This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Reds (Homer Bailey - R) at Brewers (Johnny Hellweg - R), 1:05 PM
Yankees (CC Sabathia - L) at Red Sox (Jon Lester - L), 1:05 PM
Athletics (Bartolo Colon - R) at Rangers (Yu Darvish - R), 1:05 PM
Orioles (Chris Tillman - R) at Blue Jays (Esmil Rogers - R), 4:07 PM
Marlins (Henderson Alvarez - R) at Mets (Daisuke Matsuzaka - R), 4:10 PM (Game 1)
Marlins (Jacob Turner - R) at Mets (Carlos Torres - R), Following Game 1 (Game 2)
Cubs (Scott Baker - R) at Pirates (Gerrit Cole - R), 7:05 PM
Phillies (Cole Hamels - L) at Nationals (Gio Gonzalez - L), 7:05 PM
Royals (Ervin Santana - R) at Tigers (Doug Fister - R), 7:08 PM
Indians (Ubaldo Jimenez - R) at White Sox (Andre Rienzo - R), 7:10 PM
Angels (Jered Weaver - R) at Astros (Brett Oberholtzer - L), 7:10 PM
Padres (Robbie Erlin - L) at Braves (Kris Medlen - R), 7:10 PM
Rays (Matt Moore - L) at Twins (Andrew Albers - L), 7:10 PM
Mariners (James Paxton - L) at Cardinals (Michael Wacha - R), 7:15 PM
Rockies (Roy Oswalt - R) at Diamondbacks (Wade Miley - L), 8:10 PM
Giants (Tim Lincecum - R) at Dodgers (Ricky Nolasco - R), 9:10 PM
Day Game After Night Game: CIN/MIL, NYY/BOS, OAK/TEX, BAL/TOR, MIA/NYM
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Domonic Brown, OF, PHI (Achillies) - Is not expected to return this weekend.
Jason Castro, C, HOU (Knee) - Is still out of the lineup against the Angels on Friday.
Khris Davis, OF, MIL (Wrist) - Was scheduled for full batting practice before the game Friday.
Jorge De La Rosa, SP, COL (Thumb) - An MRI on Friday showed inflammation in his thumb.
Scott Downs, RP, ATL (Finger) - Visited a hand specialist Friday.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS (Foot) - Has resumed some light, non-baseball exercises.
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, TOR (Wrist) - Back in the lineup for the Blue Jays on Friday.
Logan Forsythe, 2B, SD (Foot) - Not in the lineup Friday due to plantar fasciitis.
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL (Knee) - It is doubtful that he will play in any games this weekend.
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY (Oblique) - Could miss the rest of the season with a Grade 1 oblique strain.
Felix Hernandez, SP, SEA (Back) - Threw a successful bullpen session off flat ground Friday.
Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAA (Knee) - Returned to the starting lineup for the Angels on Friday.
Boone Logan, RP, NYY (Elbow) - Hopes to return to the Yankees for upcoming series against the Blue Jays beginning Tuesday.
Starling Marte, OF, PIT (Hand) - Is still out of the lineup Friday against the Cubs.
Darren O'Day, RP, BAL (Finger) - Had an injection in his right hand and could rejoin the team next weekend.
Drew Pomeranz, SP, COL (Biceps) - Threw a two-inning simulated game Friday.
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, MIL (Wrist) - Left the game Friday after being hit by a pitch in the wrist.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, LAD (Hamstring) - Left game Thursday with mild hamstring tightness. He had an MRI on Friday on the injury.
Austin Romine, C, NYY (Concussion) - Passed a preliminary concussion test Friday.
Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS (Forearm) - Scratched from his start Friday after having forearm tightness playing catch Thursday.
Henry Urrutia, OF, BAL (Personal) - Will miss the series against the Blue Jays due to a visa issue.
Players on the DL
Chad Billingsley, SP, LAD (Elbow) - Started a throwing program at the Dodgers spring training facility.
Jesse Crain, RP, TB (Shoulder) - Threw a successful bullpen Friday and will move onto live hitting Monday with hope of returning in the middle of next week.
Samuel Deduno, SP, MIN (Shoulder) - Will undergo shoulder surgery Wednesday to clean up cartilage.
Jason Heyward, OF, ATL (Head) - Took batting practice with the team Friday and did not have any apparent issues.
Matt Kemp, OF, LAD (Ankle) - Ran on a treadmill Thursday, ran around the outfield track on Friday, and will be evaluated again next week.
John Lannan, SP, PHI (Knee) - Hopes to be completely healthy by the start of spring training.
J.J. Putz, RP, ARI (Finger) - Plans to throw a simulated game Saturday.
Matt Reynolds, RP, ARI (Elbow) - Felt pain in his left elbow during a throwing session Thursday.
Placed on the DL
Rickie Weeks, 2B, MIL (transferred to 60-day DL)
Activated from the DL
Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR
Called Up
Dan Johnson, DH, BAL
Claimed off Waivers
Jose De La Torre, RP, MIL (from BOS)
Traded
Daniel Paulino, SP, HOU (from DET)
Closer Watch
Pirates: The Pirates opened their series with the Cubs on Thursday with their fourth straight victory. The save chance went to Mark Melancon and he only allowed one hit closing the door in the ninth for his 14th save of the season. Tony Watson took the set-up job in the eighth inning instead of Jason Grilli. Melancon has done well in holding onto the closing job while Grilli works through the bumps in returning to the bullpen. It appears Melancon has the grasp on the coveted closer position for now, but he has relatively low job security with the amount of solid options around him.
Key Matchups
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
| Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Ross - C | BOS vs NYY 9/14 1:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 4-13 | .308 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | .769 | .375 | 1.144 | |||||||
| Curtis Granderson - OF | NYY @ BOS 9/14 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 9-32 | .281 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 13 | .500 | .361 | .861 | |||||||
| Lyle Overbay - 1B | NYY @ BOS 9/14 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 9-25 | .360 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 6 | .680 | .429 | 1.109 | |||||||
| Mark Reynolds - 1B | NYY @ BOS 9/14 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 4-13 | .308 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | .615 | .438 | 1.053 | |||||||
| Alex Rodriguez - 3B | NYY @ BOS 9/14 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 9-42 | .214 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 10 | .524 | .283 | .806 | |||||||
| Alberto Callaspo - 3B | OAK @ TEX 9/14 1:05 PM | Yu Darvish | 6-14 | .429 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .571 | .500 | 1.071 | |||||||
| Adrian Beltre - 3B | TEX vs OAK 9/14 1:05 PM | Bartolo Colon | 18-57 | .316 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 7 | .684 | .322 | 1.006 | |||||||
| Alex Rios - OF | TEX vs OAK 9/14 1:05 PM | Bartolo Colon | 9-22 | .409 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | .545 | .435 | .980 | |||||||
| Scott Hairston - OF | WAS vs PHI 9/14 7:05 PM | Cole Hamels | 12-30 | .400 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1.067 | .455 | 1.521 | |||||||
| Bryce Harper - OF | WAS vs PHI 9/14 7:05 PM | Cole Hamels | 5-13 | .385 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .462 | .467 | .928 | |||||||
| Adam LaRoche - 1B | WAS vs PHI 9/14 7:05 PM | Cole Hamels | 8-25 | .320 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 7 | .840 | .370 | 1.210 | |||||||
| Chad Tracy - 1B | WAS vs PHI 9/14 7:05 PM | Cole Hamels | 3-11 | .273 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .545 | .333 | .879 | |||||||
| Prince Fielder - 1B | DET vs KC 9/14 7:08 PM | Ervin Santana | 6-10 | .600 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1.600 | .667 | 2.267 | |||||||
| Victor Martinez - C | DET vs KC 9/14 7:08 PM | Ervin Santana | 6-16 | .375 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .563 | .444 | 1.007 | |||||||
| Mike Moustakas - 3B | KC @ DET 9/14 7:08 PM | Doug Fister | 4-10 | .400 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .800 | .400 | 1.200 | |||||||
| Gordon Beckham - 2B | CWS vs CLE 9/14 7:10 PM | Ubaldo Jimenez | 5-13 | .385 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | .615 | .500 | 1.115 | |||||||
| Alejandro De Aza - OF | CWS vs CLE 9/14 7:10 PM | Ubaldo Jimenez | 5-13 | .385 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | .615 | .579 | 1.194 | |||||||
| Paul Konerko - 1B | CWS vs CLE 9/14 7:10 PM | Ubaldo Jimenez | 4-13 | .308 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | .615 | .400 | 1.015 | |||||||
| Dexter Fowler - OF | COL @ ARI 9/14 8:10 PM | Wade Miley | 4-14 | .286 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .571 | .333 | .905 | |||||||
| Gregor Blanco - OF | SF @ LAD 9/14 9:10 PM | Ricky Nolasco | 5-12 | .417 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .500 | .462 | .962 | |||||||
| Hunter Pence - OF | SF @ LAD 9/14 9:10 PM | Ricky Nolasco | 6-26 | .231 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 4 | .731 | .286 | 1.016 | |||||||
| Pablo Sandoval - 3B | SF @ LAD 9/14 9:10 PM | Ricky Nolasco | 6-13 | .462 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.154 | .533 | 1.687 | |||||||
| Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
| Doug Fister | DET vs KC 9/14 7:08 PM | Royals Batters | 28-127 | .220 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 21 | .317 | .250 | .567 | |||||||
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John McDonald - SS | BOS vs NYY 9/14 1:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 4-21 | .190 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | .238 | .190 | .429 | |||||||
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia - C | BOS vs NYY 9/14 1:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 3-14 | .214 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | .286 | .250 | .536 | |||||||
| Vernon Wells - OF | NYY @ BOS 9/14 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 6-36 | .167 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | .306 | .311 | .617 | |||||||
| Elvis Andrus - SS | TEX vs OAK 9/14 1:05 PM | Bartolo Colon | 3-12 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .250 | .250 | .500 | |||||||
| Ian Kinsler - 2B | TEX vs OAK 9/14 1:05 PM | Bartolo Colon | 2-14 | .143 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .143 | .188 | .330 | |||||||
| John Mayberry - OF | PHI @ WAS 9/14 7:05 PM | Gio Gonzalez | 2-11 | .182 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .455 | .250 | .705 | |||||||
| John Buck - C | PIT vs CHC 9/14 7:05 PM | Scott Baker | 3-16 | .188 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | .250 | .278 | .528 | |||||||
| Ian Desmond - SS | WAS vs PHI 9/14 7:05 PM | Cole Hamels | 5-26 | .192 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | .462 | .222 | .684 | |||||||
| Jayson Werth - OF | WAS vs PHI 9/14 7:05 PM | Cole Hamels | 2-14 | .143 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | .143 | .200 | .343 | |||||||
| Austin Jackson - OF | DET vs KC 9/14 7:08 PM | Ervin Santana | 1-11 | .091 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .091 | .091 | .182 | |||||||
| Salvador Perez - C | KC @ DET 9/14 7:08 PM | Doug Fister | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .167 | .417 | |||||||
| Adam Dunn - 1B | CWS vs CLE 9/14 7:10 PM | Ubaldo Jimenez | 5-26 | .192 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 14 | .385 | .344 | .728 | |||||||
| Jeff Keppinger - 3B | CWS vs CLE 9/14 7:10 PM | Ubaldo Jimenez | 1-11 | .091 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .273 | .167 | .439 | |||||||
| Martin Prado - 3B | ARI vs COL 9/14 8:10 PM | Roy Oswalt | 2-13 | .154 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .231 | .154 | .385 | |||||||
| Adrian Gonzalez - 1B | LAD vs SF 9/14 9:10 PM | Tim Lincecum | 8-42 | .190 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 16 | .190 | .244 | .435 | |||||||
| Dee Gordon - SS | LAD vs SF 9/14 9:10 PM | Tim Lincecum | 1-13 | .077 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .077 | .143 | .220 | |||||||
| Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
| Yu Darvish | TEX vs Oak 9/14 1:05 PM | Athletics Batters | 21-70 | .300 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 18 | .526 | .402 | .928 | |||||||
| Cole Hamels | PHI @ Was 9/14 7:05 PM | Nationals Batters | 58-205 | .283 | 13 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 48 | .550 | .337 | .887 | |||||||
| Ervin Santana | KC @ Det 9/14 7:08 PM | Tigers Batters | 24-86 | .279 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 11 | 19 | .545 | .360 | .906 | |||||||
| Ubaldo Jimenez | CLE @ CWS 9/14 7:10 PM | White Sox Batters | 29-102 | .284 | 3 | 10 | 19 | 20 | 25 | .476 | .405 | .881 | |||||||
| Ricky Nolasco | LAD vs SF 9/14 9:10 PM | Giants Batters | 30-99 | .303 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 12 | .572 | .358 | .930 | |||||||
Recommended Pickup
Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR - In a quick turnaround, Rasmus was activated from the disabled list and inserted in the starting lineup Friday by the Blue Jays. While he may need to be eased back into action, he seems to be able to swing without limitations by the oblique injury. It will be his first appearance since August 11 and with Jose Bautista out for the season, Rasmus should see plenty of playing time opportunities. He offers solid power with 18 home runs, 60 RBI, and 26 doubles this season. He has not stolen a base this season, but with many outfielders around the league being shut down with injuries towards the end of the season, Rasmus could offer a nice power boost to a fantasy lineup.
Other Recent Recommendations: Moises Sierra, Jonathan Villar, Matt Adams, Jarrod Dyson, and Josh Rutledge
$300 Weekly Draftstreet Freerolls
Draftstreet will be running weekly freerolls for Rotowire fans throughout the entire MLB season. This free contest will be Pick 'em style drafting. The way Pick 'Em leagues work is you have 8 tiers of players and each tier will have players to choose from. All you have to do is select 1 player from each tier. There's absolutely nothing to lose and it takes 5 minutes to build a team.
CLICK HERE to sign up now!
Oh, and don't forget to take advantage of DraftStreet's 30% deposit bonus (up to $150). Simply enter the code ROTOWIRE in the Promo Code box when making your first deposit.
CLICK HERE to sign up for free and join the $300 Freeroll on DraftStreet.com.
DraftStreet Value Picks
SP: Michael Wacha, STL ($9,742)
C: John Buck, PIT ($5,769)
1B: Garrett Jones, PIT ($5,014)
2B: Anthony Rendon, WAS ($5,469)
SS: Ian Desmond, WAS ($5,906)
3B: Chris Johnson, ATL ($5,897)
OF: Bryce Harper, WAS ($6,415)
Register for a free account at DraftStreet.com and start playing daily fantasy sports games today!
