Saturday Lineup Card: Brighter Days Ahead for Butler

Saturday Lineup Card: Brighter Days Ahead for Butler

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Cardinals (Shelby Miller - R) at Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle - L), 1:07
Astros (Scott Feldman - R) at Twins (Kyle Gibson - R), 2:10
Indians (Josh Tomlin - R) at Rangers (Nick Tepesch - R), 4:05
Marlins (Randy Wolf - L) at Cubs (Jeff Samardzija - R), 4:05
Brewers (Matt Garza - R) at Pirates (Edinson Volquez - R), 4:05
Phillies (Roberto Hernandez - R) at Reds (Alfredo Simon - R), 4:10
Dodgers (Zack Greinke - R) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin - R), 4:10
Mariners (Roenis Elias - L) at Rays (Alex Cobb - R), 4:10
Yankees (David Phelps - R) at Royals (Danny Duffy - L), 7:15
Athletics (Sonny Gray - R) at Orioles (Kevin Gausman - R), 7:15
Red Sox (Jon Lester - L) at Tigers (Max Scherzer - R), 7:15
White Sox (Chris Sale - L) at Angels (Matt Shoemaker - R), 10:05
Mets (Bartolo Colon - R) at Giants (Tim Hudson - R), 10:05
Nationals (Blake Treinen - R) at Padres (Andrew Cashner - R), 10:10
Braves (Ervin Santana - R) at Diamondbacks (Wade Miley - L), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: STL/TOR, HOU/MIN, CLE/TEX, MIL/PIT, PHI/CIN, LAD/COL, SEA/TB

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Oswaldo Arcia, OF, MIN - (Ankle) Reported significant improvement Friday and said he could return Saturday.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK - (Neck) Sat Friday and will continue to get days off here and there until the issue is behind him.
Kolten Wong, 2B, STL - (Shoulder) Did not start Friday after leaving Thursday's game with discomfort.
Jonathan Villar, SS, HOU - (Elbow) Missed a third straight start Friday.
Eugenio Suarez, SS, DET - (Knee) Held out of Friday's lineup.

Players on the DL
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN - (Quadriceps) Made it through another on-field workout Friday and appears close to embarking on a minor league rehab assignment.
Mike Napoli, 1B, BOS - (Finger) Took one-handed swings off a tee Friday.
Jedd Gyorko, 2B, SD - (Foot) Landed on the 15-day DL on Friday.
Matt Harvey, P, NYM - (Elbow) Will not throw from a mound Tuesday as originally planned.
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, BOS - (Finger) Fielded grounders prior to Friday's game.
Taijuan Walker, P, SEA - (Shoulder) Set to make a rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.
James Paxton, P, SEA - (Back) Expected to resume throwing Monday.
Derek Holland, P, TEX - (Knee) Hopes to head out on a rehab assignment next week.
Nick Swisher, 1B, CLE - (Knee) Expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Cody Asche, 3B, PHI - (Hamstring) Took batting practice Thursday but still at least a week away from returning.
Felix Doubront, P, BOS - (Shoulder) Allowed two runs on three hits over four innings in a rehab start for Double-A Portland on Thursday.
Miguel Gonzalez, P, BAL - (Oblique) Placed on the 15-day DL on Friday is expected to rejoin the rotation in about 10 days.
Shawn Kelley, P, NYY - (Back) Scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Double-A Trenton on Saturday.
Tom Gorzelanny, P, MIL - (Shoulder) Made another rehab start for Triple-A Nashville on Friday.
Joel Hanrahan, P, DET - (Elbow) Recently started throwing bullpen sessions.
Jim Adduci, OF, TEX - (Finger) Must complete four rehab outings before the team decides on a course of action.
Michael Almanzar, 3B, BAL - (Knee) Transferred to the 60-day DL on Friday.
Chris Withrow, P, LAD - (Elbow) Transferred to the 60-day DL on Friday.
Ian Stewart, 3B, LAA - (Hand) Unable to swing a bat and was treated with two cortisone shots Friday.
Sean Burnett, P, LAA - (Elbow) Underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this week.

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

Activated from the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Carlos Santana, 3B, CLE (7-day DL)
Matt Cain, P, SF
Eric Stults, P, SD (bereavement list)

Placed on the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Jedd Gyorko, 2B, SD
Miguel Gonzalez, P, BAL
Chris Withrow, P, LAD (transferred to 60-day DL)
Michael Almanzar, 3B, CLE (transferred to 60-day DL)

Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Eddie Butler, P, COL (from Double-A Tulsa)
Ronny Cedeno, SS, PHI
Miguel Rojas, SS, LAD
Tim Berry, P, BAL
Evan Meek, P, BAL

Sent Down
Luis Garcia, P, PHI
Jesus Aguilar, 1B, CLE
Erisbel Arruebarrena, SS, LAD
Preston Guilmet, P, BAL

Designated for Assignment
Cesar Jimenez, P, PHI
Kent Matthes, OF, OAK
David Huff, P, SF

Traded
Justin Marks, P, OAK (from KC)

Closer Watch

Chicago Cubs - Hector Rondon had his worst outing of the season Friday, as he gave up three runs on four hits in an inning against the Marlins. It was just his second blown save of the year, but both have come in his last five appearances, and he's seen his ERA increase by 114 points over that span. Still, the right-hander has earned himself a couple of mulligans with his overall body of work in the closer role, and there really are not any other viable options for manager Rick Renteria. Pedro Strop has tossed three scoreless frames since returning from a groin injury, but he flopped earlier this season and it's somewhat difficult to imagine Wesley Wright, Justin Grimm or Carlos Villanueva getting a chance anytime soon. Jose Veras, who opened the year as the Cubs' closer, was designated for assignment earlier in the week.

Hot Batter Matchups – June 7, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
S. CastroSSCHC vs MIA
4:05PM
R. Wolf24831210.333.360.542.902
R. BraunOFMIL @ PIT
4:05PM
E. Volquez341231357.353.436.500.936
C. GomezOFMIL @ PIT
4:05PM
E. Volquez21733305.333.333.7621.095
R. Weeks2BMIL @ PIT
4:05PM
E. Volquez19732342.368.500.7371.237
P. Alvarez3BPIT vs MIL
4:05PM
M. Garza16621413.375.412.6251.037
C. BarmesSSPIT vs MIL
4:05PM
M. Garza15422613.267.313.667.979
G. Sanchez1BPIT vs MIL
4:05PM
M. Garza11410122.364.462.455.916
J. TabataOFPIT vs MIL
4:05PM
M. Garza16710202.438.438.5631.000
D. StubbsOFCOL vs LAD
4:10PM
Z. Greinke14620017.429.467.5711.038
A. EthierOFLAD @ COL
4:10PM
J. Chacin2610413102.385.556.6151.171
A. Gonzalez1BLAD @ COL
4:10PM
J. Chacin13600310.462.438.462.899
D. Ackley2BSEA @ TB
4:10PM
A. Cobb12431201.333.333.7501.083
R. Cano2BSEA @ TB
4:10PM
A. Cobb21743613.333.364.8101.173
D. OrtizDHBOS @ DET
7:15PM
M. Scherzer17843642.471.5711.0591.630
M. Cabrera3BDET vs BOS
7:15PM
J. Lester211031362.476.593.7141.307
R. DavisOFDET vs BOS
7:15PM
J. Lester3811515410.289.372.526.898
T. HunterOFDET vs BOS
7:15PM
J. Lester251330103.520.520.6401.160
V. MartinezDHDET vs BOS
7:15PM
J. Lester16731321.438.500.8131.313
B. AbreuOFNYM @ SF
10:05PM
T. Hudson12410361.333.600.4171.017
L. DudaOFNYM @ SF
10:05PM
T. Hudson26921312.346.433.500.933
D. Wright3BNYM @ SF
10:05PM
T. Hudson771853879.234.314.377.691
D. SpanOFWAS @ SD
10:10PM
A. Cashner10410300.400.400.500.900
Hot Pitcher Matchups – June 7, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Zack GreinkeLAD @ COL
4:10PM
1383210112740.232.274.317.591
Cold Batter Matchups – June 7, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
M. Ellis2BSTL @ TOR
1:07PM
M. Buehrle51910036.176.222.196.418
J. KubelOFMIN vs HOU
2:10PM
S. Feldman11211221.182.308.455.762
K. SuzukiCMIN vs HOU
2:10PM
S. Feldman22620405.273.273.364.636
D. Barney2BCHC vs MIA
4:05PM
R. Wolf11100002.091.091.091.182
G. StantonOFMIA @ CHC
4:05PM
J. Samardzija10200112.200.273.200.473
M. Reynolds1BMIL @ PIT
4:05PM
E. Volquez12100045.083.313.083.396
J. SeguraSSMIL @ PIT
4:05PM
E. Volquez11000000.000.000.000.000
A. McCutchenOFPIT vs MIL
4:05PM
M. Garza10211110.200.273.500.773
N. Walker2BPIT vs MIL
4:05PM
M. Garza14200246.143.333.143.476
J. Morneau1BCOL vs LAD
4:10PM
Z. Greinke36620117.167.189.222.411
T. TulowitzkiSSCOL vs LAD
4:10PM
Z. Greinke19410007.211.211.263.474
A. PierzynskiCBOS @ DET
7:15PM
M. Scherzer331131704.333.324.515.839
G. SizemoreOFBOS @ DET
7:15PM
M. Scherzer11100012.091.231.091.322
J. HamiltonOFLAA vs CWS
10:05PM
C. Sale11100114.091.154.091.245
R. TejadaSSNYM @ SF
10:05PM
T. Hudson21810205.381.381.429.810
A. Hill2BARI vs ATL
10:10PM
E. Santana31611113.194.219.290.509
Cold Pitcher Matchups – June 7, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Jhoulys ChacinCOL vs LAD
4:10PM
10234115201817.333.422.537.959
Jon LesterBOS @ DET
7:15PM
14652175161723.356.427.565.992
Recommended Pickup
Eddie Butler, P, COL - Regardless of his performance Friday night against the Dodgers -- it wasn't pretty -- Butler still makes for an intriguing option in most formats. The 23-year-old right-hander was promoted to take Franklin Morales' spot in the rotation, after posting a 2.49 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 11 starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs to begin the year. The strikeouts have been down (5.2 K/9 at Triple-A), but Butler averaged nearly a strikeout per inning last season and certainly has the arsenal to miss bats at the highest level. Of course, his home ballpark will scare some off, but Butler has been able to keep the ball in the yard in the minors, surrendering a total of 13 home runs in 286 career innings. He also commands his pitches fairly well, and the Rockies figure to let him learn on the job, especially after Jordan Lyles (hand) hit the DL on Thursday.

Other Recent Recommendations: Joba Chamberlain, Brock Holt, Jorge De La Rosa and Jonathan Singleton

DraftStreet Value Plays
SP - Roenis Elias, SEA ($13,888)
C - Josmil Pinto, MIN ($5,207)
1B - Albert Pujols, LAA ($5,127)
2B - Daniel Murphy, NYM ($5,498)
SS - Starlin Castro, CHC ($5,941)
3B - Jace Peterson, SD ($2,500)
OF - Rajai Davis, DET ($5,744)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Clay Link
Clay Link is the MLB Editor at RotoWire. Clay won the overall championship in The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational and finished top 10 in the NFBC Online Championship in 2018. He can be heard on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio, MLB Network Radio and twice a week on the RotoWire Fantasy Baseball Podcast during baseball season.
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