) at Orioles (Bradley Bergesen – R), 12:35 ET

Angels (Joel Pineiro – R) at Yankees (Javier Vazquez – R), 1:05 ET

Indians (Jake Westbrook – R) at Twins (Francisco Liriano – L), 1:10 ET

Blue Jays (Mark Rzepczynski – L) at Royals (Zack Greinke – R), 2:10 ET

Astros (Brett Myers – R) at Cubs (Ted Lilly – L), 2:20 ET

Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Athletics (Gio Gonzalez – L), 3:35 ET

Rangers (Colby Lewis – R) at Tigers (Max Scherzer – R), 7:05 ET

Brewers (Randy Wolf – L) at Pirates (Zach Duke – L), 7:05 ET

Rockies (Jason Hammel – R) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R), 7:10 ET

Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R), 7:10 ET

Padres (Jon Garland – R) at Braves (Tommy Hanson – R), 7:10 ET

Phillies (Joe Blanton – R) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – L), 8:15 ET

Mets (Jonathan Niese – L) at Diamondbacks (Dan Haren – R), 9:40 ET

Giants (Barry Zito – L) at Dodgers (Chad Billingsley – R), 10:10 ET

White Sox (Gavin Floyd – R) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R), 10:15 ET


Day Game After Night Game: TAM, BAL, LAA, NYY, CLE, MIN, TOR, KC, HOU, CHC, BOS, OAK



Injuries – A brief look at players that have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns.



Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)

Yunel Escobar, SS, Blue Jays (hand) – Bruised hand Monday, sat Tuesday

Corey Patterson, OF, Orioles (heel) – Still not back Tuesday

Austin Kearns, OF, Indians (knee) – Out of Tuesday’s lineup

Carlos Quentin, OF, White Sox (hand) – Sat for second game in a row

Jon Rauch, P, Twins (ankle) - Technically available Tuesday, but will probably sit

Aaron Laffey, P, Indians (arm) – Says he has a "dead arm"

Michael Brantley, OF, Indians (shoulder) – Shoulder tweaked, missed Tuesday’s game

Shaun Marcum, P, Blue Jays (blister) – Should start Friday

Carl Crawford, OF, Rays (groin) – Took pickoff throw to groin and left game Tuesday

Dan Wheeler, P, Rays (foot) – Took line drive to foot Monday, x-rays negative

Michael Saunders, OF, Mariners (finger) – Not in Tuesday’s lineup

Rob Johnson, C, Mariners (hip) – Not in Tuesday’s lineup

Anthony Lerew, P, Royals (ribs) – Took line drive to ribs Tuesday and left game

Russell Branyan, 1B, Mariners (back) – Taking a few days off

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates (shoulder) – Out of Tuesday’s lineup

Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves (hamstring) – Another day out of lineup on Tuesday

Chris Coghlan, OF, Marlins (back) – Not in Tuesday’s lineup

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies (finger) – Day-to-day, but missed Tuesday’s game

Brad Hawpe, OF, Rockies (ribs) – Did not start but pinch-hit Tuesday

David Eckstein, 2B, Padres (calf) – Left Tuesday’s game



Players on the DL



Mike Lowell, 3B, Red Sox (hip) – Four rehab games beginning Thursday

Clay Buchholz, P, Red Sox (hamstring) – Returning Wednesday

Conor Jackson, OF, Athletics (hamstring) – Ryan Sweeney out for season, but Jackson still not ready to return

Travis Buck, OF, Athletics (leg) – Began rehab Monday

Matt Palmer, P, Angels (shoulder) – A week or two away

Scott Kazmir, P, Angels (shoulder) – Eligible to return next Monday

Sergio Mitre, P, Yankees (oblique) – Had final rehab start, will return Saturday to fill in for Andy Pettitte

Brandon Inge, 3B, Tigers (hand) – Out 4-6 weeks

Dustin Nippert, P, Rangers (head) – Placed on DL after taking scary line drive to head

Kevin Millwood, P, Orioles (forearm) – Will start Thursday

Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles (back) – Could be back next Monday

Andy Pettitte, P, Yankees (groin) – Thinks he will miss three weeks

David Freese, 3B, Cardinals (ankle, toe) – Dropped a weight on toe, but two injuries could heal at same time

Ryan Ludwick, OF, Cardinals (calf) – Started rehab Tuesday

Brian Moehler, P, Astros (groin) – Looking like an early August return

Nate McLouth, OF, Braves (concussion) – Will be activated Wednesday

Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies (back) – Not necessarily being activated Wednesday

Felipe Paulino, P, Astros (shoulder) – Rotator cuff strain, out four weeks

Jordan Zimmermann, P, Nationals (elbow) – Was scratched Monday with stiff neck, but will start Wednesday

Oliver Perez, P, Mets (knee) – Will be activated Wednesday

Manny Ramirez, OF, Dodgers (calf) – Will miss three weeks


Transactions
– Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We’ll cover it here.



Placed on the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)

Sergio Mitre, RP, Yankees

Brandon Inge, 3B, Tigers

Dustin Nippert, P, Rangers

Andy Pettitte, P, Yankees


Activated from the DL

Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, Indians

Dallas Braden, P, Athletics



Called Up

Anthony Slama, P, Twins

Luis Atilano, P, Nationals

Wesley Wright, P, Astros

Casey Fien, P, Tigers

Drew Carpenter, P, Phillies

Jeff Stevens, P, Cubs

Jonathan Albaladejo, P, Yankees



Sent Down

Justin Maxwell, OF, Nationals

Alex Burnett, P, Twins

Kyle Kendrick, P, Phillies

Cory Aldridge, OF, Angels

Mitch Atkins, P, Cubs

Jensen Lewis, P, Indians (designated for assignment)

Chris Tillman, P, Orioles

Gustavo Molina, C, Red Sox

Cedric Bowers, P, Athletics

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left).


COL – Huston Street finally blew a save Monday, allowing a walk-off home run to Donnie Murphy of the Marlins. He has been great so far, so there is no way the Rockies are looking to make a change.


TOR – No sign of a change in Toronto either, even though Kevin Gregg has been less than stellar. Gregg blew a save opportunity for the fourth time and fell to 0-4. You never like to see a closer with a 1.47 WHIP.


Key Matchups
– Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included). *Check Status

Hot

Adam Jones v. James Shields – 9-for-19 (.474), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .474 OBP

Robinson Cano v. Joel Pineiro – 8-for-13 (.615), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .615 OBP

Bobby Abreu v. Javier Vazquez – 24-for-76 (.316), 10 HR, 17 RBI, 9:14 BB:K, .384 OBP

Jim Thome v. Jake Westbrook – 10-for-26 (.385), 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3:6 BB:K, .467 OBP

Lyle Overbay v. Zack Greinke – 7-for-18 (.389), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .421 OBP

Adrian Beltre v. Gio Gonzalez – 5-for-10 (.500), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:0, BB:K, .583 OBP

Ichiro Suzuki v. Gavin Floyd – 9-for-19 (.474), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:1 BB:K, .545 OBP

Jose Lopez v. Gavin Floyd – 7-for-19 (.368), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .400 OBP (4 2B)

Derrek Lee v. Brett Myers – 15-for-32 (.469), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3:5 BB:K, .514 OBP

Ronny Cedeno v. Randy Wolf – 8-for-15 (.533), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .556 OBP

Prince Fielder v. Zach Duke – 10-for-31 (.323), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3:8 BB:K, .417 OBP

Omar Infante v. Jon Garland – 17-for-40 (.425), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .439 OBP

Eric Hinske v. Jon Garland – 14-for-38 (.368), 3 HR, 8 RBI, 0:6 BB:K, .359 OBP

Matt Kemp v. Barry Zito – 16-for-35 (.457), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5:8 BB:K, .525 OBP

Rafael Furcal v. Barry Zito – 11-for-28 (.393), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3:5 BB:K, .452 OBP

Aaron Rowand v. Chad Billingsley – 7-for-20 (.350), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4:5 BB:K, .423 OBP

Joel Pineiro v. Yankees – Pineiro seems like the kind of guy that you would like to bench against the high powered Yankees. That may not be a fair assessment in this situation, as Pineiro holds current Yankees to a line of .249/.312/.411. Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher have had some success in smaller sample sizes, but Alex Rodriguez struggles, as does several other members of the lineups. Pineiro has allowed five home runs in 197 at-bats, which is the real appeal as it is evidence he might be able to tame Yankee Stadium.

Zack Greinke – The Blue Jays don’t hit Greinke very well, with an average of just .208 off him in 106 at-bats. That includes moderate samples with most of the lineup.


Cold

Corey Patterson v. James Shields – 2-for-19 (.105), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2:5 BB:K, .190 OBP

Alex Rodriguez v. Joel Pineiro – 5-for-33 (.152), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:11 BB:K, .200 OBP

Curtis Granderson v. Joel Pineiro – 1-for-14 (.071), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .176 OBP

Delmon Young v. Jake Westbrook – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .133 OBP

Vernon Wells v. Zack Greinke – 4-for-22 (.182), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .182 OBP

Alfonso Soriano v. Brett Myers – 5-for-24 (.208), 3 HR, 3 RBI, 1:11 BB:K, .240 OBP

Lance Berkman v. Ted Lilly – 3-for-26 (.115), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:8 BB:K, .143 OBP

Troy Glaus v. Jon Garland – 4-for-23 (.174), 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3:4 BB:K, .296 OBP – doesn’t hit him that often but 3 HR when he does

Russell Martin v. Barry Zito – 6-for-31 (.194), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:9 BB:K, .286 OBP

Gavin Floyd v. Mariners – Forget the fact that this game will be played at Safeco Field. While the air might keep the ball in the park, it won’t help Floyd retire Mariner hitters. He has a .311 average against and an 18:11 BB:K ratio in 103 at-bats. This team keeps the ball in play against Floyd and it doesn’t appear to bode well for him. Neither does the .534 slugging against.

Brett Myers v. Cubs – If you know anything about Brett Myers, it’s that he loves to give up the longball. He needs to allow 11 home runs by August 17 in order to eclipse the 200 allowed mark by his 30th birthday, so Myers has his work cut out. If he is to reach that mark, he has picked the wrong time to quit giving up home runs after keeping the ball in the park in his last three outings. The Cubs should be able to provide him some momentum with a .318/.344/.578 line and 10 home runs allowed in 154 at-bats. Check out Derrek Lee’s line above.

Chad Billingsley v. Giants – I’ve had a bit of an epiphany when it comes to this column. We frequently give you the BA/OBP/SLG numbers against the current members of the opposing team, but when looking at NL matchups we frequently see the hitting statistics for pitchers included in the numbers. In Billingsley’s case, the Giants have a line of .305/.352/.430 off Billingsley in a total of 128 at-bats with 30 strikeouts. A line like that means that while the Giants hit Billingsley fairly well, they don’t do it with a ton of extra-bases. I won’t compute the numbers myself, but let’s note that the 128 at-bats include eight at-bats and five strikeouts from Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Cain. (I’ll leave Zito’s two at-bats alone since he is the opposing starter.) That would mean the hitters get to Billingsley better than advertised and Billingsley has just 20 strikeouts in 120 at-bats.


Recommended Pickup:


R.A. Dickey, P, Mets – When I saw that Dickey had resurfaced earlier this season with the Mets, I had one of those, “He’s still around?” reactions. I could have sworn it had been years since Dickey had been in the majors even though I found out he had been a reliever for most of the last two years. However, he has dropped his walk rate significantly (20 BB in 72 IP in 2010, 30 BB in 64.1 IP in 2009) and it has allowed him to take a major step forward. He seems to enjoy Citi Field as he has allowed just four home runs in 72 innings.


Other Recent Recommendations: Lorenzo Cain, Yunel Escobar, Chris Perez, Vicente Padilla, Edinson Volquez