Monday Lineup Card: Bust Out The Belt

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

American League
Indians (Josh Tomlin – R) at Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda – R), 7:05
Blue Jays (Henderson Alvarez – R) at Red Sox (Felix Doubront – L), 7:10
Tigers (Rick Porcello – R) at Rangers (Justin Grimm – R), 8:05
White Sox (Jake Peavy – R) at Twins (Francisco Liriano – L), 8:10
Rays (Alex Cobb – R) at Royals (Luke Hochevar – R), 8:10
Athletics (Tommy Milone – L) at Mariners (Erasmo Ramirez – R), 10:10

National League
Pirates (Jeff Karstens – R) at Phillies (Joe Blanton – R), 7:05
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo – R) at Reds (Mat Latos – R), 7:10
Cardinals (Jake Westbrook – R) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R), 7:10
Padres (Ross Ohlendorf – R) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez – L), 8:05
Mets (Johan Santana – L) at Cubs (Travis Wood – L), 8:05
Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R) at Rockies (Jeff Francis – L), 8:40
Dodgers (Nathan Eovaldi – R) at Giants (Barry Zito – L), 10:15

Day Game After a Night Game: None

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)

AL
Jose Valverde, P, DET – (Wrist) Could be available Monday.
Russell Martin, C, NYY – (Back) Played eight innings Saturday, not surprisingly got Sunday off.
Matt Capps, P, MIN – (Shoulder) Still experiencing soreness, will have an MRI.
Dana Eveland, P, BAL – (Personal) Will have paternity leave starting Tuesday.
Kyle Seager, 3B, SEA – (Calf) Out Sunday with soreness, available as pinch hitter.

NL
Jordan Pacheco, 3B, COL – (Quadriceps) Started both Saturday and Sunday.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS – (Shoulder) Was able to start Sunday.
Jose Reyes, SS, MIA – (Lower Leg) Stayed in game after taking a slide to the shin Sunday.
Jose Altvue, 2B, HOU – (Leg) Left Sunday's game with a strain.
Yonder Alonso, 1B, SD – (Knee) Missed Sunday's game with soreness.
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM – (Illness) Scratched Sunday after missing Saturday.
Chris Nelson, SS, COL – (Ankle) Expects to return to Monday's lineup.

Players on the DL

AL
Collin Cowgill, OF, OAK – (Ankle) Hurt his ankle diving for a ball Friday and placed on DL.
Brett Anderson, P, OAK – (Elbow) Threw 20 pitches in bullpen.
P.J. Walters, P, MIN – Will throw in bullpen twice this week.
Andrew Bailey, P, BOS – (Thumb) Had setback in throwing program, soreness in arm.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS – (Shoulder) Took batting practice and fielded grounders again on Saturday.
Josh Beckett, P, BOS – (Shoulder) Should be ready to be activated when eligible, but Red Sox say Franklin Morales will get another start.
David Aardsma, P, NYY – (Elbow) Pitched two scoreless innings in rehab, could be activated in about a month.
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY – (Elbow) Will remove brace next week, then start hitting the week after.
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS – (Illness) Placed on DL with gastrointestinal issue.
Dallas Braden, P, OAK – (Shoulder) Will throw off a mound this week.
Carl Pavano, P, MIN – (Shoulder) Should begin throwing program this week.
Brandon McCarthy, P, OAK – (Shoulder) Placed on DL, no word from A's on how long he is expected to be out.
Jerome Williams, P, LAA – (Chest) Will throw simulated game while team is in Baltimore.
Jeremy Hellickson, P, TB – (Shoulder) Expected to start Saturday.
Sergio Santos, P, TOR – (Shoulder) Moved to 60-day DL but timetable of late-July is unchanged.
Drew Smyly, P, DET – (Finger) Will start Tuesday.
Luke Scott, OF, TB – (Back) Will play two games at Triple-A.
Matt Lindstrom, P, BAL – (Finger) Should be activated Tuesday.
Endy Chavez, OF, BAL – (Hamstring) No progress in rehab.

NL
Joe Saunders, P, AZ – (Shoulder) Missed Friday's start and was placed on the DL.
Bud Norris, P, HOU – (Knee) Went five innings in rehab start, unclear how many more rehabs he will need.
Drew Storen, P, WAS – (Elbow) Will throw simulated game for first time since being placed on DL.
Drew Stubbs, OF, CIN – (Oblique) Should be activated Monday.
Jeff Karstens, P, PIT – (Shoulder) Will skip final rehab start and be on the mound for Pirates on Monday.
Anthony Bass, P, SD – (Shoulder) Placed on DL Sunday.
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI – (Knee) Heading up to Triple-A.
Frank Francisco, P, NYM – (Oblique) Placed on DL with strain, Bobby Parnell will close for now.

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

Called Up
Jonathan Albadejo, P, AZ
Alexander Torres, P, TB
B.J. Rosenberg, P, PHI
Bryan Morris, P, PIT
A.J. Griffin, P, OAK
Evan Scribner, P, OAK
Adam Lind, OF, TOR

Sent Down
Ryan Langerhans, OF, LAA
Chris Marrero, 1B, WAS
Jordy Mercer, P, PIT
Eric Sogard, 3B, OAK
Danny Farquhar, P, OAK (designated for assignment)
Mike McCoy, 2B, TOR
David Cooper, 1B, TOR
Jordany Valdespin, 2B, NYM
Oscar Tejada, 2B, BOS (designated for assignment)

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Joe Saunders, P, AZ
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS
Charlie Morton, P, PIT (transferred to 60-day)
Brandon McCarthy, P, OAK
Anthony Bass, P, SD
Sergio Santos, P, TOR (transferred to 60-day)
Frank Francisco, P, NYM

Activated from DL
Aaron Cook, P, BOS
Andy Parrino, 2B, SD
Ben Francisco, OF, TOR
Ruben Tejada, SS, NYM
Ramon Ramirez, P, NYM

Signed
Drew Sutton, 3B, PIT (claimed off waivers)

Traded
Kevin Youkilis, 3B, BOS (to White Sox)
Brent Lillibridge, 3B, CHW (to Red Sox)
Zach Stewart, P, CHW (to Red Sox)

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

Cincinnati – Aroldis Chapman blew a save opportunity for the second opportunity in a row on Sunday. There is no sign that the Reds will make a change soon, but Chapman has allowed eight runs in his last 6.1 innings.

Minnesota – Glen Perkins earned two saves in the absence of Matt Capps. It was Jared Burton's turn on Sunday, as he closed the door on the Reds for his first save of the season.

Key Matchups

Brandon Belt, 1B, SF – Finally. Belt frustrated owners in 2011 who thought he would have a full time job all season long. Instead, Belt fell out of favor and split time. He was on fire at spring training this year, but was yanked from a full time job just days into the season. The Giants finally gave him the chance to hold the job earlier this month and Belt has not disappointed. He had an 11-game hitting streak snapped on Sunday, but Belt has four home runs this month and he seems to be settling into his job.

Other Recent Recommendations:Anthony Rizzo, Norichika Aoki, Andrelton Simmons, Salvador Perez, Pedro Alvarez

Draft Street Lineup
C – Mike Napoli ($5,562)
1B – Prince Fielder ($7,098)
2B – Jason Kipnis ($7,294)
3B – Hanley Ramirez ($5,813)
SS – Jose Reyes ($5,916)
OF – Delmon Young ($3,366)
OF – Giancarlo Stanton ($6,637)
OF – Alejandro De Aza ($6,828)
UTIL – Pablo Sandoval ($7,471)
UTIL – Josh Willingham ($6,250)
SP – Felix Doubront ($11,177)
SP – Nathan Eovaldi ($9,076)
RP – Rafael Betancourt ($1,913)
P – Jake Peavy ($15,495)
Total: $99,896