This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Sponsored by DraftStreetProjected Starters- A look at Friday's matchups (all times Eastern):
Astros (Wandy Rodriguez - L) at Cubs (Matt Garza - R), 2:20
Angels (Dan Haren - R) at Orioles (Tommy Hunter - R), 7:05
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L) at Phillies (Vance Worley - R), 7:05
Marlins (Javier Vazquez - R) at Nationals (John Lannan - L), 7:05
Yankees (CC Sabathia - L) at Blue Jays (Brett Cecil - L), 7:07
Rays (James Shields - R) at Red Sox (Josh Beckett - R), 7:10
Brewers (Randy Wolf - L) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R), 7:10
Mets (Chris Capuano - L) at Braves (Derek Lowe - R), 7:35
Indians (Ubaldo Jimenez - R) at Twins (Kevin Slowey - R), 8:10
White Sox (Phil Humber - R) at Royals (Felipe Paulino - R), 8:10
Giants (Madison Bumgarner - L) at Rockies (Alex White - R), 8:10
Tigers (Doug Fister - R) at Athletics (Trevor Cahill - R), 10:05
Diamondbacks (Wade Miley - L) at Padres (Tim Stauffer - R), 10:05
Rangers (C.J. Wilson - L) at Mariners (Blake Beavan - R), 10:10
Pirates (Jeff Locke - L) at Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 10:10
Day Game After a Night Game: CHC
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)
Joakim Soria, RP, KC (hamstring) - Unavailable Wednesday and, with nothing to play for, will probably take it slow
Nelson Cruz, OF, TEX (hamstring) - Activated from DL and struck out as pinch-hitter; no timetable for return to lineup
Ryan Sweeney, OF, OAK (quad) - Could be shut down for the remainder of the year
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY (thumb) - Will play Friday
Robinson Cano, 2B, NYY (foot) - X-rays negative; may not miss any time
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, CLE (abdomen) - Expected back in Thursday's lineup
Mike Stanton, OF, FLA (hamstring) - Hoping to play in Game 2 of Thursday doubleheader
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI (concussion) - Expected to play at least one game in Thursday doubleheader after missing last seven
Charlie Morton, SP, PIT (arm) - Seemed to have no trouble in Wednesday start
Mark Ellis, 2B, COL (head) - Had a big game Wednesday, so seems okay
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL (back) - Homered Wednesday, so he seems to be over it
Johnny Cueto, SP, CIN (back) - Reds hopeful he'll pitch again this year
Matt Holliday, OF, STL (hand) - Shut down through Tuesday at least
Players on the DL
Pedro Feliciano, RP, NYY (shoulder) - Had rotator cuff surgery, which may keep him out for 2012 and could even end his career
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS (finger) - Played catch Wednesday; hopes to swing soon
Zack Cozart, SS, CIN (elbow, ankle) - Having surgery to clean out ankle; still back by ST
Corey Brown, OF, WAS (knee) - Out for the year with staph infection
Scott Rolen, 3B, CIN (shoulder) - Probably out for the year
Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Activated from DL
Shin-Soo Choo - Unfortunately Choo aggravated his oblique and is now out for the season, concluding a very frustrating season.
Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left).
White Sox - Chris Sale originally got the call for the ninth Wednesday against Detroit after pitching a scoreless eighth, but he was chased after recording just one out and giving up a homer and a walk. So on came Sergio Santos, but he, too, gave up a homer, this one a two-run shot to tie the game, giving him his sixth blown save. Santos would go on to surrender the winning run in the top of the tenth and take the loss. Sale may be headed to the rotation next year, but hotshot relief prospect Addison Reed is up now and has looked mighty good. Ultimately, Reed is going to become the guy, but probably not until next year.
Dodgers - Kenley Jansen picked up his fourth save of the season and second in the month of September against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. He struck out the side, but did allow two hits and a run. In between Jansen's saves on Sept. 1 and 14, Javy Guerra saved five games, so it's likely that Don Mattingly was just giving Guerra a day off after a two-inning outing the night before.
Giants - Santiago Casilla notched his third save Wednesday, his first since August 26. The Giants' closing situation remains quite fluid with Brian Wilson out, but there haven't been a whole lot of opportunities. Casilla, Ramon Ramirez and maybe Jeremy Affeldt will keep piecing this situation together until Wilson returns - which he may not this year.
Royals - Greg Holland notched a save of the tying-run-on-deck variety Wednesday, his third of the year. Joakim Soria had a hamstring injury and wasn't available; no controversy here, but Holland could see save chances in the short term.
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeff Baker - 2B | CHC vs HOU 9/16 2:20 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 7-14 | .500 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .786 | .533 | 1.319 | |||||||
Geovany Soto - C | CHC vs HOU 9/16 2:20 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 7-16 | .438 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | .625 | .571 | 1.196 | |||||||
Vladimir Guerrero - DH | BAL vs LAA 9/16 7:05 PM | Dan Haren | 12-34 | .353 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .676 | .368 | 1.044 | |||||||
Omar Infante - 2B | FLA @ WAS 9/16 7:05 PM | John Lannan | 5-11 | .455 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .545 | .455 | 1.000 | |||||||
Torii Hunter - OF | LAA @ BAL 9/16 7:05 PM | Tommy Hunter | 3-12 | .250 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .750 | .250 | 1.000 | |||||||
Alex Cora - SS | WAS vs FLA 9/16 7:05 PM | Javier Vazquez | 8-16 | .500 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .563 | .556 | 1.119 | |||||||
Ivan Rodriguez - C | WAS vs FLA 9/16 7:05 PM | Javier Vazquez | 13-29 | .448 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 7 | .759 | .448 | 1.207 | |||||||
Robinson Cano - 2B | NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM | Brett Cecil | 6-19 | .316 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .526 | .364 | .890 | |||||||
Alex Rodriguez - 3B | NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM | Brett Cecil | 4-14 | .286 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | .571 | .333 | .904 | |||||||
Mark Teixeira - 1B | NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM | Brett Cecil | 5-18 | .278 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 4 | .611 | .480 | 1.091 | |||||||
David Ortiz - DH | BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM | James Shields | 12-33 | .364 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 6 | .848 | .462 | 1.310 | |||||||
Dustin Pedroia - 2B | BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM | James Shields | 13-30 | .433 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .700 | .469 | 1.169 | |||||||
Jay Bruce - OF | CIN vs MIL 9/16 7:10 PM | Randy Wolf | 8-18 | .444 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | .833 | .500 | 1.333 | |||||||
Paul Janish - SS | CIN vs MIL 9/16 7:10 PM | Randy Wolf | 5-13 | .385 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .615 | .467 | 1.082 | |||||||
Brandon Phillips - 2B | CIN vs MIL 9/16 7:10 PM | Randy Wolf | 6-19 | .316 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4 | .684 | .316 | 1.000 | |||||||
Joey Votto - 1B | CIN vs MIL 9/16 7:10 PM | Randy Wolf | 7-21 | .333 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | .476 | .440 | .916 | |||||||
Yuniesky Betancourt - SS | MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 4-12 | .333 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .750 | .333 | 1.083 | |||||||
Craig Counsell - SS | MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 12-30 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | .400 | .486 | .886 | |||||||
Prince Fielder - 1B | MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 9-40 | .225 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 3 | .500 | .340 | .840 | |||||||
Mark Kotsay - OF | MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 6-21 | .286 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .667 | .348 | 1.015 | |||||||
Johnny Damon - OF | TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM | Josh Beckett | 14-48 | .292 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 9 | .521 | .333 | .854 | |||||||
Casey Kotchman - 1B | TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM | Josh Beckett | 6-16 | .375 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .563 | .375 | .938 | |||||||
Evan Longoria - 3B | TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM | Josh Beckett | 9-29 | .310 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 7 | .517 | .333 | .850 | |||||||
Matt Diaz - OF | ATL vs NYM 9/16 7:35 PM | Chris Capuano | 4-10 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .400 | .400 | .800 | |||||||
Jack Wilson - SS | ATL vs NYM 9/16 7:35 PM | Chris Capuano | 10-27 | .370 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .519 | .393 | .912 | |||||||
Josh Thole - C | NYM @ ATL 9/16 7:35 PM | Derek Lowe | 5-11 | .455 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .455 | .455 | .910 | |||||||
Travis Hafner - DH | CLE @ MIN 9/16 8:10 PM | Kevin Slowey | 7-22 | .318 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 | .682 | .318 | 1.000 | |||||||
Dexter Fowler - OF | COL vs SF 9/16 8:10 PM | Madison Bumgarner | 4-10 | .400 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .600 | .400 | 1.000 | |||||||
Carlos Gonzalez - OF | COL vs SF 9/16 8:10 PM | Madison Bumgarner | 4-11 | .364 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1.000 | .462 | 1.462 | |||||||
Todd Helton - 1B | COL vs SF 9/16 8:10 PM | Madison Bumgarner | 4-10 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .400 | .400 | .800 | |||||||
Hideki Matsui - DH | OAK vs DET 9/16 10:05 PM | Doug Fister | 5-12 | .417 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | .750 | .500 | 1.250 | |||||||
Justin Smoak - 1B | SEA vs TEX 9/16 10:10 PM | C.J. Wilson | 3-10 | .300 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .600 | .300 | .900 | |||||||
Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
CC Sabathia | NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM | Blue Jays Batters | 19-99 | .192 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 32 | .261 | .213 | .475 | |||||||
Derek Lowe | ATL vs NYM 9/16 7:35 PM | Mets Batters | 31-138 | .225 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 11 | 15 | .295 | .282 | .577 | |||||||
Kevin Slowey | MIN vs CLE 9/16 8:10 PM | Indians Batters | 28-114 | .246 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 36 | .395 | .271 | .667 | |||||||
Trevor Cahill | OAK vs DET 9/16 10:05 PM | Tigers Batters | 17-76 | .224 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 13 | .355 | .276 | .631 |
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marlon Byrd - OF | CHC vs HOU 9/16 2:20 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 5-25 | .200 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | .400 | .231 | .631 | |||||||
Alfonso Soriano - OF | CHC vs HOU 9/16 2:20 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 3-29 | .103 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | .207 | .188 | .395 | |||||||
Maicer Izturis - 3B | LAA @ BAL 9/16 7:05 PM | Tommy Hunter | 2-11 | .182 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .182 | .250 | .432 | |||||||
Jayson Werth - OF | WAS vs FLA 9/16 7:05 PM | Javier Vazquez | 2-22 | .091 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | .091 | .200 | .291 | |||||||
Curtis Granderson - OF | NYY @ TOR 9/16 7:07 PM | Brett Cecil | 2-14 | .143 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .286 | .200 | .486 | |||||||
Jose Bautista - 3B | TOR vs NYY 9/16 7:07 PM | CC Sabathia | 0-11 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .000 | .083 | .083 | |||||||
Yunel Escobar - SS | TOR vs NYY 9/16 7:07 PM | CC Sabathia | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .250 | .231 | .481 | |||||||
Jacoby Ellsbury - OF | BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM | James Shields | 4-24 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .167 | .200 | .367 | |||||||
Jason Varitek - C | BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM | James Shields | 5-27 | .185 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 9 | .296 | .214 | .510 | |||||||
Kevin Youkilis - 1B | BOS vs TB 9/16 7:10 PM | James Shields | 3-31 | .097 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | .129 | .200 | .329 | |||||||
Rickie Weeks - 2B | MIL @ CIN 9/16 7:10 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 6-33 | .182 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 13 | .455 | .250 | .705 | |||||||
B.J. Upton - OF | TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM | Josh Beckett | 6-22 | .273 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | .409 | .304 | .713 | |||||||
Ben Zobrist - 2B | TB @ BOS 9/16 7:10 PM | Josh Beckett | 1-10 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .100 | .182 | .282 | |||||||
Dan Uggla - 2B | ATL vs NYM 9/16 7:35 PM | Chris Capuano | 2-11 | .182 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | .273 | .357 | .630 | |||||||
Jason Bay - OF | NYM @ ATL 9/16 7:35 PM | Derek Lowe | 0-15 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .000 | .167 | .167 | |||||||
Jose Reyes - SS | NYM @ ATL 9/16 7:35 PM | Derek Lowe | 3-16 | .188 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .250 | .278 | .528 | |||||||
Luis Valbuena - 2B | CLE @ MIN 9/16 8:10 PM | Kevin Slowey | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .300 | .200 | .500 | |||||||
Miguel Cabrera - 1B | DET @ OAK 9/16 10:05 PM | Trevor Cahill | 1-10 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .100 | .182 | .282 | |||||||
David DeJesus - OF | OAK vs DET 9/16 10:05 PM | Doug Fister | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .167 | .167 | .334 | |||||||
Cliff Pennington - SS | OAK vs DET 9/16 10:05 PM | Doug Fister | 1-17 | .059 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .118 | .111 | .229 | |||||||
Ryan Ludwick - OF | PIT @ LAD 9/16 10:10 PM | Hiroki Kuroda | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .200 | .273 | .473 | |||||||
Michael Saunders - OF | SEA vs TEX 9/16 10:10 PM | C.J. Wilson | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .167 | .333 | .500 | |||||||
Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Javier Vazquez | FLA @ Was 9/16 7:05 PM | Nationals Batters | 28-92 | .304 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 23 | .437 | .355 | .792 | |||||||
Dan Haren | LAA @ Bal 9/16 7:05 PM | Orioles Batters | 19-64 | .297 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 4 | .586 | .322 | .908 | |||||||
Randy Wolf | MIL @ Cin 9/16 7:10 PM | Reds Batters | 44-139 | .316 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 26 | .486 | .383 | .869 | |||||||
Alejandro De Aza, OF, CWS - There aren't a lot of hot-hitting everyday players still out there in most leagues, but De Aza has been playing every day for a White Sox team desperate for consistency on offense - and he's delivered it. The 27-year-old ex-Marlin has hit .316 with a .922 OPS, four homers and nine steals in 117 at-bats since being called up in late July, and yet he's still widely available. Those results are not much different from what he was doing in Triple-A before he got the call: .322, nine homers, 22 steals. He's a journeyman waiting to happen - or perhaps it has happened already - but that doesn't mean he can't help your fantasy team in this most crucial time of the year. But if you've moved on to football already, just go pick up Cam Newton.
Other recent recommendations: Salvador Perez, Randall Delgado, Jordan Pacheco, Drew Pomeranz, Jim Johnson
DraftStreet Lineup
C - Matt Wieters, $7,215
1B - Joey Votto, $7,954
2B - Brandon Phillips, $7,717
3B - Evan Longoria, $8,079
SS - Alexei Ramirez, $5,961
OF - Johnny Damon, $6,962
OF - Martin Prado, $5,530
OF - Andrew McCutchen, $7,173
UTIL - Corey Hart, $6,151
UTIL - Prince Fielder, $7,806
SP - Doug Fister, $12,599
SP - Derek Lowe, $7,186
RP - Craig Kimbrel, $3,534
P - Tim Stauffer, $5,798
Total: $99,665
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