Monday Lineup Card: Ride Keppinger To The Title

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Monday's Starters

Braves (Paul Maholm – L) at Pirates (Jeff Locke – L), 7:05
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 7:05
White Sox (Hector Santiago – L) at Indians (Corey Kluber – R), 7:05
Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R) at Nationals (John Lannan – L), 7:05
Twins (Esmerling Vasquez – R) at Blue Jays (Aaron Laffey – L), 7:07
Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – L) at Rays (Alex Cobb – R), 7:10
Mets (Jeurys Familia – R) at Marlins (Josh Johnson – R), 7:10
Astros (Lucas Harrell – R) at Cubs (Jason Berken – R), 8:05
Tigers (Rick Porcello – R) at Royals (Bruce Chen – L), 8:10
Padres (Clayton Richard – L) at Brewers (Shaun Marcum – R), 8:10
Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – L), 8:15
Rockies (Drew Pomeranz – L) at Diamondbacks (Wade Miley – L), 9:40
Rangers (Martin Perez – L) at Athletics (Jarrod Parker – R), 10:05
Angels (C.J. Wilson – L) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R), 10:10
Giants (Matt Cain – R) at Dodgers (Aaron Harang – R), 10:10

Day Game After A Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-To-Day
Mike Adams, RP, TEX (neck) – Diagnosed with mild thoracic outlet syndrome.
Brett Anderson, SP, OAK (oblique) – On track to throw bullpen session Monday.
Erick Aybar, SS, LAA (quadriceps) – Removed from Sunday's game.
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX (shoulder) – Left the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Rangers with a shoulder strain.
Michael Bourn, OF, ATL (thumb) – Returned to the lineup Sunday.
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE (groin) – Remained out of the starting lineup after pinch-hitting Saturday.
Tyler Colvin, OF, COL (elbow) – Remained out of the lineup Sunday.
Alejandro De Aza, OF, CWS (illness) – Held out of the starting lineup Sunday.
Matt Dominguez, 3B, HOU (stomach) – Returned to the lineup Sunday.
Octavio Dotel, RP, DET (bicep) – Exited Friday's game with a sore right bicep.
Adam Eaton, OF, ARI (hand) – Sustained a broken hand and will miss rest of season.
Mark Ellis, 2B, LAD (illness) – Returned to the starting lineup Sunday.
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR (back) – Left Sunday's game with tightness in left upper trapezius muscle.
Alcides Escobar, SS, KC (shoulder) – Remained out of the starting lineup Sunday.
David Freese, 3B, STL (ankle) – Returned to the starting lineup Sunday.
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, ARI (back) – Remained out of lineup Sunday.
Tyler Greene, SS, HOU (knee) – Started Sunday for the second straight game.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, SEA (leg) – Removed from the game Sunday after limping off the field.
Roberto Hernandez, P, CLE (ankle) – Could pitch out of bullpen during final week of season.
Eric Hosmer, 1B, KC (shoulder) – Will be reexamined Monday and could play in series against the Tigers.
Steve Johnson, SP, BAL (foot) – Set to undergo MRI on Monday.
Ryan Ludwick, OF, CIN (groin) – Scratched from Sunday's lineup with slick field conditions following rain.
Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC (groin) – Exited Sunday's game with tightness but says he's fine.
Jayson Nix, 2B, NYY (hip) – Out 10 to 14 days with a Grade 1 left hip flexor strain.
Eric O'Flaherty, RP, ATL (back) – Will be rested as much as possible the rest of the season.
Mike Olt, 3B, TEX (heel) – Believes he's ready to return to action but hasn't received official clearance from Rangers' medical staff.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN (groin) – Expects to return to the lineup Monday after leaving Sunday's game with tightness.
Ricky Romero, SP, TOR (knee) – Dealing with inflammation in the area above his left knee but has no structural damage.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY (calf) – Expected to return to the lineup Monday.
Edinson Volquez, SP, SD (undisclosed) – Left Sunday's game with an injury.
Josh Willingham, OF, MIN (shoulder) – Remained out of the starting lineup Sunday.
Chris Young, OF, ARI (quadriceps) – Pinch-hit Thursday and Friday but missed ninth consecutive start Sunday.

Disabled List
Freddy Galvis, 2B, PHI (back) – Will play in fall instructional league.

Transactions

Called Up (from Triple-A unless otherwise noted)
Tyson Brummett, P, PHI
Rafael Ortega, OF, COL (from High-A Modesto)

Placed on Disabled List (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Jonathan Sanchez, SP, COL (transferred to 60-day DL)
Brian Schneider, C, PHI (transferred to 60-day DL)

Closer Watch

Baltimore – Jim Johnson notched his league-leading 50th save with an efficient seven-pitch ninth inning to seal a 6-3 win over the Red Sox on Sunday, clinching the team's first playoff appearance since 1997.

Cincinnati – Aroldis Chapman loaded the bases on a hit and two walks, but left Sunday's win over the Pirates unscathed and with his 37th save in tow. While he hasn't looked as dominant as he did earlier in the season, Chapman will present an intimidating challenge to hitters in the postseason.

Los Angeles (A.L.) – It looks like manager Mike Scioscia's claim of the Angels moving to a closing committee of Ernesto Frieri, Scott Downs and Jordan Walden was just conjecture, as Frieri has seen the team's last three save chances. He earned his 23rd save of the season in a 1-2-3 ninth inning in the first game of the Sunday's doubleheader with the Rangers.

Pittsburgh – Joel Hanrahan gave up three runs on two hits Sunday against the Reds, earning his second loss and fourth blown save of the season. The loss was doubly painful in that it moved the Pirates' record to 77-82, ensuring the team's 20th consecutive losing season.

Texas – Joe Nathan went from zero to hero all in one day, blowing the save in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader and shutting down the Angels in the nightcap. The blown save was Nathan's third of the season and landed him his fifth loss, while the save was No. 37 on the year.

Jeff Keppinger, 3B, TB – At this stage of the fantasy season, a hot bat is more valuable than the player who has had a better season. Keppinger fits into the former group, as he's batted 18-for-48 (.375) with three home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs over the past two weeks. Better yet, he's logged time all over the diamond this year and last, making him eligible at first base, second base, and third base in many leagues. The Rays are firing on all cylinders offensively at the moment, which should only help Keppinger in continuing to see good pitches during the team's three-game series against the Orioles in the season's final week. Keppinger could offer some nice assistance if you're pursuing a league title.

Other recent recommendations:Nathan Eovaldi, Darin Ruf, Drew Smyly, Chris Tillman and Brett Gardner

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DraftStreet Lineup
C: Yasmani Grandal, SD ($6,909)
1B: Mark Reynolds, BAL ($5,359)
2B: Donovan Solano, MIA ($7,054)
3B: Evan Longoria, TB ($8,720)
SS: Jhonny Peralta, DET ($4,576)
OF: Josh Hamilton, TEX ($8,583)
OF: Alex Rios, CWS ($7,918)
OF: Jayson Werth, WAS ($7,695)
U: Fernando Martinez, HOU ($4,644)
U: David Freese, STL ($6,900)
SP: Paul Maholm, ATL ($11,084)
SP: Lucas Harrell, HOU ($9,358)
RP: Casey Janssen, TOR ($1,836)
P: Aaron Harang, LAD ($9,287)

Total: $99,923

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