The Lineup Card: Nationals Spelling Bee

Projected Starters - A look at Tuesday's matchups:

White Sox (Freddy Garcia – R) v Tigers (Justin Verlander - R), 7:05
Orioles (Jake Arrieta - R) v Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 7:05
Braves (Tim Hudson - R) v Pirates (James McDonald - R), 7:05
Marlins (Chris Volstad - R) v Phillies (Joe Blanton - R), 7:05
Mets (Dillon Gee - R) v Nationals (Yunesky Maya - R), 7:05
Rangers (Scott Feldman - R) v Blue Jays (Shaun Marcum - R), 7:07
Rays (David Price - L) v Red Sox (Daisuke Matsuzaka - R), 7:10
Astros (Nelson Figueroa - R) v Cubs (Carlos Silva - R), 8:05
Cardinals (Kyle Lohse - R) v Brewers (Chris Narveson - L), 8:10
Royals (Brian Bannister - R) v Twins (Francisco Liriano - L), 8:10
Reds (Johnny Cueto - R) v Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin - R), 8:40
Mariners (Doug Fister - R) v Athletics (Dallas Braden - L), 10:05
Giants (Tim Lincecum - R) v Diamondbacks (Barry Enright - R), 9:40
Indians (Justin Masterson - R) v Angels (Trevor Bell – R), 10:05
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L) v Padres (Mat Latos - R), 10:05

Day game after a night game: None

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Adalberto Mendez, P, FLA – (Quadriceps) Injury not that serious and could start this weekend
Juan Uribe, 3B, SF – (Shin) Held out Monday
Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA – (Knee) Left the first game of Monday's doubleheader with a knee contusion
Mark Reynolds, 3B, AZ – (Hand) Held out of Monday's game
Jose Reyes, SS, NY-N – (Oblique) Felt good in batting practice Monday
Ian Desmond, SS, WAS – (Hamstring) Not in Monday's lineup
Leo Nunez, P, FLA – (Stiffness) Unavailable Monday after feeling something Sunday
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, CHI-N – (Quadriceps) Did not start Monday
Justin Upton, OF, AZ – (Shoulder) Sat Sunday, his fourth consecutive miss
Johan Santana, P, NY-N – (Chest) Scratched from Tuesday's start
Marco Scutaro, SS, BOS – (Shoulder) Not in Monday's lineup, MRI results to come
Willie Bloomquist, OF, KC – (Personal) Was unavailable Monday, unclear when he will return
Gerald Laird, C, DET – (Back) Did not start Monday
Ryan Raburn, OF, DET – (Illness) Did not start Monday, but did pinch-hit
Adam Jones, OF, BAL – (Shoulder) Took part in batting practice before Monday's game (which he did not start)
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, OAK – (Back) Won't play Monday, may be out until the weekend
Cliff Lee, P, TEX – (Back) Won't pitch Tuesday, but he could take to the mound Sunday
Paul Konerko, 1B, CHI-A – (Back) Stiff lower back kept him from playing in Monday's game
Elvis Andrus, SS, TEX – (Hamstring) May be out until Wednesday
Mat Latos, P, SD – (Illness) Start moved from Monday to Tuesday

Players on the DL
Russell Martin, C, LA – (Hip) Transferred to 60-day DL
Jeff Clement, 1B, PIT – (Knee) Transferred to 60-day DL, season over?
Ross Ohlendorf, P, PIT – (Shoulder) Transferred to 60-day DL, no surprise
Ian Stewart, 3B, COL – (Oblique) Should come off the DL Friday
Felipe Paulino, P, HOU – (Shoulder) Rest of the season's fate will be determined after another sim game
Jason Bay, OF, NY-N – (Concussion) Transferred to 60-day DL, probably won't return in 2010
Doug Davis, P, MIL – (Elbow) Wants to return sometime this season
Jerry Hairston Jr., SS, SD – (Elbow) Will start rehabbing this week
Chris Young, P, SD – (Shoulder) Threw 3.1 innings for Triple-A Portland Sunday
Danys Baez, P, PHI – (Back) Will begin a rehab assignment Monday
Andy Pettitte, P, NY-A – (Groin) Rehab start pushed to Thursday
Carlos Guillen, OF, DET – (Knee) Still has soreness in his knee, may not return this season
Scott Feldman, P, TEX – (Knee) Will come off the DL to start Tuesday
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN – (Concussion) Still has headaches, but hopeful to return this season

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

Called Up
Russ Mitchell, 3B, LA
Lars Anderson, 1B, BOS
Nate Robertson, P, PHI
Dillon Gee, P, NY-N
Esteban German, 2B, TEX
John Lindsey, 1B, LA
Mike Zagurski, P, PHI
John Ely, P, LA
Jarrod Dyson, OF, KC
Jay Buente, P, FLA
Colin Curtis, OF, NY-A
Michael McKenry, C, COL
Josh Reddick, OF, BOS
Raul Valdes, P, NY-N
Jose Ceda, P, FLA
Sean Green, P, NY-N
Jesus Feliciano, OF, NY-N
Jon Link, P, LA

Sent Down
Vin Mazzaro, P, OAK
Rob Delaney, P, MIN

Activated from DL
Kevin Slowey, P, MIN
Matt Daley, P, COL
Jason Varitek, C, BOS
Chin-Lung Hu, SS, LA

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left)

None today

Key Matchups - Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included) *Check status

Hot
Miguel Cabrera v Freddy Garcia – 8-for-19 (.421/.542/.895), 0 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 4:5 K:BB
Brennan Boesch v Freddy Garcia – 4-for-11 (.364/.417/.727), 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 K:BB
A.J. Pierzynski v Justin Verlander – 14-for-42 (.333/.349/.619), 3 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Carlos Quentin v Justin Verlander – 6-for-20 (.300/.417/.500), 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3:3 K:BB
Nolan Reimold v CC Sabathia – 6-for-14 (.429/.438/.571), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Ryan Howard v Chris Volstad – 9-for-20 (.450/.500/1.200), 0 2B, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 3:2 K:BB
Jimmy Rollins v Chris Volstad – 7-for-19 (.368/.429/.474), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 K:BB
Raul Ibanez v Chris Volstad – 8-for-16 (.500/.556/1.000), 0 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Carlos Ruiz v Chris Volstad – 6-for-15 (.400/.500/.600), 3 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 K:BB
Wilson Valdez v Chris Volstad – 5-for-12 (.417/.500/.417), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Cameron Maybin v Joe Blanton – 4-for-10 (.400/.400/.600), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Vernon Wells v Scott Feldman – 5-for-12 (.417/.533/.833), 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 K:BB
Adam Lind v Scott Feldman – 6-for-14 (.429/.429/1.071), 0 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Vladimir Guerrero v Shaun Marcum – 5-for-15 (.333/.375/.733), 0 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Victor Martinez v David Price – 5-for-12 (.417/.417/1.167), 0 2B, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Carlos Pena v Daisuke Matsuzaka – 6-for-22 (.273/.500/.500), 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 7:10 K:BB
Evan Longoria v Daisuke Matsuzaka – 4-for-10 (.400/.462/.800), 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Aramis Ramirez* v Nelson Figueroa – 6-for-16 (.375/.444/.813), 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3:2 K:BB
Craig Counsell v Kyle Lohse – 10-for-22 (.455/.478/.727), 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6:1 K:BB
Ryan Braun v Kyle Lohse – 5-for-18 (.412/.444/.765), 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Colby Rasmus v Chris Narveson – 4-for-11 (.364/.417/.545), 2 2B, 0 HR, 3 RIB, 2:1 K:BB
Jim Thome v Brian Bannister – 9-for-26 (.346/.433/.808), 3 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 8:3 K:BB
Michael Cuddyer v Brian Bannister – 10-for-25 (.400/.407/.640), 0 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Denard Span v Brian Bannister – 9-for-25 (.360/.370/.400), 1 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Daric Barton v Doug Fister – 4-for-10 (.400/.455/.500), 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Chone Figgins v Dallas Braden – 8-for-19 (.421/.478/.474), 1 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 5:3 K:BB
Justin Upton v Tim Lincecum – 9-for-28 (.321/.344/.500), 3 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 9:2 K:BB
Scott Hairston v Clayton Kershaw – 5-for-12 (.417/.417/.500), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 K:BB

Freddy Garcia v Detroit – Stiffness in his lower back limited Garcia to four innings in his last start, but he should be able to rebound Tuesday against the Tigers. He has earned 18 wins in 30 career starts against them, and has gone 2-0 in four starts in 2010. He only allowed one run on five hits over 6.2 innings against the Tigers August 5. Their current crop of hitters only own a collective .236/.294/.449 line in 216 at-bats against Garcia, with a couple of regulars hitting well below that. Tim Lincecum against Arizona was also a candidate for this slot.

Cold
Johnny Damon v Freddy Garcia – 14-for-59 (.237), 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 8:5 K:BB
Brandon Inge v Freddy Garcia – 11-for-54 (.204), 0 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 16:5 K:BB
Gerald Laird v Freddy Garcia – 1-for-15 (.067), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:1 K:BB
Paul Konerko v Justin Verlander – 4-for-34 (.118), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 10:3 K:BB
Mark Teahen v Justin Verlander – 4-for-29 (.138), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 13:6 K:BB
Alexei Ramirez v Justin Verlander – 5-for-22 (.227), 0 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4:0 K:BB
Mark Kotsay v Justin Verlander – 2-for-17 (.118), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Cesar Izturis v CC Sabathia – 6-for-27 (.222), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Julio Lugo v CC Sabathia – 4-for-23 (.174), 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:3 K:BB
Matt Wieters v CC Sabathia – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6:1 K:BB
Luke Scott v CC Sabathia – 2-for-11 (.182), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6:2 K:BB
Lastings Milledge v Tim Hudson – 0-for-12 (.000), 1 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Shane Victorino v Chris Volstad – 4-for-21 (.190), 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 K:BB
Jayson Werth v Chris Volstad – 1-for-17 (.059), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 7:0 K:BB
Dan Uggla v Joe Blanton – 3-for-14 (.214), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Lyle Overbay v Scott Feldman – 3-for-16 (.188), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Aaron Hill v Scott Feldman – 3-for-14 (.214), 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
John Buck v Scott Feldman – 2-for-11 (.182), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Marco Scutaro v David Price – 2-for-13 (.154), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:0 K:BB
David Ortiz v David Price – 2-for-10 (.200), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Jason Bartlett v Daisuke Matsuzaka – 3-for-19 (.158), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 6:0 K:BB
Dioner Navarro v Daisuke Matsuzaka – 3-for-18 (.167), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
B.J. Upton v Daisuke Matsuzaka – 1-for-13 (.077), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4:2 K:BB
Jason Michaels v Carlos Silva – 2-for-10 (.200), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Jason Kubel v Brian Bannister – 4-for-26 (.154), 0 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Billy Butler v Francisco Liriano – 3-for-17 (.176), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5:2 K:BB
Yuniesky Betancourt v Francisco Liriano – 2-for-17 (.118), 0 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5:0 K:BB
Willie Bloomquist v Francisco Liriano – 2-for-10 (.200), 0 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 K:BB
Cliff Pennington v Doug Fister – 1-for-11 (.091), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:0 K:BB
Kurt Suzuki v Doug Fister – 2-for-11 (.182), 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:0 K:BB
Jose Lopez v Dallas Braden – 3-for-14 (.214), 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 K:BB
Stephen Drew v Tim Lincecum – 6-for-33 (.182), 3 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 11:2 K:BB
Chris Young v Tim Lincecum – 4-for-33 (.121), 2 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 12:2 K:BB
Miguel Montero v Tim Lincecum – 3-for-26 (.115), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:1 K:BB
Kelly Johnson v Tim Lincecum – 5-for-24 (.208), 2 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 7:2 K:BB
Mark Reynolds v Tim Lincecum – 3-for-21 (.143), 0 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 13:3 K:BB
Adam LaRoche v Tim Lincecum – 3-for-14 (.214), 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Gerardo Parra v Tim Lincecum – 2-for-10 (.200), 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:2 K:BB
Adrian Gonzalez v Clayton Kershaw – 3-for-22 (.136), 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 10:4 K:BB
David Eckstein v Clayton Kershaw – 4-for-18 (.222), 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:2 K:BB
Ryan Ludwick v Clayton Kershaw – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5:1 K:BB

Chris Volstad v Philadelphia – Volstad may miss a start in the not-so-distant future because of his role in last week's brawl with the Nationals, and fantasy owners probably wanted him to miss this start. He owns a 5.63 ERA and 10:9 K:BB in three starts against the Phillies in 2010. Ryan Howard has been Volstad's biggest nemesis, with five home runs in 20 career at-bats, and their entire corps of batters have a lifetime .864 OPS off him in 178 career at-bats. Shane Victorino (.190 batting average) and Jayson Werth (.059) have struggled against Volstad, but the rest of the lineup should prove to be fairly potent.

Recommended Pickup

Yunesky Maya, P, WAS – There might be some argument over how to spell Maya's first name (some places go with Yunesky, others Yuneski and some slide in an extra "I" and go with Yuniesky), but there's no argument that Maya should cause a buzz when he makes his MLB debut Tuesday. The buzz will be slightly less (and justifiably so) than debuts made by teammate Stephen Strasburg and fellow ex-pat Aroldis Chapman. The fact that the Nats rushed him through their minor league system in two months should not play a huge effect in the 29-year-old's success, and they should give him a few starts over the season's final weeks to prove he belongs in the 2011 rotation.

Other recent recommendations:David Murphy, Jordan Zimmermann, Matt Thornton, Desmond Jennings