Saturday Lineup Card: Dream Weaver

A look at Saturday's Matchups (all times Eastern)

White Sox (John Danks - L) v Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R), 1:05
Blue Jays (Marc Rzepczynski -L) v Yankees (Javier Vazquez - R), 1:05
Rangers (Colby Lewis - R) v Twins (Carl Pavano - R), 4:10
Mets (Jenrry Mejia - R) v Cubs (Casey Coleman - R), 4:10
Rockies (Jason Hammel - R) v Padres (Jon Garland - R), 4:10
Reds (Travis Wood - R) v Cardinals (Adam Wainwright -R), 4:10
Angels (Jered Weaver - R) v A's (Trevor Cahill - R), 4:10
Nationals (John Lannan - L) v Pirates (Paul Maholm - L), 7:05
Rays (James Shields - R) v Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie - R), 7:05
Brewers (David Bush - R) v Phillies (Roy Halladay - R), 7:05
Tigers (Rick Porcello -R ) v Royals (Bruce Chen - L), 7:10
Braves (Jair Jurrjens - R) v Marlins (Josh Johnson - R), 7:10
White Sox (Gavin Floyd - R) v Red Sox (John Lackey - R), 7:10
Astros (Bud Norris - R) v Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders - L), 8:10
Giants (Matt Cain - R) v Dodgers (Ted Lilly – L), 10:10
Indians (Mitch Talbot - R) v Mariners (David Pauley - R), 10:15

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time due to injury and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expceted to make their return from the DL)

Ryan Franklin, P, STL – (Neck) Pitched through ailment Friday to earn his 23rd save
Justin Upton, OF, AZ – (Shoulder) Not in Friday's lineup
Jay Bruce, OF, CIN – (Abdomen) Unavailable Friday
Brian Sanches, P, FLA – (Oblique) Left the clubhouse prior to batting practice because of injury
Johan Santana, P, NY-N – (Chest) Has a strained muscle in his chest, next start iffy
Tom Gorzelany, P, CHI-N – (Finger) Out for his next start because of a hairline fracture
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX – (Knee) Left Friday's game with back soreness
Danny Valencia, 3B, MIN – (Hamstring) Hammy tightened up in Friday's contest
Gerald Laird, C, DET – (Back) Scratched from Friday's lineup
Scott Baker, P, MIN – (Elbow) Will miss two starts
Adam Jones, OF, BAL – (Shoulder) Got a cortisone shot Thursday and won't return for a little while
Brian Fuentes, P, MIN – (Back) Unavailable for a couple of days
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET – (Biceps) DNP Friday, might return this weekend
Jason Kubel, OF, MIN – (Wrist) X-rays showed no structural damage
Fred Lewis, OF, TOR – (Elbow) DNP Friday
Nick Swisher, OF, NY-A - (Knee) Did not start Friday
Yunel Escobar, SS, TOR – (Back) Did not start Friday
Matt Capps, P, MIN – (Undisclosed) Was unavailable Thursday because he was "sore"

Players on the DL (or "out")

Ricky Nolasco, P, FLA – (Knee) Had surgery to repair a torn meniscus
John Maine, P, NY-N – (Shoulder) Transferred to 60-day DL
John Baker, C, FLA – (Forearm) Tommy John surgery scheduled Friday
Donnie Murhy, SS, FLA – (Wrist) Underwent surgery Thursday
Brian Moehler, P, HOU – (Groin) Had surgery on his lower abdomen/groin – out for six weeks
Tony Gwynn, OF, SD – (Hand) Stiches came out Friday
Brandon Webb, P, AZ – (Shoulder) Threw a BP Friday, but it didn't feel as good as previous sessions
Russell Martin, C, AZ – (Hip) CT scan revealed the healing process is going as hoped
Kendry Morales, 1B, ANA – (Leg) On schedule for spring training
Joel Pineiro, P, ANA – (Oblique) Will throw a sim game Tuesday
Josh Outman, P, OAK – (Elbow) Will throw a sim game Saturday
Joey Devine, P, OAK – (Elbow) Will throw a sim game Saturday
David Hernandez, P, BAL – (Ankle) Will throw an inning for Double-A Saturday
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS – (Foot) Underwent surgery Friday = season over

Transactions

Placed on the DL (15-Day unless otherwise noted)
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN (transferred to 60-day)
Erick Threets, P, CHI-A (transferred to 60-day)
Josh Willingham, OF, WAS (transferred to 60-day DL
Omar Beltre, P, TEX (60-day DL)

Activated from the DL
Ian Stewart, 3B, COL
Ryan Rowland-Smith, P, SEA
Aaron Cook, P, COL
Chris Ray, P, SF
Matt Thornton, P, CHI-A
Dustin Nippert, P, TEX
Orlando Cabrera, SS, CIN
Ross Gload, 1B, PHI

Recalled from Minors
Alex Burnett, P, MIN
Rob Delaney, P, MIN
Matt Fox, P, MIN
Greg Dobbs, 3B, PHI
Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX
Clay Rapada, P, TEX
Omar Beltre, P, TEX
Matt Maloney, P, CIN
Jordan Smith, P, CIN
Brent Morel, 3B, CHI-A
Scott Cousins, OF, FLA
Chris Leroux, P, FLA
Zach Kroenke, P, AZ
Mike Hampton, P, AZ
A.J. Ellis, C, LA
Adam Rusell, P, SD
Michael McKenry, C, COL
Edgmer Esscalona, P, COL
Chaz Roe, P, COL
Greg Reynolds, P, COL
Hector Gomez, SS, COL
Juan Nicasio, P, COL

Sent to Minors
Garrett Mock, P, WAS

Key Matchups

Hot

Orlando Hudson v Colby Lewis – 6-for-10 (.600/.600/.900), 3 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Josh Hamilton v Carl Pavano – 4-for-13 (.308/.333/.692), 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Julio Borbon v Carl Pavano – 6-for-10 (.600/.636/.600), 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
David Eckstein v Jason Hammel – 5-for-14 (.357/.438/.357), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Melvin Mora v Jon Garland – 11-for-31 (.355/.394/.419), 2 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5:2 K:BB
Carlos Gomez v Jon Garland – 8-for-13 (.615/.615/1.000), 5 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Kurt Suzuki v Jered Weaver – 9-for-26 (.346/.393/.577), 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Gabe Gross v Jered Weaver – 4-for-10 (.400/.455/.700), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Erick Aybar v Trevor Cahill – 5-for-14 (.357/.400/.357), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Lastings Milledge v John Lannan – 4-for-10 (.400/.400/.500), 1 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Luke Scott v James Shields – 11-for-29 (.379/.419/.586), 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Adam Jones v James Shields – 11-for-25 (.440/.440/.840), 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Felix Pie v James Shields – 5-for-11 (.455/.500/.727), 3 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Carl Crawford v Jeremy Guthrie – 13-for-38 (.342/.359/.447), 4 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
B.J. Upton v Jeremy Guthrie – 9-for-27 (.333/.424/.519), 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 5:5 K:BB
Carlos Pena v Jeremy Guthrie – 9-for-23 (.391/.548/.609), 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4:8 K:BB
Reid Brignac v Jeremy Guthrie – 5-for-11 (.455/.455/909), 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:0 K:BB
Ryan Howard v David Bush – 8-for-22 (.364/.417/.773), 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3:2 K:BB
Chase Utley v David Bush – 5-for-19 (.263/.417/.579), 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4:3 K:BB
Jimmy Rollins v David Bush – 6-for-21 (.286/.348/.667), 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Placido Polanco v David Bush – 4-for-11 (.364/.364/.545), 2 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:0 K:BB
Johnny Damon v Bruce Chen – 11-for-22 (.500/.560/.864), 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3:3 K:BB
Miguel Cabrera v Bruce Chen – 6-for-10 (.600/.733/1.300), 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1:5 K:BB
Hanley Ramirez v Jair Jurrjens – 6-for-20 (.300/.333/.900), 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Dan Uggla v Jair Jurrjens – 7-for-19 (.368/.400/.526), 3 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Emilio Bonifacio v Jair Jurrjens – 5-for-10 (.500/.545/.500), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
David Ortiz v Gavin Floyd – 4-for-14 (.286/.286/.714), 0 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 8:0 K:BB
Manny Ramirez v John Lackey – 12-for-28 (.429/.579/1.071), 3 2B, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 5:9 K:BB
Andre Ethier v Matt Cain – 18-for-35 (.514/.537/.600), 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5:4 K:BB
James Loney v Matt Cain – 11-for-31 (.355/.429/.548), 4 2B, 1 3 B, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 2:4 K:BB
Aaron Rowand v Ted Lilly – 7-for-19 (.368/.429/.579), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6:2 K:BB
Freddy Sanchez v Ted Lilly – 8-for-23 (.348/.375/.478), 3 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Juan Uribe v Ted Lilly – 4-for-13 (.308/.386/.769), 0 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1:0 K:BB

Jered Weaver v Athletics – Some other starters scheduled to pitch Saturday have strong records against their opponents, but Weaver has had a track record of success against the entire Athletic lineup. Oakland could conceivably throw out a lineup in which only two batters have an average above .261 against Weaver (Kurt Suzuki's .346 and Gabe Gross's 4-for-10), and their current crop of hitters has gone .222/.277/.374 collectively in 171 at-bats. He has struck them out nearly three times as often as he has issued a walk (38 v 13). He has surprisingly struggled in three 2010 starts against them (6.00 ERA), but he has still issued 20 K's in those 12 innings.

Cold

Vernon Wells v Javier Vazquez – 7-for-39 (.179), 4 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 7:0 K:BB
Lyle Overbay v Javier Vazquez – 6-for-25 (.240), 3 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6:2 K:BB
John Buck v Javier Vazquez – 4-for-19 (.211), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Aaron Hill v Javier Vazquez – 2-for-16 (.125), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Vladimir Guerrero v Carl Pavano – 7-for-31 (.226), 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
David Murphy v Carl Pavano – 1-for-11 (.091), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Adrian Gonzalez v Jason Hammel – 3-for-19 (.158), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5:3 K:BB
Miguel Tejada v Jason Hammel – 3-for-15 (.200), 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Jason Giambi v Jon Garland – 2-for-22 (.091), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:5 K:BB
Brandon Phillips v Adam Wainwright – 3-for-22 (.136), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Mark Ellis v Jered Weaver – 4-for-25 (.160), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5:2 K:BB
Daric Barton v Jered Weaver – 5-for-24 (.208), 0 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Cliff Pennington v Jered Weaver – 1-for-15 (.067), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5:1 K:BB
Coco Crisp v Jered Weaver – 1-for-14 (.071), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Rajai Davis v Jered Weaver – 3-for-14 (.214), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Kevin Kouzmanoff v Jered Weaver – 3-for-13 (.231), 0 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Bobby Abreu v Trevor Cahill – 2-for-12 (.167), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:3 K:BB
Torii Hunter v Trevor Cahill – 3-for-13 (.231), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Howie Kendrick v Trevor Cahill – 3-for-14 (.214), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 K:BB
Juan Rivera v Trevor Cahill – 1-for-10 (.100), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Mike Napoli v Trevor Cahill – 0-for-10 (.000), 2:0 K:BB
Adam Dunn v Paul Maholm – 3-for-28 (.107), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 12:7 K:BB
Corey Patters on v James Shields – 2-for-22 (.091), 0 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5:3 K:BB
Cesar Izturis v James Shields – 2-for-11 (.182), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Evan Longoria v Jeremy Guthrie – 3-for-17 (.200), 2 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4:0 K:BB
Mitch Maier v Rick Porcello – 1-for-12 (.083), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Brandon Inge v Bruce Chen – 0-for-17 (.000), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5:2 K:BB
Brian McCann v Josh Johnson – 7-for-31 (.226), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6:1 K:BB
Mike Lowell v Gavin Floyd – 1-for-10 (.100), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Martin Prado v Josh Johnson – 4-for-21 (.190), 0 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Juan Pierre v John Lackey – 3-for-15 (.200), 2 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:0 K:BB
Omar Vizquel v John Lackey – 3-for-13 (.231), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Ryan Theriot v Matt Cain – 3-for-17 (.176), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Aubrey Huff v Ted Lilly – 3-for-25 (.120), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:3 K:BB
Jose Guillen v Ted Lilly – 3-for-17 (.176), 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6:1 K:BB
Jayson Werth v David Bush – 2-for-15 (.133), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 K:BB

David Bush v Phillies – Bush has posted a 5.92 ERA over his last four starts, allowing 10 home runs and a 14:6 K:BB in those 24.1 innings. Things will not get much easier Saturday against the Phillies, which is a club he has historically not had much fun with. He took the loss against the May 16, and he owns a 5.40 ERA and a 35:20 K:BB in 51.2 career innings against them. Their current crop of batters has a collective .914 OPS against him in 159 career at-bats, and the top of the order (Jimmy Rollins – 1.014 OPS, Chase Utley - .996, Placido Polanco - .909 and Ryan Howard – 1.189) could be deadly.

Reccommended Pickup

Matt Thornton, P, CHI-A -- This is a recommendation for leagues whose Thornton owner could not afford to stash him on the DL or bailed on him during his pre-DL struggles. He posted a 12.66 K/9IP in his 10.2 second-half, pre-injury innings, and he will be the Sox's lone closer insurance with J.J. Putz unavailable. The emergence of Chris Sale should allow Thornton to pitch in more late-inning situations, and he could be good for a few saves down the stretch.