The Lineup Card: De Aza Still Widely Available

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Projected Starters- A look at Friday's matchups (all times Eastern): 

Astros (Wandy Rodriguez - L) at Cubs (Matt Garza - R), 2:20
Angels (Dan Haren - R) at Orioles (Tommy Hunter - R), 7:05
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L) at Phillies (Vance Worley - R), 7:05
Marlins (Javier Vazquez - R) at Nationals (John Lannan - L), 7:05
Yankees (CC Sabathia - L) at Blue Jays (Brett Cecil - L), 7:07
Rays (James Shields - R) at Red Sox (Josh Beckett - R), 7:10
Brewers (Randy Wolf - L) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R), 7:10
Mets (Chris Capuano - L) at Braves (Derek Lowe - R), 7:35
Indians (Ubaldo Jimenez - R) at Twins (Kevin Slowey - R), 8:10
White Sox (Phil Humber - R) at Royals (Felipe Paulino - R), 8:10
Giants (Madison Bumgarner - L) at Rockies (Alex White - R), 8:10
Tigers (Doug Fister - R) at Athletics (Trevor Cahill - R), 10:05
Diamondbacks (Wade Miley - L) at Padres (Tim Stauffer - R), 10:05
Rangers (C.J. Wilson - L) at Mariners (Blake Beavan - R), 10:10
Pirates (Jeff Locke - L) at Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 10:10
 
Day Game After a Night Game: CHC

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)

Joakim Soria, RP, KC (hamstring) - Unavailable Wednesday and, with nothing to play for, will probably take it slow
Nelson Cruz, OF, TEX (hamstring) - Activated from DL and struck out as pinch-hitter; no timetable for return to lineup
Ryan Sweeney, OF, OAK (quad) - Could be shut down for the remainder of the year
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY (thumb) - Will play Friday
Robinson Cano, 2B, NYY (foot) - X-rays negative; may not miss any time
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, CLE (abdomen) - Expected back in Thursday's lineup
Mike Stanton, OF, FLA (hamstring) - Hoping to play in Game 2 of Thursday doubleheader
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI (concussion) - Expected to play at least one game in Thursday doubleheader after missing last seven
Charlie Morton, SP, PIT (arm) - Seemed to have no trouble in Wednesday start
Mark Ellis, 2B, COL (head) - Had a big game Wednesday, so seems okay
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL (back) - Homered Wednesday, so he seems to be over it
Johnny Cueto, SP, CIN (back) - Reds hopeful he'll pitch again this year
Matt Holliday, OF, STL (hand) - Shut down through Tuesday at least
 
Players on the DL

Pedro Feliciano, RP, NYY (shoulder) - Had rotator cuff surgery, which may keep him out for 2012 and could even end his career
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS (finger) - Played catch Wednesday; hopes to swing soon
Zack Cozart, SS, CIN (elbow, ankle) - Having surgery to clean out ankle; still back by ST
Corey Brown, OF, WAS (knee) - Out for the year with staph infection
Scott Rolen, 3B, CIN (shoulder) - Probably out for the year

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

Activated from DL
Shin-Soo Choo - Unfortunately Choo aggravated his oblique and is now out for the season, concluding a very frustrating season.

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

White Sox - Chris Sale originally got the call for the ninth Wednesday against Detroit after pitching a scoreless eighth, but he was chased after recording just one out and giving up a homer and a walk. So on came Sergio Santos, but he, too, gave up a homer, this one a two-run shot to tie the game, giving him his sixth blown save. Santos would go on to surrender the winning run in the top of the tenth and take the loss. Sale may be headed to the rotation next year, but hotshot relief prospect Addison Reed is up now and has looked mighty good. Ultimately, Reed is going to become the guy, but probably not until next year.
 
Dodgers - Kenley Jansen picked up his fourth save of the season and second in the month of September against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. He struck out the side, but did allow two hits and a run. In between Jansen's saves on Sept. 1 and 14, Javy Guerra saved five games, so it's likely that Don Mattingly was just giving Guerra a day off after a two-inning outing the night before.
 
Giants - Santiago Casilla notched his third save Wednesday, his first since August 26. The Giants' closing situation remains quite fluid with Brian Wilson out, but there haven't been a whole lot of opportunities. Casilla, Ramon Ramirez and maybe Jeremy Affeldt will keep piecing this situation together until Wilson returns - which he may not this year.
 
Royals - Greg Holland notched a save of the tying-run-on-deck variety Wednesday, his third of the year. Joakim Soria had a hamstring injury and wasn't available; no controversy here, but Holland could see save chances in the short term.

KEY MATCHUPS: HOT
Hot Batter Matchups			At-Bats	AVG	HR	XBH	RBI	BB	K	SLG	OBP	OPS
Jeff Baker - 2B	CHC vs HOU 9/16 2:20 PM	Wandy Rodriguez	7-14	.500	0	4	3	1	2	.786	.533	1.319
Geovany Soto - C	CHC vs HOU 9/16 2:20 PM	Wandy Rodriguez	7-16	.438	1	1	2	4	3	.625	.571	1.196
Vladimir Guerrero - DH	BAL vs LAA 9/16 7:05 PM	Dan Haren	12-34	.353	3	5	10	2	0	.676	.368	1.044
Omar Infante - 2B	FLA @ WAS 9/16 7:05 PM	John Lannan	5-11	.455	0	1	0	0	1	.545	.455	1.000
Torii Hunter - OF	LAA @ BAL 9/16 7:05 PM	Tommy Hunter	3-12	.250	2	2	3	0	3	.750	.250	1.000
Alex Cora - SS	WAS vs FLA 9/16 7:05 PM	Javier Vazquez	8-16	.500	0	1	1	2	0	.563	.556	1.119
Ivan Rodriguez - C	WAS vs FLA 9/16 7:05 PM	Javier Vazquez	13-29	.448	1	6	5	0	7	.759	.448	1.207
Robinson Cano - 2B	NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM	Brett Cecil	6-19	.316	1	2	3	1	4	.526	.364	.890
Alex Rodriguez - 3B	NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM	Brett Cecil	4-14	.286	1	2	3	2	2	.571	.333	.904
Mark Teixeira - 1B	NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM	Brett Cecil	5-18	.278	1	4	1	7	4	.611	.480	1.091
David Ortiz - DH	BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM	James Shields	12-33	.364	3	10	11	6	6	.848	.462	1.310
Dustin Pedroia - 2B	BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM	James Shields	13-30	.433	2	4	4	1	1	.700	.469	1.169
Jay Bruce - OF	CIN vs MIL 9/16 7:10 PM	Randy Wolf	8-18	.444	2	3	2	2	5	.833	.500	1.333
Paul Janish - SS	CIN vs MIL 9/16 7:10 PM	Randy Wolf	5-13	.385	0	3	1	2	1	.615	.467	1.082
Brandon Phillips - 2B	CIN vs MIL 9/16 7:10 PM	Randy Wolf	6-19	.316	2	3	5	0	4	.684	.316	1.000
Joey Votto - 1B	CIN vs MIL 9/16 7:10 PM	Randy Wolf	7-21	.333	0	3	2	4	3	.476	.440	.916
Yuniesky Betancourt - SS	MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM	Bronson Arroyo	4-12	.333	1	3	3	0	2	.750	.333	1.083
Craig Counsell - SS	MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM	Bronson Arroyo	12-30	.400	0	0	3	5	2	.400	.486	.886
Prince Fielder - 1B	MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM	Bronson Arroyo	9-40	.225	3	5	7	6	3	.500	.340	.840
Mark Kotsay - OF	MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM	Bronson Arroyo	6-21	.286	2	3	6	2	1	.667	.348	1.015
Johnny Damon - OF	TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM	Josh Beckett	14-48	.292	2	7	9	3	9	.521	.333	.854
Casey Kotchman - 1B	TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM	Josh Beckett	6-16	.375	1	1	2	0	3	.563	.375	.938
Evan Longoria - 3B	TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM	Josh Beckett	9-29	.310	1	4	5	1	7	.517	.333	.850
Matt Diaz - OF	ATL vs NYM 9/16 7:35 PM	Chris Capuano	4-10	.400	0	0	1	0	0	.400	.400	.800
Jack Wilson - SS	ATL vs NYM 9/16 7:35 PM	Chris Capuano	10-27	.370	1	2	1	1	1	.519	.393	.912
Josh Thole - C	NYM @ ATL 9/16 7:35 PM	Derek Lowe	5-11	.455	0	0	3	0	0	.455	.455	.910
Travis Hafner - DH	CLE @ MIN 9/16 8:10 PM	Kevin Slowey	7-22	.318	2	4	3	0	6	.682	.318	1.000
Dexter Fowler - OF	COL vs SF 9/16 8:10 PM	Madison Bumgarner	4-10	.400	0	1	0	0	0	.600	.400	1.000
Carlos Gonzalez - OF	COL vs SF 9/16 8:10 PM	Madison Bumgarner	4-11	.364	2	3	4	2	1	1.000	.462	1.462
Todd Helton - 1B	COL vs SF 9/16 8:10 PM	Madison Bumgarner	4-10	.400	0	0	2	0	2	.400	.400	.800
Hideki Matsui - DH	OAK vs DET 9/16 10:05 PM	Doug Fister	5-12	.417	1	2	2	2	2	.750	.500	1.250
Justin Smoak - 1B	SEA vs TEX 9/16 10:10 PM	C.J. Wilson	3-10	.300	1	1	3	0	2	.600	.300	.900
Hot Pitcher Matchups			At-Bats	Opp AVG	HR Allow	XBH Allow	RBI Allow	BB	K	Opp SLG	Opp OBP	Opp OPS
CC Sabathia	NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM	Blue Jays Batters	19-99	.192	0	6	6	3	32	.261	.213	.475
Derek Lowe	ATL vs NYM 9/16 7:35 PM	Mets Batters	31-138	.225	1	8	18	11	15	.295	.282	.577
Kevin Slowey	MIN vs CLE 9/16 8:10 PM	Indians Batters	28-114	.246	3	11	11	4	36	.395	.271	.667
Trevor Cahill	OAK vs DET 9/16 10:05 PM	Tigers Batters	17-76	.224	1	4	10	6	13	.355	.276	.631

 

KEY MATCHUPS: COLD
Cold Batter Matchups			At-Bats	AVG	HR	XBH	RBI	BB	K	SLG	OBP	OPS
Marlon Byrd - OF	CHC vs HOU 9/16 2:20 PM	Wandy Rodriguez	5-25	.200	1	3	5	1	2	.400	.231	.631
Alfonso Soriano - OF	CHC vs HOU 9/16 2:20 PM	Wandy Rodriguez	3-29	.103	1	1	4	3	9	.207	.188	.395
Maicer Izturis - 3B	LAA @ BAL 9/16 7:05 PM	Tommy Hunter	2-11	.182	0	0	2	1	0	.182	.250	.432
Jayson Werth - OF	WAS vs FLA 9/16 7:05 PM	Javier Vazquez	2-22	.091	0	0	0	2	8	.091	.200	.291
Curtis Granderson - OF	NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM	Brett Cecil	2-14	.143	0	1	1	1	2	.286	.200	.486
Jose Bautista - 3B	TOR vs NYY 9/16 7:07 PM	CC Sabathia	0-11	.000	0	0	0	1	6	.000	.083	.083
Yunel Escobar - SS	TOR vs NYY 9/16 7:07 PM	CC Sabathia	2-12	.167	0	1	2	1	2	.250	.231	.481
Jacoby Ellsbury - OF	BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM	James Shields	4-24	.167	0	0	0	1	4	.167	.200	.367
Jason Varitek - C	BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM	James Shields	5-27	.185	1	1	5	1	9	.296	.214	.510
Kevin Youkilis - 1B	BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM	James Shields	3-31	.097	0	1	0	3	9	.129	.200	.329
Rickie Weeks - 2B	MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM	Bronson Arroyo	6-33	.182	2	5	4	3	13	.455	.250	.705
B.J. Upton - OF	TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM	Josh Beckett	6-22	.273	0	3	1	1	7	.409	.304	.713
Ben Zobrist - 2B	TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM	Josh Beckett	1-10	.100	0	0	1	1	4	.100	.182	.282
Dan Uggla - 2B	ATL vs NYM 9/16 7:35 PM	Chris Capuano	2-11	.182	0	1	1	3	7	.273	.357	.630
Jason Bay - OF	NYM @ ATL 9/16 7:35 PM	Derek Lowe	0-15	.000	0	0	1	3	4	.000	.167	.167
Jose Reyes - SS	NYM @ ATL 9/16 7:35 PM	Derek Lowe	3-16	.188	0	1	3	2	0	.250	.278	.528
Luis Valbuena - 2B	CLE @ MIN 9/16 8:10 PM	Kevin Slowey	2-10	.200	0	1	2	0	4	.300	.200	.500
Miguel Cabrera - 1B	DET @ OAK 9/16 10:05 PM	Trevor Cahill	1-10	.100	0	0	1	1	2	.100	.182	.282
David DeJesus - OF	OAK vs DET 9/16 10:05 PM	Doug Fister	2-12	.167	0	0	0	0	1	.167	.167	.334
Cliff Pennington - SS	OAK vs DET 9/16 10:05 PM	Doug Fister	1-17	.059	0	1	0	1	3	.118	.111	.229
Ryan Ludwick - OF	PIT @ LAD 9/16 10:10 PM	Hiroki Kuroda	2-10	.200	0	0	1	1	3	.200	.273	.473
Michael Saunders - OF	SEA vs TEX 9/16 10:10 PM	C.J. Wilson	2-12	.167	0	0	1	3	4	.167	.333	.500
Cold Pitcher Matchups			At-Bats	Opp AVG	HR Allow	XBH Allow	RBI Allow	BB	K	Opp SLG	Opp OBP	Opp OPS
Javier Vazquez	FLA @ Was 9/16 7:05 PM	Nationals Batters	28-92	.304	1	10	9	6	23	.437	.355	.792
Dan Haren	LAA @ Bal 9/16 7:05 PM	Orioles Batters	19-64	.297	4	10	13	4	4	.586	.322	.908
Randy Wolf	MIL @ Cin 9/16 7:10 PM	Reds Batters	44-139	.316	4	16	15	15	26	.486	.383	.869

Recommended Pickup
 
Alejandro De Aza, OF, CWS - There aren't a lot of hot-hitting everyday players still out there in most leagues, but De Aza has been playing every day for a White Sox team desperate for consistency on offense - and he's delivered it. The 27-year-old ex-Marlin has hit .316 with a .922 OPS, four homers and nine steals in 117 at-bats since being called up in late July, and yet he's still widely available. Those results are not much different from what he was doing in Triple-A before he got the call: .322, nine homers, 22 steals. He's a journeyman waiting to happen - or perhaps it has happened already - but that doesn't mean he can't help your fantasy team in this most crucial time of the year. But if you've moved on to football already, just go pick up Cam Newton.

Other recent recommendations: Salvador Perez, Randall Delgado, Jordan Pacheco, Drew Pomeranz, Jim Johnson
 
DraftStreet Lineup

C - Matt Wieters, $7,215
1B - Joey Votto, $7,954
2B - Brandon Phillips, $7,717
3B - Evan Longoria, $8,079
SS - Alexei Ramirez, $5,961
OF - Johnny Damon, $6,962
OF - Martin Prado, $5,530
OF - Andrew McCutchen, $7,173
UTIL - Corey Hart, $6,151
UTIL - Prince Fielder, $7,806
SP - Doug Fister, $12,599
SP - Derek Lowe, $7,186
RP - Craig Kimbrel, $3,534
P - Tim Stauffer, $5,798

Total: $99,665
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