The Lineup Card: Yes We McCann

Projected Starters - A look at Wednesday's matchups:

White Sox (Freddy Garcia – R) at Indians (Josh Tomlin – R), 12:05 ET
Cardinals (Jeff Suppan – R) at Astros (Nelson Figueroa – R), 2:05 ET
Pirates (James McDonald – R) at Cubs (Tom Gorzelanny – L), 2:20 ET
Phillies (Roy Oswalt – R) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L), 3:10 ET
Padres (Mat Latos – R) at Diamondbacks (Barry Enright – R), 6:10 ET
Red Sox (Jon Lester – L) at Orioles (Jake Arrieta – R), 7:05 ET
Athletics (Brett Anderson – L) at Yankees (A.J. Burnett – R), 7:05 ET
Blue Jays (Shaun Marcum – R) at Rays (David Price – L), 7:10 ET
Mets (Mike Pelfrey – R) at Braves (Tommy Hanson – R), 7:10 ET
Brewers (Chris Narveson – L) at Reds (Johnny Cueto – R), 7:10 ET
Nationals (Scott Olsen – L) at Marlins (Chris Volstad – R), 7:10 ET
Tigers (Max Scherzer – R) at Twins (Francisco Liriano – L), 8:10 ET
Rangers (Tommy Hunter – R) at Royals (Bryan Bullington – R), 8:10 ET
Angels (Trevor Bell – R) at Mariners (Jason Vargas – L), 10:10 ET
Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez – R) at Giants (Tim Lincecum – R), 10:15 ET

Day game after a night game: CHW, CLE, STL, HOU, PIT, CHC, PHI, LAD, SDG, ARI

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Brett Anderson, P, Athletics (knee) – Had bullpen session and is on target to start Wednesday.
Gordon Beckham, 3B, White Sox (hand) – X-rays were negative, he is day-to-day but didn't start Tuesday.
Jim Thome, DH, Twins (back) – Didn't start Tuesday.
Jeremy Bonderman, P, Tigers (ribs) – May not be ready for Friday's start.
Lyle Overbay, 1B, Blue Jays (illness) – Hoping to return to lineup Wednesday.
Gerald Laird, C, Tigers (back) – Not in Tuesday's lineup.
Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers (knee) – Got injection, won't play Wednesday.
Yunel Escobar, SS, Blue Jays (back) – Out of lineup until at least Friday.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds (wrist) – Likely out Wednesday, check for his return Friday against Cardinals.
Arthur Rhodes, P, Reds (foot) – Was available Monday.
Miguel Cairo, 2B, Reds (hamstring) – Was available to pinch-hit Monday.
Justin Upton, OF, Diamondbacks (shoulder) – Check lineup daily for his return, says he won't be out long.
Evan Meek, P, Pirates (hand) – Hoping to resume baseball activities Friday.
Adam LaRoche, 1B, Diamondbacks (knee) – Out of Tuesday's lineup, should start Wednesday.
Dan Uggla, 2B, Marlins (groin) – Missed Tuesday's start for second game in a row.
Derek Lowe, P, Braves (elbow) – Has had elbow discomfort for six weeks, still expected for Friday start.
Geovany Soto, C, Cubs (knee) – Got another day off to rest knee Tuesday.
Jay Bruce, OF, Reds (abdomen) – Soreness in side, late scratch Tuesday.
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies (groin) – Out of Tuesday's lineup but should be ready for Wednesday start.
Angel Pagan, OF, Mets (wrist) – Doubtful for Wednesday start.
Ryan Theriot, SS, Dodgers (knee) – Scratched Tuesday.
Yorvit Torrealba, C, Padres (back) – Back is tight, scratched Tuesday.

Players on the DL
Matt Thornton, P, White Sox (forearm) – Could be back for weekend series.
Joel Pineiro, P, Angels (oblique) – Expected back at the end of next week.
Maicer Izturis, SS, Angels (shoulder) – Nowhere near return.
Gil Meche, P, Royals (shoulder) – Expected to return Wednesday, join bullpen.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees (calf) – Rehab won't be necessary, should return Sunday.
Josh Fields, 3B, Royals (hip) – Rehab going very well, could be given a shot in September.
Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins (concussion) – Not doing anything with team until at least Friday.
Andy Pettitte, P, Yankees (groin) – Will throw Wednesday, eying mid-Sept. return.
Grant Balfour, P, Rays (ribs) – Looks like he will be back later this week.
Aaron Cook, P, Rockies (toe) – Start pushed back to Friday, Jhoulys Chacin will start Thursday.
Vicente Padilla, P, Dodgers (neck) – Three scoreless in rehab, should be back next week.
Rafael Furcal, SS, Dodgers (back) – Will start rehab in a couple days.
Chris Young, P, Padres (shoulder) – Was set for Tuesday rehab.
Matt Lindstrom, P, Astros (back) – Should be activated Wednesday.
Jeff Keppinger, 3B, Astros (toe) – Should be activated Wednesday.
Troy Glaus, 3B, Braves (knee) – Set to be activated before Thursday's game.
Orlando Cabrera, SS, Reds (oblique) – Expected to be activated for Cardinals series Friday.
Laynce Nix, OF, Reds (ankle) – Placed on DL Tuesday but could be back after minimum time spent.
Jeff Clement, C, Pirates (knee) – Will begin rehab Wednesday.
Jeff Francis, P, Rockies (shoulder) – Rehab start this weekend, expected to be activated next week.

Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.

Called Up
Aroldis Chapman, P, Reds

Sent Down
Carlos Torres, P, White Sox
Edinson Volquez, P, Reds

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Laynce Nix, OF, Reds

Activated from DL
Aaron Harang, P, Reds

Traded
Manny Delcarmen, P, Red Sox to Rockies

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

CHW – Bobby Jenks had been solid when healthy in the month of August, but he choked on three runs allowed in 1.1 innings to blow the save opportunity Monday against the Indians.

LAA – Fernando Rodney allowed a run but earned his first save since the trade of Brian Fuentes on Monday.

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
Geoff Blum v. Jeff Suppan – 15-for-28 (.536), 2 HR, 9 RBI, 3:4 BB:K, .581 OBP
Hunter Pence v. Jeff Suppan – 5-for-15 (.333), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4:1 BB:K, .474 OBP
Pedro Feliz v. Nelson Figueroa – 5-for-9 (.556), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .556 OBP
Brian McCann v. Mike Pelfrey – 18-for-37 (.486), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5:3 BB:K, .548 OBP
Martin Prado v. Mike Pelfrey – 7-for-16 (.438), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3:2 BB:K, .536 OBP
Corey Hart v. Johnny Cueto – 6-for-16 (.375), 3 HR, 3 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .444 OBP
Prince Fielder v. Johnny Cueto – 6-for-17 (.353), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .389 OBP
Adam Dunn v. Chris Volstad – 8-for-16 (.500), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 7:2 BB:K, .652 OBP
Ryan Zimmerman v. Chris Volstad – 11-for-18 (.611), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .611 OBP
Todd Helton v. Tim Lincecum – 10-for-22 (.455), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6:2 BB:K, .571 OBP
Chris Iannetta v. Tim Lincecum – 6-for-12 (.500), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 8:3 BB:K, .727 OBP
Travis Hafner v. Freddy Garcia – 15-for-31 (.484), 4 HR, 7 RBI, 3:4 BB:K, .529 OBP
Ty Wigginton v. Jon Lester – 7-for-18 (.389), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4:2 BB:K, .522 OBP
Derek Jeter v. Brett Anderson – 5-for-10 (.500), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .500 OBP

Shaun Marcum v. Rays – This matchup is on the low end of sample sizes that we prefer to see, but Marcum should get some credit for how he has handled the Rays. The Rays really struggle to slug Marcum with a line that sits at .240/.295/.313. He has not allowed a home run in 96 at-bats and his K:BB rate sits at 24:7, so the peripherals show that there is a chance Marcum can sustain this success even if it is against one of the best teams in the league.

Cold
Michael Bourn v. Jeff Suppan – 1-for-12 (.083), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .154 OBP
Ronny Cedeno v. Tom Gorzelanny – 4-for-18 (.222), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:9 BB:K, .300 OBP
Chris Snyder v. Tom Gorzelanny – 0-for-9 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .000 OBP
Ryan Braun v. Johnny Cueto – 3-for-17 (.176), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .222 OBP
Carlos Gonzalez v. Tim Lincecum – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:8 BB:K, .200 OBP
Nick Markakis v. Jon Lester – 9-for-44 (.205), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:11 BB:K, .222 OBP
Coco Crisp v. A.J. Burnett – 2-for-16 (.125), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .176 OBP
Jack Cust v. A.J. Burnett – 2-for-16 (.125), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:8 BB:K, .222 OBP
Brandon Inge v. Francisco Liriano – 4-for-27 (.148), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:13 BB:K, .179 OBP

Mike Pelfrey v. Braves – There are red flags all over Pelfrey's history with the Braves. Atlanta's Brian McCann is the only player with a lengthy history against Pelfrey, but he has owned the matchup by hitting .486/.548/.865 in 37 at-bats. Meanwhile, Martin Prado is 7-for-16, including five extra-base hits. Each player has an OPS over 1.400 against Pelfrey. As for the rest of the Braves, the team as a whole hits him at a .351/.424/.545 clip. Pelfrey has a 15:17 BB:K ratio in 134 at-bats.

Recommended Pickup

Brian Matusz, P, Orioles – It has been a disappointing season for Matusz to say the least. This was supposed to be the season Matusz would morph into a budding ace. Instead, he sucked it up right through the month of July, compiling an ERA at nearly 5.50 and a WHIP close to 1.50. But what he has done over the last month is nothing short of an incredible turnaround: a 2.32 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in August. It looks like Matusz is in the process of turning the corner and there is still a chance he can be of service this year.

Other recent recommendations:Melvin Mora, Brandon Lyon, Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara, Ryan Raburn