The Sunday Lineup Card: Torres, Rasmus, and Wells

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Projected Starters – A look at Sunday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Yankees (Freddy Garcia – R) at Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow – R), 1:07
Brewers (Zach Greinke – R) at Reds (Dontrelle Willis – L), 1:10
Marlins (Brad Hand – L) at Nationals (Chien-Ming Wang – R), 1:35
Mets (Dillon Gee – R) at Braves (Brandon Beachy – R), 1:35
Angels (Jered Weaver – R) at Orioles (Alfredo Simon – R), 1:35
Rays (David Price – L) at Red Sox (Tim Wakefield – R), 1:35
Indians (Justin Masterson – R) at Twins (Carl Pavano – R), 2:10
White Sox (John Danks – L) at Royals (Bruce Chen – L), 2:10
Astros (Brett Myers – R) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R), 2:20
Giants (Matt Cain – R) at Rockies (Esmil Rogers – R), 3:10
Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders – L) at Padres (Aaron Harang – R), 4:05
Tigers (Justin Verlander – R) at Athletics (Guillermo Moscoso – R), 4:05
Pirates (Brad Lincoln – R) at Dodgers (Chad Billingsley – R), 4:10
Rangers (Matt Harrison – L) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R), 4:10
Cardinals (Chris Carpenter – R) at Phillies (Cole Hamels – L), 8:05

Day game after a night game: FLA, WAS, MIL, CIN, SF, COL, AZ, SD, LAA, BAL, CHW, KC, TEX, PIT, LAD


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

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Adam Jones, OF, BAL – (Thumb) Remains sidelined and is undergoing an MRI on his thumb Saturday.
Jed Lowrie, SS, BOS – (Shoulder) Took batting practice Friday and is nearing a return.
Robinson Cano, 2B, NYY – (Foot) Returned to the lineup Friday.
Carlos Quentin, OF, CHW – (Shoulder) Has not started a game since returning from the DL.
Joakim Soria, RP, KC – (Hamstring) Unlikely to pitch this weekend.
Yunel Escobar, SS, TOR – (Elbow) Remains sidelined with an elbow injury.
Tim Stauffer, SP, SD – (Arm) Left his Friday start with stiffness in his right arm.

Players on the DL
Clay Buchholz, SP, BOS – (Back) Improving in his rehab, but he remains far away from contributing.
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS – (Finger) His body is conspiring against him. He went on the DL with a shoulder issue, broke his finger, and is now having neck problems. One might think he’s a sadist considering his talent for being injured throughout his career.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, SS, MIN – (Oblique) He’s been shut down for the rest of the season.
Jason Kubel, OF, MIN – (Foot) Aggravated his left foot injury Friday and may not play again this season.
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN – (Concussion/Illness) Unlikely to play again this season as his concussion symptoms persist.
James Darnell, 3B, SD – (Shoulder) Dislocated his shoulder Friday and will not play again this season.
Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL – (Shoulder) Will make a rehab start in the Braves’ instructional league this week.
George Sherill, RP, ATL – (Elbow) Status for the postseason is in question.


Transactions – Players who 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)
NA

Activated from DL
NA

Called Up
Joe Savery, RP, PHI
Erik Kratz, C, PHI
Brandon Moss, OF, PHI
Domonic Brown, OF, PHI
Graham Godfrey, SP, OAK
Chris Carter, OF, OAK
Justin De Fratus, RP, PHI

Sent Down
NA

Designated for Assignment
Drew Naylor, RP, PHI
Juan Perez, RP, PHI
Mike Zagurski, RP, PHI


Closer Watch – A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (also check out our Closer Grid)

St. Louis – Jason Motte blew the save Friday, and Fernando Salas picked one up in extra innings. The Cardinals will continue to use Motte, so don’t get confused by the circumstances of Friday night.

KEY MATCHUPS: HOT
Hot Batter Matchups			At-Bats	AVG	HR	XBH	RBI	BB	K	SLG	OBP	OPS
Brett Gardner - OF	NYY @ TOR 9/18 1:07 PM	Brandon Morrow	3-11	.273	1	2	2	2	7	.727	.385	1.112
Jorge Posada - C	NYY @ TOR 9/18 1:07 PM	Brandon Morrow	7-15	.467	0	3	1	4	3	.667	.579	1.246
Mark Teixeira - 1B	NYY @ TOR 9/18 1:07 PM	Brandon Morrow	6-18	.333	1	4	5	2	3	.667	.381	1.048
Jose Molina - C	TOR vs NYY 9/18 1:07 PM	Freddy Garcia	8-20	.400	0	1	1	0	4	.450	.381	.831
Mark Teahen - 3B	TOR vs NYY 9/18 1:07 PM	Freddy Garcia	8-24	.333	1	3	5	2	6	.542	.385	.927
Jed Lowrie - SS	BOS vs TB 9/18 1:35 PM	David Price	4-11	.364	0	2	2	0	2	.545	.364	.909
Darnell McDonald - OF	BOS vs TB 9/18 1:35 PM	David Price	4-12	.333	1	2	1	2	3	.750	.429	1.179
Kevin Youkilis - 1B	BOS vs TB 9/18 1:35 PM	David Price	5-13	.385	0	2	0	0	2	.538	.429	.967
Johnny Damon - OF	TB @ BOS 9/18 1:35 PM	Tim Wakefield	10-28	.357	3	4	7	3	2	.714	.419	1.133
Evan Longoria - 3B	TB @ BOS 9/18 1:35 PM	Tim Wakefield	6-13	.462	1	3	5	3	1	.846	.529	1.375
Paul Konerko - 1B	CWS @ KC 9/18 2:10 PM	Bruce Chen	6-17	.353	2	3	4	2	2	.765	.421	1.186
A.J. Pierzynski - C	CWS @ KC 9/18 2:10 PM	Bruce Chen	8-15	.533	2	2	4	1	2	.933	.563	1.496
Michael Cuddyer - OF	MIN vs CLE 9/18 2:10 PM	Justin Masterson	8-19	.421	0	1	2	1	5	.474	.476	.950
Marlon Byrd - OF	CHC vs HOU 9/18 2:20 PM	Brett Myers	9-23	.391	1	3	4	2	2	.609	.423	1.032
Tyler Colvin - OF	CHC vs HOU 9/18 2:20 PM	Brett Myers	5-17	.294	2	4	2	0	5	.765	.294	1.059
Alfonso Soriano - OF	CHC vs HOU 9/18 2:20 PM	Brett Myers	6-33	.182	3	3	3	1	14	.455	.206	.661
Carlos Lee - OF	HOU @ CHC 9/18 2:20 PM	Ryan Dempster	14-39	.359	2	5	7	1	6	.590	.357	.947
Chris Iannetta - C	COL vs SF 9/18 3:10 PM	Matt Cain	5-14	.357	1	1	1	4	2	.571	.500	1.071
Troy Tulowitzki - SS	COL vs SF 9/18 3:10 PM	Matt Cain	17-51	.333	4	9	6	4	10	.686	.382	1.068
Geoff Blum - SS	ARI @ SD 9/18 4:05 PM	Aaron Harang	12-23	.522	1	3	3	0	0	.739	.522	1.261
Lyle Overbay - 1B	ARI @ SD 9/18 4:05 PM	Aaron Harang	9-22	.409	0	5	1	2	3	.636	.458	1.094
Chris Young - OF	ARI @ SD 9/18 4:05 PM	Aaron Harang	3-12	.250	2	2	3	1	2	.750	.308	1.058
Hideki Matsui - DH	OAK vs DET 9/18 4:05 PM	Justin Verlander	8-24	.333	1	2	4	1	2	.500	.360	.860
Nelson Cruz - OF	TEX @ SEA 9/18 4:10 PM	Felix Hernandez	11-39	.282	3	4	4	2	6	.538	.317	.855
Ryan Howard - 1B	PHI vs STL 9/18 8:05 PM	Kyle Lohse	6-13	.462	1	1	6	4	5	.692	.588	1.280
Raul Ibanez - OF	PHI vs STL 9/18 8:05 PM	Kyle Lohse	9-30	.300	3	3	9	4	3	.600	.371	.971
Placido Polanco - 3B	PHI vs STL 9/18 8:05 PM	Kyle Lohse	8-20	.400	0	0	3	1	1	.400	.429	.829
Brian Schneider - C	PHI vs STL 9/18 8:05 PM	Kyle Lohse	4-13	.308	1	4	3	1	3	.769	.357	1.126
Ryan Theriot - SS	STL @ PHI 9/18 8:05 PM	Cole Hamels	6-18	.333	1	2	2	1	3	.556	.368	.924
Hot Pitcher Matchups			At-Bats	Opp AVG	HR Allow	XBH Allow	RBI Allow	BB	K	Opp SLG	Opp OBP	Opp OPS
David Price	TB @ BOS 9/18 1:35 PM	Red Sox Batters	20-93	.215	1	11	4	6	18	.366	.276	.642
Brett Myers	HOU @ CHC 9/18 2:20 PM	Cubs Batters	40-172	.233	8	16	20	5	50	.420	.255	.675
Matt Cain	SF @ COL 9/18 3:10 PM	Rockies Batters	47-233	.202	8	18	18	28	45	.358	.296	.654

 

KEY MATCHUPS: COLD
Cold Batter Matchups			At-Bats	AVG	HR	XBH	RBI	BB	K	SLG	OBP	OPS
Curtis Granderson - OF	NYY @ TOR 9/18 1:07 PM	Brandon Morrow	2-12	.167	0	1	2	2	7	.250	.333	.583
Derek Jeter - SS	NYY @ TOR 9/18 1:07 PM	Brandon Morrow	3-16	.188	0	1	2	2	7	.250	.278	.528
David Ortiz - DH	BOS vs TB 9/18 1:35 PM	David Price	2-12	.167	0	2	1	0	4	.333	.167	.500
Marco Scutaro - SS	BOS vs TB 9/18 1:35 PM	David Price	2-18	.111	0	0	0	1	4	.111	.158	.269
John Buck - C	FLA @ WAS 9/18 1:35 PM	Chien-Ming Wang	2-17	.118	0	0	2	1	4	.118	.167	.285
Jose Lopez - 3B	FLA @ WAS 9/18 1:35 PM	Chien-Ming Wang	3-14	.214	0	1	1	0	1	.286	.214	.500
Ben Zobrist - 2B	TB @ BOS 9/18 1:35 PM	Tim Wakefield	1-10	.100	0	1	2	2	3	.200	.250	.450
Alex Rios - OF	CWS @ KC 9/18 2:10 PM	Bruce Chen	3-20	.150	0	0	2	0	8	.150	.182	.332
Alex Gordon - OF	KC vs CWS 9/18 2:10 PM	John Danks	1-13	.077	0	1	0	3	1	.154	.294	.448
Koyie Hill - C	CHC vs HOU 9/18 2:20 PM	Brett Myers	1-10	.100	0	1	1	0	7	.200	.100	.300
Aramis Ramirez - 3B	CHC vs HOU 9/18 2:20 PM	Brett Myers	9-40	.225	2	4	6	1	11	.425	.244	.669
Humberto Quintero - C	HOU @ CHC 9/18 2:20 PM	Ryan Dempster	3-16	.188	1	1	3	1	5	.375	.235	.610
Dexter Fowler - OF	COL vs SF 9/18 3:10 PM	Matt Cain	3-15	.200	0	1	0	5	6	.333	.429	.762
Jason Giambi - 1B	COL vs SF 9/18 3:10 PM	Matt Cain	0-11	.000	0	0	0	0	5	.000	.000	.000
Carlos Gonzalez - OF	COL vs SF 9/18 3:10 PM	Matt Cain	3-25	.120	0	0	2	4	6	.120	.233	.353
Kevin Kouzmanoff - 3B	COL vs SF 9/18 3:10 PM	Matt Cain	4-28	.143	0	1	1	1	5	.179	.226	.405
Seth Smith - OF	COL vs SF 9/18 3:10 PM	Matt Cain	1-18	.056	0	0	1	2	1	.056	.150	.206
Henry Blanco - C	ARI @ SD 9/18 4:05 PM	Aaron Harang	2-15	.133	0	0	0	0	7	.133	.133	.266
Justin Upton - OF	ARI @ SD 9/18 4:05 PM	Aaron Harang	0-10	.000	0	0	0	1	2	.000	.091	.091
Ryan Sweeney - OF	OAK vs DET 9/18 4:05 PM	Justin Verlander	2-10	.200	0	0	0	0	3	.200	.200	.400
Ryan Ludwick - OF	PIT @ LAD 9/18 4:10 PM	Chad Billingsley	2-10	.200	0	0	5	2	2	.200	.385	.585
Josh Hamilton - OF	TEX @ SEA 9/18 4:10 PM	Felix Hernandez	6-33	.182	1	4	3	8	9	.394	.357	.751
Ian Kinsler - 2B	TEX @ SEA 9/18 4:10 PM	Felix Hernandez	8-49	.163	1	4	4	9	8	.286	.328	.614
Mitch Moreland - 1B	TEX @ SEA 9/18 4:10 PM	Felix Hernandez	2-10	.200	0	1	1	2	3	.300	.333	.633
Jimmy Rollins - SS	PHI vs STL 9/18 8:05 PM	Kyle Lohse	3-21	.143	0	0	0	2	2	.143	.217	.360
Carlos Ruiz - C	PHI vs STL 9/18 8:05 PM	Kyle Lohse	3-14	.214	0	1	0	0	1	.286	.214	.500
Chase Utley - 2B	PHI vs STL 9/18 8:05 PM	Kyle Lohse	3-17	.176	0	1	1	3	2	.235	.333	.568
Albert Pujols - 1B	STL @ PHI 9/18 8:05 PM	Cole Hamels	3-20	.150	1	2	2	0	3	.350	.143	.493
Cold Pitcher Matchups			At-Bats	Opp AVG	HR Allow	XBH Allow	RBI Allow	BB	K	Opp SLG	Opp OBP	Opp OPS
Freddy Garcia	NYY @ Tor 9/18 1:07 PM	Blue Jays Batters	27-72	.375	4	10	12	11	14	.631	.453	1.084
Brandon Morrow	TOR vs NYY 9/18 1:07 PM	Yankees Batters	41-143	.287	5	17	22	21	43	.482	.380	.862
Ryan Dempster	CHC vs Hou 9/18 2:20 PM	Astros Batters	26-87	.299	6	11	17	6	19	.574	.343	.917
Aaron Harang	SD vs Ari 9/18 4:05 PM	Diamondbacks Batters	34-110	.309	3	10	9	7	18	.451	.350	.802

Recommended Pickup

Andres Torres, OF, SF – This would be a speculative add, but with Cody Ross (hamstring) out for the next week or so, Torres could get a good stack of starts for the coming week. If you’re in an NL-only league and need to take a risk on someone who might be able to at least provide a live bat in the coming week, Torres could be your guy. I would also recommend looking at Casper Wells in AL-only leagues. For mixed leagues, Colby Rasmus might be available. He was activated from the DL Friday.

Other recent recommendations: Brandon McCarthy, Alejandro De Aza, Salvador Perez, Randall Delgado


Draft Street Competition

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Register for a free account at DraftStreet.com today and start practicing. Remember to use bonus code Rotowire on your first deposit to get some extra cash released into your account as you play.

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Be sure to come back to RotoWire's Daily Lineup Card every day for all the analysis you need to dominate the competition and take home cash on DraftStreet.


Draft Street Lineup

Pos Name Salary
C A.J. Pierzynski (CWS-C) $4,389
1B Paul Konerko (CWS-1B) $8,359
2B Jason Kipnis (CLE-2B) $6,027
3B Evan Longoria (TB-3B) $8,769
SS Starlin Castro (CHC-SS) $7,047
OF Johnny Damon (TB-OF) $7,462
OF Raul Ibanez (PHI-OF) $5,683
OF Nelson Cruz (TEX-OF) $7,315
U Brett Lawrie (TOR-3B) $8,374
U Ryan Howard (PHI-1B) $6,453
SP Brad Hand (FLA-SP) $4,360
SP Brandon Beachy (ATL-SP) $13,119
RP Jose Valverde (DET-RP) $2,962
P Justin Master… (CLE-SP) $8,977

Total: $99,296

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