Monday Lineup Card: Carter Offers Power Potential

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

American League
Rays (Jeremy Hellickson – R) at Red Sox (Ryan Dempster – R), 11:05am
White Sox (Gavin Floyd – R) at Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle – L), 7:07
Angels (Joe Blanton – R) at Twins (Kevin Correia – R), 8:10
Astros (Erik Bedard – L) at Athletics (Tom Milone – L), 10:05

National League
Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R) at Pirates (James McDonald – R), 7:05
Phillies (Cliff Lee – L) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R), 7:10
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann – R) at Marlins (Wade LeBlanc – L), 7:10
Mets (Dillon Gee – R) at Rockies (Juan Nicasio – R), 8:40
Padres (Eric Stults – L) at Dodgers (Chad Billingsley – R), 10:10

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
Michael Bourn, OF, CLE – (Finger) Bad cut on index finger, should be out Tuesday.
Alberto Callaspo, 3B, LAA – (Calf) Missed third straight game Sunday.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK – (Groin) Out of Sunday's lineup with straing, but should avoid DL.
Octavio Dotel, P, DET – (Elbow) Out Sunday with inflammation.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, SEA – (Groin) Out of Sunday's lineup, thinks he can be back Tuesday.
Joel Hanrahan, P, BOS – (Hamstring) Day-to-day with tightness.
Jason Kipnis, 2B, CLE – (Elbow) Will be examined before Tuesday's game, status seems 50/50.
Mike Morse, OF, SEA – (Hand) Thinks he can return to lineup Tuesday.
Andy Pettitte, P, NYY – (Back) Will make start on Friday.
Stephen Pryor, P, SEA – (Back) Left Sunday's game with strain.
Wilkin Ramirez, OF, MIN – (Personal) Away from team on paternity leave.
Carlos Santana, C, CLE – (Thumb) Pinch hit Sunday, should return to lineup Tuesday.

NL
Danny Espinosa, 2B, WAS – (Hand) Took line drive off hand Sunday, x-rays negative but could still miss some action.
Alex Gonzalez, SS, MIL – (Hand) Has not played since HBP Friday.
Aaron Hill, 2B, AZ – (Wrist) Left Sunday's game, x-rays negative, but will also have MRI.
Austin Kearns, OF, MIA – (Chest) Scratched Sunday with irregular heartbeat and went to the hospital.
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA – (Shoulder) Missed third game Sunday.

Players on the DL

AL
Matt Harrison, P, TEX – (Back) Another injection Sunday.
Scott Kazmir, P, CLE – (Abdomen) Should make Triple-A start Monday.
Brett Lawrie, 3B, TOR – (Oblique) Playing some second base in rehab.
Fernando Martinez, OF, HOU – (Back) Was to begin rehab Sunday.
Franklin Morales, P, BOS – (Back) Will remain in extended spring training for now.
Jeff Niemann, P, TB – (Shoulder) out at least a year.
David Ortiz, DH, BOS – (Heel) Scratched from Triple-A lineup with illness during rehab.
Jose Reyes, SS, TOR – (Ankle) Out three months.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY – (Hip) Running slowly on treadmill.
Luke Scott, DH, TB – (Calf) Rehab slowed Sunday by illness.

NL
Steve Clevenger, C, CHC – (Oblique) Hit 60-day DL to open roster spot.
Johnny Cueto, P, CIN – (Triceps) Placed on DL, a hot Tony Cingrani could be called up.
Chase Headley, 3B, SD – (Thumb) Could be activated early this week.
Brandon Inge, 3B, PIT – (Shoulder) Should be activated Monday.
Jason Kubel, OF, AZ – (Quadriceps) Placed on DL Saturday.
Ted Lilly, P, LAD – (Shoulder) Refused any more minor league starts but no spot available in Dodgers rotation.
Shaun Marcum, P, NYM – (Neck) Could start April 21.
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, MIL – (Knee) Unlikely to be activated when eligible next Sunday.
Wilson Ramos, C, WAS – (Hamstring) Placed on DL Sunday, out a few weeks.

Notable Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here. Note: With a multitude of transactions leading up to Opening Day these are some of the highlights:

Called Up
Phil Irwin, P, PIT
Jhonatan Solano, C, WAS
Tyler Greene, SS, CHW
Kyle Blanks, 1B, SD

Sent Down
Josh Harrison, 3B, PIT
Charlie Leesman, P, CHW (designated for assignment)
Thad Weber, P, SD

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Wilson Ramos, C, WAS
Angel Sanchez, SS, CHW
Steve Clevenger, C, CHC (60-day DL)

Activated from DL
None

Signed/Traded/Claimed
Kameron Loe, P, claimed by CHC from SEA

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

Chicago Cubs – After placing Kyuji Fujikawa on the DL, the first save opportunity went to Shawn Camp, who promptly blew the game. Camp gave up a game-tying home run to Hunter Pence, then got teed off on in the tenth inning. Carlos Marmol was not supposed to figure in save situations, but he turned in his fourth consecutive scoreless inning in the same game.

Houston – Jose Veras finally got his first save opportunity of the season on Saturday and it did not go well. Veras put two runners on, retired two, then gave up the tying and winning runs on an Albert Pujols double. Houston's bullpen is full of no-names. Veras has had his struggles early in the season and competition could soon open up in the bullpen.

St. Louis – Mitchell Boggs continued his early season struggles by giving up back-to-back hits to Carlos Gomez and Yuniesky Betancourt. Boggs was quickly removed. No word yet on whether the Cardinals will open up the job to a committee.

Chris Carter, 1B, HOU –The common fan wrote off the Astros before the season started, but the team has been middle-of-the-road in the hitting department so far. Yes, even this team will score runs. Carter offers plenty of power and he has four home runs so far. The problem is the strikeouts. Ohhhhh, the strikeouts. He is already at 19 K's on the season in 47 at-bats. If you are interested in being a Carter owner, just tell yourself, "If he hits it, it is going to go a long way."

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Draft Street Lineup
C – A.J. Ellis ($4,682)
1B – Paul Konerko ($7,974)
2B – Neil Walker ($5,371)
3B – David Wright ($9,686)
SS – Ian Desmond ($6,885)
OF – Starling Marte ($6,402)
OF – Allen Craig ($6,639)
OF – Bryce Harper ($9,374)
UTIL – David Freese ($5,948)
SP – Jordan Zimmermann ($14,631)
SP – Lance Lynn ($11,505)
P – James McDonald ($10,829)
Total: $99,926

Stay away from Twins and Angels, with a cold night of rain and snow showers in the forecast.