Friday Lineup Card: Pillar, Not Millar!

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Updated on April 30, 2015 10:24PM EST

Projected Starters - A look at Friday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Brewers (Wily Peralta – R) at Cubs (Jon Lester – L), 2:20
Rays (Alex Colome – R) at Orioles (Chris Tillman – R), 7:05
Yankees (C.C. Sabathia – L) at Red Sox (Justin Masterson – R), 7:10
Phillies (Jerome Williams – R) at Marlins (Tom Koehler – R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle – L) at Indians (Carlos Carrasco – R), 7:10
Nationals (Max Scherzer – R) at Mets (Matt Harvey – R), 7:10
Reds (Anthony DeSclafani – R) at Braves (Trevor Cahill – R), 7:35
Athletics (Scott Kazmir – L) at Rangers (Colby Lewis – R), 8:05
Mariners (Roenis Elias – L) at Astros (Undecided), 8:10
Tigers (Kyle Lobstein – L) at Royals (Undecided), 8:10
White Sox (Jose Quintana – L) at Twins (Kyle Gibson – R), 8:10
Pirates (A.J. Burnett – R) at Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R), 8:15
Diamondbacks (Rubby De La Rosa – R) at Dodgers (Carlos Frias – R), 10:10
Rockies (Eddie Butler – R) at Padres (Ian Kennedy – R), 10:10
Angels (C.J. Wilson – L) at Giants (Chris Heston – R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Albert Pujols, 1B, LAA (Hamstring) – Will likely return over the weekend after his status has improved.
Alcides Escobar, SS, KC (Head) – Has concussion-like symptoms and may end up on the 7-day DL.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN (Illness) – Was scratched from the lineup on Thursday.
Jordan Schafer, OF, MIN (Knee) – Did not start on Thursday.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB (Knee) – Expected to play over the weekend after seeing a doctor on Thursday.

Players on the DL

Nick Swisher, 1B, CLE (Knee) – Will likely stay back home in Cleveland, missing the next week's series against the Royals.
Casey Fien, RP, MIN (Shoulder) – Expected to return from the DL after the minimum 15 days.
Bruce Rondon, RP, DET (Shoulder) – Faced live hitters on Thursday.
Justin Verlander, SP, DET (Triceps) – Completed a light throwing session on Thursday.
Brian Duensing, RP, MIN (Oblique) – Expected to be activated from the DL on Saturday.
Casey Janssen, RP, WAS (Shoulder) – Threw one inning in extended spring training on Thursday.
Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS (Knee) – Went through a full workout on Wednesday.
Ricky Nolasco, SP, MIN (Elbow) – Will be activated from the DL in time to start Saturday's game.
Kris Medlen, SP, KC (Elbow) – Expected to face live hitters on Friday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Jed Lowrie, SS, HOU (Thumb) – Will undergo surgery on Friday.
Brad Peacock, SP, HOU (Ribs) – Received a PRP injection on Thursday.
Rafael Montero, SP, NYM (Shoulder) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Brandon McCarthy, SP, LAD (Elbow) – Was transferred to the 60-day DL after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Thursday.
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK (Shoulder) – Threw a 25-pitch bullpen session.
Jaime Garcia, SP, STL (Shoulder) – Threw five innings in a simulated game on Thursday.
Jake McGee, RP, TB (Elbow) – Threw a scoreless inning on Tuesday during his first rehab appearance.
Brendan Ryan, SS, NYY (Calf) – Has been playing in extended spring training games and could start a rehab assignment soon.
Jose Pirela, SS, NYY (Concussion) – Will continue his rehab at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Jose Fernandez, SP, MIA (Elbow) – Threw to live hitters on Thursday and reported that he felt "great".
Adam Wainwright, SP, STL (Achilles) – Was placed on the 60-day DL.
Tyler Chatwood, RP, COL (Elbow) – Expected to throw breaking balls off a mound next week.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL (Hamstring) – Expected to be activated from the DL over the weekend.
Jim Henderson, RP, MIL (Shoulder) – May join the Brewers soon after a successful rehab stint.

Transactions - Players who 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)

Brandon McCarthy, SP, LAD – transferred to the 60-day DL.
Adam Wainwright, SP, STL - transferred to the 60-day DL.
Casey Fien, RP, MIN

Called Up

Michael Tonkin, RP, MIN
Tim Cooney, SP, STL

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

John Cornely, RP, ATL
Eury De La Rosa, RP, LAD
Cody Stanley, C, STL
Matt Andriese, RP, TB
Everett Teaford, RP, TB

Claimed

Eury De La Rosa, RP, LAD – from Oakland Athletics

Closer Watch

Los Angeles Angels – It wasn't pretty, but Angels' closer Huston Street closed out his 9th save of the season against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday. Street just barely held on as Mike Trout was able to chase down a long fly ball; one that Ike Davis put a tagging to. Street gave up three hits and one earned run before closing out the game, although this is the first real trouble that Street has gotten into in 2015. The gig is Street's to lose, and there should be no worry here at all, as his 1.00 ERA remains quite miniscule on the season.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – May 1, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
S. Castro	SS	CHC vs MIL 2:20PM	W. Peralta	24	11	5	2	4	1	4	.458	.480	.833	1.313
A. Rizzo	1B	CHC vs MIL 2:20PM	W. Peralta	24	11	7	5	11	3	3	.458	.519	1.167	1.685
E. Longoria	3B	TB @ BAL 7:05PM	C. Tillman	36	14	8	6	8	3	6	.389	.436	.944	1.380
C. Santana	1B	CLE vs TOR 7:10PM	M. Buehrle	18	6	3	1	3	1	2	.333	.368	.611	.980
C. Granderson	OF	NYM vs WAS 7:10PM	M. Scherzer	14	4	1	1	2	4	3	.286	.444	.500	.944
R. Howard	1B	PHI @ MIA 7:10PM	T. Koehler	12	4	1	0	0	3	4	.333	.467	.417	.883
B. Revere	OF	PHI @ MIA 7:10PM	T. Koehler	16	8	0	0	1	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
C. Utley	2B	PHI @ MIA 7:10PM	T. Koehler	13	5	2	0	3	0	2	.385	.385	.538	.923
I. Desmond	SS	WAS @ NYM 7:10PM	M. Harvey	11	4	2	1	1	3	2	.364	.500	.727	1.227
R. Zimmerman	3B	WAS @ NYM 7:10PM	M. Harvey	11	3	1	1	1	1	2	.273	.333	.545	.879
B. Butler	1B	OAK @ TEX 8:05PM	C. Lewis	11	3	2	1	4	0	2	.273	.273	.636	.909
S. Choo	OF	TEX vs OAK 8:05PM	S. Kazmir	16	6	1	1	3	5	1	.375	.545	.563	1.108
A. Rosales	2B	TEX vs OAK 8:05PM	S. Kazmir	20	7	1	1	3	0	3	.350	.350	.500	.850
J. Mauer	1B	MIN vs CWS 8:10PM	J. Quintana	21	9	2	2	5	1	4	.429	.455	.714	1.169
A. Jackson	OF	SEA @ HOU 8:10PM	S. Deduno	14	5	1	1	2	1	4	.357	.400	.571	.971
J. Harrison	3B	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	16	7	3	1	2	0	2	.438	.438	.750	1.188
S. Marte	OF	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	18	8	3	0	0	2	2	.444	.583	.667	1.250
J. Mercer	SS	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	11	4	1	0	3	1	1	.364	.417	.455	.871
N. Walker	2B	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	31	10	6	2	8	6	4	.323	.421	.677	1.098
M. Carpenter	3B	STL vs PIT 8:15PM	A. Burnett	23	9	4	0	1	5	2	.391	.517	.652	1.169
J. Heyward	OF	STL vs PIT 8:15PM	A. Burnett	16	7	2	2	4	2	2	.438	.500	.813	1.313
M. Reynolds	1B	STL vs PIT 8:15PM	A. Burnett	13	5	5	3	4	1	4	.385	.429	1.231	1.659
D. Descalso	2B	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	10	4	2	1	3	1	3	.400	.455	.800	1.255
D. LeMahieu	2B	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	18	7	4	1	4	2	2	.389	.450	.722	1.172
J. Morneau	1B	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	13	5	2	0	2	1	1	.385	.429	.538	.967
D. Stubbs	OF	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	14	4	2	1	2	3	5	.286	.412	.571	.983
T. Tulowitzki	SS	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	28	6	5	3	6	6	6	.214	.343	.607	.950

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Hot Pitcher Matchups – May 1, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Max Scherzer	WAS @ NYM 7:10PM	61	13	3	2	7	7	19	.213	.304	.330	.634
Justin Masterson	BOS vs NYY 7:10PM	106	24	3	2	14	9	23	.226	.290	.287	.577

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Batter Matchups – May 1, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
W. Castillo	C	CHC vs MIL 2:20PM	W. Peralta	16	3	1	0	0	0	5	.188	.188	.250	.438
J. Lake	OF	CHC vs MIL 2:20PM	W. Peralta	10	0	0	0	0	0	6	.000	.000	.000	.000
A. Lind	1B	MIL @ CHC 2:20PM	J. Lester	29	3	1	0	0	1	12	.103	.133	.138	.271
A. Cabrera	SS	TB @ BAL 7:05PM	C. Tillman	12	3	1	0	4	0	3	.250	.214	.333	.548
D. Jennings	OF	TB @ BAL 7:05PM	C. Tillman	21	2	1	0	2	2	5	.095	.174	.143	.317
J. Loney	1B	TB @ BAL 7:05PM	C. Tillman	24	3	2	1	3	4	1	.125	.250	.292	.542
D. Nava	OF	BOS vs NYY 7:10PM	C. Sabathia	12	2	1	1	3	1	6	.167	.214	.417	.631
M. Brantley	OF	CLE vs TOR 7:10PM	M. Buehrle	21	4	0	0	0	0	2	.190	.227	.190	.418
I. Suzuki	OF	MIA vs PHI 7:10PM	J. Williams	18	4	0	0	3	0	0	.222	.222	.222	.444
D. Murphy	2B	NYM vs WAS 7:10PM	M. Scherzer	11	2	0	0	0	0	2	.182	.182	.182	.364
S. Drew	SS	NYY @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Masterson	12	1	0	0	0	2	3	.083	.214	.083	.298
J. Ellsbury	OF	NYY @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Masterson	18	4	0	0	0	0	4	.222	.263	.222	.485
G. Jones	1B	NYY @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Masterson	11	2	0	0	1	1	3	.182	.250	.182	.432
M. Teixeira	1B	NYY @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Masterson	17	2	1	1	6	3	5	.118	.227	.294	.521
B. Harper	OF	WAS @ NYM 7:10PM	M. Harvey	10	0	0	0	0	0	5	.000	.000	.000	.000
D. Span	OF	WAS @ NYM 7:10PM	M. Harvey	11	2	1	0	0	0	4	.182	.182	.364	.545
R. Chirinos	C	TEX vs OAK 8:05PM	S. Kazmir	10	1	0	0	1	0	4	.100	.100	.100	.200
P. Fielder	1B	TEX vs OAK 8:05PM	S. Kazmir	11	1	0	0	1	1	2	.091	.167	.091	.258
O. Arcia	OF	MIN vs CWS 8:10PM	J. Quintana	13	3	0	0	0	0	6	.231	.231	.231	.462
B. Dozier	2B	MIN vs CWS 8:10PM	J. Quintana	25	5	2	1	4	3	7	.200	.286	.360	.646
T. Plouffe	3B	MIN vs CWS 8:10PM	J. Quintana	12	2	1	0	2	4	3	.167	.375	.250	.625
P. Alvarez	3B	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	30	6	3	1	7	4	8	.200	.286	.367	.652
A. McCutchen	OF	PIT @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	35	5	3	0	1	0	13	.143	.143	.229	.371
M. Adams	1B	STL vs PIT 8:15PM	A. Burnett	13	1	0	0	0	0	4	.077	.077	.077	.154
N. Arenado	3B	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	14	3	1	0	2	0	2	.214	.214	.286	.500
C. Blackmon	OF	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	18	4	0	0	3	0	8	.222	.300	.222	.522
C. Dickerson	OF	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	12	2	1	0	0	0	6	.167	.167	.250	.417
C. Gonzalez	OF	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	29	4	3	1	1	1	13	.138	.167	.310	.477
N. Hundley	C	COL @ SD 10:10PM	I. Kennedy	18	4	2	0	1	0	5	.222	.222	.333	.556

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Pitcher Matchups – May 1, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Wily Peralta	MIL @ CHC 2:20PM	102	32	15	9	18	7	26	.314	.363	.646	1.009
Tom Koehler	MIA vs PHI 7:10PM	75	24	4	0	9	3	14	.320	.342	.375	.717
Lance Lynn	STL vs PIT 8:15PM	159	45	23	6	25	13	32	.283	.343	.519	.862

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Recommended Pickup

Kevin Pillar, OF, Toronto Blue Jays – Pillar, not Millar, is more of a deep-league addition for your club, although there is solid potential for 450 at-bats down the line. Considering the injury history of some Blue Jays' players, namely Michael Saunders and Jose Bautista, Pillar is worth a snag for depth. Pillar can steal bases, which is his best contributable skill, although he did hit .323/.359/.509 at Triple-A Buffalo in 405 at-bats last year. He also reached double-digit home runs last season for Buffalo, so there's a bit of pop in his bat. Assuming Pillar gets 450 at-bats, I like him for a 15 HR-20 SB season.

Other Recent Recommendations:Luis Valbuena, Jake Marisnick, Rafael Montero, Jimmy Paredes, Mark Teixeira and Marcus Semien.

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Roenis Elias, SEA ($6,800)
C: A.J. Pierzynski, ATL ($3,700)
1B: Adam LaRoche, CWS ($3,700)
2B: Devon Travis, TOR ($3,300)
SS: Ian Desmond, WAS ($3,600)
3B: Jimmy Paredes, BAL ($3,800)
OF: Bryce Harper, WAS ($3,800)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dave Hunter plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: TheRolyPolyBoy, DraftKings: TheRolyPolyBoy.