Saturday Lineup Card: A Koji Pair Of Sox

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin - R) at Nationals (Dan Haren - R), 12:05 PM
Rays (Alex Colome - R) at Yankees (CC Sabathia - L), 1:05 PM
Orioles (Miguel Gonzalez - R) at Blue Jays (Chien-Ming Wang - R), 1:07 PM
White Sox (Jose Quintana - L) at Royals (Wade Davis - R), 2:10 PM
Astros (Bud Norris - R) at Cubs (Travis Wood - L), 4:05 PM
Marlins (Jacob Turner - R) at Giants (Barry Zito - L), 4:05 PM
Mets (Dillon Gee - R) at Phillies (Jonathan Pettibone - R), 4:05 PM
Braves (Tim Hudson - R) at Brewers (Donovan Hand - R), 4:10 PM
Red Sox (Allen Webster - R) at Tigers (Max Scherzer - R), 7:15 PM
Reds (Mike Leake - R) at Diamondbacks (Patrick Corbin - L), 7:15 PM
Dodgers (Zack Greinke - R) at Padres (Edinson Volquez - R), 7:15 PM
Twins (P.J. Walters - R) at Indians (Corey Kluber - R), 7:15 PM
Rangers (Martin Perez - L) at Cardinals (Shelby Miller - R), 7:15 PM
Pirates (Francisco Liriano - L) at Angels (Jerome Williams - R), 10:05 PM
Athletics (Dan Straily - R) at Mariners (Aaron Harang - R), 10:10 PM

Day Game After Night Game: COL/WAS, TB/NYY, BAL/TOR, CHW/KC, MIA/SF, NYM/PHI, ATL/MIL

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Norichika Aoki, OF, MIL (Personal) - Activated from paternity list on Friday and was in the lineup.
Roger Bernadina, OF, WAS (Eye) - Not in the starting lineup on Friday.
Trevor Cahill, SP, ARI (Hip) - Expects to make next start on Tuesday.
Brandon Crawford, SS, SF (Finger) - Still out of the lineup on Friday.
Chad Gaudin, SP, SF (Elbow) - X-rays were negative on elbow and he hopes to make his next start on Tuesday.
Miguel Gonzalez, SP, BAL (Personal) - Activated from paternity list on Friday.
Josh Hamilton, OF, LAA (Wrist) - Will not start any games this weekend against the Pirates.
Austin Jackson, OF, DET (Hamstring) - Has soreness in the same hamstring that sent him to the DL earlier in the season.
Boone Logan, RP, NYY (Hand) - Took a line drive off the hand on Friday. He should be alright after a few days.
Carlos Quentin, OF, SD (Shoulder) - Still could avoid the disabled list. Not in the lineup on Friday.
Nick Swisher, OF, CLE (Shoulder) - Not a lock to return to the lineup on Saturday.

Players on the DL
Yonder Alonso, 1B, SD (Hand) - Will visit hand specialist Monday and hopes to return to baseball activities.
Henderson Alvarez, SP, MIA (Shoulder) - Will throw about 85 pitches in rehab start at Double-A on Saturday.
Brandon Beachy, SP, ATL (Elbow) - Has yet to resume throwing since setback.
Rafael Betancourt, RP, COL (Groin) - Will throw to hitters on Friday.
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, CLE (Quad) - Took batting practice and fielded grounders on Friday. Could return to the lineup late next week.
Wei-Yin Chen, SP, BAL (Oblique) - Will throw simulated game on Monday then make minor league rehab start next Saturday.
Jeanmar Gomez, SP, PIT (Forearm) - Appears set to start against the Mariners on Wednesday.
J.A. Happ, SP, TOR (Head) - Hoping to return by the All-Star break.
Bryce Harper, OF, WAS (Knee) - Will likely begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with High-A Potomac.
Aaron Hill, 2B, ARI (Hand) - Will stay at Triple-A to rehab rather than play this weekend against the Reds.
Matt Kemp, OF, LAD (Hamstring) - Ran the bases on Friday and could go on short rehab assignment next week.
Jon Niese, SP, NYM (Shoulder) - Has a partially torn rotator cuff but surgery is not recommended yet.
Alexi Ogando, SP, TEX (Shoulder) - Threw from flat ground on Thursday and could begin rehab assignment early next week.
Angel Pagan, OF, SF (Hamstring) - Carted off from a rehab assignment in Triple-A Friday after re-injuring hamstring.
Chris Perez, RP, CLE (Shoulder) - Will throw simulated game at Double-A and a rehab appearance and could re-join the Indians next week.
Brian Roberts, 2B, BAL (Hamstring) - Scheduled to begin minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A on Tuesday.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY (Hip) - Took BP, did agility drills, and ran in the outfield on Thursday.
David Ross, C, BOS (Concussion) - Will be shut down until exam in early July.
Joakim Soria, RP, TEX (Elbow) - Could return just after the All-Star break.
Jose Tabata, OF, PIT (Oblique) - Will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A on Friday.
Scott Van Slyke, OF, LAD (Shoulder) - Will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A on Friday.

Placed on the DL
Trevor Crowe, OF, HOU
Jon Niese, SP, NYM
Steve Pearce, OF, BAL
Ramiro Pena, SS, ATL
Matt Tuiasosopo, OF, DET
Jason Vargas, SP, LAA

Activated from the DL
Mitch Moreland, 1B, TEX
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI

Called Up
Al Alburquerque, RP, DET
Billy Buckner, SP, LAA
Greg Burke, RP, NYM
Corey Dickerson, OF, COL
Avisail Garcia, OF, DET
Alberto Gonzalez, 2B, NYY
Paul Janish, SS, ATL
Marc Krauss, OF, HOU
Brian Omogrosso, RP, CHW
Tony Sanchez, C, PIT
Zeke Spruill, SP, ARI

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Brandon Cumpton, SP, PIT
Josh Lindblom, SP, TEX
Michael Martinez, SS, PHI
Josh Prince, OF, MIL

Designated for Assignment
Reid Brignac, SS, NYY
Logan Kensing, RP, TEX
Ross Seaton, RP, HOU
Jose Valverde, RP, DET
Josh Wilson, SS, ARI

Traded
Yoshinori Tateyama, RP, NYY (from TEX)

Closer Watch

Red Sox: The game on Thursday against the Tigers was the last straw for manager John Farrell as Andrew Bailey blew his third save in the last 10 days and the Red Sox will look to someone else to close for now. Koji Uehara is expected to see the first save chance on Friday but he is not set as the closer necessarily. Other candidates are Junichi Tazawa and Andrew Miller is a dark-horse for the spot. Bailey could take the job back later in the season but for now it looks to be a somewhat open competition. Uehara has a 2.10 ERA this season after posting a 1.75 mark last season with the Rangers. He has 15 career saves compared to Tazawa having one and Miller not having any. Keep close watch on this situation in the coming days to see if a definite closer is decided.

Tigers: The Tigers made a definite statement on Friday by designating closer Jose Valverde for assignment and basically naming Joaquin Benoit the closer going forward. Benoit has been the best performer in the bullpen for the Tigers this season with a 1.80 ERA and four saves in 29 appearances. Phil Coke and Octavio Dotel could be candidates to take save chances as well and there is a threat that the team could make a move to acquire a top-tier closer at the July 31 trade deadline to use in a playoff push.

Key Matchups

Recommended Pickup

Koji Uehara, RP, BOS - The Red Sox have a very unstable closing situation currently with the change away from Andrew Bailey, but with the team's offensive success this year, there is value in the closer who will have plenty of save opportunities. Uehara will be given the first shot at the closing job but Junichi Tazawa is a very capable option as is Andrew Miller. Uehara has the most experience of the group and the longest track record as a successful late-inning option. He does not have a lightning fastball, but uses movement on his pitches to much success. He has a nice splitter that sits about nine mph slower than his fastball but he only induces groundballs at a rate of 31.8 percent this season. He has a solid 12.9 SO/9 rate and has only walked seven this year. Uehara tends to pound the strike zone and this may be a reason the Red Sox feel he is the safer bet for the short-term to get the job done quickly. Because he has the first chance at saves, he has the opportunity to grab the job and will have plenty of save chances for a productive offensive unit in Boston, but be wary this job is very much up in the air for the time being.

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