The Lineup Card: Closer-by-Committee in Washington?

Projected Starters – A look at Monday's matchups (all times Eastern):

Braves (Brandon Beachy – R) at Brewers (Chris Narveson – L), 2:10

Diamondbacks (Barry Enright – R) at Cubs (Randy Wells – R), 2:20

Tigers (Rick Porcello – R) at Orioles (Jake Arrieta – R), 3:05

Twins (Scott Baker – R) at Yankees (Ivan Nova – R), 7:05

Mariners (Erik Bedard – L) at Rangers (Derek Holland – L), 8:05

Pirates (Charlie Morton – R) at Cardinals (Kyle Lohse – R), 8:15

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)

AL

Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET – (Ankle) Missed Sunday's game.

Rajai Davis, OF, TOR – (Ankle) A late scratch on Sunday.

Luke Scott, OF, BAL – (Groin) Left Saturday's game and admitted soreness has been there for days, likely to sit a couple more. Felix Pie getting starts.

Johnny Damon, OF, TAM – (Calf) Scratched Sunday but was available. Might not miss any more time.

NL

J.A. Happ, P, HOU – (Oblique) Had Sunday's start pushed to Tuesday, but now he gets two starts in one week.

Buster Posey, C, SFO – (Face) Did not play Sunday after fouling a ball off his chin on Saturday.

Jorge De La Rosa, P, COL – (Finger) Popped a blood blister after Saturday's start, but should not miss his next turn.

Michael Stanton, OF, FLA – (Hamstring) Sat out of Sunday's game.

Donnie Murhphy, SS, FLA – (Wrist) Missed Sunday's game, but looks like it is nothing serious.

Stephen Drew, SS, ARZ – (Abdomen) Missed another game on Sunday, DL looks like a possibility.

Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT – (Neck) Scratched from Sunday's lineup.

Melvin Mora, 3B, ARZ – (Illness) Scratched for second day in a row.

Ubaldo Jimenez, P, COL – (Thumb) Next start pushed back one day to Friday.

Carlos Zambrano, P, CHC – (Hand) Expected to make next start on Friday.

Shane Victorino, OF, PHI – (Calf) Pinch hit on Sunday, expected back in the lineup on Tuesday.

Edward Mujica, P, FLA – (Hamstring) Threw 0.2 innings Sunday but says hamstring is sore.

Players on the DL

AL

Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE – (Knee) Won't be able to play back-to-back games, pushes his timetable back to the end of April.

David Aardsma, P, SEA – (Hip) Ran before Sunday's game, late-April seems like best case scenario.

Andrew Bailey, P, OAK – (Forearm) Threw well on Saturday, hopes to return in about two weeks.

Justin Duchscherer, P, BAL – (Hip, Back) Had minor procedure on back Sunday and won't throw for several days, but still eying April 21 start.

Evan Longoria, 3B, TAM – (Oblique) First major casualty of the season in the AL, out three weeks.

Brandon Morrow, P, TOR – (Elbow) Threw simulated game Sunday, could be about a week and a half away.

Jake Peavy, P, CHW – (Shoulder) Threw simulated game, ready to rehab in minors. Late-April return is likely.

Scott Feldman, P, TEX – (Knee) Threw off a mound Sunday. Still out until sometime in June.

NL

Brian Wilson, P, SFO – (Oblique) Simulated game went well on Sunday, could be activated Wednesday.

Chase Utley, 2B, PHI – (Knee) Took fielding practice Sunday, but still likely out until at least May.

Zack Greinke, P, MIL – (Ribs) Threw again Sunday, could be in minor league game at end of week.

Jair Jurrjens, P, ATL – (Oblique) On track for April 16 return.

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

Called Up

Zach Britton, P, BAL

Felipe Lopez, 3B, TAM

Mike Minor, P, ATL

Sent Down

None

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)

Evan Longoria, 3B, TAM

Jair Jurrjens, P, ATL

Brian Matusz, P, BAL

Activated from DL

None

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left).

Oakland – Brandon League notched his first save Saturday, but David Aardsma is on the mend (see above on Aardsma).

Baltimore – Kevin Gregg picked up his first save after allowing two batters to reach on Saturday. Koji Uehara helped get Mike Gonzalez out of a jam in the eighth inning.

Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol blew a save and took the loss Sunday by allowing the Pirates to score two runs in the top of the ninth.

Los Angeles Angels – Fernando Rodney loaded the bases with walks on Sunday before he let Wilson Betemit bring two runs home to tie the game. Rodney retired just one batter and has allowed six batters to reach while retiring four in two appearances.

Washington – Drew Storen entered in the eighth and allowed a solo home run to Alex Gonzalez before being removed for Sean Burnett. Burnett threw 1.1 innings and did not allow a batter to reach for his first save.

Key Matchups

We have a lot of small sample sizes on Monday's short slate, so there is not a whole lot of predicting to do based on previous matchups.

Scott Baker v. NYY – Yankees starter have eight home runs and 17 extra-base hits off Baker in 130 at bats.

Kyle Lohse v. PIT – Looks like the Pirates have a pretty good beat on Lohse at their .372/.425/.718 clip, but the sample size is just 78 at bats. No Pirate has more then ten at bats against Lohse, meaning they have all hit him collectively while facing him just a few times each.

Charlie Morton v. STL – Lohse's counterpart has not fared much better against the Cardinals than Lohse has against the Pirates. In 73 at bats, Morton has surrendered a .466/.518/.671 line that pushes the OPS against to almost 1.200. Lance Berkman is particularly dangerous here with two home runs and three doubles in six at bats against Morton.

Recommended Pickup

R.A. Dickey, P, NYM – After a breakthrough season as a knuckleballer in 2010, Dickey baffled the Marlins by allowing an unearned run on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts on Sunday. This is the same pitcher who made 26 starts and won 11 games with a 2.84 ERA and 1.19 WHIP last year. Neither Dickey's seven strikeouts nor his three walks in six innings will be indicative of his ratios given his 104:42 K:BB ratio in 174.1 innings a year ago, but Dickey should be a serviceable pitcher.

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