Friday Lineup Card: Closers Struggle in Openers

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Friday's Starters

White Sox (John Danks – L) at Rangers (Colby Lewis - R), 2:05
Twins (Carl Pavano - R) at Orioles (Jake Arrieta - R), 3:05
Yankees (CC Sabathia - L) at Rays (James Shields - R), 3:10
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - R), 4:10
Rockies (Jeremy Guthrie - R) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez - L), 7:05
Giants (Tim Lincecum - R) at Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy - R), 7:10
Dodgers (Chad Billingsley - R) at Padres (Corey Luebke - L), 10:05
Royals (Bruce Chen - L) at Angels (Jered Weaver - R), 10:05
Mariners (Jason Vargas - L) at Athletics (Brandon McCarthy - R), 10:05

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Clayton Kershaw, SP, LAD (illness) - Pulled from Thursday start after just three IP
Frank Francisco, RP, NYM (knee) - Saved Thursday's game and looked healthy doing it
Bryan LaHair, 1B, CHC (back) - Not in lineup Thursday; hopes to be back Sunday
Yorvit Torrealba, C, TEX (back) - Expected in Opening Day lineup Friday
Mike Adams, RP, TEX (calf) - Out a few days, but should avoid DL

Disabled List

Michael Morse, OF, WAS (back) - Double-A rehab assignment started Thursday
Andres Torres, OF, NYM (calf) - Left Thursday's game early and placed on DL
A.J. Burnett, SP, PIT (eye) - Starting in High-A on Friday
Chris Leroux, RP, PIT (chest) - Not allowed to throw for 4-6 weeks
Chien-Ming Wang, SP, WAS (hamstring) - Targeting late-April return
Drew Storen, RP, WAS (elbow) - Staying in Fla. For extended ST; expected back in April
Rick Ankiel, OF, WAS (leg) - Double-A rehab assignment started Thursday
Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL (knee) - Could be back Tuesday
Jose Contreras, RP, PHI (elbow) - Rehab assignment started Thursday
Stephen Drew, SS, ARI (ankle) - Running bases, but still month-plus away
Scott Baker, SP, MIN (elbow) - Setback had him removed from rehab start
Felipe Paulino, SP, KC (elbow) - Bullpen session coming Wednesday; return should be relatively soon
Victor Martinez, C, DET (knee) - Had second knee surgery (ACL) Thursday
Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE (back) - Hopes to begin baseball activities in a couple weeks
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, BOS (elbow) - Could start rehab assignment by early May

Transactions 

Placed on DL 

Andres Torres, OF, NYM (calf)
Tim Hudson, SP, ATL (back)
Tim Stauffer, SP, SD (triceps)
Kyle Farnsworth, RP, TB (elbow)
Dustin McGowan, SP, TOR (foot)
Jesse Litsch, SP, TOR (shoulder)
Jordan Smith, RP, CIN (elbow)
Nick Masset, RP, CIN (shoulder)
Marcos Mateo, RP, CHC (elbow)
Gustavo Nunez, SS, PIT (ankle)
Sergio Escalona, RP, HOU (elbow)
Hector Gomez, SS, COL (groin)
Josh Outman, SP, COL (oblique)
Jorge De La Rosa, SP, COL (Tommy John)
Jose Ceda, RP, MIA (elbow)
Al Alburquerque, RP, DET (elbow)
Bobby Cassevah, RP, ANA (shoulder)
Michael Kohn, RP, ANA (forearm)
Jeremy Moore, OF, ANA (hip)
Cesar Cabral, RP, NYY (elbow)
Austin Romine, C, NYY (back)
Brad Meyers, RP, NYY (shoulder)
Joba Chamberlain, RP, NYY (trampoline)
Blake Wood, RP, KC (elbow)
Sam Fuld, OF, TB (wrist)

Optioned to Triple-A

Tony Campana, OF, CHC
Jack Cust, DH, NYY
Gerardo Concepcion, RP, CLE
Thomas Neal, OF, CLE (outrighted)
Dana Eveland, RP, BAL (outrighted)

Called Up

Brad Brach, RP, SD
Blake DeWitt, 3B, CHC
Joe Mather, OF, CHC
Shawn Camp, RP, CHC

Claimed Off Waivers

John Gaub, RP, TB (from CHC)
Cody Eppley, RP, NYY (from TEX)

Closer Watch

Mets - Frank Francisco (knee) worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save on Opening Day. Possible takeover candidate Ramon Ramirez didn't look great, giving up three baserunners (though no runs) in 1.1 innings with a sub-90-mph fastball. Other possible candidate Jon Rauch worked a clean eighth. It's Francisco's job as long as he's healthy and effective, and he appeared both Thursday.

Tigers - Jose Valverde blew his 51-game save streak, but still got the win, pissing off all of Justin Verlander's fantasy owners. It'll take more than one blown save to loosen Valverde's grip on the position.

Red Sox - New-minted closer Alfredo Aceves came on in a non-save situation and hit a batter before he allowed a walk-off single to the only batter he faced, Austin Jackson.

Nationals - Brad Lidge collected his first save on Opening Day, but Drew Storen is expected back sometime in April and he should step right back into the role.

Cubs - Does anyone want this job? Kerry Wood walked in the tying run in the eighth, then Carlos Marmol gave up a run to lose the game in the ninth. It seems likely that Marmol will have to reach new heights of ineffectiveness to lose the job.

Indians - Chris Perez didn't help his case at all by turning an easy 4-1 win into a tie game that persisted for 16 innings, at the end of which the Indians lost. He gave up three runs and five baserunners in just 0.2 innings. Meanwhile, Vinnie Pestano worked 1.1 scoreless in relief. If Perez looks in his rearview mirror, he'll see Pestano warming up.

Recommended Pickup

J.D. Martinez, OF, HOU – Martinez has a meager 16% ownership rate on Yahoo, 26% on ESPN, and a more reasonable 59% on CBS. Those are pretty low rates for a guy who has shown serious ability as a line-drive hitter in the minor leagues. The Astros are bad – no doubt about it – but Martinez has a track record of hitting for great average (.342 career minor-league BA) and some pop, not to mention a favorable home park. Because speed isn't really a factor here and his power isn't huge, Martinez isn't a guy for the shallowest of leagues. However, his value is a little higher in OBP/OPS leagues.

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Draft Street Lineup

C – Chris Iannetta, ANA ($6,497)
1B – Michael Young, TEX ($7,824)
2B – Robinson Cano, NYY ($8,866)
3B – Aramis Ramirez, MIL ($7,674)
SS – Erick Aybar, ANA ($6,384)
OF – Adam Jones, BAL ($7,312)
OF – Alex Gordon, KC ($7,580)
OF – Cameron Maybin, SD ($6,499)
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UT – Alejandro De Aza, CHW ($5,856)
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P – Grant Balfour, OAK ($1,803)

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