The Lineup Card: Third Time's Not the Charm

Projected Starters - A look at Tuesday's matchups:

Diamondbacks (Rodrigo Lopez - R) at Phillies (Cole Hamels - L), 7:05
Yankees (CC Sabathia - L) at Indians (Josh Tomlin - R), 7:05
Braves (Tommy Hanson - R) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg - R), 7:05
Orioles (Kevin Millwood - R) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero - L), 7:07
Cardinals (Adam Wainwright - R) at Mets (Jonathon Niese - L), 7:10
Tigers (Justin Verlander - R) at Rays (James Shields - R), 7:10
Cubs (Ted Lilly - L) at Astros (Brett Myers - R), 8:05
A's (Gio Gonzalez - L) at Rangers (Cliff Lee - L), 8:05
Reds (Edinson Volquez - R) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - L). 8:10
Twins (Carl Pavano - R) at Royals (Bruce Chen - L), 8:10
Mariners (Ryan Rowland-Smith - L) at White Sox (Gavin Floyd - R), 8:10
Pirates (Zach Duke - L) at Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa - L), 8:40
Dodgers (Chad Billingsley - R) at Padres (Jon Garland - R), 10:05
Red Sox (John Lackey - R) at Angels (Jered Weaver - R), 10:05
Marlins (Josh Johnson - R) at Giants (Matt Cain - R), 10:15

Day game following a night game: None

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time due to injury and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expceted to make their return from the DL)
Scott Rolen, 3B, CIN – (Hamstring) In the lineup Monday after nine misses
Corey Hart, OF, MIL – (Wrist) Available to pinch-hit Monday, but still not 100 percent
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL – (Wrist) Will come off DL Tuedsay after a five-week absence
Zach Braddock, P, MIL – (Arm) Threw a bullpen session Sunday and is ready to pitch
R.A. Dickey, P, NY-N – (Leg) Strained his left glute or suffered a hip flexor in Sunday's start
Rod Barajas, C, NY-N – (Oblique) Strained his right oblique Saturday and placed on DL
Jim Edmonds, OF, MIL – (Achilles) Aggravated his Achilles injury in Saturday's game but should play through it
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI – (Foot) Playing through his bruised left foot injury
Denard Span, OF, MIN – (Illness) Missed two games with a mild ailment
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NY-A – (Arm) Back in the lineup Monday after leaving Sunday's game prematurely
Victor Martinez, C, BOS – (Thumb) Came off the DL Monday, could be limited in his first week back
Rajai Davis, OF, OAK – (Hamstring) Missed Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Players on the DL
Jody Gerut, OF, MIL – (Heel) Began a rehab assignment Sunday, should be back in a reserve role soon
Eugenio Velez, 2B, SF – (Concussion) Placed on the DL after a scary play in Saturday's game
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS – (Ribs) Began a rehab assignment in Florida Monday, will head to Triple-A this week
Mike Sweeney, DH, SEA – (Back) Removed from a rehab game Monday
Kerry Wood, P, CLE – (Finger) Threw a succesful bullpen Sunday, should throw another Tuesday
Carlos Guillen, OF, DET – (Calf) Will resume baseball-related activities next week, DL stint shouldn't last more than 15 days
Rich Harden, P, TEX – (Lower body) Unclear what his role will be when he returns to the Rangers
Brett Anderson, P, OAK – (Elbow) Threw 5.1 innings at Triple-A Sunday, should return to Oakland Friday or Saturday

Transactions

Placed on the DL (15-Day unless otherwise noted)
Orlando Hudson, 2B, MIN (Oblique) – retroactive to 7/24
Jamie Moyer, P, PHI (Elbow) – retroactive to 7/21
Rod Barajas, C, NYM (Oblique)

Activated from the DL
Victor Martinez, C, BOS

Called Up
Jose Morales, C, MIN

Sent Down
Brad Lincoln, P, PIT
Dustin Brown, C, BOS

Designated for Assignment
Brendan Donnelly, P, PIT

Traded
Dan Haren, P, AZ for Joe Saunders, P, ANA + Prospects

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

Dodgers – Kenley Jansen picked up his first career save Sunday, and he's probably third in the pecking order. He had 50 strikeouts in 27 innings at Double-A Chattanooga, so he could have some value in deeper/NL leagues even if the saves don't flow readily.

White Sox – Manager Ozzie Guillen has threatened a bullpen-by-committee due to Bobby Jenks' recent struggles, but the Sox have yet to provide a save chance since that proclamation. Jenks should regain the job before long.

Key Matchups

Hot
Raul Ibanez v Rodrigo Lopez – 8-for-23 (.348/.423/.435), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:3 K:BB
Adam LaRoche v Cole Hamels – 3-for-10 (.300/.364/1.200), 0 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5:1 K:BB
Nyjer Morgan v Tommy Hanson – 5-for-10 (.500/.500/.700), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
John Buck v Kevin Millwood – 8-for-21 (.381/.409/.476), 2 2B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Aaron Hill v Kevin Millwood – 8-for-22 (.364/.364/.591), 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Lyle Overbay v Kevin Millwood – 5-for-21 (.238/.273/.667), 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Ty Wigginton v Ricky Romero – 5-for-14 (.357/.400/.500), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Brian Roberts v Ricky Romero – 5-for-10 (.500/.643/.500), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:4 K:BB
Jason Bay v Adam Wainwright – 6-for-18 (.333/.381/.389), 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3:2 K:BB
Carl Crawford v Justin Verlander – 6-for-16 (.375/.375/.375), 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
B.J. Upton v Justin Verlander – 5-for-10 (.500/.545/1.000), 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Miguel Cabrera v James Shields – 6-for-16 (.375/.444/.688), 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Pedro Feliz v Ted Lilly – 6-for-15 (.400/.438/1.000), 0 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Derrek Lee v Brett Myers – 17-for-34 (.500/.553/.941), 4 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5:4 K:BB
Marlon Byrd v Brett Myers – 5-for-14 (.357/.375/.643), 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Ryan Braun v Edinson Volquez – 5-for-10 (.500/.583/.600), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Corey Hart v Edinson Volquez – 3-for-10 (.300/.333/.900), 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Brandon Phillips v Yovani Gallardo – 4-for-14 (.286/.412/.571), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:2 K:BB
Billy Butler v Carl Pavano – 12-for-30 (.400/.400/.733), 4 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6:0 K:BB
Jose Guillen v Carl Pavano – 7-for-19 (.368/.429/.526), 0 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Ichiro Suzuki v Gavin Floyd – 9-for-22 (.409/.480/.500), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:3 K:BB
Jose Lopez v Gavin Floyd – 8-for-22 (.364/.391/.545), 4 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Chone Figgins v Gavin Floyd – 4-for-17 (.235/.409/.529), 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4:5 K:BB
Franklin Gutierrez v Gavin Floyd – 5-for-12 (.417/.500/.583), 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:0 K:BB
Tony Gwynn v Chad Billingsley – 6-for-17 (.353/.353/.706), 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Yorvit Torrealba v Chad Billingsley – 5-for-15 (.333/.375/.533), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Casey Blake v Jon Garland – 14-for-49 (.286/.345/.571), 2 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 8:5 K:BB
Reed Johnson v Jon Garland – 8-for-13 (.615/.615/.846), 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:0 K:BB
David Ortiz v Jered Weaver – 7-for-20 (.350/.417/.700), 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4:3 K:BB
Kevin Youkilis v Jered Weaver – 6-for-20 (.300/.364/.600), 0 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI 3:2 K:BB
J.D. Drew v Jered Weaver – 6-for-17 (.353/.389/.529), 0 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Hanley Ramirez v Matt Cain – 6-for-15 (.400/.438/.733), 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4:1 K:BB

Chad Billingsley v San Diego – I might have flubbed in my Dave Bush pick against the Pirates last week, but I think I can re-gain my confidence in selecting Billingsley to roll against the Padres Tuesday night. Consider this: of all MLB batters, Adrian Gonzalez has the second-highest number of at-bats against Billingsley with 37. He has yet to go yard in any of those 37 at-bats, and his slugging percentagge is a measley .324. The Padres have collectively slugged .358 off him, and he has struck them out 36 times in 151 at-bats. He hurled 7.1 shutout innings against them earlier in the season (a game also played at Petco), and he's coming off a complete game shutout of the Giants.

Cold
Austin Kearns v CC Sabathia – 4-for-18 (.222), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Adam Dunn v Tommy Hanson – 1-for-11 (.091), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6:4 K:BB
Ryan Zimmerman v Tommy Hanson – 2-for-11 (.182), 1 2B, 3 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Vernon Wells v Kevin Millwood – 4-for-25 (.160), 0 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Adam Lind v Kevin Millwood – 0-for-13 (.000), 1:1 K:BB
Cesar Izturis v Ricky Romero – 2-for-10 (.200), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Matt Wieters v Ricky Romero – 1-for-10 (.100), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Kelly Shoppach v Justin Verlander – 3-for-17 (.176), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6:0 K:BB
Jason Bartlett v Justin Verlander – 0-for-10 (.000), 4:6 K:BB (.412 OBP)
Ben Zobrist v Justin Verlander – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Carlos Lee v Ted Lilly – 8-for-38 (.211), 3 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:4 K:BB
Lance Berkman v Ted Lilly – 3-for-29 (.103), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 9:1 K:BB
Hunter Pence v Ted Lilly – 5-for-26 (.192), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 8:0 K:BB
Humberto Quintero v Ted Lilly – 1-for-12 (.083), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:0 K:BB
Kosuke Fukudome v Brett Myers – 2-for-13 (.154), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Vladimir Guerrero v Gio Gonzalez – 2-for-10 (.200), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Coco Crisp v Cliff Lee – 4-for-18 (.222), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI 2:1 K:BB
Mark Ellis v Cliff Lee – 3-for-15 (.200), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Prince Fielder v Edinson Volquez – 2-for-11 (.182), 0 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Alex Gordon v Carl Pavano – 3-for-15 (.200), 0 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 7:1 K:BB
Mitch Maier v Carl Pavano – 3-for-13 (.231), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Willie Bloomquist v Carl Pavano – 2-for-13 (.154) 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:0 K:BB
Michael Cuddyer v Bruce Chen – 2-for-11 (.182), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Jack Wilson v Gavin Floyd – 3-for-14 (.214), 0 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Casey Kotchman v Gavin Floyd – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Chase Headley v Chad Billingsley – 4-for-17 (.235), 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6:1 K:BB
Nick Hundley v Chad Billingsley – 2-for-10 (.200), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Garret Anderson v Jon Garland – 6-for-36 (.167), 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Bobby Abreu v John Lackey – 5-for-27 (.185), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 7:2 K:BB
Adrian Beltre v Jered Weaver – 8-for-36 (.222), 3 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 7:0 K:BB
Marco Scutaro v Jered Weaver – 5-for-22 (.227), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Edgar Renteria v Josh Johnson – 4-for-17 (.235), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Pat Burrell v Josh Johnson – 2-for-15 (.133), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6:2 K:BB
Dan Uggla v Matt Cain – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:4 K:BB
Jorge Cantu v Matt Cain – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 K:BB

Brett Myers v Chicago (N) – Myers already has two quality starts against the Cubs this season (including holding them to one run over seven innings July 21), but history suggests he won't be able to tally a third quality start Tuesday. The Cubs have a collective career .858 OPS off him (a number that includes pitchers and scrubs), and the heart of their order has also had better-than-average success off him (Derrek Lee- 1.494 OPS, Alfonso Soriano - .823, Marlon Byrd – 1.018, Aramis Ramirez – two home runs, two doubles in 33 at-bats). He might tally some K's in the outing, but the W looks less likely.

Recommended Pickup:

J.A. Happ, P, PHI - Happ earned a no-decision Sunday against the Rockies in his frsit start back from a lengthy stay on the DL for a forearm injury and a five-game, non-rehab stay at Triple-A Lehigh. Reporteldy, his velocity was fine in the 4:4 K:BB start, but his command was a tad shaky. The fact that he had been out since April may mean he may have been forgotten about in shallower formats, and it's worth noting he struck out 22 in 22.1 innings at Lehigh. His security in the Phillies' rotation looks to be OK, as the team looks to have more faith in him than Kyle Kendrick, who was demoted from the rotation before Jamie Moyer's injury necessitated he stick around.

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