Wednesday Lineup Card: The O's Cure All Woes

Projected Starters – A look at Wednesday's matchups:

Phillies (Roy Halladay – R) at Reds (Aaron Harang – R), 12:35 ET
Tigers (Andy Oliver – L) at Twins (Kevin Slowey – R), 1:10 ET
Astros (Wandy Rodriguez – L) at Brewers (Dave Bush – R), 2:10 ET
Diamondbacks (Barry Enright - R) at Cardinals (Jeff Suppan – R), 2:15 ET
Pirates (Brad Lincoln – R) at Cubs (Tom Gorzelanny – L), 2:20 ET
Rockies (Jeff Francis – L) at Padres (Clayton Richard – L), 3:35 ET
Dodgers (Vicente Padilla – R) at Giants (Jonathan Sanchez – L), 3:45 ET
Mets (Mike Pelfrey – R) at Marlins (Chris Volstad – R), 7:05 ET
Athletics (Ben Sheets – R) at Orioles (Kevin Millwood – R), 7:05 ET
Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R) at Yankees (Javier Vazquez – R), 7:05 ET
Blue Jays (Jesse Litsch – R) at Indians (Aaron Laffey – L), 7:05 ET
Nationals (J.D. Martin – R) at Braves (Jair Jurrjens – R), 7:10 ET
Rays (Matt Garza – R) at Red Sox (Daisuke Matsuzaka – R), 7:10 ET
White Sox (Jake Peavy – R) at Royals (Zack Greinke – R), 8:10 ET
Rangers (Omar Beltre – R) at Angels (Scott Kazmir – L), 10:05 ET

Day Game After Night Game: PHI, CIN, DET, MIN, HOU, MIL, ARZ, STL, PIT, CHC, COL, SDG, LAD, SFO

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)

Bobby Jenks, P, White Sox (personal) – Wife having complications after having baby, but Jenks could be back Friday
Brett Gardner, OF, Yankees (wrist) – Out of Tuesday's lineup
Carl Crawford, OF, Rays (shoulder) – Returned to Tuesday's lineup
Ryan Sweeney, OF, Athletcs (knees) – Knees are sore, out Tuesday
Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers (oblique) – Returned to Tuesday's lineup
Dallas Braden, P, Athletics (forearm) – Scratched from Tuesday's start
Jason Donald, SS, Indians (wrist) – Didn't start Tuesday but did pregame drills
Neil Walker, 3B, Pirates (concussion) – MRI negative, but missed Monday and Tuesday games
Bobby Crosby, 3B, Pirates (concussion) – Left Monday's game
Ryan Church, OF, Pirates (knee) – Pinch-hit Monday, still not in Tuesday's lineup
Chris Carpenter, P, Cardinals (forearm) – Struck in forearm Monday, could miss next start but he did finish out Monday's game. Went seven innings despite being struck in first inning.
Stephen Drew, SS, Diamondbacks (knee) – Missed Tuesday's game
Ryan Ludwick, OF, Cardinals (calf) – Out for fourth game in a row Tuesday
Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies (back) – Not in Tuesday's lineup
Brad Hawpe, OF, Rockies (ribs) – Will start Wednesday

Players on the DL

Rick Ankiel, OF, Royals (quads) – Has not played in Triple-A in two weeks
Victor Martinez, C, Red Sox (thumb) – Out until All-Star break
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, Indians (arm) – Rehab after All-Star break
Joel Zumaya, P, Tigers (elbow) – Out for season
J.J. Hardy, SS, Twins (wrist) – Beginning minor league rehab Wednesday
Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays (wrist) – Starting rehab Wednesday
Felix Pie, OF, Orioles (shoulder) – Could return to Orioles on Friday
Homer Bailey, P, Reds (shoulder) – Threw on Monday, but won't have mound session until near All-Star break
Ryan Hanigan, C, Reds (thumb) – DH'ing during rehab
Jair Jurrjens, P, Braves (hamstring) – Will start Wednesday, unseating either Kris Medlen or Kenshin Kawakami
Antonio Bastardo, P, Phillies (elbow) – Began throwing program, still a long way away
Felipe Paulino, P, Astros (shoulder) – Pain free and should return when eligible July 6
Tyler Walker, P, Nationals (shoulder) – Placed on DL
David Freese, 3B, Cardinals (ankle) – Ankle has been a bother most of the month
Oliver Perez, P, Mets (knee) – Will begin rehab Wednesday
Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies (thumb) – Diagnosed as sprain
Placido Polanco, 3B, Phillies (elbow) – Placed on DL Tuesday
Jason Heyward, OF, Braves (thumb) – Likely out at least through All-Star break

Transactions – Players that 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)
Jason Heyward, OF, Braves
Tyler Walker, P, Nationals
Carlos Zambrano, P, Cubs (restricted list)
Victor Martinez, C, Red Sox
Joel Zumaya, P, Tigers
Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
David Freese, 3B, Cardinals
John Grabow, P, Cubs

Activated from the DL
Matt Diaz, OF, Braves

Called Up
Craig Stammen, P, Nationals
Casey Fien, P, Tigers
Brian Bocock, SS, Phillies
Greg Dobbs, 3B, Phillies
Fernando Salas, P, Cardinals
James Russell, P, Cubs
Jeff Stevens, P, Cubs
Gustavo Molina, C, Red Sox

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

CLE – Kerry Wood picked up saves on back-to-back days Sunday and Monday, allowing one hit and striking out five in two innings.

ARI – The D'Backs tried to have Dan Haren complete his game against the Cardinals and it had nasty results. Haren couldn't retire two batters before Aaron Heilman came in and back-to-back errors let the Cardinals walk off with a win.

Key Matchups – Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included). *Check Status

Hot

Ryan Howard v. Aaron Harang – 4-for-15 (.267), 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4:4 BB:K, .421 OBP
Corey Hart v. Wandy Rodriguez – 11-for-27 (.407), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3:4 BB:K, .467 OBP
Ryan Braun v. Wandy Rodriguez – 6-for-16 (.375), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .444 OBP
Hunter Pence v. Dave Bush – 8-for-17 (.471), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .500 OBP
Edgar Renteria v. Vicente Padilla – 8-for-22 (.364), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1:7 BB:K, .391 OBP – 8-for-15 on balls in play
Aubrey Huff v. Vicente Padilla – 8-for-14 (.571), 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .647 OBP
Russell Martin v. Jonathan Sanchez – 6-for-15 (.400), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 7:2 BB:K, .591 OBP
Matt Kemp v. Jonathan Sanchez – 7-for-17 (.412), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 3:1 BB:K, .500 OBP
Manny Ramirez v. Jonathan Sanchez – 6-for-10 (.600), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .667 OBP – lots of damage in few at-bats
Dan Uggla v. Mike Pelfrey – 9-for-23 (.391), 0 HR, 8 RBI, 2:5 BB:K, .483 OBP
Cody Ross v. Mike Pelfrey – 6-for-17 (.353), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .450 OBP
Jeff Francoeur v. Chris Volstad – 5-for-9 (.556), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .636 OBP
Miguel Cabrera v. Kevin Slowey – 4-for-13 (.308), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .308 OBP
Ty Wigginton v. Ben Sheets – 12-for-33 (.364), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6:3 BB:K, .462 OBP
Adrian Beltre v. Matt Garza – 7-for-16 (.438), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .438 OBP
Carlos Pena v. Daisuke Matsuzaka – 6-for-18 (.333), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 8:6 BB:K, .538 OBP
A.J. Pierzynski v. Zack Greinke – 16-for-40 (.400), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0:7 BB:K, .415 OBP

Ben Sheets v. Orioles – If Sheets can get through the thorn in his side – Ty Wigginton (.364/.462/.606), it looks like he will be just fine. Besides holding the Orioles (including Wigginton) to a line of .221/.280/.349, Sheets has a walk/strikeout ratio of 4:1.

Jeff Francis v. Padres – Let's point out that Francis has held Adrian Gonzalez to a line of .154 with 11 strikeouts in 26 at-bats. Given his ability to hold San Diego's only offensive threat in check and the fact that this game is being played in Petco Park, it is enough to overlook a short history with most of the rest of Gonzalez's teammates.

Cold

Kelly Johnson v. Jeff Suppan – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .200 OBP
Adrian Gonzalez v. Jeff Francis – 4-for-26 (.154), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1:11 BB:K, .185 OBP
Rafael Furcal v. Jonathan Sanchez – 1-for-14 (.071), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3:3 BB:K, .235 OBP
Cesar Izturis v. Ben Sheets – 3-for-24 (.125), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .125 OBP
Luke Scott v. Ben Sheets – 3-for-16 (.188), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3:8 BB:K, .316 OBP
Miguel Tejada v. Ben Sheets – 2-for-16 (.125), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:6 BB:K, .176 OBP
Corey Patterson v. Ben Sheets – 9-for-40 (.225), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:19 BB:K, .244 OBP – doesn't get uglier than that BB:K ratio
Jack Cust v. Kevin Millwood – 4-for-23 (.174), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6:12 BB:K, .367 OBP
Kurt Suzuki v. Kevin Millwood – 2-for-18 (.111), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .111 OBP
Coco Crisp v. Kevin Millwood – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .188 OBP
Milton Bradley v. Javier Vazquez – 3-for-18 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .211 OBP
Jose Lopez v. Javier Vazquez – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .133 OBP
J.D. Drew v. Matt Garza – 3-for-21 (.143), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:6 BB:K, .240 OBP
B.J. Upton v. Daisuke Matsuzaka – 1-for-13 (.077), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:4 BB:K, .200 OBP
Jason Bartlett v. Daisuke Matsuzaka – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .143 OBP
Paul Konerko v. Zack Greinke – 7-for-51 (.137), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6:15 BB:K, .241 OBP
Ian Kinsler v. Scott Kazmir – 3-for-26 (.115), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .172 OBP

Felix Hernandez v. Yankees – Besides a lengthy history with Mark Teixeira, Hernandez has a limited history with Yankees veterans, including just 10 appearances against Alex Rodriguez. However, current Yankees have eight home runs in 125 at-bats and that doesn't bode well for a game being played in Yankee Stadium.

Mike Pelfrey v. Marlins – Led by an inability to strike out current Marlins (19 K in 126 AB), Pelfrey has been hurt by a .302/.369/.853 clip. Dan Uggla, Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross each have at least 20 plate appearances and hit .350 or better against Pelfrey.

Aaron Harang v. Phillies – Harang's numbers against the Phillies aren't downright bad (.293/.356/.520), but the word is out that Harang is struggling this season. Throw in that this game will be played in a hitters park (GABP) against a team with plenty of power and it could be a short day for Harang.

Recommended Pickup

Justin Smoak, 1B, Rangers – The buzz was high on Smoak when he was called up in April, but he hit just .175 through Memorial Day. However, the month of June has been a different story. He is hitting .291 with four home runs and 22 RBI or the month, yet many are still lost in his .225 line for the season. There will be strikeouts along the way, but we know that the summer can be a good thing for an already loaded Rangers lineup.

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