Monday's Lineup Card: Middlebrooks Off To Strong Start

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

American League
White Sox (Philip Humber – R) at Indians (Zach McAllister – R), 1:05
White Sox (Eric Stults – L) at Indians (Josh Tomlin – R), 7:05
Rangers (Matt Harrison – L) at Orioles (Brian Matusz – L), 7:05
Red Sox (Felix Doubront – L) at Royals (Jonathan Sanchez – L), 8:10
Tigers (Doug Fister – R) at Mariners (Blake Beavan – R), 10:10

National League
Mets (Jonathon Niese – L) at Phillies (Roy Halladay – R), 7:05
Braves (Tommy Hanson – R) at Cubs (Jeff Samardzija – R), 8:05
Marlins (Carlos Zambrano – R) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez – L), 8:05
Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo – R), 8:10
Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R) at Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders – L), 9:40
Rockies (Drew Pomeranz – L) at Padres (Edinson Volquez – R), 10:05
Giants (Barry Zito – L) at Dodgers (Ted Lilly – L), 10:10

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
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX – (Hamstring) Did not start Sunday, but appeared as a pinch hitter.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TEX – (Knee) Left Sunday's game with sore knee.
Dayan Viciedo, OF, CHW – (Elbow) Bruised elbow in Sunday's game, but may not miss time.
Scott Downs, P, LAA – (Knee) Left Sunday's game after injuring knee while trying to avoid line drive.
LaTroy Hawkins, P, LAA – (Finger) Fractured pinkie on line drive.

NL
Ian Stewart, 3B, CHC – (Illness) Did not start Sunday due to flu, appeared as pinch hitter.
Matt Kemp, OF, LAD – (Hamstring) Scratched from Sunday's lineup with tightness, appeared as pinch hitter.
Ruben Tejada, SS, NYM – (Quadriceps) Suffered strain Sunday, MRI coming. Also laceration under eye.
Jerry Hairston, Jr., 3B, LAD – (Hamstring) Left Sunday's game.
Juan Uribe, 3B, LAD – (Wrist) Will have wrist looked at Monday.
Jayson Werth, OF, WAS – (Wrist) Left Sunday's game after twisting wrist while trying to make a catch.

Players on the DL

AL
Kevin Youkilis, 3B, BOS – (Back) Awaiting results of MRI, could be back in a week.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, P, BOS – (Elbow) Will pitch for Triple-A on Monday.
Aaron Cook, P, BOS – (Knee) Was spiked Saturday and placed on DL.
Manuel Pina, C, KC – (Knee) Two weeks from being able to catch, eying early-to-mid June return.
Nolan Reimold, OF, BAL – (Neck) Will go on rehab assignment before he returns.
Jesse Crain, P, CHW – (Oblique) Will go on rehab before he returns.

NL
Rhiner Cruz, P, HOU – (Ankle) Rough rehab outing.
Huston Street, P, SD – (Shoulder) Will not need surgery but will need more than 15 days on DL.
Cory Luebke, P, SD – (Elbow) Will wait and see if swelling goes down before deciding on surgery.
Tim Stauffer, P, SD – (Tricpes) At least one more rehab appearance before he is activated.
Dan Hudson, P, AZ – (Shoulder) Threw on flat ground Saturday, will throw off mound Tuesday.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL – (Hamstring) Placed on DL Saturday, should miss minimum amount of time.
Alex Gonzalez, SS, MIL – (Knee) Placed on DL, will miss more than minimum 15 days.
Miguel Cairo, 3B, CIN – (Hamstring) Finished with rehab, unsure when Reds will activate him.
Matt Guerrier, P, LAD – (Elbow) Has not started to throw yet.
Jason Bay, OF, NYM – (Ribs) Won't be back for at least a week.

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

Called Up
Vinnie Chulk, P, MIL
Cesar Ramos, P, TAM
Travis Wood, P, CHC
Brayan Villarreal, P, DET
Brian Dozier, SS, MIN
Scott Diamond, P, MIN

Sent Down
Jordany Valdespin, 2B, NYM
Blake DeWitt, 2B, CHC – designated for assignment
Brandon Gomes, P, TAM
Clete Thomas, OF, MIN
Dylan Axelrod, P, CHW
Kiam Hendricks, P, MIN

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Aaron Cook, P, BOS
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN

Activated from DL
D.J. Carrasco, P, NYM
Andrew Miller, P, BOS
Doug Fister, P, DET

Signed
None

Traded
None

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

Atlanta – Two rogue saves in one weekend for the Braves, as the team piled on late runs. Livan Hernandez and Christhian Martinez earned the saves, but there is not much to see here.

Chicago White Sox – Chris Sale is the closer effective Monday. Addison Reed still has not allowed a run this season and he picked up Saturday's save.

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels managed to get not one, but two relievers hurt in the ninth inning Sunday. Scott Downs hurt his knee trying to avoid a line drive. Then LaTroy Hawkins took a line drive to the pinkie. The Angels may turn to Ernesto Fieri if Downs has to miss time.

Miami – Steve Cishek is the closer, but Edward Mujica earned Sunday's save as Cishek went three innings on Saturday.

San Francisco – Santiago Casilla blew Sunday's opportunity with an unearned run.

Will Middlebrooks, 3B, BOS – Called up to fill in for the injured Kevin Youkilis, Middlebrooks has adjusted well to MLB pitching by starting 5-for-16 and hitting his first home run – a grand slam – on Sunday. The Red Sox do not seem sure about where to put him in the lineup, hitting him second in the order in one start, then eighth in the order in the next. Nick Punto is also going to get some playing time, but with the way things are going in Boston, the brass may give more playing time to someone whose future is brighter than Punto's. Youkilis could be back in just over a week, but he is always an injury liability.

Other Recent Recommendations:Andrew Cashner, Rafael Dolis, Johnny Damon, Patrick Corbin, James McDonald

Draft Street Lineup
C – Buster Posey ($6,386)
1B – Albert Pujols ($6,124)
2B – Michael Young ($6,272)
3B – Mike Moustakas ($7,565)
SS – Alcides Escobar ($5,253)
OF – Nelson Cruz ($4,740)
OF – Logan Morrison ($5,064)
OF – J.D. Martinez ($5,922)
UTIL – Adrian Gonzalez ($5,736)
UTIL – Adam Jones ($8,695)
SP – Doug Fister ($10,652)
SP – Jeff Samardzija ($11,116)
RP – Rafael Dolis ($1,500)
P – Roy Halladay ($14,714)
Total: $99,739