The Lineup Card: Rollins May Return

Projected Starters – A look at Tuesday's matchups:

Indians (Mitch Talbot - R) at Phillies (Jamie Moyer - L), 7:05
Marlins (Anibal Sanchez - R) at Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie - R), 7:05
Royals (Anthony Lerew - R) at Nationals (Luis Atilano - R), 7:05
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L) at Blue Jays (Brett Cecil - L), 7:07
Tigers (Justin Verlander - R) at Mets (Jonathon Niese - L), 7:10
Padres (Mat Latos - R) at Rays (Wade Davis - R), 7:10
Giants (Tim Lincecum - R) at Astros (Roy Oswalt - R), 8:05
Pirates (Ross Ohlendorf - R) at Rangers (Tommy Hunter - R), 8:05
Twins (Scott Baker - R) at Brewers (Chris Narveson - L), 8:10
Braves (Tommy Hanson - R) at White Sox (John Danks - L), 8:10
Red Sox (Jon Lester - L) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin - R), 8:40
Yankees (Andy Pettitte - L) at Diamondbacks (Dan Haren - R), 9:40
Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R) at Athletics (Dallas Braden - L), 10:05
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L) at Angels (Ervin Santana - R), 10:05
Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R) at Mariners (Jason Vargas - L), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

AL Teams Playing without a DH: Indians, Royals, Tigers, Twins, Red Sox, Yankees
NL Teams Playing with a DH: Marlins, Cardinals, Padres, Pirates, Braves, Reds, Dodgers, Cubs

Injuries – A brief look at players who have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns.

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Tim Lincecum, P, SF – (Ankle) Threw Sunday and should be OK to start Tuesday v. Astros
Humberto Quintero, C, HOU – (Head) Should be OK for Tuesday, should sit on bench
Carlos Ruiz, C, PHI – (Head) Could return to action this week
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI – (Calf) Coming off DL Tuesday?
Blake DeWitt, 3B, LA – (Knee) Day-to-day after taking a pitch to the knee
Orlando Cabrera, SS, CIN – (Ankle) Played through pain and went 0-for-4 Sunday
Ramon Hernandez, C, CIN – (Back) Still a little tight and could get a game off here or there
Huston Street, P, COL – (Shoulder) Returned to Rox Sunday, will be activated Tuesday
Rafael Furcal, SS, LA – (Personal) Death in the family means he's out at least until Wednesday
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL – (Knee) Did not play Sunday
Jorge Posada, C, NY-A – (Foot) Day-to-day and DH isn't an option; started Monday
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NY-A – (Hip, Groin) Day-to-day and DH isn't an option; started Monday
Erick Aybar, SS, ANA – (Knee) Could land on DL Tuesday; hasn't played since June 14
Jose Mijares, P, MIN – (Personal) Family medical emergency forces him out until Friday?
Nelson Cruz, OF, TEX – (Hamstring) Will return from DL Tuesday; went 1-for-10 in rehab, but is healthy
Austin Jackson, OF, DET – (Back) Served as a defensive replacement Sunday after five DNP's
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS – (Hamstring) Manager Francona doesn't think he'll go on the DL, could play Tuesday

Players on the DL
John Maine, P, NY-N – (Shoulder) Won't get evaluated Monday
Garrett Mock, P, WAS – (Neck) Transferred to 60-Day DL, no change on outlook
Steven Pearce, 1B, PIT – (Ankle) 5-for-8 at Triple-A Indy over the weekend
Chad Billingsley, P, LA – (Groin) Should come off DL June 29
Antonio Bastardo, P, PHI – (Elbow) Yet to resume throwing
J.A. Happ, P, PHI – (Forearm) Will start at Double-A Reading Wednesday
Matt Stairs, OF, SD – (Knee) Could return Friday
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, CHI-N – (Thumb) Could return Wednesday
Charlie Haeger, P, LA – (Toe) May be activated to start Thursday
Ryan Hanigan, C, CIN – (Thumb) Caught warmup Saturday until he felt pain
Dustin McGowan, P, TOR – (Shoulder) Arthroscopic surgery on tap; out for the year anyway
Rich Harden, P, TEX – (Glutes) Should start throwing this week. Could return in a few weeks.
Erik Bedard, P, SEA – (Shoulder) Will throw 30-40 pitches for rookie-level Peoria Monday
Doug Fister, P, SEA – (Shoulder) Threw four innings at Triple-A Tacoma Sunday.
Ross Detwiler, P, WAS – (Hip) Activated from 60-day DL and sent to Double-A Harrisburg until the Nats need a 5th starter.
Scott Richmond, P, TOR – (Shoulder) Activated from 60-day DL and will stay in the minors for now

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

Sent Down
Ryan Roberts, 2B, AZ
David Huff, P, CLE
John Lannan, P, WAS
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR (designated for assignment)

Called Up
Cole Gillespie, OF, AZ
Joel Peralta, P, WAS
Alejandro Sanabia, P, FLA

Activated from the DL
Ross Detwiler, P, WAS (and then sent to Double-A Harrisburg)
Scott Richmond, P, TOR (and kept at High-A Dunedin)

Transferred to 60-day DL
Garrett Mock, P, WAS

Signed
D'Angelo Jimenez, 2B, MIN (minor league contract)

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

COL – Huston Street is back in town and should return from the DL Tuesday. While he won't immediately retake the closer's role, he should be breathing down Manuel Corpas' neck shortly. Corpas had a rough weekend, surrendering five runs without retiring a batter Sunday and surrendering three in two outs Saturday.

ANA – Brian Fuentes allowed three runs in garbage time against the Cubs Sunday, which raised his ERA to 6.23 through 18 games. Fernando Rodney allowed a Derrek Lee solo shot in a save Friday.

SEA – David Aardsma's wife is slated to go into labor Monday, but someone else might poach a save Tuesday should he not be able to re-join the team in time.

Key Matchups – Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (Note: Thanks to a schedule high on unfamiliar interleague matchups, there are a lack of sample size-worthy matchups).

Hot
Freddy Sanchez v. Roy Oswalt - 11-for-33 (.333/.353/.485), 5 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Juan Uribe v. Roy Oswalt - 6-for-11 (.545/.500/.818) 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Prince Fielder v. Scott Baker - 7-for-17 (.412/.474/.882), 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 5:2 K:BB
Chris Snyder v. Andy Pettitte - 4-for-10 (.400/.500/.500), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Mark Teixeira v. Dan Haren - 6-for-23 (.261/.280/.696), 1 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7:1 K:BB
Derek Jeter v. Dan Haren - 6-for-19 (.316/.435/.368), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Gabe Gross v. Bronson Arroyo - 9-for-26 (.346/.393/.615), 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Kevin Kouzmanoff v. Bronson Arroyo - 11-for-16 (.688/.706/1.188), 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Conor Jackson v. Bronson Arroyo - 4-for-10 (.400/.500/.500), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Casey Blake v. Ervin Santana - 6-for-14 (.429/.556/.929), 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3:3 K:BB
Russell Martin v. Ervin Santana - 4-for-11 (.364/.364/.455), 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:0 K:BB

Tim Lincecum v. Astros – Not only is Houston's offense the punching bag of the National League (they rank last or close to last in every offensive category), but Lincecum is already 2-0 against them in 2010. Their current crop of batters has gone a combined 18-for-109 (.165) against him and they slug a collective .193. That's right; they have a sub-.200 slugging percentage in 123 plate appearances. He has a 12:5 K:BB against the Astros this year, and they have only scored one run in those two games.

Cold
Hunter Pence v. Tim Lincecum - 2-for-18 (.111), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6:1 K:BB
Lance Berkman v. Tim Lincecum - 3-for-13 (.231), 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 6:5 K:BB
Carlos Lee v. Tim Lincecum - 3-for-16 (.188), 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 5:1 K:BB
Pedro Feliz v. Tim Lincecum - 4-for-17 (.235), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Geoff Blum v. Tim Lincecum - 1-for-14 (.071), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Michael Bourn v. Tim Lincecum - 2-for-14 (.143), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6:1 K:BB
Aaron Rowand v. Roy Oswalt - 3-for-17 (.176), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Pat Burrell v. Roy Oswalt - 2-for-12 (.167), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Craig Counsell v. Scott Baker - 2-for-14 (.143), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 K:BB
Ryan Braun v. Scott Baker - 2-for-13 (.154), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Melvin Mora v. Jon Lester - 5-for-26 (.192), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5:1 K:BB
Manny Ramirez v. Ervin Santana - 1-for-11 (.091), 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Marlon Byrd v. Jason Vargas - 2-for-11 (.182), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3:0 K:BB

Bronson Arroyo v. Athletics – Arroyo barely misses the cutoff for our usual "cold" pitcher, but the high level of interleague play creates a lack of pitchers who have met our 80 plate appearance threshold. Arroyo has faced current Athletics batters 65 times, 57 of which came against three batters. All three of those batters (Gabe Gross, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Conor Jackson) aren't your typical 1.000 OPS guys, but they have gone 1.008, 1.893 and 1.000 respectively off Arroyo in their careers. Arroyo has also allowed 15 runs on 27 hits over his last 26.1 innings, and he only struck out one while walking six in a win over the Dodgers in his last outing.

Recommended Pickup

Huston Street , P, COL – Street might have been stashed away on some other owner's DL in your league, but he/she might have lost faith when things looked grim in March and Manny Corpas/Franklin Morales were doing adequate jobs closing games for the Rockies. Street will come off DL prior to Tuesday's game, and lately neither Corpas nor Morales is doing a very good job of proving he deserves to be the team's closer. Street won't inherit that role right away, but he could have it before long. He had nine strikeouts in seven innings for Triple-A Colorado Springs during his rehab, and you would be wise to grab him before manager Jim Tracy appoints him to be the man.

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