Monday Lineup Card: Ramon Noodles

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Projected Starters – A look at Monday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Brewers (Chris Narveson – L) at Pirates (Jeff Karstens – R), 5:05
Mets (Jonathon Niese – L) at Phillies (Cliff Lee – L), 7:05
Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders – L) at Nationals (Ross Detwiler – L), 7:05
Mariners (Jason Vargas – L) at Indians (Fausto Carmona – R), 7:05
Tigers (Justin Verlander – R) at Rays (Jeff Niemann – R), 7:10
Braves (Jair Jurrjens – R) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster – R), 8:05
Red Sox (Erik Bedard – L) at Rangers (C.J. Wilson – L), 8:05
Orioles (Zach Britton – R) at Twins (Carl Pavano – R), 8:10
Dodgers (Nathan Eovaldi – R) at Cardinals (Chris Carpenter – R), 8:15
Brewers (Zach Grienke – R) at Pirates (Brad Lincoln – R), 8:35
Astros (Brett Myers – R) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin – R), 8:40

Day game after a night game: NA

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)
Edgar Renteria, SS, CIN – (Groin) Pinch-hit Saturday, but he's still not ready to start.
Rafael Furcal, SS, STL – (Thumb) Sat out Sunday's game after suffering a sprained thumb tripping over a rope near the batting cage.
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI – (Groin) Left Sunday's game and will undergo an MRI Monday.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF – (Shoulder) Batted lefty against a lefty Sunday, because his shoulder remains too sore to bat from the right.
Orlando Cabrera, SS, SF – (Groin) Missed his third straight game Sunday.
Mitch Moreland, 1B, TEX – (Hamstring) Has played each of the last three days.
David Ortiz, DH, BOS – (Heel) Could return by the middle of the week.
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN – (Foot) Fouled a ball off his foot Saturday and isn't playing Sunday.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS – (Back) Sat Sunday and may not play Monday.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, SS, MIN – (Back) Sat out Saturday and Sunday.
Mark Reynolds, 3B, BAL – (Ankle) Sat out Sunday after tweaking his ankle Saturday.
Nick Blackburn, SP, MIN – (Forearm) Left Sunday's game with a forearm strain, and he'll be reevaluated Monday.
Carlos Quentin, OF, CHW – (Shoulder) MRI revealed he has a sprained AC joint. Remains day-to-day.
Travis Hafner, DH, CLE – (Foot) Left Sunday's game with a left foot strain.
Adam Lind, 1B, TOR – (Wrist) Could return to the lineup Tuesday.

Players on the DL
Kenley Jansen, RP, LAD – (Chest) Expected to be activated Friday.
Ernesto Frieri, RP, SD – (Back) Activated from the DL Sunday.
Jose Reyes, SS, NYM – (Hamstring) Running some base paths in an effort to test his hamstring. He'll go on a multi-game rehab assignment before being activated.
Brian Wilson, RP, SF – (Elbow) Placed on the 15-day DL Sunday.
Ryan Spilborghs, OF, COL – (Foot) Should return to the Rockies this week.
Chris Heisey, OF, CIN – (Oblique) Nearing a return, but will go on a short rehab assignment.
Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL – (Shoulder) Scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday and could be activated within the next two weeks.
Paul Maholm, SP, PIT – (Shoulder) Placed on the DL, and will visit with Dr. James Andrews on Monday.
Evan Meek, RP, PIT – (Shoulder) Still on pace to return in early September.
Andrew Cashner, SP/RP, CHC – (Shoulder) Will work in relief if he returns to the Cubs this season.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA – (Shoulder) Should start hitting in the next couple days, but there still isn't a solid return date set for him.
Josh Johnson, SP, FLA – (Shoulder) Still isn't throwing from a mound, and he remains out for the season.
Placido Polanco, 3B, SF – (Hip) Will be activated from the DL on Monday.
Jeremy Guthrie, SP, BAL – (Shoulder) Should return from the DL Tuesday or Wednesday.
Rajai Davis, OF, TOR – (Hamstring) Hopes to return before the end of the season.
Carlos Villanueva, RP/SP, TOR – (Elbow) Should return in a relief role in September.
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX – (Hamstring) Will remain out for at least another week.
Andres Blanco, SS, TEX – (Back) Remains sidelined without a target return date.
Chris Davis, 1B, BAL – (BAL) Expects to come off the DL when eligible Aug 29.

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)
Brian Wilson, RP, SF

Activated from DL
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY
Ernesto Frieri, RP, SD

Called Up
Steve Edlefsen, RP, SF

Sent Down
Jordan Lyles, SP, HOU
Aaron Laffey, RP, NYY

Designated for Assignment
Pat Neshek, RP, SD

Released
Trever Miller, RP, TOR

Signed
Aaron Heilman, RP, PIT

Closer Watch – A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (also check out our Closer Grid)

Los Angeles Angels – Jordan Walden has blown his last two save chances. He has nine blown saves this season. There's a chance the Angels could take a look at someone else this season, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to demote Walden for someone like the old man, Scott Downs, at this point of the season. Expect Walden to keep the job.

New York Mets – Jason Isringhausen came into a tied game Saturday and let four runs cross the plate without recording a single out. Following Saturday's implosion, the Mets announced Bobby Parnell would be used Sunday and Monday if a save chance arose. Beyond that, the team plans to use a committee approach to get the job done. Now that Isringhausen has completed the 300 save accomplishment for his career, the Mets should be looking to evaluate the rest of their bullpen, Parnell in particular, for their 2012 closer.

Pittsburgh – Joel Hanrahan has been having some struggles of late, but there's be little to no incentive for the Pirates to consider removing him from the closing role. Unless he has a complete breakdown, don't worry about this situation.

San Francisco – Brian Wilson (elbow) was placed on the 15-day DL Sunday. With Sergio Romo (elbow) also sidelined, Ramon Ramirez appears to be the reliever to own out of the Giants' bullpen right now. It's been suggested that Jeremy Affeldt will get the save opportunities, but Ramirez has received two in the last week. Affeldt hasn't received any. Writing on the wall?

Recommended Pickup

Ramon Ramirez, RP, SF – Ramirez converted his third save of the season Sunday. With Brian Wilson (elbow) on the DL, and Sergio Romo (elbow) also sidelined, Ramirez could get more saves. Manager Bruce Bochy specifically said the team would use whoever is available to close out games, while Wilson is on the DL. Jeremy Affeldt is considered by some to be the favorite to pick up saves, but there's a funny thing that's happened over the last week. Ramirez has converted two saves, and Affeldt has converted none saves. I'm a pretty dumb guy, so I'm going to follow the obvious pattern here and take a chance with Ramirez over Affeldt.

Other recent recommendations:Mike Trout, Stephen Strasburg, Will Venable, Mike Carp, Brandon Belt

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Draft Street Lineup

C Ryan Lavarnway (BOS-C) $5,703
1B Todd Helton (COL-1B) $7,864
2B Dustin Pedroia (BOS-2B) $6,727
3B Ty Wigginton (COL-3B) $4,411
SS Troy Tulowitzki (COL-SS) $8,631
OF Delmon Young (DET-OF) $4,501
OF Nelson Cruz (TEX-OF) $6,683
OF Shin-Soo Choo (CLE-OF) $3,994
U Miguel Cabrera (DET-1B) $8,502
U Prince Fielder (MIL-1B) $9,533
SP Carl Pavano (MIN-SP) $6,681
SP Erik Bedard (BOS-SP) $10,444
RP Craig Kimbrel (ATL-RP) $3,316
P Jair Jurrjens (ATL-SP) $11,035

Total: $98,025

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