The Lineup Card: Yankee Blues

Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups:

Indians (Jeanmar Gomez – R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander – R), 1:05
Mariners (Luke French – L) at Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 1:05
Astros (Nelson Figueroa – R) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R), 1:10
Mets (Johan Santana – L) at Pirates (Zach Duke – L), 1:35
Nationals (Scott Olsen – L) at Phillies (Roy Oswalt – R), 1:35
Rangers (Tommy Hunter – R) at Orioles (Kevin Millwood – R), 1:35
Blue Jays (Shaun Marcum – R) at Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R), 1:35
Padres (Jon Garland – R) at Brewers (Manny Parra – L), 2:10
White Sox (John Danks – L) at Royals (Zack Greinke – R), 2:10
Giants (Barry Zito – L) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – L), 2:15
Braves (Mike Minor – L) at Cubs (Randy Wells – R), 2:20
Rays (Matt Garza – R) at Athletics (Dallas Braden – L), 4:05
Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L), 4:10
Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin – R) at Diamondbacks (Daniel Hudson – R), 4:10
Angels (Jered Weaver – R) at Twins (Scott Baker – R), 8:10

Day game after a night game: WAS, PHI, NYM, PIT, SD, MIL, HOU, FLA, CLE, DET, CHW, KC, TOR, BOS, TB, OAK, SF, STL, COL, ARI, CIN, LAD

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL – (Knee) Will probably sit out the weekend. May require a stint on the DL.
Juan Uribe, SS, SF – (Foot) Was out of the starting lineup Saturday.
Ricky Nolasco, SP, FLA – (Knee) Has been scratched from his Sunday start with what may be a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Jerry Hairston Jr., SS, SD – (Illness) Out with migraines. He is available to play in an emergency.
Corey Hart, OF, MIL – (Hamstring) Out Saturday. Could play Sunday but may rest and take the extra day with an off day coming on Monday.
Kevin Slowey, SP, MIN – (Triceps) Left Saturday's game with discomfort in his left triceps. He won't be reevaluated until Monday.
Ron Mahay, RP, MIN – (Shoulder) Left Saturday's game with a right shoulder injury.
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR – (Wrist) Scratched from Saturday's lineup.
J.J. Putz, RP, CHW – (Knee) His knee feels better, and he should be available soon.

Players on the DL
Tony Gwynn Jr., OF, SD – (Hand) Underwent surgery on his wrist Friday. He hopes to return before the end of the season.
Rafael Furcal, SS, LAD – (Back) No return date in sight. Underwent another MRI that came back negative but is still experiencing discomfort.
Aaron Harang, SP, CIN – (Back) Continues to struggle in his rehab starts.
Chris Young, OF, SD – (Shoulder) Threw a simulated game Saturday.
Orlando Cabrera, SS, CIN – (Oblique) Has a stiff neck in addition to his strained oblique.
Ross Gload, OF, PHI – (Groin) Placed on the 15-Day DL.
LaTroy Hawkins, RP, MIL – (Shoulder) Will undergo exploratory surgery on Aug. 27.
Brian Moehler, SP, HOU – (Groin) Has no lingering issues in his groin and should throw a bullpen this weekend.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL – (Head) Won't be activated until Monday at the earliest.
Jeff Weaver, SP/RP, LAD – (Knee) Scheduled to pitch a rehab outing on Tuesday. He could return by the end of next week.
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET – (Ankle) He is unlikely to play again this season.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY – (Calf) Placed on the 15-Day DL.
Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX – (Groin) Will undergo another MRI next week and then may begin a rehab assignment.
Danny Worth, SS, DET – (Heel) Will rest his bruised heel over the next week.
Andrew Bailey, RP, OAK – (Oblique) Pitched well in a rehab start Friday.
Conor Jackson, OF, ARI – (Abdomen) Has sports hernia and may opt to have season-ending surgery.
Alfredo Aceves, RP, NYY – (Back) May be activated from the DL next week.
Hideki Okajima, RP, BOS – (Hamstring) Will make rehab starts on Saturday and Monday.

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

Called Up
Luis Durango, OF, SD

Sent Down
Everth Cabrera, SS, SD
Wilson Ramos, C, WAS

Activated from DL
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI
David Eckstein, 2B, SD
Wil Nieves, C, WAS

Placed on DL
Ross Gload, OF, PHI
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY

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

Arizona – Aaron Heilman picked up the win after entering the game with a tie on Friday. He appears to be the man to have for save chances right now despite his massive blown save and the return of Juan Gutierrez.

Oakland – Craig Breslow earned the save on Friday. It was just his second save of the season, but he could be in line to receive more chances as long as Andrew Bailey remains out. With that said, Bailey had a good rehab appearance Friday and could be nearing a return.

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
Hunter Pence v. Ricky Nolasco – 3-for-10 (.300), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.364 OBP)
Jeff Francoeur v. Zach Duke – 9-for-20 (.450), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:0 BB:K (.476 OBP)
Ichiro Suzuki v. CC Sabathia – 21-for-55 (.382), 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2:7 BB:K (.404 OBP)
Raul Ibanez v. Scott Olsen – 5-for-10 (.500), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.583 OBP)
Jayson Werth v. Scott Olsen – 10-for-20 (.500), 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3:3 BB:K (.565 OBP)
Adam Kennedy v. Roy Oswalt – 6-for-14 (.429), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.467 OBP)
Vladimir Guerrero v. Kevin Millwood – 33-for-86 (.384), 5 HR, 17 RBI, 7:8 BB:K (.436 OBP)
Brendan Ryan v. Barry Zito – 6-for-13 (.462), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.462 OBP)
A.J. Pierzynski v. Zack Greinke – 18-for-43 (.419), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0:7 BB:K (.432 OBP)
Ben Zobrist v. Dallas Braden – 5-for-11 (.455), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Casey Blake v. Bronson Arroyo – 5-for-13 (.385), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:3 BB:K (.467 OBP)
Erick Aybar v. Scott Baker – 3-for-7 (.429), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:0 BB:K (.600 OBP)

Justin Verlander v. Cleveland Indians - .230/.344/.303 through 182 batters faced

Dallas Braden v. Tampa Bay Rays - .214/.287/.320 through 115 batters faced

Cold
Matt LaPorta v. Justin Verlander – 0-for-9 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.100 OBP)
Asdrubal Cabrera v. Justin Verlander – 4-for-23 (.174), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:9 BB:K (.296 OBP)
Shin-Soo Choo v. Justin Verlander – 5-for-28 (.179), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 5:11 BB:K (.303 OBP)
Carlos Beltran v. Zach Duke – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.188 OBP)
Jose Lopez v. CC Sabathia – 2-for-21 (.095), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.174 OBP)
Josh Wilson v. CC Sabathia – 2-for-15 (.133), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.133 OBP)
Russell Branyan v. CC Sabathia – 1-for-10 (.100), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:6 BB:K (.182 OBP)
Jimmy Rollins v. Scott Olsen – 8-for-33 (.242), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3:3 BB:K (.306 OBP)
Shane Victorino v. Scott Olsen – 4-for-25 (.160), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:0 BB:K (.160 OBP)
Miguel Tejada v. Manny Parra – 5-for-21 (.238), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.238 OBP)
Randy Winn v. Barry Zito – 9-for-42 (.214), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5:6 BB:K (.292 OBP)
Pedro Feliz v. Barry Zito – 4-for-19 (.211), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.211 OBP)
Billy Butler v. Jon Danks – 3-for-14 (.214), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.214 OBP)
Alex Gordon v. John Danks – 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.286 OBP)
Paul Konerko v. Zack Greinke – 8-for-55 (.145), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6:15 BB:K (.242 OBP)
Alexei Ramirez v. Zack Greinke – 3-for-20 (.150), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.143 OBP)
Coco Crisp v. Matt Garza – 1-for-9 (.111), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Jack Cust v. Matt Garza – 1-for-8 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.300 OBP)
Carlos Pena v. Dallas Braden – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.176 OBP)
Jason Bartlett v. Dallas Braden – 3-for-15 (.200), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Michael Cuddyer v. Jered Weaver – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.133 OBP)
Denard Span v. Jered Weaver – 1-for-9 (.111), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:6 BB:K (.200 OBP)

Manny Parra v. San Diego Padres - .318/.362/.576 through 95 batters faced

Recommended Pickup

Homer Bailey, SP, CIN – The Reds sent rookie Mike Leake to the bullpen so they could use Bailey in the rotation. In his last four starts, Bailey has given up just three runs over 29 innings. Over that same time, he has struck out 20 batters while walking only four. He helped teams win championships down the stretch last season, and he seems poised to do the same this year. Pick him up if you need starting pitching.

Other recent recommendations:Jed Lowrie, Pat Burrell, Ian Desmond, Hisanori Takahashi, Eric Young