Wednesday Lineup Card: DL Bound?

Projected Starters – A look at Wednesday's matchups:

Cardinals (Adam Wainwright – R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R), 12:35 ET
Rays (Matt Garza – R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander – R), 1:05 ET
Braves (Tommy Hanson – R) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez – L), 2:05 ET
Royals (Zack Greinke – R) at Angels (Jered Weaver – R), 3:35 ET
Athletics (Dallas Braden – L) at Mariners (Luke French – L), 3:40 ET
Dodgers (Chad Billingsley – R) at Phillies (Roy Oswalt – R), 7:05 ET
Marlins (Chris Volstad – R) at Nationals (Scott Olsen – L), 7:05 ET
Orioles (Brad Bergesen – R) at Indians (Josh Tomlin – R), 7:05 ET
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Blue Jays (Shaun Marcum – R), 7:07 ET
Rockies (Jeff Francis – L) at Mets (Jonathon Niese – L), 7:10 ET
Yankees (Javier Vazquez – R) at Rangers (Cliff Lee – L), 8:05 ET
Diamondbacks (Dan Hudson – R) at Brewers (David Bush – R), 8:10 ET
Twins (Glen Perkins – L) at White Sox (John Danks – L), 8:10 ET
Pirates (James McDonald – R) at Padres (Kevin Correia – R), 10:05 ET
Cubs (Tom Gorzelanny – L) at Giants (Barry Zito – L), 10:15 ET

Day Game After Night Game: STL, CIN, TAM, DET, ATL, HOU, KAN, LAA, OAK, SEA

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 (back) – Not used in late innings Monday
Yunel Escobar, SS, Blue Jays (knee) – Scratched Tuesday
Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees (illness) – Out of lineup Tuesday but available to pinch hit
Gordon Beckham, 3B, White Sox (groin) – Out of Tuesday's lineup, should play Wednesday
Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees (personal) – Wife gave birth Tuesday, could rejoin team Thursday
Gregor Blanco, OF, Royals (personal) – Out for birth of child
Gaby Sanchez, 1B, Marlins (hamstring) – Back in lineup Tuesday
Cody Ross, OF, Marlins (back) – Back in lineup Tuesday
Rafael Furcal, SS, Dodgers (back) – Out of Tuesday's lineup, available to pinch hit
Corey Hart, OF, Brewers (back) – Out of Tuesday lineup after pinch hitting Monday
Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers (wrist) – Can't swing a bat, DL coming?
Jason Heyward, OF, Braves (knee) – Out of Tuesday's lineup with sore knee, no word on how it happened

Players on the DL

Conor Jackson, OF, Athletics (hamstring) – On rehab, recent callup of Chris Carter could send Jackson to utility role when he returns
Nick Punto, SS, Twins (hamstring) – targeting Friday return
Gil Meche, P, Royals (shoulder) – Threw simulated game
Wade Davis, P, Rays (shoulder) – Precautionary trip to DL, could return when eligible Aug. 21
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox (foot) – Could be back next Tuesday
Andrew Bailey, P, Athletics (oblique) – On throwing program
Geovany Soto, C, Cubs (shoulder) – Placed on DL Tuesday, could be shut down for season
Jeremy Affeldt, P, Giants (oblique) – Out for third week but throwing in bullpen
Brian Moehler, P, Astros (groin) – Decision on surgery coming soon
Homer Bailey, P, Reds (shoulder) – Will pitch in relief Tuesday on rehab, move to bullpen likely?
Luis Atilano, P, Nationals (elbow) – Out for season
Nyjer Morgan, OF, Nationals (hip) – No surgery, could be back by end of month
David Eckstein, 2B, Padres (calf) – Still at least a week away
J.D. Martin, P, Nationals (back) – Out for season, should be ready for spring training

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)
Wade Davis, P, Rays
Geovany Soto, C, Cubs

Activated from the DL
Matt Treanor, C, Rangers

Called Up
Jeremy Hellickson, P, Rays
Micah Hoffpauir, 1B, Cubs
Welington Castro, C, Cubs
Antonio Bastardo, P, Phillies

Sent Down
Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs (bereavement list)
Luke Carlin, C, Indians (traded from Pirates)

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

ARI – Aaron Heilman gave up three hits Monday night but still converted his sixth save. The performance came two days after he blew a save opportunity by allowing two runs in one inning.

BAL – Alfredo Simon blew a save opportunity Monday night, his fourth BS of the season. His 1.57 WHIP shows he is not getting the job done and Mike Gonzalez has been producing some good innings recently.

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

Albert Pujols v. Bronson Arroyo – 17-for-56 (.304), 3 HR, 11 RBI, 12:3 BB:K, .426 OBP
Felipe Lopez v. Bronson Arroyo – 15-for-36 (.417), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3:2 BB:K, .462 OBP
Troy Glaus v. Wandy Rodriguez – 6-for-16 (.375), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .375 OBP
Adam Dunn v. Chris Volstad – 6-for-13 (.462), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 7:2 BB:K, .650 OBP
Ryan Zimmerman v. Chris Volstad – 8-for-15 (.533), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .533 OBP
Ronny Paulino v. Scott Olsen – 10-for-23 (.435), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .435 OBP
David Wright v. Jeff Francis – 6-for-9 (.667), 3 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .750 OBP
Stephen Drew v. David Bush – 6-for-14 (.429), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .467 OBP
Aramis Ramirez v. Barry Zito – 4-for-10 (.400), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .417 OBP
Jhonny Peralta v. Matt Garza – 9-for-19 (.474), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:6 BB:K, .474 OBP
B.J. Upton v. Justin Verlander – 5-for-10 (.500), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .545 OBP
Torii Hunter v. Zack Greinke – 8-for-30 (.267), 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .313 OBP
Erick Aybar v. Zack Greinke – 7-for-14 (.500), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .563 OBP
Chone Figgins v. Dallas Braden – 8-for-16 (.500), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2:4 BB:K, .526 OBP
Adrian Beltre v. Shaun Marcum – 7-for-18 (.389), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3:2 BB:K, .476 OBP
Mike Lowell v. Shaun Marcum – 5-for-13 (.385), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .385 OBP
Jorge Cantu v. Javier Vazquez – 5-for-11 (.455), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 BB:K, .500 OBP
Derek Jeter v. Cliff Lee – 12-for-31 (.387), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 3:3 BB:K, .441 OBP
Nick Swisher v. Cliff Lee – 8-for-22 (.364), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4:4 BB:K, .464 OBP
Michael Cuddyer v. John Danks – 18-for-38 (.474), 5 HR, 11 RBI, 3:5 BB:K, .512 OBP
Joe Mauer v. John Danks – 12-for-35 (.343), 0 HR, 6 RBI, 4:5 BB:K, .425 OBP

Cold

Brandon Phillips v. Adam Wainwright – 3-for-19 (.158), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .200 OBP
Randy Winn v. Bronson Arroyo – 4-for-26 (.154), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .154 OBP
Alex Gonzalez v. Wandy Rodriguez – 2-for-17 (.118), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .118 OBP
Chris Snyder v. Kevin Correia – 3-for-16 (.188), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:6 BB:K, .316 OBP
Alfonso Soriano v. Barry Zito – 5-for-39 (.128), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 4:14 BB:K, .209 OBP
Johnny Damon v. Matt Garza – 2-for-19 (.105), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .150 OBP
Jason Bartlett v. Justin Verlander – 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6:4 BB:K, .400 OBP
Kelly Shoppach v. Justin Verlander – 3-for-17 (.176), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:6 BB:K, .222 OBP
Ben Zobrist v. Justin Verlander – 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .125 OBP
Marcus Thames v. Cliff Lee – 6-for-30 (.200), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 0:12 BB:K, .200 OBP

John Danks v. Twins – Danks has taken a major step forward this season, but he still hasn't figured out how to pitch to the Twins. In three starts this season Danks has a 4.74 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. His career line against current Twins is .312/.388/.498, but he gets a break for missing the injured Justin Morneau, who has owned him. Still, Michael Cuddyer, Joe Mauer, Denard Span and Delmon Young each have averages at .320 or better and Jason Kubel isn't far behind at .296. Each of those five have 29 or more plate appearances against Danks.

Cliff Lee v. Yankees – Things have not gone well for Cliff Lee in his history against the Yankees, compiling a 4.72 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 10 career starts. Current Yankees have had much of that success as shown by a .300/.349/.519 line against. Lee gets a boost by missing Mark Teixeira, who is away from the team for the birth of his child. Meanwhile, Robinson Cano was out with an illness on Tuesday, so his status could be up in the air for Wednesday.

Zack Greinke v. Angels – With a line against the Angels at .298/.352/.504, Greinke isn't horrible in this matchup. But the point of this post is to let you know that someone's line is either well above or well below that player's normal stats. For a Cy Young winner this is more than just a lackluster line, it is a enough to make a fantasy player who is straddling an innings limit think twice.

Recommended Pickup:

Jeremy Guthrie, P, Orioles – Despite the Orioles' woes, Guthrie has been fantastic since the All-Star break. He has a quality start in each of the five starts he has made and drawn three wins in the process with a 1.77 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. Guthrie has been known as a finesse pitcher over the years, but he was clocked in the mid-90s in one of his recent starts. He won't maintain his line from the last month, but we have seen him put up some useful numbers sans strikeouts in the past.

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