Saturday Lineup Card: Eyeing the Axe

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters

A look at Saturday's matchups (all times Eastern)

CLE (Trevor Bauer – R) at DET (Alfredo Simon – R) 1:08 PM
CHC (Jake Arrieta – R) at CIN (Anthony DeSclafani – R) 1:10 PM
KC (Edinson Volquez – R) at CWS (John Danks – L) 2:10 PM
HOU (Scott Feldman – R) at OAK (Kendall Graveman – R) 4:05 PM
NYM (Matt Harvey – R) at NYY (CC Sabathia – L) 4:05 PM
WAS (Stephen Strasburg – R) at MIA (Tom Koehler – R) 4:10 PM
TOR (Daniel Norris – L) at *TB (Erasmo Ramirez - R) 6:10 PM
ATL (Shelby Miller - R) at PHI (David Buchanan - R) 7:05PM
BOS (Justin Masterson) at BAL (Wei-Yin Chen - L) 7:05PM
STL (Adam Wainwright - R) at MIL (Wily Peralta - R) 7:10 PM
PIT (A.J. Burnett - R) at ARI (Rubby De La Rosa - R) 8:10 PM
SF (Tim Hudson - R) at COL (Jorge De La Rosa - L) 8:10 PM
LAD (Brandon McCarthy - R) at SD (Ian Kennedy - R) 8:40 PM
TEX (Colby Lewis – R) at LAA (C.J. Wilson – L) 9:05 PM
MIN (Trevor May – R) at SEA (James Paxton – L) 9:10 PM

*Expected, but not confirmed

Day Game After Night Game: CLE/DET, CHC/CIN, KC/CWS, HOU/OAK, NYM/NYY, WAS/MIA

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Jake Marisnick, OF, HOU – Scratched Friday with right leg discomfort and won't play Saturday.
Max Scherzer, SP, WAS – Thumb was swollen Friday but remains on track to make his next start.
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN – (Hip) Out of the lineup again Friday.
Shane Victorino, OF, BOS – (Hamstring) Out of the lineup Friday.
Jose Bautista, OF, TOR – (Shoulder) Out of the lineup Friday.

Out

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, MIA – Placed on the paternity list Friday.

Players on the DL

Tim Federowicz, C, SD – (Knee) Will be able to begin running in six weeks.
Josh Johnson, SP, SD – (Elbow) Threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Friday.
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK – (Elbow) Threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Friday.
Hunter Pence, OF, SF – (Forearm) Hit soft toss in the batting cage Friday and could begin a rehab assignment soon.
Josh Hamilton, OF, LAA – (Shoulder) Will be traded from the Angels to the Rangers.
Randal Grichuk, OF, STL – (Back) Unlikely to come off the DL when first eligible May 2.
Matt Cain, SP, SF – (Forearm) will play catch Tuesday but remains weeks from returning to the mound.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL – (Hamstring) Ran on a treadmill at its top speed Friday.
Casey Janssen, RP, WAS – (Shoulder) Threw a bullpen session Friday in Florida.
Ryan Flaherty, 2B, BAL – (Groin) Expected to return from the disabled list when first eligible.
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL – (Shoulder) Could go on a rehab assignment next week.
Alex Cobb, SP, TB – (Forearm) Bullpen session Friday went well, and could be scheduled for another one Monday.
Bobby Parnell, RP, NYM – (Elbow) Shut down for a week with shoulder soreness.
Michael Saunders, OF, TOR – (Knee) Expected to join the Blue Jays either Saturday or Sunday.
Jarrod Parker, SP, OAK – (Elbow) Allowed four hits and three runs over 3.2 innings in his first rehab start since Tommy John surgery.
Neil Ramirez, RP, CHC – (Shoulder) Remains without a timetable for return.
Justin Grimm, RP, CHC – (Forearm) Threw a recent bullpen session in Arizona, but remains without a timetable.
Dioner Navarro, C, TOR – (Hamstring) Injury is worse than initially believed.

Transactions

Activated from the DL

Placed on the DL

Shawn Kelley, RP, SD
Christian Yelich, OF, MIA

Called Up

Grant Green, OF, LAA
Kevin Quackenbush, RP, SD
Brandon Finnegan, RP, KC
Rey Navarro, SS, BAL
Justin Bour, 1B, MIA
Wandy Rodriguez, SP, TEX
John Cornely, RP, ATL
Michael Kohn, RP, ATL
Jhonatan Solano, C, MIA

Optioned (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

Mike Bolsinger, SP, LAD
Nick Tropeano, SP, LAA
Chris Heisey, OF, LAD
Sugar Ray Marimon, RP, ATL
Brandon Cunniff, RP, ATL
Dean Anna, SS, STL
Orlando Calixte, SS, KC
Zach Walters, 2B, CLE
Mikie Mahtook, OF, TB
Allan Dykstra, 1B, TB

Designated For Assignment

Xavier Cedeno, RP, LAD
Logan Verrett, RP, TEX
Grant Dayton, RP, MIA

Closer Watch
Colorado Rockies – John Axford picked up his second save of the season Thursday, allowing one runner via a walk but striking out two. He's yet to allow a runs this season over three innings, with the walk being his first baserunner allowed. However, Adam Ottavino (two saves this season) was named the club's closer, but it appears the Rockies may turn to Axford as well, who has experience as a closer. It's a situation to keep an eye on moving forward, but Ottavino should be considered the favorite for the job at this point.

Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek collected his first save of the season Friday, setting down the Nationals in order. Following a rocky start to the season - allowing four starts in one-third of an inning his first time out and blowing a save his second time out – he's since tossed three scoreless outings and hasn't allowed a hit. He remains on firm ground as the Marlins' closer right now, and appears to be hitting a groove.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – April 25, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
M. Brantley	OF	CLE @ DET 1:08PM	A. Simon	12	7	3	0	6	1	0	.583	.615	.833	1.449
I. Kinsler	2B	DET vs CLE 1:08PM	T. Bauer	15	5	2	1	2	0	2	.333	.353	.600	.953
J. Martinez	OF	DET vs CLE 1:08PM	T. Bauer	11	5	1	1	2	1	3	.455	.500	.727	1.227
V. Martinez	1B	DET vs CLE 1:08PM	T. Bauer	12	3	1	1	2	3	3	.250	.400	.500	.900
A. LaRoche	1B	CWS vs KC 2:10PM	E. Volquez	19	6	3	1	4	5	6	.316	.480	.579	1.059
S. Perez	C	KC @ CWS 2:10PM	J. Danks	17	4	2	2	3	1	3	.235	.278	.588	.866
J. Reddick	OF	OAK vs HOU 4:05PM	S. Feldman	22	6	5	3	4	1	3	.273	.304	.773	1.077
M. Ozuna	OF	MIA vs WAS 4:10PM	S. Strasburg	13	6	3	1	5	1	3	.462	.500	.923	1.423
G. Stanton	OF	MIA vs WAS 4:10PM	S. Strasburg	28	10	8	3	9	4	10	.357	.438	.857	1.295
J. Werth	OF	WAS @ MIA 4:10PM	T. Koehler	10	3	2	2	5	5	0	.300	.533	.900	1.433
M. Machado	3B	BAL vs BOS 7:05PM	J. Masterson	10	3	2	1	3	0	1	.300	.364	.700	1.064
X. Bogaerts	SS	BOS @ BAL 7:05PM	W. Chen	11	3	1	1	1	2	2	.273	.385	.545	.930
R. Hanigan	C	BOS @ BAL 7:05PM	W. Chen	10	2	1	1	2	2	2	.200	.385	.500	.885
D. Nava	OF	BOS @ BAL 7:05PM	W. Chen	16	7	1	1	3	1	4	.438	.471	.625	1.096
D. Ortiz	DH	BOS @ BAL 7:05PM	W. Chen	23	8	2	1	6	2	4	.348	.370	.522	.892
D. Pedroia	2B	BOS @ BAL 7:05PM	W. Chen	29	15	6	0	5	3	3	.517	.563	.759	1.321
S. Victorino	OF	BOS @ BAL 7:05PM	W. Chen	12	4	1	1	2	1	2	.333	.429	.583	1.012
A. Ramirez	3B	MIL vs STL 7:10PM	A. Wainwright	63	23	11	3	9	3	12	.365	.412	.635	1.047
J. Segura	SS	MIL vs STL 7:10PM	A. Wainwright	17	6	2	1	2	0	1	.353	.353	.588	.941
M. Carpenter	3B	STL @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	24	11	3	1	3	4	2	.458	.536	.667	1.202
J. Heyward	OF	STL @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	11	5	1	0	0	1	1	.455	.500	.545	1.045
M. Holliday	OF	STL @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	23	10	2	2	7	2	2	.435	.519	.696	1.214
C. Dickerson	OF	COL vs SF 8:10PM	T. Hudson	10	4	1	1	2	1	2	.400	.455	.700	1.155
D. LeMahieu	2B	COL vs SF 8:10PM	T. Hudson	11	4	2	0	4	0	0	.364	.364	.636	1.000
M. McKenry	C	COL vs SF 8:10PM	T. Hudson	11	5	0	0	1	0	2	.455	.455	.455	.909
C. Crawford	OF	LAD @ SD 8:40PM	I. Kennedy	29	12	3	0	4	2	3	.414	.424	.517	.941
A. Ethier	OF	LAD @ SD 8:40PM	I. Kennedy	34	11	4	2	5	3	7	.324	.378	.559	.937
J. Turner	3B	LAD @ SD 8:40PM	I. Kennedy	11	6	3	0	2	0	2	.545	.545	.818	1.364
Y. Alonso	1B	SD vs LAD 8:40PM	B. McCarthy	15	5	3	1	2	0	2	.333	.333	.667	1.000
K. Calhoun	OF	LAA vs TEX 9:05PM	C. Lewis	13	6	4	1	4	0	1	.462	.462	1.000	1.462
A. Pujols	1B	LAA vs TEX 9:05PM	C. Lewis	15	7	3	2	5	1	1	.467	.444	.933	1.378
M. Trout	OF	LAA vs TEX 9:05PM	C. Lewis	20	7	4	2	7	2	6	.350	.409	.850	1.259
E. Andrus	SS	TEX @ LAA 9:05PM	C. Wilson	21	8	4	1	3	2	2	.381	.435	.714	1.149
A. Beltre	3B	TEX @ LAA 9:05PM	C. Wilson	34	11	5	1	5	5	11	.324	.425	.529	.954
P. Fielder	1B	TEX @ LAA 9:05PM	C. Wilson	12	6	2	1	5	2	3	.500	.571	.833	1.405

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 25, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Jake Arrieta	CHC @ CIN 1:10PM	87	20	7	0	11	7	28	.230	.287	.305	.593
John Danks	CWS vs KC 2:10PM	170	33	11	3	10	16	29	.194	.267	.311	.578
Edinson Volquez	KC @ CWS 2:10PM	80	16	7	2	9	9	21	.200	.287	.350	.637
CC Sabathia	NYY vs NYM 4:05PM	83	17	5	1	7	3	18	.205	.237	.290	.528
Adam Wainwright	STL @ MIL 7:10PM	208	61	22	7	21	7	44	.293	.327	.466	.793
Brandon McCarthy	LAD @ SD 8:40PM	92	24	10	3	8	3	25	.261	.294	.441	.735

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Batter Matchups – April 25, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
L. Chisenhall	3B	CLE @ DET 1:08PM	A. Simon	10	2	2	1	6	0	1	.200	.200	.600	.800
J. Bruce	OF	CIN vs CHC 1:10PM	J. Arrieta	11	2	1	0	2	0	6	.182	.182	.273	.455
T. Frazier	3B	CIN vs CHC 1:10PM	J. Arrieta	12	2	0	0	2	0	6	.167	.167	.167	.333
E. Bonifacio	2B	CWS vs KC 2:10PM	E. Volquez	11	0	0	0	0	1	4	.000	.083	.000	.083
A. Eaton	OF	CWS vs KC 2:10PM	E. Volquez	10	1	1	0	1	0	1	.100	.100	.300	.400
L. Cain	OF	KC @ CWS 2:10PM	J. Danks	14	1	1	0	1	2	5	.071	.188	.143	.330
A. Escobar	SS	KC @ CWS 2:10PM	J. Danks	20	2	1	0	0	2	6	.100	.182	.150	.332
A. Gordon	OF	KC @ CWS 2:10PM	J. Danks	34	6	1	0	0	4	4	.176	.282	.206	.488
K. Morales	1B	KC @ CWS 2:10PM	J. Danks	21	4	3	0	2	0	2	.190	.190	.333	.524
M. Moustakas	3B	KC @ CWS 2:10PM	J. Danks	18	2	1	0	1	2	2	.111	.200	.167	.367
C. Granderson	OF	NYM @ NYY 4:05PM	C. Sabathia	19	3	0	0	0	0	7	.158	.158	.158	.316
E. Sogard	2B	OAK vs HOU 4:05PM	S. Feldman	12	2	1	0	0	2	0	.167	.286	.250	.536
S. Vogt	1B	OAK vs HOU 4:05PM	S. Feldman	12	2	0	0	0	0	2	.167	.167	.167	.333
B. Zobrist	2B	OAK vs HOU 4:05PM	S. Feldman	16	3	1	0	1	2	1	.188	.278	.250	.528
A. Hechavarria	SS	MIA vs WAS 4:10PM	S. Strasburg	21	3	1	0	2	1	6	.143	.182	.238	.420
D. Solano	2B	MIA vs WAS 4:10PM	S. Strasburg	19	3	1	0	2	2	3	.158	.273	.211	.483
B. Harper	OF	WAS @ MIA 4:10PM	T. Koehler	13	2	1	1	2	1	2	.154	.214	.385	.599
D. Young	OF	BAL vs BOS 7:05PM	J. Masterson	20	3	1	0	2	0	5	.150	.143	.200	.343
M. Napoli	1B	BOS @ BAL 7:05PM	W. Chen	18	3	3	2	3	3	5	.167	.286	.556	.841
M. Maldonado	C	MIL vs STL 7:10PM	A. Wainwright	11	2	0	0	0	0	2	.182	.182	.182	.364
M. Adams	1B	STL @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	19	3	0	0	2	2	3	.158	.238	.158	.396
J. Peralta	SS	STL @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	17	3	0	0	0	1	3	.176	.222	.176	.399
K. Wong	2B	STL @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	17	3	0	0	1	1	5	.176	.222	.176	.399
C. Pennington	SS	ARI vs PIT 8:10PM	A. Burnett	13	2	1	0	0	1	3	.154	.214	.231	.445
C. Gonzalez	OF	COL vs SF 8:10PM	T. Hudson	18	3	1	0	1	2	2	.167	.250	.222	.472
D. Stubbs	OF	COL vs SF 8:10PM	T. Hudson	13	3	0	0	1	0	4	.231	.231	.231	.462
A. Ellis	C	LAD @ SD 8:40PM	I. Kennedy	20	3	0	0	1	3	6	.150	.250	.150	.400
Y. Puig	OF	LAD @ SD 8:40PM	I. Kennedy	21	3	1	1	4	2	8	.143	.250	.286	.536
J. Gyorko	2B	SD vs LAD 8:40PM	B. McCarthy	14	0	0	0	0	0	5	.000	.067	.000	.067
D. Freese	3B	LAA vs TEX 9:05PM	C. Lewis	11	2	1	1	3	0	2	.182	.308	.455	.762
S. Choo	OF	TEX @ LAA 9:05PM	C. Wilson	14	2	1	1	2	0	5	.143	.250	.357	.607
L. Martin	OF	TEX @ LAA 9:05PM	C. Wilson	10	1	0	0	0	0	2	.100	.100	.100	.200
A. Rosales	2B	TEX @ LAA 9:05PM	C. Wilson	21	3	1	0	1	3	7	.143	.269	.190	.460

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 25, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Alfredo Simon	DET vs CLE 1:08PM	67	26	7	1	15	7	8	.388	.450	.522	.972
Trevor Bauer	CLE @ DET 1:08PM	86	27	9	5	9	8	13	.314	.383	.540	.923
Tom Koehler	MIA vs WAS 4:10PM	69	17	6	4	12	8	7	.246	.331	.511	.842
Wei-Yin Chen	BAL vs BOS 7:05PM	139	43	15	7	23	16	26	.309	.383	.524	.907
Wily Peralta	MIL vs STL 7:10PM	175	56	7	3	20	16	26	.320	.382	.400	.782
Colby Lewis	TEX @ LAA 9:05PM	103	33	15	7	25	7	18	.320	.379	.646	1.024

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Recommended Pickup

Marcus Semien, SS, OAK – Semien had a strong spring training for the Athletics, and that has largely carried over into the regular season as well. Through the first few weeks of the season, the shortstop is batting .270/.324/.429 with two home runs and nine RBI (prior to Friday). He normally hits in the bottom spot of the Athletics' batting order, but was in the leadoff spot Friday. While it's likely just an experiment, he could see occasional starts in that spot if he can prove the ability to hit there. While his batting average isn't spectacular, the 24-year-old has shown a fair amount of pop, a rare commodity out of middle infielders that could make him an option in some leagues.

Other Recent Recommendations:Tony Watson, Steven Souza, Addison Russell, Carlos Rodon, Anthony DeSclafani and Everth Cabrera

DraftKings Value Picks (Early Games)

SP: Anthony DeSclafani ($6,900)
C: Kevin Plawecki ($2,700)
1B: Justin Smoak ($3,200)
2B: Asdrubal Cabrera ($3,500)
3B: Brett Lawrie ($3,700)
SS: Jose Iglesias ($3,200)
OF: Mark Canha ($3,100)