Saturday Lineup Card: The Rise Of Rusney

Saturday Lineup Card: The Rise Of Rusney

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Probable Pitchers (All Times Eastern)

TEX (Nick Martinez - R) at NYY (CC Sabathia - L) 1:05 PM
SEA (James Paxton - L) at TOR (Mark Buehrle - L) 1:07 PM
NYM (Matt Harvey - R) at PIT (A.J. Burnett - R) 4:05 PM
PHI (Cole Hamels - L) at WAS (Stephen Strasburg - R) 4:05 PM
HOU (Lance McCullers - R) at DET (Kyle Lobstein - L) 4:08 PM
CIN (Anthony DeSclafani - R) at CLE (Corey Kluber - R) 4:10 PM
MIL (Mike Fiers - R) at ATL (Shelby Miller - R) 4:10 PM
MIN (Trevor May - R) at CWS (Chris Sale - L) 4:10 PM
OAK (Kendall Graveman - R) at TB (Nate Karns - R) 4:10 PM
SF (Chris Heston - R) at COL (Jordan Lyles - R) 4:10 PM
SF (Yusmeiro Petit - R) at COL (David Hale - R) 9:10 PM
BAL (Mike Wright - R) at MIA (Dan Haren - R) 7:15 PM
LAA (C.J. Wilson - L) at BOS (Steven Wright - R) 7:15 PM
STL (John Lackey - R) at KC (Danny Duffy - L) 7:15 PM
CHC (Jake Arrieta - R) at ARI (Rubby De La Rosa - R) 10:10 PM
SD (Ian Kennedy - R) at LAD (Mike Bolsinger - R) 10:10 PM

Day Game After Night Game: TEX/NYY, SEA/TOR, NYM/PIT, PHI/WAS, HOU/DET, CIN/CLE, MIL/ATL, MIN/CWS, OAK/TB, SF/COL

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Shane Victorino, OF, BOS - (Calf) Out of the lineup Friday.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, BOS - (Knee) Out of the lineup Friday.
Alex Wood, SP, ATL - Scratched with a stomach virus.
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN - (Hip) Out of the lineup Friday.

Players on the DL

Brandon Morrow, SP, SD - (Shoulder) Will throw another bullpen session Saturday or Sunday.
Yasiel Puig, OF, LAD - Felt tightness in his hamstring while jogging Friday.
Dillon Gee, SP, NYM - (Groin) Will be part of six-man rotation when activated.
Travis d'Arnaud, C, NYM - (Hand) Took batting practice Friday and should start a minor league rehab assignment next week.
David Wright, 3B, NYM - (Hamstring/Back) Took batting practice Friday and should start a minor league rehab assignment next week.
Matt Cain, SP, SF - (Forearm) Threw all of his pitches in a bullpen session Friday.
Oswaldo Arcia, OF, MIN - (Hip) will start his rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Rochester.
Bruce Rondon, OF, DET - (Shoulder) Will make his next rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A Toledo.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK - (Neck) Will try to rehab the injury and go through treatment to avoid surgery.
Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS - (Oblique) Took 40 ground balls at second base and BP prior to Friday's game.
Justin Verlander, SP, DET - (Triceps) Will throw a simulated game Tuesday.
Matt Wieters, C, BAL - (Elbow) Indicated June 4 as possible return date.
Masahiro Tanaka, SP, NYY - (Forearm) Will make his next rehab start Wednesday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Charlie Morton, SP, PIT - (Hip) Will start Monday against the Marlins.
Chris Martin, RP, NYY - (Elbow) Has been playing catch and is expected to throw a bullpen session either Saturday or Sunday.
Gregorio Petit, SS, NYY - (Hand) Is still sore and has not begun hitting yet.
Yan Gomes, C, CLE - (Knee) Will come off the disabled list to start Sunday's game against the Reds.

Transactions

Placed on the DL

Tyler Ladendorf, 2B, OAK - (Ankle), 60-day DL
Edward Mujica, RP, OAK - (Thumb)
Devon Travis, 2B, TOR - (Shoulder)
Kyle Blanks, 1B, TEX - (Back)
Sammy Solis, RP, WAS - (Shoulder)

Activated from the DL

Tim Stauffer, RP, MIN
Everth Cabrera, SS, BAL
Casey Janssen, RP, WAS

Called Up

Andy Parrino, SS, OAK
Munenori Kawasaki, 2B, TOR
Rusney Castillo, OF, BOS
Ian Thomas, RP, ATL
Jake Smolinski, OF, TEX

Sent Down

Jackie Bradley Jr., OF, BOS
Adonis Garcia, 3B, ATL
Rey Navarro, 2B, BAL

Released

Kyuji Fujikawa, RP, TEX

Closer Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates - Mark Melancon picked up his 10th save of the season Friday, pitching two-thirds of an inning in relief of Gerrit Cole and requiring just three pitches to finish off the Mets. The outing represented his fourth straight without allowing a run. Despite owning a relatively high 3.15 ERA and 1.25 WHIP and striking out just 11 batters in 19.1 innings, Melancon has blown just one save in 11 chances. He remains firmly entrenched in the role, and it would take a fair amount of faltering to lose the job.

Texas Rangers - Shawn Tolleson appears to have taken over the closer role for the Rangers, earning two saves in two days Wednesday and Thursday following the immense struggles of Neftali Feliz (5.09 ERA, 1.76 WHIP) to begin the season. While he'll get the first shot at the spot, his footing likely remains unstable at this point. However, he's done himself a few favors by beginning his stint in the role converting his first two opportunities.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – May 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
P. Fielder1BTEX @ NYY
1:05PM
C. Sabathia14411315.286.375.500.875
W. BloomquistSSSEA @ TOR
1:07PM
M. Buehrle442090422.455.478.6821.160
R. Cano2BSEA @ TOR
1:07PM
M. Buehrle299531122.310.355.6901.044
C. GrandersonOFNYM @ PIT
4:05PM
A. Burnett21541245.238.385.524.908
J. LagaresOFNYM @ PIT
4:05PM
A. Burnett14520307.357.357.500.857
D. Murphy2BNYM @ PIT
4:05PM
A. Burnett18620252.333.478.444.923
C. RuizCPHI @ WAS
4:05PM
S. Strasburg18621203.333.333.556.889
D. Uggla2BWAS vs PHI
4:05PM
C. Hamels629536722.145.239.323.562
R. Zimmerman3BWAS vs PHI
4:05PM
C. Hamels8121738718.259.318.420.738
A. Ramirez3BMIL @ ATL
4:10PM
S. Miller16722611.438.444.8131.257
B. Dozier2BMIN @ CWS
4:10PM
C. Sale25743817.280.333.6801.013
K. SuzukiCMIN @ CWS
4:10PM
C. Sale14510422.357.471.429.899
D. Pedroia2BBOS vs LAA
7:15PM
C. Wilson241041631.417.481.6671.148
A. GordonOFKC vs STL
7:15PM
J. Lackey13631203.462.500.8461.346
A. Hill2BARI vs CHC
10:10PM
J. Arrieta14631201.429.429.7861.214
A. EthierOFLAD vs SD
10:10PM
I. Kennedy361363747.361.425.6941.119
A. Gonzalez1BLAD vs SD
10:10PM
I. Kennedy411173848.268.319.585.905
J. Turner3BLAD vs SD
10:10PM
I. Kennedy11630202.545.545.8181.364
Hot Pitcher Matchups – May 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Cole HamelsPHI @ WAS
4:05PM
342722610243687.211.289.347.636
Stephen StrasburgWAS vs PHI
4:05PM
11926615631.218.256.288.544
Chris SaleCWS vs MIN
4:10PM
1734917421744.283.318.434.751
Dan HarenMIA vs BAL
7:15PM
1213512113326.289.299.402.701
Cold Batter Matchups – May 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
N. CruzOFSEA @ TOR
1:07PM
M. Buehrle19100024.053.143.053.195
M. CuddyerOFNYM @ PIT
4:05PM
A. Burnett316213211.194.242.323.565
L. Duda1BNYM @ PIT
4:05PM
A. Burnett10210223.200.333.300.633
R. Howard1BPHI @ WAS
4:05PM
S. Strasburg21300118.143.182.143.325
C. Utley2BPHI @ WAS
4:05PM
S. Strasburg25400016.160.192.160.352
I. DesmondSSWAS vs PHI
4:05PM
C. Hamels5611712112.196.211.375.586
Y. EscobarSSWAS vs PHI
4:05PM
C. Hamels25421164.160.323.320.643
D. Espinosa2BWAS vs PHI
4:05PM
C. Hamels23310038.130.231.174.405
C. GomezOFMIL @ ATL
4:10PM
S. Miller19211116.105.150.263.413
E. NunezSSMIN @ CWS
4:10PM
C. Sale12220002.167.167.333.500
D. SantanaSSMIN @ CWS
4:10PM
C. Sale13310103.231.231.308.538
E. CabreraSSBAL @ MIA
7:15PM
D. Haren20510005.250.250.300.550
C. Davis1BBAL @ MIA
7:15PM
D. Haren13210025.154.267.231.497
M. Napoli1BBOS vs LAA
7:15PM
C. Wilson316313310.194.324.355.679
D. OrtizDHBOS vs LAA
7:15PM
C. Wilson17320225.176.263.294.557
A. EllisCLAD vs SD
10:10PM
I. Kennedy20300136.150.250.150.400
Cold Pitcher Matchups – May 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Mark BuehrleTOR vs SEA
1:07PM
1153614316715.313.352.491.843
Ian KennedySD @ LAD
10:10PM
16548208241637.291.355.503.858

Recommended Pickup

Rusney Castillo, OF, Bos - On the heels of an oblique injury in spring training and a strong showing by Mookie Betts, Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to begin the 2015 campaign. Another setback in the form of a shoulder injury occurred later in the season, further delaying any chance of a recall. However, an injury to Shane Victorino, the declining play of Mookie Betts, and Castillo's performance in Triple-A all led to his recall Friday. Over 18 games at Pawtucket, the 27-year-old outfielder hit .293 with two home runs and 10 RBI, adding six stolen bases. He possesses the tools to effect fantasy stat lines in all five categories, and the current situation in the Red Sox's outfield could lead to an everyday role if Castillo plays well.

Other Recent Recommendations:Chris Colabello, Brad Miller, Enrique Burgos, Matt Shoemaker, and Carlos Correa

DraftKings Value Picks (Day Games)

SP: Lance McCullers, HOU ($5,300)
C: Jason Castro, HOU ($3,600)
1B: James Loney, TB ($3,600)
2B: Brett Lawrie, OAK ($3,500)
SS: Elvis Andrus, TEX ($3,600)
3B: Conor Gillaspie, CWS ($3,100)
OF: Justin Maxwell, SF ($3,300)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Chris Benzine plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Crispy272001, DraftKings: Crispy27.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Benzine
Chris is a sports editor for various sports on the site and also a consistent contributor in the college sports arena.
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