Monday Lineup Card: Freeman Ready to Return

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):

American League
Athletics (A.J. Griffin – R) at Red Sox (Felix Doubront – L), 6:35
Blue Jays (J.A. Happ – L) at Orioles (Chris Tillman – R), 7:05
Yankees (C.C. Sabathia – L) at Rays (Matt Moore – L), 7:10
Indians (Justin Masterson – R) at White Sox (Dylan Axelrod – R), 8:10
Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R) at Astros (Brad Peacock – R), 8:10
Rangers (Derek Holland – L) at Angels (Joe Blanton – R), 10:05

National League
Pirates (A.J. Burnett – R) at Phillies (Jonathan Pettibone – R), 7:05
Cardinals (Shelby Miller – R) at Nationals (Dan Haren – R), 7:05
Cubs (Travis Wood – L) at Reds (Mike Leake – R), 7:10
Braves (Mike Minor – L) at Rockies (Jeff Francis – L), 8:40
Brewers (Kyle Lohse – R) at Padres (Jason Marquis – R), 10:10
Diamondbacks (Wade Miley – L) at Giants (Ryan Vogelsong – R), 10:15

Interleague
Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R) at Twins (Kevin Correia – R), 8:10

Day Game After a Night Game: None

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)

AL
Brett Anderson, P, OAK – (Ankle) Good bullpen session, expected to start Wednesday.
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, CLE – (Wrist) Did not play Sunday after falling down dugout steps Saturday.
R.A. Dickey, P, TOR – (Back) Threw bullpen session Sunday, but Tuesday's status remains to be seen.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, SEA – (Lower Body) Could still be placed on DL.
Chris Parmelee, 1B, MIN – (Elbow) Missed Sunday's game after HBP Saturday.
Albert Pujols, 1B, LAA – (Elbow) Playing through painful discomfort in foot.
Ramon Santiago, 2B, DET – (Undisclosed) Scratched Sunday, likely with dehydration.
Nick Tepesch, P, TEX – (Wrist) Expected to make next start after leaving Saturday prematurely.
Shane Victorino, OF, BOS – (Back) Sat Sunday's doubleheader, could play Monday.
Kevin Youkilis, 3B, NYY – (Back) Out of Sunday's lineup but should not be a long term thing.

NL
Kyle Blanks, OF, SD – (Eye) Stitched up after running into wall Sunday.
Zack Cozart, SS, CIN – (Finger) Out Sunday, may miss another couple days after HBP Saturday.
Todd Helton, 1B, COL – (Forearm) Out of Sunday's lineup.
Clayton Richard, P, SD – (Illness) Will start Tuesday if he can get past flu by then.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF – (Ankle) Returned to lineup Sunday after leaving Saturday's game.
Rafael Soriano, P, WAS – (Personal) Paternity leave, will miss Monday but should be back Tuesday.
Dan Uggla, 2B, ATL – (Calf) Left Saturday's game and was not in Sunday's lineup.

Players on the DL

AL
Craig Breslow, P, BOS – (Shoulder) First rehab appearance Tuesday.
Yeonis Cespedes, OF, OAK – (Thumb) Will hit off tee Monday and take batting practice later this week.
John Danks, P, CHW – (Shoulder) Made another extended spring training start, velocity down, mid-May return likely.
Cole De Vries, P, MIN – (Forearm) Rehab assignment seems reasonable within a couple weeks.
Avisail Garcia, OF, DET – (Heel) Played in extended spring training, should hit minors for rehab soon.
Steve Johnson, P, BAL – (Back) Will start in Triple-A Wednesday.
Franklin Morales, P, BOS – (Back) Will throw four innings in rehab at Double-A.
Brett Myers, P, CLE – (Forearm) Placed on DL amid worries he could not make next start.
Michael Pineda, P, NYY – (Shoulder) Should throw simulated game next week.
Luke Scott, OF, TB – (Calf) Ran bases and took batting practice Sunday, should
Dayan Viciedo, OF, CHW – (Oblique) Will rest for a week, then do a minor league rehab.
Jered Weaver, P, LAA – (Elbow) Will start throwing Wednesday, on track for mid-May return.

NL
Chad Billingsley, P, LAD – (Elbow) Will be evaluated Monday, could need Tommy John.
Jhoulys Chacin, P, COL – (Back) Placed on DL, should be replaced by Drew Pomeranz or Tyler Chatwood.
Adam Eaton, OF, AZ – (Elbow) Is hitting and throwing now.
Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL – (Obqlique) Should be activated Monday.
Frank Francisco, P, NYM – (Elbow) Made second rehab appearance Saturday.
Ryan Hanigan, C, CIN – (Oblique) Oblique and thumb will heal while on 15-day DL.
Jason Kubel, OF, AZ – (Wadriceps) Still no timeframe.
Francisco Liriano, P, PIT – (Arm) Will make rehab start Thursday.
Shaun Marcum, P, NYM – (Neck) WillWill throw 70-to-75 pitches in rehab Monday.
Nick Masset, P, CIN – (Shoulder) Moved to 60-day DL Sunday.
Charlie Morton, P, PIT – (Elbow) Moving rehab up to Double-A, should be activated mid-May.
Delmon Young, OF, PHI – (Ankle) Started 20-day rehab Sunday.

Notable Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here. Note: With a multitude of transactions leading up to Opening Day these are some of the highlights:

Called Up
Will Smith, P, KC
Stephen Fife, P, LAD
Allen Webster, P, BOS
Corky Miller, C, CIN
Robert Carson, P, NYM
Brett Oberholtzer, P, HOU
Rob Scahill, P, COL
Fernando Nieve, P, CLE

Sent Down
Dallas Keuchel, P, HOU

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Chad Billingsley, P, LAD
Brett Myers, P, CLE
Jhoulys Chacin, P, COl

Activated from DL
None

Signed/Traded/Claimed
Anthony Ortega, P, LAD

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left).

Colorado – The Rockies avoided using Rafael Betancourt for the third straight day and ended up paying the price. Wilton Lopez inherited a one run lead in the top of the ninth, but coughed it up as small ball led to a D'Backs win. Betancourt is still the closer.

Key Matchups

Lucas Duda, OF, NYM – Remember how Duda was supposed to bust out in 2012? How he was supposed to hit 25-30 home runs while not being a liability in average? That didn't happen. Instead, an injury riddled year paved the way for a mediocre .239/.329/.389 season with 15 home runs. Duda is off and running this April, hitting .273 with five home runs, including two multi-homer games. He will never help in the average department, but power and RBIs are serviceable.

Other Recent Recommendations:Daniel Nava, Dee Gordon, Tony Cingrani, A.J. Pollock, Seth Smith, Scott Kazmir

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C – Buster Posey ($8,152)
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