Friday Lineup Card: Dice-K Gets a Save?

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Angels (C.J. Wilson - L) at Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 7:05
Royals (Yordano Ventura - R) at Orioles (Ubaldo Jimenez - R), 7:05
Padres (Robbie Erlin - L) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg - R), 7:05
Red Sox (Jake Peavy - R) at Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle - L), 7:08
Marlins (Henderson Alvarez - R) at Mets (Zack Wheeler - R), 7:10
Reds (Homer Bailey - R) at Braves (Ervin Santana - R), 7:35
Cubs (Carlos Villanueva - R) at Brewers (Matt Garza - R), 8:10
Tigers (Rick Porcello - R) at Twins (Kevin Correia - R), 8:10
Athletics (Jesse Chavez - R) at Astros (Brad Peacock - R), 8:10
Rays (Chris Archer - R) at White Sox (Erik Johnson - R) 8:10
Pirates (Gerrit Cole - R) at Cardinals (Shelby Miller - R), 8:15
Phillies (Roberto Hernandez - R) at Diamondbacks (Josh Collmenter - R), 9:40
Rockies (Jordan Lyles - R) at Dodgers (Josh Beckett - R), 10:10
Rangers (Robbie Ross - L) at Mariners (Roenis Elias - L), 10:10
Indians (Carlos Carrasco –R) at Giants (Tim Hudson - R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Gio Gonzalez, SP, WAS (Shoulder) - Felt shoulder tightness in Wednesday's start.
Chase Headley, 3B, SD (Calf) - Exited Thursday's game after suffering a similar injury in spring training.
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, TEX (Ankle) - Improvement reported, although DL stint still possible.
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, TEX (Back) - Injury examination will determine if DL trip is needed.
Russell Martin, C, PIT (Lower Body) - Expected to return to Friday's lineup.
A.J. Pollock, OF, ARI (Neck) - Did not start Thursday, but could return Friday.
Conor Gillaspie, 3B, CHW (Hand) - Missed Thursday's game and could also miss Friday.
Adam Wainwright, SP, STL (Knee) - Expected to make his next scheduled start.
Adam Eaton, OF, CHW (Hamstring) - Missed fifth straight game Thursday, but may return Friday.

Players on the DL

Oswaldo Arcia, OF, MIN (Wrist) - Expected to take batting practice on Friday.
Carlos Quentin, OF, SD (Knee) - Will report to extended spring training this weekend.
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, BOS (Calf) - Expected to be activated for Friday's game.
A.J. Griffin, SP, OAK (Elbow) - Seeking a second opinion, and may need Tommy John surgery.
Manny Machado, 3B, BAL (Knee) - Will start rehab assignment on Friday with the intention of debuting in early May.
Ivan Nova, SP, NYY (Elbow) - Transferred to the 60-day DL and appears headed towards Tommy John surgery.
Doug Fister, SP, WAS (Back) - Expected to get a rehab start Sunday after a solid 40-pitch bullpen session Thursday.
Pedro Figueroa, RP, TEX (Elbow) - Will undergo second career Tommy John surgery next week.
Mark Trumbo, OF, ARI (Foot) - Will get a second opinion on stress fracture in foot.
Chad Billingsley, SP, LAD (Elbow) - Expected to resume throwing in five-to-seven days after receiving a plasma injection.
Justin Ruggiano, OF, CHC (Hamstring) - Suffered a Grade 2 tear and placed on the 15-day DL.

Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.

Activated from the DL

Shane Victorino, OF, BOS
Brandon Kintzler, RP, MIL
Gordon Beckham, 2B, CHW

Placed on the DL (15-day DL, unless otherwise noted)

Ivan Nova, SP, NYY - (Elbow) - Transferred to the 60-day DL.
Mark Trumbo, OF, ARI - (Foot)
Justin Ruggiano, OF, CHC - (Hamstring)

Called Up

Shane Greene, SP, NYY
Bruce Billings, RP, NYY
Zac Rosscup, RP, CHC
Neil Ramirez, SP, CHC
Roger Kieschnick, OF, ARI
Brandon Cumpton, SP, PIT
Cole Gillespie, OF, SEA

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

Dean Anna, 2B, NYY
Preston Claiborne, RP, NYY
Erasmo Ramirez, SP, SEA
Alex Wilson, RP, BOS
Charlie Leesman, RP, CHW
Jared Hughes, RP, PIT
Nick Franklin, 2B, SEA
Alfredo Figaro, RP, MIL
Blake Parker, RP, CHC

Claimed Off Waivers

Kenny Wilson, OF, MIN - (Claimed from Toronto and optioned)

Closer Watch

New York Mets - With 38-year old Kyle Farnsworth needing a rest, Mets manager Terry Collins turned to Daisuke Matsuzaka to lock down Thursday's game. Dice-K closed out his first career save opportunity, while adding some hope to the Mets' merry-go-round of ninth-inning relievers this season. Considering Farnsworth's age and career 4.23 ERA, look for Dice-K to get more save opportunities down the line. Farnsworth was also seen shaking his pitching arm following his conversion of a save chance earlier this week. Don't be surprised to see Dice-K solidify the Mets' ninth-inning role in the near future.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – April 25, 2014

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
B. Butler	DH	KC @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	22	6	2	1	3	5	4	.273	.407	.455	.862
E. Hosmer	1B	KC @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	22	8	2	2	6	4	4	.364	.462	.636	1.098
I. Stewart	3B	LAA @ NYY 7:05PM	H. Kuroda	13	6	0	0	4	2	1	.462	.529	.462	.991
D. Jeter	SS	NYY vs LAA 7:05PM	C. Wilson	21	8	1	1	2	3	6	.381	.458	.524	.982
J. Gomes	OF	BOS @ TOR 7:07PM	M. Buehrle	28	9	3	0	4	3	5	.321	.394	.464	.858
D. Ortiz	DH	BOS @ TOR 7:07PM	M. Buehrle	66	19	9	3	13	4	8	.288	.329	.515	.844
D. Pedroia	2B	BOS @ TOR 7:07PM	M. Buehrle	33	12	3	0	0	2	2	.364	.400	.455	.855
G. Sizemore	OF	BOS @ TOR 7:07PM	M. Buehrle	69	15	6	4	8	2	10	.217	.260	.420	.681
M. Cabrera	OF	TOR vs BOS 7:07PM	J. Peavy	11	5	1	0	0	1	0	.455	.500	.545	1.045
R. Doumit	C	ATL vs CIN 7:35PM	H. Bailey	16	8	4	1	2	2	2	.500	.556	.875	1.431
M. Cabrera	3B	DET @ MIN 8:10PM	K. Correia	28	11	3	1	8	2	2	.393	.406	.571	.978
T. Hunter	OF	DET @ MIN 8:10PM	K. Correia	10	6	1	0	3	0	0	.600	.600	.700	1.300
A. Jackson	OF	DET @ MIN 8:10PM	K. Correia	16	6	1	0	0	1	3	.375	.412	.500	.912
M. Reynolds	1B	MIL vs CHC 8:10PM	C. Villanueva	16	5	2	2	4	3	2	.313	.421	.688	1.109
J. Kubel	OF	MIN vs DET 8:10PM	R. Porcello	30	13	4	1	2	1	5	.433	.452	.633	1.085
T. Plouffe	3B	MIN vs DET 8:10PM	R. Porcello	17	5	3	1	3	1	0	.294	.333	.588	.922
P. Alvarez	3B	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	S. Miller	13	3	3	3	3	1	5	.231	.333	.923	1.256
S. Marte	OF	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	S. Miller	12	4	3	0	2	1	0	.333	.385	.750	1.135
N. Walker	2B	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	S. Miller	11	5	3	0	1	0	0	.455	.455	.727	1.182
J. Giambi	DH	CLE @ SF 10:15PM	T. Hudson	24	9	5	3	10	2	3	.375	.444	.833	1.278

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, 2014

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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
Ubaldo Jimenez	BAL vs KC 7:05PM	156	34	10	3	18	18	35	.218	.298	.335	.632
Roberto Hernandez	PHI @ ARI 9:40PM	71	18	3	1	6	2	13	.254	.298	.326	.624

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, 2014

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
A. Escobar	SS	KC @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	23	3	2	0	4	2	3	.130	.192	.217	.410
A. Gordon	OF	KC @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	23	5	0	0	1	2	6	.217	.280	.217	.497
O. Infante	2B	KC @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	16	3	1	0	4	0	3	.188	.188	.313	.500
M. Moustakas	3B	KC @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	23	4	2	0	0	2	8	.174	.240	.261	.501
S. Perez	C	KC @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	13	2	0	0	0	0	1	.154	.154	.154	.308
R. Ibanez	OF	LAA @ NYY 7:05PM	H. Kuroda	14	2	1	0	0	0	2	.143	.143	.214	.357
A. Pujols	1B	LAA @ NYY 7:05PM	H. Kuroda	22	6	3	1	2	0	6	.273	.273	.500	.773
B. Gardner	OF	NYY vs LAA 7:05PM	C. Wilson	13	2	1	0	0	0	4	.154	.154	.308	.462
I. Suzuki	OF	NYY vs LAA 7:05PM	C. Wilson	46	9	2	0	1	4	12	.196	.260	.239	.499
M. Teixeira	1B	NYY vs LAA 7:05PM	C. Wilson	17	2	1	1	2	3	2	.118	.250	.294	.544
W. Venable	OF	SD @ WAS 7:05PM	S. Strasburg	11	3	2	0	1	0	3	.273	.273	.545	.818
A. Pierzynski	C	BOS @ TOR 7:07PM	M. Buehrle	18	6	0	0	2	0	4	.333	.368	.333	.702
S. Victorino	OF	BOS @ TOR 7:07PM	M. Buehrle	22	6	2	1	2	0	4	.273	.292	.455	.746
J. Bautista	OF	TOR vs BOS 7:07PM	J. Peavy	17	3	0	0	0	3	4	.176	.300	.176	.476
J. Reyes	SS	TOR vs BOS 7:07PM	J. Peavy	21	5	0	0	0	0	4	.238	.238	.238	.476
F. Freeman	1B	ATL vs CIN 7:35PM	H. Bailey	11	2	0	0	1	1	2	.182	.250	.182	.432
C. Johnson	3B	ATL vs CIN 7:35PM	H. Bailey	12	1	0	0	0	0	7	.083	.083	.083	.167
D. Uggla	2B	ATL vs CIN 7:35PM	H. Bailey	18	3	0	0	1	3	3	.167	.318	.167	.485
A. Avila	C	DET @ MIN 8:10PM	K. Correia	13	3	0	0	0	0	2	.231	.231	.231	.462
I. Kinsler	2B	DET @ MIN 8:10PM	K. Correia	10	2	0	0	0	0	0	.200	.200	.200	.400
E. Chavez	3B	ARI vs PHI 9:40PM	R. Hernandez	11	2	1	1	2	1	0	.182	.250	.455	.705
C. Pennington	SS	ARI vs PHI 9:40PM	R. Hernandez	23	7	1	0	3	0	5	.304	.304	.348	.652
K. Seager	3B	SEA vs TEX 10:10PM	R. Ross	11	2	1	1	2	0	1	.182	.182	.455	.636

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, 2014

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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
Kevin Correia	MIN vs DET 8:10PM	105	33	5	1	11	3	9	.314	.326	.395	.721
Rick Porcello	DET @ MIN 8:10PM	124	38	13	3	16	10	13	.306	.355	.455	.810
Shelby Miller	STL vs PIT 8:15PM	82	24	14	6	11	6	15	.293	.348	.656	1.004

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

Alberto Callaspo, 3B, OAK - Callaspo is better suited for use in deep leagues, but his career consistency grabs you right away. Callaspo has averaged at least 450 at-bats, while hitting nine HR, and reaching 57 RBI and 60 runs over the past five season. While those numbers aren't fantastic, they are particularly valuable given his positional flexibility in many leagues, while the A's have been giving him a healthy supply of at-bats from the DH spot as Oakland continues to mix and match platoons against opposing pitchers.

Other Recent Recommendations:Jenrry Mejia, Corey Dickerson, Trevor Plouffe, Robbie Ross, and Ike Davis.

DraftStreet Value Picks

SP: Rick Porcello, DET ($14,103)
C: A.J. Pierzynski, BOS ($4,656)
1B: Adam LaRoche, WAS ($5,937)
2B: Brandon Phillips, CIN ($4,333)
SS: Ian Desmond, WAS ($5,933)
3B: Mike Moustakas, KC ($4,970)
OF: Matt Kemp, LAD ($6,841)