Tuesday Lineup Card: Troubled Closer In Paradise

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters - A look at Tuesday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Blue Jays (Drew Hutchison – R) at Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R), 6:10
Royals (Jeremy Guthrie – R) at Indians (Trevor Bauer – R), 6:10
White Sox (Hector Noesi – R) at Orioles (Ubaldo Jimenez – R), 7:05
Rays (Jake Odorizzi – R) at Yankees (Chase Whitley – R), 7:05
Mets (Rafael Montero – R) at Marlins (David Phelps – R), 7:10
Nationals (Tanner Roark – R) at Braves (Julio Teheran – R), 7:10
Brewers (Kyle Lohse – R) at Reds (Johnny Cueto – R), 7:10
Mariners (J.A. Happ – L) at Rangers (Ross Detwiler – L), 8:05
Pirates (Jeff Locke – L) at Cubs (Travis Wood – L), 8:05
Tigers (Anibal Sanchez – R) at Twins (Mike Pelfrey – R), 8:10
Phillies (Severino Gonzalez – R) at Cardinals (Michael Wacha – R), 8:15
Rockies (Kyle Kendrick – R) at Diamondbacks (Archie Bradley – R), 9:40
Angels (Jered Weaver – R) at Athletics (Sonny Gray – R), 10:05
Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L), 10:10
Astros (Roberto Hernandez – R) at Padres (Tyson Ross – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Max Scherzer, SP, WAS (thumb) – Not going Tuesday, but probably out only one start
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN (hip) – Still not back in lineup Monday
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, BOS (neck) – Removed Monday; has whiplash symptoms
Jason Heyward, OF, STL (hamstring) – Seems more of a hamstring than groin issue
Gregory Polanco, OF, PIT (groin) – Scratched from Monday's lineup; iffy for Tuesday
Carl Crawford, OF, LAD (undisclosed) – Left Monday's game
Rajai Davis, OF, DET (groin) – Not starting Monday; Tuesday uncertain
Mike Napoli, 1B, BOS (illness) – Out sick Monday; could be back in Tuesday
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB (knee) – Out of Monday's lineup; could be available off bench
Tyler Matzek, SP, COL (hamstring) – Had to leave Monday's start due to cramping
Yunel Escobar, SS, WAS (hand) – Left Monday's game after getting spiked; out 1-2 days
Trevor May, SP, MIN (arm) – Feeling 100 percent after being hit by line drive Saturday

Players on the DL

Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS (knee) – Scratched from rehab games with fatigue
Adam Wainwright, SP, STL (Achilles) – Surgery scheduled for Thursday
Greg Holland, RP, KC (chest) – Threw Monday
David Wright, 3B, NYM (hamstring) – "Not that close" yet
Hunter Pence, OF, SF (forearm) – About a week away from taking live BP
Alex Rios, OF, KC (hand) – Starting strengthening exercises in 10 days
Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, SEA (shoulder) – Throwing lightly; back in mid-to-late May
Justin Verlander, SP, DET (triceps) – Second opinion: strain
Jake McGee, RP, TB (elbow) – Making first rehab appearance Tuesday
Matt Wieters, C, BAL (elbow) – Caught Monday; may catch again Tuesday
Nick Franklin, 2B, TB (oblique) – Starting rehab assignment this week
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL (shoulder) – Hopes to hit later this week, then go out on assignment
Brandon McCarthy, SP, LAD (elbow) – Needs Tommy John surgery
Nick Swisher, 1B, CLE (knee) – Back to Triple-A for rehab games
Domonic Brown, OF, PHI (Achilles) – Could be activated and optioned Wednesday
Jose Pirela, SS, NYY (concussion) – 0-for-4 in first rehab game
Alex Colome, SP, TB (pneumonia) – Could return and join rotation as soon as Friday
Bobby Parnell, RP, NYM (elbow) – Will resume throwing Thursday after minor setback
Tom Wilhelmson, RP, SEA (elbow) – Played catch Monday; hopes to throw bullpen soon
Casey Janssen, RP, WAS – Expected to throw sim game Thursday
Shawn Kelley, RP, SD (calf) – Threw to live hitters Monday
Gavin Floyd, SP, CLE (elbow) – Could possibly return at some point this season
Brien Duensing, RP, MIN (oblique) – Will throw to hitters Thursday
John Jaso, C, TB (wrist) – Moved to 60-day DL; could return in June
Javy Guerra, RP, CHW (shoulder) – Starting Triple-A rehab games this week

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

Called Up

Adam Liberatore, RP, LAD
Jorge Rondon, RP, COL
Alex Claudio, RP, TEX
Junior Lake, OF, CHC
Steven Wright, RP, BOS
L.J. Hoes, RP, HOU
Carlos Contreras, RP, CHW

Sent Down (to Triple-A unless otherwise noted)

David Hale, SP, COL
Tanner Scheppers, RP, TEX
Brian Schlitter, RP, CHC
Heath Hembree, RP, BOS
Asher Wojciechowski, RP, HOU
Aaron Brooks, RP, KC
Eric Surkamp, RP, CHW
Daniel Webb, RP, CHW

Activated from the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)

David Hale, SP, COL

Placed on the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)

Jose Reyes, SS, TOR (ribs)
Homer Bailey, SP, CIN (elbow)
Adam Ottavino, RP, COL (triceps)
Brandon McCarthy, SP, LAD (elbow)

Released
Grant Balfour, RP, TB

Designated For Assignment
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, MIA

Traded
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX (from LAA)
Xavier Cedeno, RP, TB (from LAD)

Closer Watch

Marlins -- Steve Cishek owners have to officially be worried now, as the Marlins' "closer" has blown more saves (two) than he's converted (one) and owns a brutal 11.37 ERA after blowing Monday night's game against the Mets in spectacular fashion. There are precious few positive stats to which Cishek proponents can point; meanwhile, A.J. Ramos has been establishing himself as a dominant back-of-the-bullpen arm thanks to improved control this year. Ramos owns an identical 0.73 ERA and WHIP – plus a sparkling 18:4 K:BB in 12.1 innings – and it wouldn't be at all surprising to see the Marlins turn over their precious few save chances to him, at least until Cishek rounds back into his typically dominant form.

Phillies -- Jonathan Papelbon tossed a scoreless ninth Monday for his fifth save, but rumors are swirling that the Phillies are trying to convince the Red Sox to bring the unhappy closer back to Boston. It's unclear how a prospective Papelbon trade might affect both teams' closing situations, as theoretical closer-in-waiting Ken Giles – despite his 0.00 ERA – has struggled with his command so far this season, while Koji Uehara has been fairly effective since returning from a season-opening DL stint despite a velocity drop.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – April 28, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
L. Chisenhall	3B	CLE vs KC 6:10PM	J. Guthrie	15	8	2	1	5	1	2	.533	.563	.800	1.363
J. Kipnis	2B	CLE vs KC 6:10PM	J. Guthrie	20	11	5	2	9	1	3	.550	.545	1.000	1.545
B. Moss	1B	CLE vs KC 6:10PM	J. Guthrie	12	5	3	2	5	0	5	.417	.417	1.000	1.417
C. Santana	1B	CLE vs KC 6:10PM	J. Guthrie	21	10	5	2	4	3	2	.476	.542	.905	1.446
R. Goins	2B	TOR @ BOS 6:10PM	C. Buchholz	13	6	2	0	4	0	2	.462	.462	.692	1.154
R. Martin	C	TOR @ BOS 6:10PM	C. Buchholz	14	4	4	4	7	0	1	.286	.286	1.143	1.429
C. Gillaspie	3B	CWS @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	11	5	1	0	1	2	2	.455	.538	.545	1.084
A. LaRoche	1B	CWS @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	20	7	4	1	4	5	7	.350	.480	.650	1.130
B. Gardner	OF	NYY vs TB 7:05PM	J. Odorizzi	10	3	1	1	2	1	2	.300	.364	.600	.964
B. McCann	C	NYY vs TB 7:05PM	J. Odorizzi	13	8	4	2	6	0	1	.615	.643	1.308	1.951
J. Votto	1B	CIN vs MIL 7:10PM	K. Lohse	36	11	5	1	3	2	10	.306	.350	.500	.850
G. Parra	OF	MIL @ CIN 7:10PM	J. Cueto	20	7	5	2	3	3	4	.350	.435	.800	1.235
A. Ramirez	3B	MIL @ CIN 7:10PM	J. Cueto	48	17	9	5	11	6	7	.354	.456	.750	1.206
B. Harper	OF	WAS @ ATL 7:10PM	J. Teheran	16	7	4	2	3	1	3	.438	.500	.938	1.438
A. Rizzo	1B	CHC vs PIT 8:05PM	J. Locke	13	4	3	1	2	2	2	.308	.400	.692	1.092
J. Harrison	3B	PIT @ CHC 8:05PM	T. Wood	16	5	3	1	3	0	1	.313	.294	.688	.982
S. Marte	OF	PIT @ CHC 8:05PM	T. Wood	23	7	4	2	5	2	7	.304	.360	.696	1.056
A. McCutchen	OF	PIT @ CHC 8:05PM	T. Wood	29	7	3	2	7	7	8	.241	.395	.483	.877
J. Mercer	SS	PIT @ CHC 8:05PM	T. Wood	11	5	4	2	3	2	0	.455	.538	1.182	1.720
N. Walker	2B	PIT @ CHC 8:05PM	T. Wood	20	7	3	1	3	2	3	.350	.409	.600	1.009
R. Weeks	2B	SEA @ TEX 8:05PM	R. Detwiler	10	3	2	1	2	1	3	.300	.364	.700	1.064
P. Fielder	1B	TEX vs SEA 8:05PM	J. Happ	22	8	4	0	5	1	4	.364	.391	.545	.937
A. Hill	2B	ARI vs COL 9:40PM	K. Kendrick	12	8	4	0	1	0	0	.667	.667	1.000	1.667
M. Trout	OF	LAA @ OAK 10:05PM	S. Gray	16	4	2	2	2	1	7	.250	.294	.625	.919
J. Turner	3B	LAD vs SF 10:10PM	M. Bumgarner	21	7	4	2	3	1	1	.333	.364	.714	1.078

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 28, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Anibal Sanchez	DET @ MIN 8:10PM	115	20	5	1	6	10	33	.174	.238	.238	.476
Sonny Gray	OAK vs LAA 10:05PM	108	20	6	2	7	11	35	.185	.257	.275	.533
Madison Bumgarner	SF @ LAD 10:10PM	187	37	13	4	12	8	50	.198	.234	.313	.547
Clayton Kershaw	LAD vs SF 10:10PM	265	55	11	1	10	15	74	.208	.253	.258	.511

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Batter Matchups – April 28, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
D. Ortiz	DH	BOS vs TOR 6:10PM	D. Hutchison	10	0	0	0	0	1	3	.000	.091	.000	.091
M. Bourn	OF	CLE vs KC 6:10PM	J. Guthrie	20	4	1	1	1	1	4	.200	.238	.350	.588
E. Encarnacion	1B	TOR @ BOS 6:10PM	C. Buchholz	28	4	2	2	3	7	3	.143	.314	.357	.671
A. De Aza	OF	BAL vs CWS 7:05PM	J. Samardzija	12	1	0	0	0	0	5	.083	.083	.083	.167
T. Snider	OF	BAL vs CWS 7:05PM	J. Samardzija	11	2	1	0	1	0	4	.182	.182	.273	.455
E. Bonifacio	2B	CWS @ BAL 7:05PM	U. Jimenez	17	3	0	0	3	2	6	.176	.263	.176	.440
T. Frazier	3B	CIN vs MIL 7:10PM	K. Lohse	24	3	1	0	1	0	4	.125	.120	.167	.287
D. Mesoraco	C	CIN vs MIL 7:10PM	K. Lohse	21	4	1	0	1	2	3	.190	.261	.238	.499
B. Pena	C	CIN vs MIL 7:10PM	K. Lohse	12	2	1	1	2	0	1	.167	.154	.417	.571
R. Braun	OF	MIL @ CIN 7:10PM	J. Cueto	41	8	2	0	0	2	12	.195	.233	.244	.476
J. Segura	SS	MIL @ CIN 7:10PM	J. Cueto	16	3	0	0	2	0	2	.188	.188	.188	.375
D. Espinosa	2B	WAS @ ATL 7:10PM	J. Teheran	13	2	0	0	0	0	4	.154	.154	.154	.308
J. Werth	OF	WAS @ ATL 7:10PM	J. Teheran	20	3	0	0	1	1	7	.150	.227	.150	.377
R. Zimmerman	3B	WAS @ ATL 7:10PM	J. Teheran	17	3	1	1	4	0	2	.176	.176	.353	.529
S. Castro	SS	CHC vs PIT 8:05PM	J. Locke	13	3	0	0	1	0	2	.231	.231	.231	.462
P. Alvarez	3B	PIT @ CHC 8:05PM	T. Wood	18	1	1	0	0	0	7	.056	.056	.111	.167
J. Ruggiano	OF	SEA @ TEX 8:05PM	R. Detwiler	10	2	1	0	0	0	1	.200	.200	.300	.500
O. Arcia	OF	MIN vs DET 8:10PM	A. Sanchez	13	1	0	0	0	1	5	.077	.143	.077	.220
B. Dozier	2B	MIN vs DET 8:10PM	A. Sanchez	17	1	0	0	1	2	4	.059	.158	.059	.217
T. Plouffe	3B	MIN vs DET 8:10PM	A. Sanchez	15	3	1	1	3	2	3	.200	.278	.400	.678
J. Schafer	OF	MIN vs DET 8:10PM	A. Sanchez	14	2	1	0	0	1	8	.143	.200	.214	.414
K. Calhoun	OF	LAA @ OAK 10:05PM	S. Gray	18	2	2	0	0	3	7	.111	.238	.222	.460
M. Joyce	OF	LAA @ OAK 10:05PM	S. Gray	11	2	0	0	0	2	3	.182	.308	.182	.490
A. Pujols	1B	LAA @ OAK 10:05PM	S. Gray	16	1	0	0	1	0	4	.063	.059	.063	.121
B. Butler	1B	OAK vs LAA 10:05PM	J. Weaver	32	6	2	1	5	1	6	.188	.212	.313	.525
A. Ellis	C	LAD vs SF 10:10PM	M. Bumgarner	22	3	1	0	0	2	5	.136	.208	.182	.390
A. Ethier	OF	LAD vs SF 10:10PM	M. Bumgarner	24	3	1	0	1	0	9	.125	.160	.167	.327
A. Gonzalez	1B	LAD vs SF 10:10PM	M. Bumgarner	35	4	2	0	2	0	7	.114	.114	.171	.286
J. Rollins	SS	LAD vs SF 10:10PM	M. Bumgarner	20	3	0	0	0	0	7	.150	.150	.150	.300
N. Aoki	OF	SF @ LAD 10:10PM	C. Kershaw	12	2	0	0	2	0	2	.167	.167	.167	.333
J. Arias	3B	SF @ LAD 10:10PM	C. Kershaw	34	9	1	0	1	1	7	.265	.286	.294	.580
B. Belt	1B	SF @ LAD 10:10PM	C. Kershaw	29	3	1	0	0	3	15	.103	.188	.138	.325
B. Crawford	SS	SF @ LAD 10:10PM	C. Kershaw	18	1	0	0	0	1	7	.056	.105	.056	.161
J. Maxwell	OF	SF @ LAD 10:10PM	C. Kershaw	12	0	0	0	0	2	6	.000	.143	.000	.143
B. Posey	C	SF @ LAD 10:10PM	C. Kershaw	62	11	3	1	5	2	14	.177	.215	.258	.473

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 28, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Jeremy Guthrie	KC @ CLE 6:10PM	172	64	23	10	37	9	28	.372	.400	.624	1.025
Jake Odorizzi	TB @ NYY 7:05PM	77	24	11	5	13	5	16	.312	.358	.584	.942
Travis Wood	CHC vs PIT 8:05PM	149	41	21	8	22	15	31	.275	.341	.546	.887
Mike Pelfrey	MIN vs DET 8:10PM	70	22	4	0	5	12	10	.314	.410	.356	.766

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Recommended Pickup
Rafael Montero, SP, NYM – He may not get the attention that fancier pitching prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz draw from fantasy owners, which means Montero is almost certainly available in most of your fantasy leagues – even in many keeper formats. The 24-year-old Dominican is making his return to the Mets on Tuesday as a member of the starting rotation, which will expand to a six-man crew – as long as no one gets hurt and Dillon Gee pitches well enough to hold onto his job. Command issues dogged Montero for much of last year, but he also showed the ability to miss bats both in Triple-A Las Vegas and as a Met, fanning 42 in 44.3 MLB innings last year. Montero may see his pitch count limited in his early starts, as he's just stretching things out after a stint in New York's bullpen to start the year, but if he looks good, the Mets will take the reins off and let him roll.

Other Recent Recommendations:Jimmy Paredes, Mark Teixeira, Marcus Semien, Tony Watson, Steven Souza

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Tanner Roark, WAS ($6,800)
C: Nick Hundley, COL ($3,400)
1B: Pedro Alvarez, PIT ($3,600)
2B: Jose Altuve, HOU ($4,200)
3B: Nick Castellanos, DET ($3,900)
SS: Addison Russell, CHC ($3,500)
OF: Anthony Gose, DET ($4,000)