Monday Lineup Card: Ride Keppinger To The Title

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Monday’s Starters

Braves (Paul Maholm – L) at Pirates (Jeff Locke – L), 7:05
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 7:05
White Sox (Hector Santiago – L) at Indians (Corey Kluber – R), 7:05
Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R) at Nationals (John Lannan – L), 7:05
Twins (Esmerling Vasquez – R) at Blue Jays (Aaron Laffey – L), 7:07
Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – L) at Rays (Alex Cobb – R), 7:10
Mets (Jeurys Familia – R) at Marlins (Josh Johnson – R), 7:10
Astros (Lucas Harrell – R) at Cubs (Jason Berken – R), 8:05
Tigers (Rick Porcello – R) at Royals (Bruce Chen – L), 8:10
Padres (Clayton Richard – L) at Brewers (Shaun Marcum – R), 8:10
Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – L), 8:15
Rockies (Drew Pomeranz – L) at Diamondbacks (Wade Miley – L), 9:40
Rangers (Martin Perez – L) at Athletics (Jarrod Parker – R), 10:05
Angels (C.J. Wilson – L) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R), 10:10
Giants (Matt Cain – R) at Dodgers (Aaron Harang – R), 10:10

Day Game After A Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-To-Day
Mike Adams, RP, TEX (neck) – Diagnosed with mild thoracic outlet syndrome.
Brett Anderson, SP, OAK (oblique) – On track to throw bullpen session Monday.
Erick Aybar, SS, LAA (quadriceps) – Removed from Sunday’s game.
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX (shoulder) – Left the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Rangers with a shoulder strain.
Michael Bourn, OF, ATL (thumb) – Returned to the lineup Sunday.
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE (groin) – Remained out of the starting lineup after pinch-hitting Saturday.
Tyler Colvin, OF, COL (elbow) – Remained out of the lineup Sunday.
Alejandro De Aza, OF, CWS (illness) – Held out of the starting lineup Sunday.
Matt Dominguez, 3B, HOU (stomach) – Returned to the lineup Sunday.
Octavio Dotel, RP, DET (bicep) – Exited Friday’s game with a sore right bicep.
Adam Eaton, OF, ARI (hand) – Sustained a broken hand and will miss rest of season.
Mark Ellis, 2B, LAD (illness) – Returned to the starting lineup Sunday.
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR (back) – Left Sunday’s game with tightness in left upper trapezius muscle.
Alcides Escobar, SS, KC (shoulder) – Remained out of the starting lineup Sunday.
David Freese, 3B, STL (ankle) – Returned to the starting lineup Sunday.
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, ARI (back) – Remained out of lineup Sunday.
Tyler Greene, SS, HOU (knee) – Started Sunday for the second straight game.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, SEA (leg) – Removed from the game Sunday after limping off the field.
Roberto Hernandez, P, CLE (ankle) – Could pitch out of bullpen during final week of season.
Eric Hosmer, 1B, KC (shoulder) – Will be reexamined Monday and could play in series against the Tigers.
Steve Johnson, SP, BAL (foot) – Set to undergo MRI on Monday.
Ryan Ludwick, OF, CIN (groin) – Scratched from Sunday’s lineup with slick field conditions following rain.
Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC (groin) – Exited Sunday’s game with tightness but says he’s fine.
Jayson Nix, 2B, NYY (hip) – Out 10 to 14 days with a Grade 1 left hip flexor strain.
Eric O’Flaherty, RP, ATL (back) – Will be rested as much as possible the rest of the season.
Mike Olt, 3B, TEX (heel) – Believes he’s ready to return to action but hasn’t received official clearance from Rangers’ medical staff.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN (groin) – Expects to return to the lineup Monday after leaving Sunday’s game with tightness.
Ricky Romero, SP, TOR (knee) – Dealing with inflammation in the area above his left knee but has no structural damage.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY (calf) – Expected to return to the lineup Monday.
Edinson Volquez, SP, SD (undisclosed) – Left Sunday’s game with an injury.
Josh Willingham, OF, MIN (shoulder) – Remained out of the starting lineup Sunday.
Chris Young, OF, ARI (quadriceps) – Pinch-hit Thursday and Friday but missed ninth consecutive start Sunday.

Disabled List
Freddy Galvis, 2B, PHI (back) – Will play in fall instructional league.

Transactions

Called Up (from Triple-A unless otherwise noted)
Tyson Brummett, P, PHI
Rafael Ortega, OF, COL (from High-A Modesto)

Placed on Disabled List (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Jonathan Sanchez, SP, COL (transferred to 60-day DL)
Brian Schneider, C, PHI (transferred to 60-day DL)

Closer Watch

Baltimore – Jim Johnson notched his league-leading 50th save with an efficient seven-pitch ninth inning to seal a 6-3 win over the Red Sox on Sunday, clinching the team’s first playoff appearance since 1997.

Cincinnati – Aroldis Chapman loaded the bases on a hit and two walks, but left Sunday’s win over the Pirates unscathed and with his 37th save in tow. While he hasn’t looked as dominant as he did earlier in the season, Chapman will present an intimidating challenge to hitters in the postseason.

Los Angeles (A.L.) – It looks like manager Mike Scioscia’s claim of the Angels moving to a closing committee of Ernesto Frieri, Scott Downs and Jordan Walden was just conjecture, as Frieri has seen the team’s last three save chances. He earned his 23rd save of the season in a 1-2-3 ninth inning in the first game of the Sunday’s doubleheader with the Rangers.

Pittsburgh – Joel Hanrahan gave up three runs on two hits Sunday against the Reds, earning his second loss and fourth blown save of the season. The loss was doubly painful in that it moved the Pirates’ record to 77-82, ensuring the team’s 20th consecutive losing season.

Texas – Joe Nathan went from zero to hero all in one day, blowing the save in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader and shutting down the Angels in the nightcap. The blown save was Nathan’s third of the season and landed him his fifth loss, while the save was No. 37 on the year.

KEY MATCHUPS: HOT
Hot Batter Matchups			At-Bats	AVG	HR	XBH	RBI	BB	K	SLG	OBP	OPS
Mike Aviles - 2B	BOS @ NYY 10/1 7:05 PM	CC Sabathia	6-13	.462	0	1	1	0	0	.538	.462	1.000
Robinson Cano - 2B	NYY vs BOS 10/1 7:05 PM	Clay Buchholz	9-20	.450	0	3	0	0	1	.600	.450	1.050
Alex Rodriguez - 3B	NYY vs BOS 10/1 7:05 PM	Clay Buchholz	7-19	.368	1	1	3	2	2	.526	.429	.955
Chase Utley - 2B	PHI @ WAS 10/1 7:05 PM	John Lannan	12-35	.343	2	3	6	4	8	.543	.452	.995
Clint Barmes - SS	PIT vs ATL 10/1 7:05 PM	Paul Maholm	13-27	.481	2	6	9	3	1	.889	.533	1.422
Ian Desmond - SS	WAS vs PHI 10/1 7:05 PM	Kyle Kendrick	6-13	.462	0	3	2	0	2	.769	.500	1.269
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B	WAS vs PHI 10/1 7:05 PM	Kyle Kendrick	10-22	.455	1	8	2	2	3	.909	.538	1.448
Joe Mauer - C	MIN @ TOR 10/1 7:07 PM	Aaron Laffey	9-22	.409	1	1	4	4	2	.545	.500	1.045
Jason Bay - OF	NYM @ MIA 10/1 7:10 PM	Josh Johnson	5-12	.417	1	2	2	0	4	.833	.417	1.250
Miguel Cabrera - 3B	DET @ KC 10/1 8:10 PM	Bruce Chen	9-18	.500	3	5	7	7	2	1.111	.640	1.751
Delmon Young - OF	DET @ KC 10/1 8:10 PM	Bruce Chen	6-11	.545	1	4	3	0	0	1.091	.583	1.674
Drew Stubbs - OF	CIN @ STL 10/1 8:15 PM	Jaime Garcia	5-17	.294	1	2	2	4	5	.529	.429	.958
Carlos Beltran - OF	STL vs CIN 10/1 8:15 PM	Bronson Arroyo	5-18	.278	1	4	4	2	5	.667	.350	1.017
Daniel Descalso - 3B	STL vs CIN 10/1 8:15 PM	Bronson Arroyo	7-12	.583	0	3	4	0	0	.917	.583	1.500
Matt Holliday - OF	STL vs CIN 10/1 8:15 PM	Bronson Arroyo	11-38	.289	2	5	5	3	7	.526	.357	.883
Jon Jay - OF	STL vs CIN 10/1 8:15 PM	Bronson Arroyo	9-19	.474	1	4	3	0	2	.842	.474	1.316
Kendrys Morales - 1B	LAA @ SEA 10/1 10:10 PM	Felix Hernandez	12-33	.364	1	4	8	2	7	.545	.400	.945
Mark Trumbo - 1B	LAA @ SEA 10/1 10:10 PM	Felix Hernandez	3-13	.231	2	2	3	0	4	.692	.231	.923
Andre Ethier - OF	LAD vs SF 10/1 10:10 PM	Matt Cain	22-47	.468	0	2	3	4	6	.532	.491	1.022
Adrian Gonzalez - 1B	LAD vs SF 10/1 10:10 PM	Matt Cain	18-56	.321	4	9	13	7	15	.643	.391	1.033
Hanley Ramirez - SS	LAD vs SF 10/1 10:10 PM	Matt Cain	6-19	.316	1	3	1	3	5	.579	.409	.988
Franklin Gutierrez - OF	SEA vs LAA 10/1 10:10 PM	C.J. Wilson	6-16	.375	1	1	5	2	4	.563	.421	.984
Xavier Nady - OF	SF @ LAD 10/1 10:10 PM	Aaron Harang	10-30	.333	1	4	3	0	3	.533	.355	.888
Eli Whiteside - C	SF @ LAD 10/1 10:10 PM	Aaron Harang	5-11	.455	0	2	0	0	1	.636	.455	1.091
Hot Pitcher Matchups			At-Bats	Opp AVG	HR Allow	XBH Allow	RBI Allow	BB	K	Opp SLG	Opp OBP	Opp OPS
CC Sabathia	NYY vs BOS 10/1 7:05 PM	Red Sox Batters	29-112	.259	1	7	11	5	33	.338	.305	.643
Rick Porcello	DET @ KC 10/1 8:10 PM	Royals Batters	29-105	.276	2	8	13	3	18	.407	.291	.698
Jaime Garcia	STL vs CIN 10/1 8:15 PM	Reds Batters	25-125	.200	2	8	9	10	27	.305	.259	.564

 

KEY MATCHUPS: COLD
Cold Batter Matchups			At-Bats	AVG	HR	XBH	RBI	BB	K	SLG	OBP	OPS
Jacoby Ellsbury - OF	BOS @ NYY 10/1 7:05 PM	CC Sabathia	6-24	.250	1	2	7	1	7	.417	.321	.738
Scott Podsednik - OF	BOS @ NYY 10/1 7:05 PM	CC Sabathia	2-13	.154	0	1	2	0	4	.231	.154	.385
Brett Gardner - OF	NYY vs BOS 10/1 7:05 PM	Clay Buchholz	2-11	.182	0	0	0	0	2	.182	.182	.364
Curtis Granderson - OF	NYY vs BOS 10/1 7:05 PM	Clay Buchholz	0-11	.000	0	0	0	4	6	.000	.267	.267
Ty Wigginton - 3B	PHI @ WAS 10/1 7:05 PM	John Lannan	3-15	.200	0	1	1	2	0	.267	.294	.561
Roger Bernadina - OF	WAS vs PHI 10/1 7:05 PM	Kyle Kendrick	2-10	.200	0	0	0	1	2	.200	.273	.473
Alexi Casilla - SS	MIN @ TOR 10/1 7:07 PM	Aaron Laffey	2-13	.154	0	0	0	0	1	.154	.154	.308
David Wright - 3B	NYM @ MIA 10/1 7:10 PM	Josh Johnson	6-29	.207	1	2	3	1	8	.379	.233	.613
Austin Jackson - OF	DET @ KC 10/1 8:10 PM	Bruce Chen	2-15	.133	1	2	3	2	4	.400	.222	.622
Jhonny Peralta - SS	DET @ KC 10/1 8:10 PM	Bruce Chen	2-18	.111	0	1	3	1	4	.167	.150	.317
Billy Butler - DH	KC vs DET 10/1 8:10 PM	Rick Porcello	10-31	.323	0	2	5	1	7	.387	.333	.720
Alcides Escobar - SS	KC vs DET 10/1 8:10 PM	Rick Porcello	0-10	.000	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000
Jay Bruce - OF	CIN @ STL 10/1 8:15 PM	Jaime Garcia	2-16	.125	0	0	0	1	3	.125	.176	.301
Scott Rolen - 3B	CIN @ STL 10/1 8:15 PM	Jaime Garcia	2-13	.154	0	0	1	2	3	.154	.267	.421
Joey Votto - 1B	CIN @ STL 10/1 8:15 PM	Jaime Garcia	2-16	.125	0	1	1	2	5	.188	.222	.410
Yadier Molina - C	STL vs CIN 10/1 8:15 PM	Bronson Arroyo	7-40	.175	0	1	1	0	2	.200	.195	.395
Erick Aybar - SS	LAA @ SEA 10/1 10:10 PM	Felix Hernandez	8-47	.170	0	3	2	3	8	.234	.235	.469
Peter Bourjos - OF	LAA @ SEA 10/1 10:10 PM	Felix Hernandez	2-14	.143	0	0	0	0	2	.143	.143	.286
Matt Kemp - OF	LAD vs SF 10/1 10:10 PM	Matt Cain	10-38	.263	1	5	2	1	10	.474	.282	.756
Miguel Olivo - C	SEA vs LAA 10/1 10:10 PM	C.J. Wilson	1-10	.100	0	0	2	0	4	.100	.083	.183
Brendan Ryan - SS	SEA vs LAA 10/1 10:10 PM	C.J. Wilson	2-10	.200	0	0	1	1	3	.200	.250	.450
Michael Saunders - OF	SEA vs LAA 10/1 10:10 PM	C.J. Wilson	2-12	.167	0	0	1	3	4	.167	.333	.500
Aubrey Huff - 1B	SF @ LAD 10/1 10:10 PM	Aaron Harang	2-15	.133	0	1	2	1	3	.200	.235	.435
Pablo Sandoval - 3B	SF @ LAD 10/1 10:10 PM	Aaron Harang	4-20	.200	0	0	0	1	3	.200	.238	.438
Cold Pitcher Matchups			At-Bats	Opp AVG	HR Allow	XBH Allow	RBI Allow	BB	K	Opp SLG	Opp OBP	Opp OPS
Kyle Kendrick	PHI @ Was 10/1 7:05 PM	Nationals Batters	29-86	.337	1	13	7	8	12	.521	.409	.929
John Lannan	WAS vs Phi 10/1 7:05 PM	Phillies Batters	41-139	.295	4	9	17	13	12	.420	.366	.786
Clay Buchholz	BOS @ NYY 10/1 7:05 PM	Yankees Batters	36-118	.305	4	11	16	12	20	.446	.374	.820
Aaron Laffey	TOR vs Min 10/1 7:07 PM	Twins Batters	26-87	.299	1	3	13	7	6	.362	.358	.721
Bruce Chen	KC vs Det 10/1 8:10 PM	Tigers Batters	25-92	.272	5	15	18	13	20	.565	.362	.927
Bronson Arroyo	CIN @ StL 10/1 8:15 PM	Cardinals Batters	58-189	.307	4	20	21	10	24	.470	.347	.817
Matt Cain	SF @ LAD 10/1 10:10 PM	Dodgers Batters	63-198	.318	6	20	22	24	42	.492	.389	.881

Recommended Pickup

Jeff Keppinger, 3B, TB – At this stage of the fantasy season, a hot bat is more valuable than the player who has had a better season. Keppinger fits into the former group, as he’s batted 18-for-48 (.375) with three home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs over the past two weeks. Better yet, he’s logged time all over the diamond this year and last, making him eligible at first base, second base, and third base in many leagues. The Rays are firing on all cylinders offensively at the moment, which should only help Keppinger in continuing to see good pitches during the team’s three-game series against the Orioles in the season’s final week. Keppinger could offer some nice assistance if you’re pursuing a league title.

Other recent recommendations: Nathan Eovaldi, Darin Ruf, Drew Smyly, Chris Tillman and Brett Gardner

DraftStreet Competition

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As a reminder, the competition will be an MLB Salary Cap league where values for each player are set based on projected fantasy value each day and your mission is to find the bargains and make the best 14 player team possible within the $100,000 budget.

Be sure to come back to RotoWire's Daily Lineup Card every day for all the analysis you need to dominate the competition and take home cash on DraftStreet.

DraftStreet Lineup
C: Yasmani Grandal, SD ($6,909)
1B: Mark Reynolds, BAL ($5,359)
2B: Donovan Solano, MIA ($7,054)
3B: Evan Longoria, TB ($8,720)
SS: Jhonny Peralta, DET ($4,576)
OF: Josh Hamilton, TEX ($8,583)
OF: Alex Rios, CWS ($7,918)
OF: Jayson Werth, WAS ($7,695)
U: Fernando Martinez, HOU ($4,644)
U: David Freese, STL ($6,900)
SP: Paul Maholm, ATL ($11,084)
SP: Lucas Harrell, HOU ($9,358)
RP: Casey Janssen, TOR ($1,836)
P: Aaron Harang, LAD ($9,287)

Total: $99,923

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