This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
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Wednesday's Starters (all times Eastern)
Royals (Ervin Santana – R) at White Sox (Jake Peavy - R), 2:10
Rangers (Alexi Ogando – R) at Astros (Phil Humber – R), 2:10
Tigers (Anibal Sanchez – R) at Twins (Kevin Correia – R), 4:10
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda – R), 7:05
Cubs (Edwin Jackson – R) at Pirates (Wandy Rodriguez – L), 7:05
Marlins (Kevin Slowey – R) at Nationals (Gio Gonzalez – L), 7:05
Indians (Ubaldo Jimenez – R) at Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow – R), 7:07
Angels (C.J. Wilson – L) at Reds (Mat Latos – R), 7:10
Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – L) at Rays (Jeremy Hellickson – R), 7:10
Phillies (Roy Halladay – R) at Braves (Paul Maholm – L), 7:10
Padres (Clayton Richard – L) at Mets (Matt Harvey – R), 7:10
Rockies (Juan Nicasio – R) at Brewers (Wily Peralta – R), 8:10
Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R) at Diamondbacks (Brandon McCarthy – R), 9:40
Mariners (Joe Saunders – L) at Athletics (Tommy Milone – L), 10:05
Giants (Tim Lincecum – R) at Dodgers (Josh Beckett – R), 10:10
Day Game After Night Game: HOU/TEX
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Scott Kazmir, SP, CLE (abdomen) – May require a DL stint after suffering injury during Monday's workout.
Nolan Reimold, OF, BAL (shoulder) – Started in left field and went 2-for-4 in Tuesday's win over the Rays.
Disabled List
Willie Bloomquist, SS, ARI (oblique) – Appears to be far away from resuming baseball activities.
Bartolo Colon, SP, OAK (suspension) – Will make first regular season start April 6.
Scott Diamond, SP, MIN (elbow) – Threw 70 pitches and struck out seven batters Tuesday over fine innings in extended spring training Tuesday.
Stephen Drew, SS, BOS (concussion) – Cleared by MLB to begin playing in games.
David Freese, 3B, STL (back) – Expected to play in a minor league game by week's end and is expected to return from DL on Monday.
Curtis Granderson, OF, NYY (forearm) – Says injury is improving but has yet to gain clearance to throw.
Didi Gregorius, SS, ARI (elbow) – Was scheduled to hit in a simulated game Tuesday.
Phil Hughes, SP, NYY (back) – Could return April 6 against the Tigers.
Derek Jeter, SS, NYY (ankle) – Played catch and received treatment on Monday.
Brett Lawrie, 3B, TOR (ribs) – Said he's feeling better and has resumed throwing.
Ryan Ludwick, OF, CIN (shoulder) – Will undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage Wednesday.
Shaun Marcum, SP, NYM (neck) – Did not throw his scheduled simulated game Tuesday.
Jason Motte, RP, STL (elbow) – Isn't expected to be re-evaluated until April 11.
Johan Santana, SP, NYM (shoulder) – Underwent successful surgery Tuesday.
Anthony Swarzak, RP, MIN (ribs) – Threw 50 pitches Tuesday over four innings in extended spring training.
Jonny Venters, RP, ATL (elbow) – Received a PRP injection Tuesday and will be shut down for four weeks.
Delmon Young, OF, PHI (ankle) – Was scheduled to play three innings in right field Tuesday in extended spring training game.
Transactions
Called Up
Scott Kazmir, SP, CLE
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Nick Hagadone, RP, CLE
David Huff, SP, CLE
Hunter Strickland, RP, SF (to High-A)
Claimed Off Waivers
Ezequiel Carrera, OF, PHI (from CLE)
Hunter Strickland, RP, SF (from PIT)
Designated For Assignment
Ender Inciarte, OF, PHI
Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Ryan Ludwick, OF, CIN
Closer Watch
Cubs – Despite removing Marmol from a save situation after he only retired one batter while allowing a run Monday, manager Dale Sveum stood by Marmol as his closer. "I'm not making any changes or anything like that; he just didn't have it today." Although he'll get a chance to redeem himself, Marmol's leash is likely as short as it gets, as offseason acquisition Kyuji Fujikawa looms as a potential ninth inning replacement.
Orioles – Johnson was called upon for the Opening Day save against the Rays on Tuesday, successfully retiring the side after allowing just one hit. Last season's 51-save campaign probably affords Johnson quite a bit of job security, but his underwhelming strikeout rate may make it difficult to sustain the 2.49 ERA and 1.02 WHIP he posted in 2012.
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
| Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Beckham - 2B | CWS vs KC 4/3 2:10 PM | Ervin Santana | 4-17 | .235 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | .647 | .316 | .963 | |||||||
| Alexei Ramirez - SS | CWS vs KC 4/3 2:10 PM | Ervin Santana | 6-17 | .353 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .529 | .389 | .918 | |||||||
| Billy Butler - 1B | KC @ CWS 4/3 2:10 PM | Jake Peavy | 7-18 | .389 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | .889 | .476 | 1.365 | |||||||
| Miguel Cabrera - 3B | DET @ MIN 4/3 4:10 PM | Kevin Correia | 7-13 | .538 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | .923 | .500 | 1.423 | |||||||
| Scott Hairston - OF | CHC @ PIT 4/3 7:05 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 6-13 | .462 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1.077 | .533 | 1.610 | |||||||
| Robinson Cano - 2B | NYY vs BOS 4/3 7:05 PM | Clay Buchholz | 9-20 | .450 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .600 | .450 | 1.050 | |||||||
| Colby Rasmus - OF | TOR vs CLE 4/3 7:07 PM | Ubaldo Jimenez | 7-17 | .412 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .706 | .412 | 1.118 | |||||||
| Jose Reyes - SS | TOR vs CLE 4/3 7:07 PM | Ubaldo Jimenez | 3-13 | .231 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | .615 | .267 | .882 | |||||||
| Dan Uggla - 2B | ATL vs PHI 4/3 7:10 PM | Roy Halladay | 10-25 | .400 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 7 | .840 | .423 | 1.263 | |||||||
| B.J. Upton - OF | ATL vs PHI 4/3 7:10 PM | Roy Halladay | 15-42 | .357 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 13 | .524 | .417 | .940 | |||||||
| J.J. Hardy - SS | BAL @ TB 4/3 7:10 PM | Jeremy Hellickson | 3-10 | .300 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .600 | .462 | 1.062 | |||||||
| Adam Jones - OF | BAL @ TB 4/3 7:10 PM | Jeremy Hellickson | 5-13 | .385 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .692 | .385 | 1.077 | |||||||
| Chase Utley - 2B | PHI @ ATL 4/3 7:10 PM | Paul Maholm | 5-16 | .313 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .625 | .313 | .938 | |||||||
| Coco Crisp - OF | OAK vs SEA 4/3 10:05 PM | Joe Saunders | 7-24 | .292 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | .625 | .292 | .917 | |||||||
| Andre Ethier - OF | LAD vs SF 4/3 10:10 PM | Tim Lincecum | 10-35 | .286 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 9 | .514 | .359 | .873 | |||||||
| Marco Scutaro - 2B | SF @ LAD 4/3 10:10 PM | Josh Beckett | 4-11 | .364 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .545 | .462 | 1.007 | |||||||
| Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
| Wandy Rodriguez | PIT vs CHC 4/3 7:05 PM | Cubs Batters | 16-80 | .200 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 20 | .361 | .273 | .634 | |||||||
| Jeremy Hellickson | TB vs BAL 4/3 7:10 PM | Orioles Batters | 13-64 | .203 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 | .356 | .292 | .648 | |||||||
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Konerko - 1B | CWS vs KC 4/3 2:10 PM | Ervin Santana | 6-30 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | .233 | .257 | .490 | |||||||
| Alex Gordon - OF | KC @ CWS 4/3 2:10 PM | Jake Peavy | 3-12 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .250 | .250 | .500 | |||||||
| Starlin Castro - SS | CHC @ PIT 4/3 7:05 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 1-11 | .091 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .091 | .167 | .258 | |||||||
| Alfonso Soriano - OF | CHC @ PIT 4/3 7:05 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 4-35 | .114 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 11 | .200 | .184 | .384 | |||||||
| Brennan Boesch - OF | NYY vs BOS 4/3 7:05 PM | Clay Buchholz | 2-12 | .167 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .417 | .167 | .583 | |||||||
| Brett Gardner - OF | NYY vs BOS 4/3 7:05 PM | Clay Buchholz | 2-11 | .182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .182 | .182 | .364 | |||||||
| Vernon Wells - OF | NYY vs BOS 4/3 7:05 PM | Clay Buchholz | 5-25 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | .240 | .286 | .526 | |||||||
| Russell Martin - C | PIT vs CHC 4/3 7:05 PM | Edwin Jackson | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .200 | .273 | .473 | |||||||
| Nick Swisher - OF | CLE @ TOR 4/3 7:07 PM | Brandon Morrow | 4-23 | .174 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | .304 | .240 | .544 | |||||||
| Jordan Schafer - OF | ATL vs PHI 4/3 7:10 PM | Roy Halladay | 1-10 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .100 | .100 | .200 | |||||||
| Nick Markakis - OF | BAL @ TB 4/3 7:10 PM | Jeremy Hellickson | 3-18 | .167 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .167 | .500 | |||||||
| Ryan Howard - 1B | PHI @ ATL 4/3 7:10 PM | Paul Maholm | 4-19 | .211 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | .211 | .250 | .461 | |||||||
| Ty Wigginton - 3B | STL @ ARI 4/3 9:40 PM | Brandon McCarthy | 2-12 | .167 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .417 | .214 | .631 | |||||||
| Jed Lowrie - SS | OAK vs SEA 4/3 10:05 PM | Joe Saunders | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .200 | .273 | .473 | |||||||
| Adrian Gonzalez - 1B | LAD vs SF 4/3 10:10 PM | Tim Lincecum | 8-39 | .205 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16 | .205 | .244 | .449 | |||||||
| Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
| Roy Halladay | PHI @ Atl 4/3 7:10 PM | Braves Batters | 42-137 | .307 | 6 | 14 | 19 | 7 | 38 | .503 | .339 | .843 | |||||||
Recommended Pickup
Juan Pierre, OF, MIA – The Marlins' Opening Day lineup may have been one of the worst units put out there in recent memory (Placido Polanco batted in the cleanup spot, which tells you everything you need to know), but that doesn't mean that everybody outside of Giancarlo Stanton should be overlooked. Despite his advancing age, Pierre demonstrated last season with the Phillies that he still has the capability to provide useful average and stolen base numbers at the top of order. As a full-time player with the Marlins, he should easily eclipse the 394 at-bats he received in 2012, affording him even more opportunities for stolen bases (he went 37-for-44 last season) and run-scoring, even with the limited hitting talent behind him in the order. Owned in just 44 percent of CBS leagues, 37 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and 16.7% of ESPN leagues, Pierre looks to be a cheap, safe source for stolen bases and average.
Other Recent Recommendations: Tyler Flowers and Domonic Brown
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Draft Street Lineup
C: Buster Posey, SF ($7,000)
1B: Joey Votto, CIN ($7,682)
2B: Chase Utley, PHI ($7,325)
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SS: Elvis Andrus, TEX ($7,905)
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