Friday Lineup Card: Dice-K Gets a Save?

Friday Lineup Card: Dice-K Gets a Save?

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Angels (C.J. Wilson - L) at Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 7:05
Royals (Yordano Ventura - R) at Orioles (Ubaldo Jimenez - R), 7:05
Padres (Robbie Erlin - L) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg - R), 7:05
Red Sox (Jake Peavy - R) at Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle - L), 7:08
Marlins (Henderson Alvarez - R) at Mets (Zack Wheeler - R), 7:10
Reds (Homer Bailey - R) at Braves (Ervin Santana - R), 7:35
Cubs (Carlos Villanueva - R) at Brewers (Matt Garza - R), 8:10
Tigers (Rick Porcello - R) at Twins (Kevin Correia - R), 8:10
Athletics (Jesse Chavez - R) at Astros (Brad Peacock - R), 8:10
Rays (Chris Archer - R) at White Sox (Erik Johnson - R) 8:10
Pirates (Gerrit Cole - R) at Cardinals (Shelby Miller - R), 8:15
Phillies (Roberto Hernandez - R) at Diamondbacks (Josh Collmenter - R), 9:40
Rockies (Jordan Lyles - R) at Dodgers (Josh Beckett - R), 10:10
Rangers (Robbie Ross - L) at Mariners (Roenis Elias - L), 10:10
Indians (Carlos Carrasco –R) at Giants (Tim Hudson - R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Gio Gonzalez, SP, WAS (Shoulder) - Felt shoulder tightness in Wednesday's start.
Chase Headley, 3B, SD (Calf) - Exited Thursday's game after suffering a similar injury in spring training.
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, TEX (Ankle) - Improvement reported, although DL stint still possible.
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, TEX (Back) - Injury examination will determine if DL trip is needed.
Russell Martin, C, PIT (Lower Body) - Expected to return to Friday's lineup.
A.J. Pollock, OF, ARI (Neck) - Did not start Thursday, but could return Friday.
Conor Gillaspie, 3B, CHW (Hand) - Missed Thursday's game and could also miss Friday.
Adam Wainwright, SP, STL (Knee) - Expected to make his next scheduled start.
Adam Eaton, OF, CHW (Hamstring) - Missed fifth straight game Thursday, but may return Friday.

Players on the DL

Oswaldo Arcia, OF, MIN (Wrist) - Expected to take batting practice on Friday.
Carlos Quentin, OF, SD (Knee) - Will report to extended spring training this weekend.
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, BOS (Calf) - Expected to be activated for Friday's game.
A.J. Griffin, SP, OAK (Elbow) - Seeking a second opinion, and may need Tommy John surgery.
Manny Machado, 3B, BAL (Knee) - Will start rehab assignment on Friday with the intention of debuting in early May.
Ivan Nova, SP, NYY (Elbow) - Transferred to the 60-day DL and appears headed towards Tommy John surgery.
Doug Fister, SP, WAS (Back) - Expected to get a rehab start Sunday after a solid 40-pitch bullpen session Thursday.
Pedro Figueroa, RP, TEX (Elbow) - Will undergo second career Tommy John surgery next week.
Mark Trumbo, OF, ARI (Foot) - Will get a second opinion on stress fracture in foot.
Chad Billingsley, SP, LAD (Elbow) - Expected to resume throwing in five-to-seven days after receiving a plasma injection.
Justin Ruggiano, OF, CHC (Hamstring) - Suffered a Grade 2 tear and placed on the 15-day DL.

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

Activated from the DL

Shane Victorino, OF, BOS
Brandon Kintzler, RP, MIL
Gordon Beckham, 2B, CHW

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

Ivan Nova, SP, NYY - (Elbow) - Transferred to the 60-day DL.
Mark Trumbo, OF, ARI - (Foot)
Justin Ruggiano, OF, CHC - (Hamstring)

Called Up

Shane Greene, SP, NYY
Bruce Billings, RP, NYY
Zac Rosscup, RP, CHC
Neil Ramirez, SP, CHC
Roger Kieschnick, OF, ARI
Brandon Cumpton, SP, PIT
Cole Gillespie, OF, SEA

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

Dean Anna, 2B, NYY
Preston Claiborne, RP, NYY
Erasmo Ramirez, SP, SEA
Alex Wilson, RP, BOS
Charlie Leesman, RP, CHW
Jared Hughes, RP, PIT
Nick Franklin, 2B, SEA
Alfredo Figaro, RP, MIL
Blake Parker, RP, CHC

Claimed Off Waivers

Kenny Wilson, OF, MIN - (Claimed from Toronto and optioned)

Closer Watch

New York Mets - With 38-year old Kyle Farnsworth needing a rest, Mets manager Terry Collins turned to Daisuke Matsuzaka to lock down Thursday's game. Dice-K closed out his first career save opportunity, while adding some hope to the Mets' merry-go-round of ninth-inning relievers this season. Considering Farnsworth's age and career 4.23 ERA, look for Dice-K to get more save opportunities down the line. Farnsworth was also seen shaking his pitching arm following his conversion of a save chance earlier this week. Don't be surprised to see Dice-K solidify the Mets' ninth-inning role in the near future.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – April 25, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
B. ButlerDHKC @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez22621354.273.407.455.862
E. Hosmer1BKC @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez22822644.364.462.6361.098
I. Stewart3BLAA @ NYY
7:05PM
H. Kuroda13600421.462.529.462.991
D. JeterSSNYY vs LAA
7:05PM
C. Wilson21811236.381.458.524.982
J. GomesOFBOS @ TOR
7:07PM
M. Buehrle28930435.321.394.464.858
D. OrtizDHBOS @ TOR
7:07PM
M. Buehrle6619931348.288.329.515.844
D. Pedroia2BBOS @ TOR
7:07PM
M. Buehrle331230022.364.400.455.855
G. SizemoreOFBOS @ TOR
7:07PM
M. Buehrle6915648210.217.260.420.681
M. CabreraOFTOR vs BOS
7:07PM
J. Peavy11510010.455.500.5451.045
R. DoumitCATL vs CIN
7:35PM
H. Bailey16841222.500.556.8751.431
M. Cabrera3BDET @ MIN
8:10PM
K. Correia281131822.393.406.571.978
T. HunterOFDET @ MIN
8:10PM
K. Correia10610300.600.600.7001.300
A. JacksonOFDET @ MIN
8:10PM
K. Correia16610013.375.412.500.912
M. Reynolds1BMIL vs CHC
8:10PM
C. Villanueva16522432.313.421.6881.109
J. KubelOFMIN vs DET
8:10PM
R. Porcello301341215.433.452.6331.085
T. Plouffe3BMIN vs DET
8:10PM
R. Porcello17531310.294.333.588.922
P. Alvarez3BPIT @ STL
8:15PM
S. Miller13333315.231.333.9231.256
S. MarteOFPIT @ STL
8:15PM
S. Miller12430210.333.385.7501.135
N. Walker2BPIT @ STL
8:15PM
S. Miller11530100.455.455.7271.182
J. GiambiDHCLE @ SF
10:15PM
T. Hudson249531023.375.444.8331.278
Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 25, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Ubaldo JimenezBAL vs KC
7:05PM
15634103181835.218.298.335.632
Roberto HernandezPHI @ ARI
9:40PM
7118316213.254.298.326.624
Cold Batter Matchups – April 25, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
A. EscobarSSKC @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez23320423.130.192.217.410
A. GordonOFKC @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez23500126.217.280.217.497
O. Infante2BKC @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez16310403.188.188.313.500
M. Moustakas3BKC @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez23420028.174.240.261.501
S. PerezCKC @ BAL
7:05PM
U. Jimenez13200001.154.154.154.308
R. IbanezOFLAA @ NYY
7:05PM
H. Kuroda14210002.143.143.214.357
A. Pujols1BLAA @ NYY
7:05PM
H. Kuroda22631206.273.273.500.773
B. GardnerOFNYY vs LAA
7:05PM
C. Wilson13210004.154.154.308.462
I. SuzukiOFNYY vs LAA
7:05PM
C. Wilson469201412.196.260.239.499
M. Teixeira1BNYY vs LAA
7:05PM
C. Wilson17211232.118.250.294.544
W. VenableOFSD @ WAS
7:05PM
S. Strasburg11320103.273.273.545.818
A. PierzynskiCBOS @ TOR
7:07PM
M. Buehrle18600204.333.368.333.702
S. VictorinoOFBOS @ TOR
7:07PM
M. Buehrle22621204.273.292.455.746
J. BautistaOFTOR vs BOS
7:07PM
J. Peavy17300034.176.300.176.476
J. ReyesSSTOR vs BOS
7:07PM
J. Peavy21500004.238.238.238.476
F. Freeman1BATL vs CIN
7:35PM
H. Bailey11200112.182.250.182.432
C. Johnson3BATL vs CIN
7:35PM
H. Bailey12100007.083.083.083.167
D. Uggla2BATL vs CIN
7:35PM
H. Bailey18300133.167.318.167.485
A. AvilaCDET @ MIN
8:10PM
K. Correia13300002.231.231.231.462
I. Kinsler2BDET @ MIN
8:10PM
K. Correia10200000.200.200.200.400
E. Chavez3BARI vs PHI
9:40PM
R. Hernandez11211210.182.250.455.705
C. PenningtonSSARI vs PHI
9:40PM
R. Hernandez23710305.304.304.348.652
K. Seager3BSEA vs TEX
10:10PM
R. Ross11211201.182.182.455.636
Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 25, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Kevin CorreiaMIN vs DET
8:10PM
10533511139.314.326.395.721
Rick PorcelloDET @ MIN
8:10PM
12438133161013.306.355.455.810
Shelby MillerSTL vs PIT
8:15PM
822414611615.293.348.6561.004

Recommended Pickup

Alberto Callaspo, 3B, OAK - Callaspo is better suited for use in deep leagues, but his career consistency grabs you right away. Callaspo has averaged at least 450 at-bats, while hitting nine HR, and reaching 57 RBI and 60 runs over the past five season. While those numbers aren't fantastic, they are particularly valuable given his positional flexibility in many leagues, while the A's have been giving him a healthy supply of at-bats from the DH spot as Oakland continues to mix and match platoons against opposing pitchers.

Other Recent Recommendations:Jenrry Mejia, Corey Dickerson, Trevor Plouffe, Robbie Ross, and Ike Davis.

DraftStreet Value Picks

SP: Rick Porcello, DET ($14,103)
C: A.J. Pierzynski, BOS ($4,656)
1B: Adam LaRoche, WAS ($5,937)
2B: Brandon Phillips, CIN ($4,333)
SS: Ian Desmond, WAS ($5,933)
3B: Mike Moustakas, KC ($4,970)
OF: Matt Kemp, LAD ($6,841)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dave Hunter plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: TheRolyPolyBoy, DraftKings: TheRolyPolyBoy.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dave Hunter
Dave, a long-time veteran of fantasy sports, began his career in 2004 at TalentedMrRoto.com. After a recent seven-year stint at ESPN.com managing the fantasy Q&A platform "The Answer Guys," Dave’s writings have appeared on ESPN.com, SI.com, MLB.com, and other sites. Thrilled to be with RotoWire, Dave will try to keep his priorities straight by not ignoring his wife, two kids and menagerie of animals.
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