The Lineup Card: Chasing Saves

Projected Starters - A look at Tuesday's matchups:

Phillies (Roy Oswalt – R ) v Nationals (Jason Marquis - R), 7:05
Tigers (Max Scherzer - R) v Indians (Mitch Talbot - R), 7:05
Yankees (Javier Vazquez - R) v Blue Jays (Kyle Drabek - R), 7:07
Astros (Wandy Rodriguez - L) v Reds (Edinson Volquez - R), 7:10
Orioles (Bradley Bergesen - R) v Rays (David Price – L), 7:10
Marlins (Anibal Sanchez - R) v Braves (Tommy Hanson - R), 7:10
Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R) v Rangers (Cliff Lee - R), 8:05
Twins (Nick Blackburn - R) v Royals (Sean O'Sullivan – R), 8:10
Red Sox (John Lackey - R) v White Sox (Edwin Jackson - R), 8:10
Pirates (Brian Burres - L) v Cardinals (Jeff Suppan - R), 8:15
Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda – R ) v Rockies (Jeff Francis - L), 8:40
Cubs (Randy Wells – R) v Padres (Mat Latos - R), 10:05
A's (Dallas Braden - L) v Angels (Dan Haren - R), 10:05
Diamondbacks (Rodrigo Lopez - R) v Giants (Jonathan Sanchez - L), 10:15

Day game after a night game: None

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI – (Hamstring) Not in Monday's lineup after pinch-hitting Sunday because of wet conditions
Michael Bourn, OF, HOU – (Oblique) Has started running, but he hurts while swinging
Mark Reynolds, 3B, AZ – (Thumb) Missed Sunday's game, his second miss
Blake Hawksworth, P, STL – (Face) Required 30 stitches after getting hit by a ball in the face – he might miss the rest of the year
Laynce Nix, OF, CIN – (Ankle) Might make a start or two in the final week
Jay Bruce, OF, CIN – (Abdomen) Sat Sunday because of tightness in his right side, probably not major
Orlando Cabrera, SS, CIN – (Oblique) Should be able to play Tuesday
Freddy Sanchez, 2B, SF – (Shoulder) MRI on tap Monday
Takashi Saito, P, ATL – (Shoulder) Sunday bullpen session scrapped
Chris Capuano, P, MIL – (Groin) Left Sunday's start with a groin strain, probably done for the year
J.J. Hardy, SS, MIN – (Knee) Not in the lineup Monday – his fifth miss in six games
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB – (Quads) Not in the lineup Monday
Chris Carter, 1B, OAK – (Thumb) Sat Sunday
Gordon Beckham, 3B, CHI-A – (Hand) White Sox won't pull the plug on his season yet
Joe Mauer, C, MIN – (Knee) Might miss the entire upcoming series with KC
Mitch Maier7640, OF, KC – (Knee) Late scratch Sunday, replaced by Jai Miller
Jim Thome, DH, MIN – (Back) Remains out

Players on the DL (or Out)
Jason Bay, OF, NY-N – (Concussion) Will not return in 2010
Ryan Zimmermann, 3B, WAS – (Ribs) Nats likely to shut him down
Brandon Webb, P, AZ – (Shoulder) Holding out hope for a bullpen appearance or two
Justin Upton, OF, AZ – (Shouldert) Met with Dr. James Andrews Sunday
Jim Edmonds, OF, CIN – (Achilles) Might not play again this season
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, BOS – (Thumb) Has a torn ligament and broken bone in his left thumb – out 4-6 weeks
Gavin Floyd, P, CHI-A – (Shoulder) Probably won't start again in 2010
Zach Miner, P, DET – (Elbow) May not be ready to start 2011

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

None today

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left)

OAK – See Recommended pickup below
SEA – David Aardsma may be unavailable due to injury, and Brandon League is next on the list
CHI-A - Matt Thornton picked up a two-inning save Sunday in Bobby Jenks' continued absence

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
Nyjer Morgan v Roy Oswalt – 6-for-18 (.333/.400/.444), 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Ryan Zimmerman v Roy Oswalt – 6-for-17 (.353/.381/.765), 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Adam Kennedy v Roy Oswalt – 7-for-17 (.412/.444/.588), 3 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBN, 4:1 K:BB
Chase Utley v Jason Marquis – 12-for-25 (.480/.552/.640), 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2:4 K:BB
Ryan Howard v Jason Marquis – 5-for-16 (.313/.476/.500), 0 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:5 K:BB
Jayson Werth v Jason Marquis – 8-for-15 (.533/.650/1.133), 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0:4 K:BB
Brandon Inge v Mitch Talbot – 4-for-10 (.400/.455/.500), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Jose Bautista v Javier Vazquez – 3-for-10 (.300/.417/.900), 0 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 5:2 K:BB
John McDonald v Javier Vazquez – 4-for-11 (.364/.462/.727), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5:2 K:BB
Jonny Gomes v Wandy Rodriguez – 7-for-18 (.389/.421/.944), 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Brian McCann v Anibal Sanchez – 9-for-25 (.360/.429/.560), 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 4:3 K:BB
Elvis Andrus v Felix Hernandez – 10-for-31 (.323/.400/.387), 2 2B, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 7:3 K:BB
Nelson Cruz v Felix Hernandez – 10-for-33 (.303/.353/.606), 1 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 3:2 K:BB
Jose Lopez v Cliff Lee – 9-for-28 (.321/.321/.429), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:0 K:BB
Josh Bard v Cliff Lee – 4-for-11 (.364/.417/.545), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Franklin Gutierrez v Cliff Lee – 3-for-10 (.300/.300/.700), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Manny Ramirez v John Lackey – 12-for-31 (.387/.537/.968), 3 2B, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 7:9 K:BB
Mark Teahen v John Lackey – 6-for-17 (.353/.353/.353), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI,4:0 K:BB
Carlos Quentin v John Lackey – 7-for-11 (.636/.693/1.727), 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 0:0 K:BB
David Ortiz v Edwin Jackson – 7-for-17 (.412/.565/.706), 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1:6 K:BB
J.D. Drew v Edwin Jackson – 7-for-15 (.467/.600/.733), 4 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4:5 K:BB
Marco Scutaro v Edwin Jackson – 6-for-20 (.300/.300/.600), 0 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Ronny Cedeno v Jeff Suppan – 5-for-13 (.385/.529/.615), 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:4 K:BB
Ryan Doumit v Jeff Suppan – 4-for-14 (.286/.412/.786), 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Chris Snyder v Jeff Suppan – 8-for-14 (.571/.625/.857), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Andrew McCutchen v Jeff Suppan – 5-for-11 (.455/.500/.818), 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 K:BB
Ian Stewart v Hiroki Kuroda – 6-for-10 (.600/.643/.600), 0 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Seth Smith v Hiroki Kuroda – 6-for-11 (.545/.615/.727), 0 2B 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Miguel Olivo v Hiroki Kuroda – 5-for-12 (.417/.417/.500), 1 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Erick Aybar v Dallas Braden – 10-for-24 (.417/.417/.458), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Mike Napoli v Dallas Braden – 7-for-17 (.412/.412/.706), 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Hideki Matsui v Dallas Braden – 4-for-11 (.364/.462/.636), 0 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Juan Uribe v Rodrigo Lopez – 7-for-18 (.389/.389/.833), 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Andres Torres v Rodrigo Lopez – 6-for-13 (.462/.462/.769), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Pablo Sandoval v Rodrigo Lopez – 4-for-10 (.400/.364/1.0000), 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Kelly Johnson v Jonathan Sanchez – 7-for-12 (.583/.615/1.250), 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Ryan Roberts v Jonathan Sanchez – 3-for-10 (.300/.417/.700), 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 K:BB

Wandy Rodriguez v CIN - Rodriguez may have had a rocky start to 2010, but he should end the season in strong fashion. The Reds may be resting on their laurels a bit in this one with the division in hand and several of their players battling nagging injuries. Even when healthy, their current crew only has a collective .220 batting average against Rodriguez, and he has struck them out 75 times (to 18 walks) in 227 at-bats. He struck out 10 Reds in six innings in a September 17 start, and he one-hit them over seven frames July 25.

Cold
Kevin Mench v Roy Oswalt – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Jimmy Rollins v Jason Marquis – 5-for-38 (.132), 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 5:6 K:BB
Placido Polanco v Jason Marquis – 4-for-18 (.222), 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:3 K:BB
Brian Schneider v Jason Marquis – 1-for-21 (.048), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Raul Ibanez v Jason Marquis – 3-for-13 (.231), 2 2B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Vernon Wells v Javier Vazquez – 8-for-42 (.190), 4 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8:0 K:BB
John Buck v Javier Vazquez – 4-for-20 (.200), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Aaron Hill v Javier Vazquez – 2-for-19 (.105), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Brandon Phillips v Wandy Rodriguez – 7-for-34 (.206), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 9:4 K:BB
Jay Bruce v Wandy Rodriguez – 1-for-17 (.059), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 10:0 K:BB
Drew Stubbs v Wandy Rodriguez – 1-for-11 (.091), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 7:2 K:BB
Orlando Cabrera v Wandy Rodriguez – 1-for-11 (.091), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Geoff Blum v Edinson Volquez – 0-for-12 (.000), 0 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Hunter Pence v Edinson Volquez – 2-for-11 (.182), 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Luke Scott v David Price – 2-for-10 (.200), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:2 K:BB
Omar Infante v Anibal Sanchez – 3-for-15 (.200), 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Eric Hinske v Anibal Sanchez – 0-for-10 (.000), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Dan Uggla v Tommy Hanson – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Ian Kinsler v Felix Hernandez – 8-for-46 (.174), 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8:8 K:BB
Bengie Molina v Felix Hernandez – 0-for-12 (.000), 0 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Jorge Cantu v Felix Hernandez – 2-for-10 (.200), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Julio Borbon v Felix Hernandez – 4-for-18 (.222), 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Yuniesky Betancourt v Cliff Lee – 3-for-15 (.200), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Juan Pierre v John Lackey – 3-for-19 (.158), 2 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:0 K:BB
Alex Rios v John Lackey – 6-for-25 (.240), 1 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 8:0 K:BB
Victor Martinez v Edwin Jackson – 3-for-17 (.176), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Jason Varitek v Edwin Jackson – 2-for-16 (.125), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 8:1 K:BB
Andy LaRoche v Jeff Suppan – 2-for-14 (.143), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Troy Tulowitzki v Hiroki Kuroda – 4-for-19 (.211), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Todd Helton v Hiroki Kuroda – 3-for-13 (.231), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:2 K:BB
Dexter Fowler v Hiroki Kuroda – 2-for-10 (.200), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
James Loney v Jeff Francis – 1-for-15 (.067), 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5:2 K:BB
Casey Blake v Jeff Francis – 1-for-14 (.071), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Miguel Tejada v Randy Wells – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Howie Kendrick v Dallas Braden – 3-for-21 (.143), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4:0 K:BB
Jeremy Hermida v Dan Haren – 0-for-12 (.000), 0 RBI, 6:0 K:BB
Edgar Renteria v Rodrigo Lopez – 3-for-18 (.167), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Stephen Drew v Jonathan Sanchez – 6-for-28 (.214), 2 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Mark Reynolds v Jonathan Sanchez – 4-for-25 (.160), 0 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 14:6 K:BB

Jeff Suppan v Pirates – Picking up Suppan for his Tuesday start against the Pirates could cosmetically look like a strategic play in a league where the wins are tight. But such players should just say "no" to the Suppan, who has yielded a career .995 OPS to the current crop of Pirates batters. That's right, their hitters have nearly a collective 1.000 against him in 131 at-bats, and several batters (Ronny Cedeno, Ryan Doumit, Chris Snyder, Brandon Moss and Andrew McCutchen) have gone above the 1.000 OPS mark in more than 10 at-bats each.

Recommended Pickup

Craig Breslow, P, OAK - Need a few waiver wire saves before the end of the year? Look no further than Mr. Breslow, who should assume closing duties for the A's with Andrew Bailey done for the season. The A's face the Angels and Mariners this week – both series could present save chances for Breslow. He has not allowed a run over his last 9.1 innings, and he has only yielded two hits over that stretch.

Other recent recommendations:Wade Davis, Wilson Betemit, Travis Wood, James McDonald, Evan Meek