Projected Starters – A look at Wednesday's matchups:
Reds (Johnny Cueto - R) at Athletics (Vin Mazzaro - R), 3:35 ETRoyals (Brian Bannister) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R), 4:35 ET
Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R) at Orioles (Brian Matusz – L), 7:05 ET
Indians (Jake Westbrook – R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R), 7:05 ET
Cardinals (Chris Carpenter – R) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero – L), 7:07 ET
Padres (Kevin Correia – R) at Rays (James Shields – R), 7:10 ET
Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman – R) at Mets (R.A. Dickey – R), 7:10 ET
Giants (Barry Zito – L) at Astros (Brett Myers – L), 8:05 ET
Pirates (Paul Maholm – L) at Rangers (Dustin Nippert – R), 8:05 ET
Twins (Francisco Liriano – L) at Brewers (Many Parra – L), 8:10 ET
Braves (Tim Hudson – R) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle – L), 8:10 ET
Red Sox (John Lackey – R) at Rockies (**Ubaldo Jimenez – R), 8:40 ET
Yankees (Javier Vazquez – R) at Diamondbacks (Dontrelle Willis – L), 9:40 ET
Dodgers (John Ely – R) at Angels (Joel Pineiro – R), 10:05 ET
Cubs (Randy Wells – R) at Mariners (Cliff Lee – L), 10:10 ET**Ubaldo Jimenez (illness) day-to-day, see below
Day Game After Night Game: CIN, OAK, KAN, WAS
Injuries
Projected Starters – A look at Wednesday's matchups:
Reds (Johnny Cueto - R) at Athletics (Vin Mazzaro - R), 3:35 ETRoyals (Brian Bannister) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R), 4:35 ET
Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R) at Orioles (Brian Matusz – L), 7:05 ET
Indians (Jake Westbrook – R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R), 7:05 ET
Cardinals (Chris Carpenter – R) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero – L), 7:07 ET
Padres (Kevin Correia – R) at Rays (James Shields – R), 7:10 ET
Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman – R) at Mets (R.A. Dickey – R), 7:10 ET
Giants (Barry Zito – L) at Astros (Brett Myers – L), 8:05 ET
Pirates (Paul Maholm – L) at Rangers (Dustin Nippert – R), 8:05 ET
Twins (Francisco Liriano – L) at Brewers (Many Parra – L), 8:10 ET
Braves (Tim Hudson – R) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle – L), 8:10 ET
Red Sox (John Lackey – R) at Rockies (**Ubaldo Jimenez – R), 8:40 ET
Yankees (Javier Vazquez – R) at Diamondbacks (Dontrelle Willis – L), 9:40 ET
Dodgers (John Ely – R) at Angels (Joel Pineiro – R), 10:05 ET
Cubs (Randy Wells – R) at Mariners (Cliff Lee – L), 10:10 ET**Ubaldo Jimenez (illness) day-to-day, see below
Day Game After Night Game: CIN, OAK, KAN, WAS
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)
Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Rockies (illness) – Left ballpark Tuesday in advance of Wednesday start, check back on him before gametime WednesdayErick Aybar, SS, Angels (knee) – Check back to see if he was placed on DLDallas Braden, SP, Athletics (forearm) – Feels better, keep an eye on last night's (Tuesday) startJ.D. Drew, OF, Red Sox (hamstring) – Out until at least Thursday, Reddick recalledZach Duke, SP, Pirates (elbow) – Will go on DL if he can't make Wednesday side session, check back
Players on the DL
Luke Hochevar, SP, Royals (elbow) – Hoping for early-July returnMike Gonzalez, RP, Orioles (shoulder) – Velocity in low-90s in rehab appearance, that's a progressionJosh Beckett, SP, Red Sox (back) – Successful bullpen session Monday, but still no timetableDustin McGowan, SP, Blue Jays (shoulder) – Had significant tear in rehab, won't pitch again this season, could be ready for spring trainingEmmanuel Burriss, SS, Giants (foot) – Giants satisfied with Renteria for now, won't recall Burriss soonCarlos Ruiz, C, Phillies (head) – Placed on DL Tuesday, could return July 4Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets (knee) – Rehab to start Thursday, will be back within three weeksMark DeRosa, 3B, Giants (wrist) – Decision is in: season-ending surgery
Transactions – Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Placed on the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)Carlos Ruiz, C, Phillies
Activated from the DLNelson Cruz, OF, RangersJimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies
Called UpJosh Reddick, OF, Red Sox Joe Smith, P, IndiansJay Sborz, P, Tigers Alex Sanabia, P, MarlinsJames Houser, P, MarlinsJason Castro, C, AstrosJason Bourgeois, OF, AstrosChris Johnson, 3B, AstrosMike Zagurski, P, PhilliesDusty Ryan, C, Padres
Sent DownJuan Rincon, P, Rockies (designated for assignment)Jorge Sosa, P, Marlins (designated for assignment)Kevin Cash, C, Astros (designated for assignment)Casey Daigle, P, Astros (designated for assignment)Cory Sullivan, OF, Astros, (designated for assignment)Greg Dobbs, 3B, Phillies (designated for assignment)Scott Mathieson, P, Phillies Lance Zawadski, SS, PadresCraig Gentry, OF, Rangers
Closer Watch – A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left).
CIN – It doesn't seem like there is a cause to chop Cordero from the closer's role right now despite his fifth blown save Monday and a rise in his WHIP to 1.48. He allowed a solo home run to blow the save, then walked the first two hitters he faced in the 10th inning before the bullpen reserves bailed him out. Jordan Smith got the save, but he is not a candidate to close right now. Arthur Rhodes has a 0.29 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, but for now the Reds are content to use him when they really need to get a guy out.Key Matchups – Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included). *Check Status
Hot
Edgar Renteria v. Brett Myers – 15-for-37 (.405), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2:4 BB:K, .436 OBPAdam Kennedy v. Brian Bannister – 4-for-9 (.444), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:0 BB:K, .571 OBPOmar Vizquel v. Tim Hudson – 10-for-33 (.303), 0 HR, 7 RBI, 5:4 BB:K, .395 OBPPaul Konerko v. Tim Hudson – 6-for-16 (.375), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:3 BB:K, .474 OBPMelky Cabrera v. Mark Buehrle – 6-for-11 (.545), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .545 OBPTroy Glaus v. Mark Buehrle – 6-for-22 (.273), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1:6 BB:K, .304 OBPJason Giambi v. John Lackey – 13-for-37 (.351), 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5:4 BB:K, .455 OBPManny Ramirez v. Joel Pineiro – 14-for-37 (.378), 4 HR, 7 RBI, 3:6 BB:K, .452 OBPCasey Blake v. Joel Pineiro – 9-for-23 (.391), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .417 OBP
Ricky Nolasco v. Orioles – The Orioles have just 60 at-bats between all of them against Nolasco, but the results aren't pretty. Nolasco has just a .200 average against, no home runs allowed and a 0:15 BB:K. Oh yeah, and they are the Orioles.
Cold
Freddy Sanchez v. Brett Myers – 1-for-15 (.067), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .067 OBPAlex Gonzalez v. Chris Carpenter – 3-for-21 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .182 OBPOmar Infante v. Mark Buehrle – 0-for-13 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .000 OBPMiguel Olivo v. John Lackey – 2-for-17 (.118), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:9 BB:K, .167 OBPAdam LaRoche v. Javier Vazquez – 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .176 OBPAndre Ethier v. Joel Pineiro – 0-for-10 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .167 OBPMatt Kemp v. Joel Pineiro – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .143 OBP
Tim Hudson v. White Sox – Even though Hudson does not have a lengthy history with any of the players from the meat of the White Sox order, this is still a caution game. Current White Sox have hit him at a .310/.365/.444 clip, however many of these at-bats predate his Tommy John surgery and his entire history with the Braves. Also, Omar Vizquel has 33 of the 126 team at-bats and hits .303, so a lot of this has to do with a player who very well may not start.
Recommended Pickup
Hisanori Takahashi, P, Mets – What if I told you there is a pitcher available in the vast majority of mixed leagues who has the following line this season as a starter: 34.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 22:8 K:BB ratio. The same starter has pitched six scoreless innings in three of his six starts and allowed one run in seven innings in another. He has a cumulative 12 scoreless innings against the Yankees. You'd think I'm talking about a heralded phenom. Instead, it is Takahashi, and he shouldn't be unowned in your league much longer.
Other Recent Recommendations:Huston Street, Gavin Floyd, Miguel Montero, Carlos Guillen, Delmon Young
