Monday Lineup Card: Brandon Belts Two in Return to Bigs

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L) at Braves (Tim Hudson – R), 7:00
Twins (Francisco Liriano – L) at Tigers (Rick Porcello – R), 7:05
Cardinals (Jake Westbrook – R) at Pirates (James McDonald – R), 7:05
Cubs (Rodrigo Lopez – R) at Astros (Henry Sosa – R), 8:05
Dodgers (Ted Lilly – L) at Brewers (Randy Wolf – L), 8:10
Yankees (A.J. Burnett – R) at Royals (Felipe Paulino – R), 8:10
Marlins (Clay Hensley – R) at Rockies (Kevin Millwood – R), 8:40
Orioles (Tommy Hunter – R) at Athletics (Gio Gonzalez – L), 10:05
Mets (R.A. Dickey – R) at Padres (Aaron Harang – R), 10:05
Rangers (Alexi Ogando – R) at Angels (Garrett Richards – R), 10:05
Blue Jays (Henderson Alvarez – R) at Mariners (Michael Pineda – R), 10:10

Day game after a night game: None

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

Day-to-Day
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS – (Illness) Missed Sunday's start, but looks like he will start Monday.
Adam Dunn, 1B, CHW – (Personal) Out due to death in the family; should return Tuesday.
Freddy Garcia, P, NYY – (Finger) Scratched Sunday; Burnett moved up a day to start.
Brennan Boesch, OF, DET – (Thumb) Out of lineup agains Sunday.
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE – (Wrist) Missed Sunday's game; expected back Tuesday.
Michael Cuddyer, OF, MIN – (Neck) Not in Sunday's lineup.
Denard Span, OF, MIN – (Concussion) May be shut down for the season.
Jeff Mathis, C, LAA – (Hand) Available, but was not in the lineup Sunday after being HBP Saturday.
Conor Jackson, OF, OAK – (Neck) Scratched Sunday.
Brian Wilson, P, SF – (Back) Unavailable Sunday.
Jesus Guzman, 1B, SD – (Elbow) Missed second game in a row Sunday.

Players on the DL
Justin Smoak, 1B, SEA – (Nose) Expects to be back in about two weeks.
Mike Pelfrey, P, NYM – (Elbow) Left Saturday's start after comebacker got him on arm; X-rays negative.
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI – (Hip) Fielded grounders Saturday and thinks he can avoid DL.
Carlos Beltran, OF, SF – (Hand) Remained out Sunday; becoming a concern.
Dontrelle Willis, P, CIN – (Forearm) Left Sunday's game with soreness.
Humberto Quintero, C, HOU – (Back) Scratched from Sunday's lineup.
Jason Marquis, P, ARI – (Leg) Fractured fibula in Sunday's start; will head to DL.
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL – (Shoulder) Precautionary day off Sunday.
Xavier Nady, OF, ARI – (Hand) Out 4-to-6 weeks; D'Backs sign Lyle Overbay.
Chase D'Arnaud, 3B, PIT – (Finger) Rehab continues at Triple-A.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL – (Shoulder) Rehab going well; will return this season.
Pat Burrell, OF, SF – (Foot) May be activated in September.
Andrew Cashner, P, CHC – (Shoulder) Threw simulated game; hoping to return this season.
Rickie Weeks, 2B, MIL – (Ankle) Took ground balls for first time Sunday; still eying late-August return.
Tommy Hanson, P, ATL – (Shoulder) Placed on DL, but should be able to return when eligible next week.
Jason Castro, C, HOU – (Knee) Won't return this season.
Kenley Jansen, P, LAA – (Chest) Could start minor league rehab in less than a week.
Barry Zito, P, SF – (Ankle) Sprained ankle in rehab Saturday.
Jose Reyes, SS, NYM – (Hamstring) Won't return when eligible next week.

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)
Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL
Rajai Davis, OF, TOR

Activated from the DL
Brian McCann, C, ATL
Scott Linebrink, P, ATL

Called Up
Trevor Plouffe, SS, MIN
Will Rhymes, 2B, DET
David Huff, P, CLE
Pat Neshek, P, SD
Osvlado Martinez, SS, FLA
Jose Lopez, 2B, FLA

Sent Down
Logan Morrison, OF, FLA
Blake Tekotte, OF, SD
Anthony Varvaro, P, ATL
Shelley Duncan, OF, CLE

Released
Wes Helms, 3B, FLA

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

Baltimore – Kevin Gregg has been awful and everyone knows it. He managed to allow four hits and walk two without retiring a batter Sunday before Jim Johnson came in to finish things off. The Orioles tried Johnson as the closer last year and did not like the results, but there is nowhere else to turn after the club traded Koji Uehara.

Chicago (AL) – Chris Sale has turned his season around after a slow start. After striking out 13 batters over 11.2 scoreless innings, Sale was given a save opportunity Saturday. He finished off the Royals without a problem, but though he is throwing the ball well, Sergio Santos is as well. The White Sox maintain Santos is the closer.

San Francisco – With Brian Wilson unavailable Sunday due to back pain, Ramon Ramirez stepped in to close things out. Wilson is considered day-to-day.

Brandon Belt, 1B, SF – The Giants again recalled Belt after placing Andres Torres on the DL, and Belt promptly hit two home runs Sunday. Belt has done his job at Triple-A, hitting .309 with eight home runs. The Giants can use Aubrey Huff to indirectly fill in for Torres in the outfield (Huff wouldn't play center) and as Belt's backup at first base, but Huff's numbers don't necessarily scream that he deserves to start right now. It would appear Belt could be used every day from here on out.

Other recent recommendations:Brandon Allen, Rafael Betancourt, J.D. Martinez, Robinson Chirnos, Kyle Blanks

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Draft Street Lineup

C – Victor Martinez, DET ($8,171)
1B – Prince Fielder, MIL ($8,008)
2B – Dustin Ackley, SEA ($6,052)
3B – Casey McGehee, MIL ($5,083)
SS – Troy Tulowitzki, COL ($9,094)
OF – Carlos Beltran, NYM ($5,430)
OF – Jason Kubel, MIN ($6,522)
OF – Mike Stanton, FLA ($5,720)
UTIL – Todd Helton, COL ($7,473)
UTIL – David Wright, NYM ($6,766)
SP – Randy Wolf, MIL ($10,012)
SP – Alexi Ogando, TEX ($9,451)
RP – Brandon League, SEA ($1,784)
P – Gio Gonzalez , OAK ($10,138)

Total: $99,623

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