Wednesday Lineup Card: Check Status

Projected Starters – A look at Wednesday's matchups:

Reds (Johnny Cueto - R) at Athletics (Vin Mazzaro - R), 3:35 ET
Royals (Brian Bannister) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R), 4:35 ET
Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R) at Orioles (Brian Matusz – L), 7:05 ET
Indians (Jake Westbrook – R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R), 7:05 ET
Cardinals (Chris Carpenter – R) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero – L), 7:07 ET
Padres (Kevin Correia – R) at Rays (James Shields – R), 7:10 ET
Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman – R) at Mets (R.A. Dickey – R), 7:10 ET
Giants (Barry Zito – L) at Astros (Brett Myers – L), 8:05 ET
Pirates (Paul Maholm – L) at Rangers (Dustin Nippert – R), 8:05 ET
Twins (Francisco Liriano – L) at Brewers (Many Parra – L), 8:10 ET
Braves (Tim Hudson – R) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle – L), 8:10 ET
Red Sox (John Lackey – R) at Rockies (**Ubaldo Jimenez – R), 8:40 ET
Yankees (Javier Vazquez – R) at Diamondbacks (Dontrelle Willis – L), 9:40 ET
Dodgers (John Ely – R) at Angels (Joel Pineiro – R), 10:05 ET
Cubs (Randy Wells – R) at Mariners (Cliff Lee – L), 10:10 ET

**Ubaldo Jimenez (illness) day-to-day, see below

Day Game After Night Game: CIN, OAK, KAN, WAS

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)

Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Rockies (illness) – Left ballpark Tuesday in advance of Wednesday start, check back on him before gametime Wednesday
Erick Aybar, SS, Angels (knee) – Check back to see if he was placed on DL
Dallas Braden, SP, Athletics (forearm) – Feels better, keep an eye on last night's (Tuesday) start
J.D. Drew, OF, Red Sox (hamstring) – Out until at least Thursday, Reddick recalled
Zach Duke, SP, Pirates (elbow) – Will go on DL if he can't make Wednesday side session, check back

Players on the DL

Luke Hochevar, SP, Royals (elbow) – Hoping for early-July return
Mike Gonzalez, RP, Orioles (shoulder) – Velocity in low-90s in rehab appearance, that's a progression
Josh Beckett, SP, Red Sox (back) – Successful bullpen session Monday, but still no timetable
Dustin McGowan, SP, Blue Jays (shoulder) – Had significant tear in rehab, won't pitch again this season, could be ready for spring training
Emmanuel Burriss, SS, Giants (foot) – Giants satisfied with Renteria for now, won't recall Burriss soon
Carlos Ruiz, C, Phillies (head) – Placed on DL Tuesday, could return July 4
Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets (knee) – Rehab to start Thursday, will be back within three weeks
Mark DeRosa, 3B, Giants (wrist) – Decision is in: season-ending surgery

Transactions – Players that 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)
Carlos Ruiz, C, Phillies

Activated from the DL
Nelson Cruz, OF, Rangers
Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies

Called Up
Josh Reddick, OF, Red Sox
Joe Smith, P, Indians
Jay Sborz, P, Tigers
Alex Sanabia, P, Marlins
James Houser, P, Marlins
Jason Castro, C, Astros
Jason Bourgeois, OF, Astros
Chris Johnson, 3B, Astros
Mike Zagurski, P, Phillies
Dusty Ryan, C, Padres

Sent Down
Juan Rincon, P, Rockies (designated for assignment)
Jorge Sosa, P, Marlins (designated for assignment)
Kevin Cash, C, Astros (designated for assignment)
Casey Daigle, P, Astros (designated for assignment)
Cory Sullivan, OF, Astros, (designated for assignment)
Greg Dobbs, 3B, Phillies (designated for assignment)
Scott Mathieson, P, Phillies
Lance Zawadski, SS, Padres
Craig Gentry, OF, Rangers

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

CIN – It doesn't seem like there is a cause to chop Cordero from the closer's role right now despite his fifth blown save Monday and a rise in his WHIP to 1.48. He allowed a solo home run to blow the save, then walked the first two hitters he faced in the 10th inning before the bullpen reserves bailed him out. Jordan Smith got the save, but he is not a candidate to close right now. Arthur Rhodes has a 0.29 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, but for now the Reds are content to use him when they really need to get a guy out.

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

Edgar Renteria v. Brett Myers – 15-for-37 (.405), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2:4 BB:K, .436 OBP
Adam Kennedy v. Brian Bannister – 4-for-9 (.444), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:0 BB:K, .571 OBP
Omar Vizquel v. Tim Hudson – 10-for-33 (.303), 0 HR, 7 RBI, 5:4 BB:K, .395 OBP
Paul Konerko v. Tim Hudson – 6-for-16 (.375), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:3 BB:K, .474 OBP
Melky Cabrera v. Mark Buehrle – 6-for-11 (.545), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .545 OBP
Troy Glaus v. Mark Buehrle – 6-for-22 (.273), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1:6 BB:K, .304 OBP
Jason Giambi v. John Lackey – 13-for-37 (.351), 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5:4 BB:K, .455 OBP
Manny Ramirez v. Joel Pineiro – 14-for-37 (.378), 4 HR, 7 RBI, 3:6 BB:K, .452 OBP
Casey Blake v. Joel Pineiro – 9-for-23 (.391), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .417 OBP

Ricky Nolasco v. Orioles – The Orioles have just 60 at-bats between all of them against Nolasco, but the results aren't pretty. Nolasco has just a .200 average against, no home runs allowed and a 0:15 BB:K. Oh yeah, and they are the Orioles.

Cold

Freddy Sanchez v. Brett Myers – 1-for-15 (.067), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .067 OBP
Alex Gonzalez v. Chris Carpenter – 3-for-21 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .182 OBP
Omar Infante v. Mark Buehrle – 0-for-13 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .000 OBP
Miguel Olivo v. John Lackey – 2-for-17 (.118), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:9 BB:K, .167 OBP
Adam LaRoche v. Javier Vazquez – 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .176 OBP
Andre Ethier v. Joel Pineiro – 0-for-10 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .167 OBP
Matt Kemp v. Joel Pineiro – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .143 OBP

Tim Hudson v. White Sox – Even though Hudson does not have a lengthy history with any of the players from the meat of the White Sox order, this is still a caution game. Current White Sox have hit him at a .310/.365/.444 clip, however many of these at-bats predate his Tommy John surgery and his entire history with the Braves. Also, Omar Vizquel has 33 of the 126 team at-bats and hits .303, so a lot of this has to do with a player who very well may not start.

Recommended Pickup

Hisanori Takahashi, P, Mets – What if I told you there is a pitcher available in the vast majority of mixed leagues who has the following line this season as a starter: 34.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 22:8 K:BB ratio. The same starter has pitched six scoreless innings in three of his six starts and allowed one run in seven innings in another. He has a cumulative 12 scoreless innings against the Yankees. You'd think I'm talking about a heralded phenom. Instead, it is Takahashi, and he shouldn't be unowned in your league much longer.

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