This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Wednesday's matchups:
Pirates (James McDonald – R) at Cardinals (P.J. Walters – R), 1:40 ET
Mariners (Jason Vargas – L) at Rangers (Rich Harden – R), 2:05 ET
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin – R), 3:10 ET
Athletics (Bobby Cramer – L) at Angels (Joel Pineiro – R), 3:35 ET
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo – R) at Mets (R.A. Dickey – R), 4:10 ET – Game 1
Marlins (Andrew Miller – L) at Braves (Mike Minor – L), 4:35 ET
Phillies (Joe Blanton – R) at Nationals (Ross Detwiler – L), 7:05 ET
Tigers (Justin Verlander – R) at Indians (Josh Tomlin – R), 7:05 ET
Yankees (Andy Pettitte – L) at Blue Jays (Brett Cecil – L), 7:07 ET
Astros (Nelson Figueroa – R) at Reds (Johnny Cueto – R), 7:10 ET
Brewers (David Bush – R) at Mets (Jonathon Niese – L), 7:40 ET – Game 2
Orioles (Kevin Millwood – R) at Rays (Jeff Niemann – R), 7:10 ET
Twins (Scott Baker – R) at Royals (Luke Hochevar – R), 8:10 ET
Red Sox (Josh Beckett – R) at White Sox (Freddy Garcia – R), 8:10 ET
Cubs (Randy Wells – R) at Padres (Chris Young – R), 10:05 ET
Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy – R) at Giants
Projected Starters - A look at Wednesday's matchups:
Pirates (James McDonald – R) at Cardinals (P.J. Walters – R), 1:40 ET
Mariners (Jason Vargas – L) at Rangers (Rich Harden – R), 2:05 ET
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin – R), 3:10 ET
Athletics (Bobby Cramer – L) at Angels (Joel Pineiro – R), 3:35 ET
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo – R) at Mets (R.A. Dickey – R), 4:10 ET – Game 1
Marlins (Andrew Miller – L) at Braves (Mike Minor – L), 4:35 ET
Phillies (Joe Blanton – R) at Nationals (Ross Detwiler – L), 7:05 ET
Tigers (Justin Verlander – R) at Indians (Josh Tomlin – R), 7:05 ET
Yankees (Andy Pettitte – L) at Blue Jays (Brett Cecil – L), 7:07 ET
Astros (Nelson Figueroa – R) at Reds (Johnny Cueto – R), 7:10 ET
Brewers (David Bush – R) at Mets (Jonathon Niese – L), 7:40 ET – Game 2
Orioles (Kevin Millwood – R) at Rays (Jeff Niemann – R), 7:10 ET
Twins (Scott Baker – R) at Royals (Luke Hochevar – R), 8:10 ET
Red Sox (Josh Beckett – R) at White Sox (Freddy Garcia – R), 8:10 ET
Cubs (Randy Wells – R) at Padres (Chris Young – R), 10:05 ET
Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy – R) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 10:05 ET
Day game after a night game: PIT, STL, SEA, COL, OAK, LAA, MIL, ATL, FLA, NYM
Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns
Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Bobby Jenks, P, White Sox (forearm) – Unsure if he will return before end of season, consider it doubtful.
Gavin Floyd, P, White Sox (shoulder) – Will miss final start.
Gordon Beckham, 3B, White Sox (hand) – Could make it back for final series, but don't bet on it.
Jim Thome, 1B, Twins (back) – Likely out for remainder of KC series.
Alexis Rios, OF, White Sox (knee) – Out of Tuesday's lineup after fouling pitch off knee.
Wilson Betemit, 3B, Royals (leg) – Out of Tuesday's lineup, missed three in a row.
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers (ankle) – Will make a daily decision on return, not friendly to fantasy owners looking for championship.
Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays (quads) – Out of Tuesday's lineup, giving quads rest before postseason… also doesn't help fantasy owners.
Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers (ribs) – Targeting one of weekend's games.
J.J. Hardy, SS, Twins (knee) – Could return this weekend.
Mike Carp, 1B, Athletics (foot) – Out for season.
Jair Jurrjens, P, Braves (knee) – Could pitch Friday.
Jason Giambi, 1B, Rockies (biceps) – Out for season.
Mat Gamel, 3B, Brewers (toe) – Surgery coming, out for season.
Will Venable, OF, Padres (back) – Scratched Monday, check back for status.
Martin Prado, 2B, Braves (hip) – "Day-to-day" but prognosis doesn't look good.
Adam Wainwright, P, Cardinals (elbow) – Looks like he has made his last start.
Brandon Webb, P, Diamondbacks (shoulder) – Will start throwing, but no game action this year.
Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies (hamstring) – Starting Tuesday.
Lastings Milledge, OF, Pirates (oblique) – May return this weekend.
Jeffrey Karstens, P, Pirates (shoulder) – Good bullpen session, should join bullpen Wednesday or Thursday.
Clint Barmes, 2B, Rockies (personal) – Left team to be with ailing father.
Eric Young, Jr., 2B, Rockies (leg) – Out for season.
Freddy Sanchez, 2B, Giants (shoulder) – Out Tuesday, could miss a few games.
Placido Polanco, 2B, Phillies (arm) – At the minimum, regular season in doubt.
Players on the DL
Frank Francisco, P, Rangers (back) – Had bullpen session Tuesday, highly unlikely to return before end of regular season.
Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Activated from DL
Maicer Izturis, 3B, Angels
Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left)
CLE – Chris Perez returned from his leave of absence Monday and picked up a save.
TOR – Kevin Gregg got a save Monday after a rocky outing in his last appearance when he was pulled out of a save situation that got to be too close for comfort.
SEA – David Aardsma's oblique is sore, so Brandon League notched his fifth save Monday.
StL – Seems the Cardinals are reluctant to put Ryan Franklin out there twice in a row, so Kyle McClellan pitched a scoreless inning for a save on Monday.
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
Dexter Fowler v. Clayton Kershaw – 7-for-19 (.368), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:5 BB:K, .478 OBP
Andre Ethier v. Jhoulys Chacin – 5-for-10 (.500), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .583 OBP
Ryan Zimmerman v. Joe Blanton – 8-for-24 (.333), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3:5 BB:K, .407 OBP
Willie Harris v. Joe Blanton – 5-for-13 (.385), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3:1 BB:K, .500 OBP
Ian Desmond v. Joe Blanton – 6-for-11 (.545), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .500 OBP
Scott Rolen v. Nelson Figueroa – 4-for-11 (.364), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .462 OBP
Ryan Ludwick v. Randy Wells – 3-for-6 (.500), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1:0 BB:K, .625 OBP
Buster Posey v. Ian Kennedy – 5-for-9 (.555), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .556 OBP
Nelson Cruz v. Jason Vargas – 4-for-13 (.308), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .400 OBP
Vladimir Guerrero v. Jason Vargas – 4-for-10 (.400), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .400 OBP
Bengie Molina v. Jason Vargas – 4-for-7 (.571), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .500 OBP
Coco Crisp v. Joel Pineiro – 8-for-22 (.364), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .391 OBP
Michael Brantley v. Justin Verlander – 5-for-10 (.500), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .545 OBP
Vernon Wells v. Andy Pettitte – 17-for-50 (.340), 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6:8 BB:K, .411 OBP
Jose Bautista v. Andy Pettitte – 9-for-29 (.310), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4:3 BB:K, .394 OBP
Marcus Thames v. Brett Cecil – 4-for-9 (.444), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .444 OBP
Brian Roberts v. Jeff Niemann – 8-for-19 (.421), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2:4 BB:K, .476 OBP
Matt Wieters v. Jeff Niemann – 5-for-10 (.500), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .583 OBP
Ty Wigginton v. Jeff Niemann – 4-for-9 (.444), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .444 OBP
Joe Mauer v. Luke Hochevar – 9-for-17 (.529), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3:0 BB:K, .600 OBP
Jason Kubel v. Luke Hochevar – 5-for-18 (.278), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .316 OBP
Orlando Hudson v. Luke Hochevar – 6-for-11 (.545), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .615 OBP
Jim Thome v. Luke Hochevar – 3-for-10 (.300), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .364 OBP
Joe Inglett v. R.A. Dickey – 4-for-6 (.667), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .667 OBP
Cold
Troy Tulowitzki v. Clayton Kershaw – 5-for-27 (.185), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:8 BB:K, .290 OBP
Clint Barmes v. Clayton Kershaw – 3-for-16 (.188), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .278 OBP
Carlos Gonzalez v. Clayton Kershaw – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:7 BB:K, .333 OBP
Matt Kemp v. Jhoulys Chacin – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .250 OBP
Andres Torres v. Ian Kennedy – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .143 OBP
Pablo Sandoval v. Ian Kennedy – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .167 OBP
Elvis Andrus v. Jason Vargas – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 BB:K, .143 OBP
Jose Lopez v. Rich Harden – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:6 BB:K, .143 OBP
Asdrubal Cabrera v. Justin Verlander – 4-for-26 (.154), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:10 BB:K, .267 OBP
Matt LaPorta v. Justin Verlander – 0-for-9 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .100 OBP
Aaron Hill v. Andy Pettitte – 4-for-30 (.133), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:8 BB:K, .133 OBP
Lyle Overbay v. Andy Pettitte – 3-for-29 (.103) 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:7 BB:K, .103 OBP
Adam Lind v. Andy Pettitte – 3-for-19 (.158), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:8 BB:K, .273 OBP
Curtis Granderson v. Brett Cecil – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .154 OBP
Adam Jones v. Jeff Niemann – 3-for-16 (.188), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:6 BB:K, .235 OBP
Billy Butler v. Scott Baker – 2-for-25 (.080), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .080 OBP
Alex Gordon v. Scott Baker – 3-for-18 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:9 BB:K, .250 OBP
Josh Fields v. Scott Baker – 1-for-9 (.111), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:6 BB:K, .111 OBP
Paul Konerko v. Josh Beckett – 1-for-10 (.100), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .250 OBP
David Ortiz v. Freddy Garcia – 5-for-26 (.192), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:7 BB:K, .250 OBP
David Wright v. Yovani Gallardo – 0-for-8 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:5 BB:K, .200 OBP
Henry Blanco v. David Bush – 0-for-10 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .000 OBP
Joe Blanton v. Nationals - .318/.369/.565 (170 AB, 9 HR)
Jeff Niemann v. Orioles - .331/.383/.551 (118 AB, 5 HR)
Recommended Pickup
Chris Young, P, Padres – If you are still in the hunt, it is coming down to streaming options only. Take a look at Young, as the Padres should be trying to stretch him out to make him postseason ready in Wednesday's start. He has allowed two runs in two starts since returning and the Padres won both games. A home start against the Cubs is attractive as well.
Other recent recommendations:Craig Breslow, Wade Davis, Wilson Betemit, Travis Wood, James McDonald
