This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Friday's matchups (all times Eastern):
Reds (Edinson Volquez - R) at Orioles (Chris Jakubauskas - R), 7:05
Red Sox (Jon Lester - L) at Pirates (Paul Maholm - L), 7:05
Diamondbacks (Zach Duke - L) at Tigers (Phil Coke - L), 7:05
Athletics (Guillermo Moscoso - R) at Phillies (Vance Worley - R), 7:05
Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez - R) at Yankees (A.J. Burnett - R), 7:05
Rays (James Shields - R) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez - L), 8:05
Mets (Mike Pelfrey - R) at Rangers (Matt Harrison - L), 8:05
Twins (Scott Baker - R) at Brewers (Randy Wolf - L), 8:10
Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R) at Royals (Bruce Chen - L), 8:10
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann - R) at White Sox (Edwin Jackson - R), 8:10
Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow - R) at Cardinals (Jake Westbrook - R), 8:15
Braves (Derek Lowe - R) at Padres (Tim Stauffer - R), 10:05
Angels (Dan Haren - R) at Dodgers (Rubby De La Rosa - R), 10:10
Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco - R), 10:10
Indians (Carlos Carrasco - R) at Giants (Jonathan Sanchez - L), 10:15
Day Game After a Night Game: None
Injuries - A brief look at players that have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns.
Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
NL
Laynce Nix, OF, WAS (Achilles) - Was available to pinch-hit Thursday and delivered game-winning sac fly
Ryan Webb, RP, FLA (shoulder) - Battling inflammation, but hopes to be available Friday
Barry Zito, SP, SF (foot) - Expected to start on Tuesday, then move to bullpen
Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL (shoulder) - On track to return and start Tuesday
AL
Joe Mauer, C, MIN (back) - Out of Thursday's lineup
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, 2B, MIN (hamstring) - Out Thursday as well
Torii Hunter, OF, LAA (ribs) - Day-to-day; x-rays negative
Jim Thome, DH, MIN (quad) - Will rejoin team Friday
Josh Beckett, SP, BOS (illness) - Scratched from Saturday's start
Players on the DL
NL
Marlon Byrd, OF, CHC (face) - Will begin rehab assignment Monday in Triple-A
Jose Contreras, RP, PHI (elbow) - Placed on DL
David Freese, 3B, STL (hand) - 2-for-6 in two rehab games so far
Darwin Barney, SS, CHC (knee) - Rehab assignment to start Saturday
Josh Johnson, SP, CHC (shoulder) - Had ultrasound on knee Tuesday, but still throwing bullpens, so shoulder coming along
Aroldis Chapman, RP, CIN (shoulder) - Threw a good inning in rehab appearance
Jonathan Broxton, RP, LAD (elbow) - Will regain closer's role when he returns
Takashi Saito, RP, MIL (oblique) - Headed back to Nashville for more rehab appearances
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM (ankle) - May need season-ending surgery; will be reevaluated in three weeks
Kris Medlen, SP, ATL (elbow) - Threw 60-pitch bullpen Wednesday
Brandon Lyon, RP, HOU (biceps) - Out for the year
AL
Josh Willingham, OF, OAK (Achilles) - Thinks he'll be back July 3, when eligible
Brad Thomas, RP, DET (elbow) - Four rehab appearances have gone well
Fernando Rodney, RP, LAA (back) - Still at least a week away
Mike Napoli, C, LAA (oblique) - Will try to take full swings Friday
Tommy Hunter, SP, TEX (groin) - Struggled in his first relief appearance Wednesday
Joe Nathan, RP, MIN (elbow) - Will be activated before Friday's game
Jed Lowrie, SS, BOS (shoulder) - Has a strain and won't require surgery
Alex White, SP, CLE (finger) - Starting a throwing program Friday; still out probably into August
Matt LaPorta, 1B, CLE (ankle) - Should get out of boot this weekend
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN (wrist) - Cast will be removed Friday
Kevin Slowey, SP, MIN (abdomen) - Threw simulated game Wednesday; still maybe a couple weeks away from rehab starts
Jason Kubel, OF, MIN (foot) - Encouraging day of running Wednesday, but still not ready for baserunning
Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Called Up
Ryan Perry, RP, DET
Lance Lynn, SP, STL
Chris Carter, OF, OAK
Chase D'Arnaud, SS, PIT
Juan Perez, RP, PHI
Shelley Duncan, OF, CLE
Raul Valdes, RP, STL
Sent Down
Adam Wilk, RP, DET
Danny Worth, 3B, DET
Josh Harrison, 3B, PIT
Travis Buck, OF, CLE
Bryan Augenstein, RP, STL
Maikel Cleto, RP, STL
Placed on DL
Josh Willingham, OF, OAK
Jose Contreras, RP, PHI
Activated from DL
Brandon Inge, 3B, DET
Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left).
New York Mets - Francisco Rodriguez had blown his last two saves, including Wednesday's against Oakland, and afterward called himself "pathetic." Sufficiently motivated by his failure, he came out with a 1-2-3 ninth on Thursday to reach the 20-save mark. Speculation still swirls around a possible July trade; Jason Isringhausen, Bobby Parnell or Pedro Beato would stand to benefit.
Texas - Neftali Feliz blew up big on Wednesday, giving up four runs and recording just two outs, recording his fourth blown save and first loss of the season. Feliz still has had a lot of trouble finding consistency in his performances, but the Rangers still really don't have anyone to replace him with.
Key Matchups
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Cameron - OF | BOS @ PIT 6/24 7:05 PM | Paul Maholm | 13-30 | .433 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 2 | .767 | .485 | 1.252 | |||||||
Miguel Cabrera - 1B | DET vs ARI 6/24 7:05 PM | Zach Duke | 5-12 | .417 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | .750 | .462 | 1.212 | |||||||
Russell Martin - C | NYY vs COL 6/24 7:05 PM | Ubaldo Jimenez | 8-25 | .320 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | .400 | .469 | .869 | |||||||
Lyle Overbay - 1B | PIT vs BOS 6/24 7:05 PM | Jon Lester | 7-22 | .318 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | .682 | .400 | 1.082 | |||||||
Jeff Francoeur - OF | KC vs CHC 6/24 8:10 PM | Ryan Dempster | 5-12 | .417 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .667 | .417 | 1.084 | |||||||
Prince Fielder - 1B | MIL vs MIN 6/24 8:10 PM | Scott Baker | 8-20 | .400 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | .850 | .455 | 1.305 | |||||||
Casey McGehee - 3B | MIL vs MIN 6/24 8:10 PM | Scott Baker | 3-10 | .300 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | .900 | .300 | 1.200 | |||||||
Alberto Gonzalez - SS | SD vs ATL 6/24 10:05 PM | Derek Lowe | 7-13 | .538 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .538 | .571 | 1.109 | |||||||
Ryan Ludwick - OF | SD vs ATL 6/24 10:05 PM | Derek Lowe | 9-16 | .563 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1.375 | .563 | 1.938 | |||||||
Andre Ethier - OF | LAD vs LAA 6/24 10:10 PM | Dan Haren | 14-41 | .341 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 8 | .585 | .372 | .957 | |||||||
Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Scott Baker | MIN @ MIL 6/24 8:10 PM | Brewers Batters | 36-130 | .277 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 21 | .484 | .299 | .783 | |||||||
Dan Haren | LAA @ LAD 6/24 10:10 PM | Dodgers Batters | 60-224 | .268 | 7 | 18 | 23 | 8 | 51 | .419 | .301 | .721 |
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reed Johnson - OF | CHC @ KC 6/24 8:10 PM | Bruce Chen | 1-16 | .063 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .063 | .167 | .230 | |||||||
Alcides Escobar - SS | KC vs CHC 6/24 8:10 PM | Ryan Dempster | 2-11 | .182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .182 | .250 | .432 | |||||||
Ryan Braun - OF | MIL vs MIN 6/24 8:10 PM | Scott Baker | 4-16 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .250 | .250 | .500 | |||||||
Craig Counsell - SS | MIL vs MIN 6/24 8:10 PM | Scott Baker | 2-14 | .143 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .214 | .200 | .414 | |||||||
Corey Hart - OF | MIL vs MIN 6/24 8:10 PM | Scott Baker | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .250 | .167 | .417 | |||||||
Matt Stairs - OF | WAS @ CWS 6/24 8:10 PM | Edwin Jackson | 3-20 | .150 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | .150 | .261 | .411 | |||||||
Corey Patterson - OF | TOR @ STL 6/24 8:15 PM | Jake Westbrook | 1-10 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .100 | .182 | .282 | |||||||
Tony Gwynn Jr. - OF | LAD vs LAA 6/24 10:10 PM | Dan Haren | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | .333 | .333 | .666 | |||||||
Matt Kemp - OF | LAD vs LAA 6/24 10:10 PM | Dan Haren | 8-33 | .242 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | .424 | .265 | .689 | |||||||
Dioner Navarro - C | LAD vs LAA 6/24 10:10 PM | Dan Haren | 1-14 | .071 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .071 | .071 | .142 | |||||||
Jack Wilson - SS | SEA @ FLA 6/24 10:10 PM | Ricky Nolasco | 1-10 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .100 | .250 | .350 | |||||||
Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Derek Lowe | ATL @ SD 6/24 10:05 PM | Padres Batters | 34-92 | .370 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 13 | 14 | .516 | .451 | .967 | |||||||
Recommended Pickup
Alexi Casilla, SS, MIN - Two things to know about Casilla: he's stolen 49 and 50 bases in the minor leagues, and ever since he came out of his season-long slump in late May, he's been doing his best Jose Reyes impression: 12 multi-hit games in his last 26, raising his average from .188 to .267 entering Thursday's action. He's also collected eight steals in that time and actually flashed the ol' power stroke lately, hitting his first two homers of the year in consecutive games earlier this week. Casilla qualifies at both second and short in many formats, which only adds to his value.
Other recent recommendations:Jeff Keppinger, Mike Adams, Alcides Escobar, Andrew Miller, Brandon Beachy
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Draft Street Lineup
C - Ramon Hernandez, CIN ($4,823)
1B - Justin Smoak, SEA ($5,793)
2B - Dustin Ackley, SEA ($5,863)
3B - Ryan Zimmerman, WAS ($6,968)
SS - Hanley Ramirez, FLA ($5,303)
OF - Jose Bautista, TOR ($9,214)
OF - Michael Morse, WAS ($7,632)
OF - Adam Jones, BAL ($6,804)
UTIL - Ryan Ludwick, SD ($5,451)
UTIL - Colby Rasmus, STL ($4,814)
SP - Carlos Carrasco, CLE ($12,590)
SP - Jordan Zimmermann, WAS ($11,441)
RP - Carlos Marmol, CHC ($2,540)
P - Tim Stauffer, SD ($10,508)
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