This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Monday's matchups (all times Eastern)CHC (Kyle Hendricks - R) at NYM (Bartolo Colon - R) 12:10 PM
ARI (Vidal Nuno - L) at WAS (Jordan Zimmermann - R) 7:05 PM
SEA (Roenis Elias - L) at PHI (Jerome Williams - R) 7:05 PM
ATL (Ervin Santana - R) at PIT (Vance Worley - R) 7:05 PM
LAA (C.J. Wilson - L) at BOS (Brandon Workman - R) 7:10 PM
BAL (Bud Norris - R) at CWS (Chris Sale - L) 8:10 PM
KC (Jason Vargas - L) at MIN (Trevor May - R) 8:10 PM
CIN (Mike Leake - R) at STL (Justin Masterson - R) 8:15 PM
Day Game After Night Game: - None
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Joaquin Benoit, P, SD (shoulder) -- Was unavailable to pitch Sunday due to a sore shoulder.
Rajai Davis, OF, DET (thumb) -- Left Sunday's game due to a thumb contusion.
Darin Downs, P, HOU (oblique) -- Dealing with a minor oblique issue.
Todd Frazier, 3B, CIN (back) -- Missed his fourth straight game after sitting both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Rockies.
DJ LeMahieu, 2B, COL (ankle) -- Missed both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Reds.
Kyle Lohse, P, MIL (ankle) -- The Brewers will skip his next turn in the rotation, but he's only expected to miss one start.
Jordy Mercer, SS, PIT (forearm) -- Missed his third straight game Sunday due to forearm tightness.
Justin Morneau, 1B, COL (neck) -- Missed both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Reds due to a sore neck.
Hector Noesi, P, CWS (lower body) -- Left his start Friday after being struck by a grounder. His status for his next scheduled start is unkown.
Joe Panik, 2B, SF (finger) -- Left Sunday's game with a dislocated right pinky finger.
Anthony Swarzak, P, MIN (ankle) -- Sprained his ankle Tuesday but avoided the DL and is expected to return to the mound soon.
Justin Verlander, P, DET (shoulder) -- Hopes to make his next start Friday against the Twins.
Jayson Werth, OF, WAS (shoulder) -- Was expected to return Sunday, but experienced mild tenderness during batting practice and was held out of his sixth straight game.
David Wright, 3B, NYM (shoulder) -- Was held out Sunday with shoulder soreness and could possibly miss another game or two.
Players on the DL
Yonder Alonso, 1B, SD (forearm) -- Has a damaged forearm tendon and will miss the remainder of the season.
Brett Anderson, P, COL (back) -- Underwent successful season-ending surgery Thursday to repair a herniated disc in his lower back.
Homer Bailey, P, CIN (elbow) -- Has a flexor mass injury that will not require surgery, is expected to return this season.
Josh Beckett, P, LAD (hip) -- Has a groin strain in addition to the hip issue, but is expected to pitch again this season.
Brandon Belt, 1B, SF (concussion) -- Will visit a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh as a result of recurring concussion symptoms.
Everth Cabrera, SS, SD (hamstring) -- Hit the DL last week after suffering an injury to the same hamstring that knocked him out earlier this season.
Matt Cain, P, SF (elbow) -- Underwent successful season-ending surgery on Monday.
Andrew Cashner, P, SD (shoulder) -- Will make one more start Monday with Triple-A El Paso before returning to the Padres' rotation this weekend.
Gerrit Cole, P, PIT (back) -- Expected to return from the DL on Wednesday to start against the Braves.
Allen Craig, 1B, BOS (foot) -- Will start a rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Pawtucket.
Yu Darvish, P, TEX (elbow) -- Expected to return from the DL on August 25 to start against the Mariners.
Jacob deGrom, P, NYM (shoulder) -- Threw a successful 20-pitch bullpen session on Sunday and is expected to return to the Mets' rotation Saturday against the Dodgers.
Adam Eaton, OF, CWS (oblique) -- Status is unclear since he hit the DL on August 9.
Matt Garza, P, MIL (oblique) -- Played catch over the weekend.
Craig Gentry, OF, OAK (hand) -- Has progressed his rehab to hitting off a tee.
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, ARI (hand) -- Expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL (knee) -- Will undergo season-ending surgery on Monday.
Eric Hosmer, 1B, KC (hand) -- Will not be cleared to swing for another week.
Brett Lawrie, 3B, TOR (back) -- Returned to the DL last week after injuring his back in his first game with Toronto since returning from a finger injury.
Cliff Lee, P, PHI (elbow) -- Will not require surgery, but is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Jed Lowrie, SS, OAK (finger) -- Expected to miss two-to-three weeks with a hairline fracture in his finger.
Manny Machado, 3B, BAL (knee) -- Eligible to return from the DL Aug. 27, but he isn't confident he'll return by then.
Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT (ribs) -- Ran the bases and took batting practice Saturday and could return Tuesday.
Yadier Molina, C, STL (thumb) -- Expects to be cleared to swing a bat next week.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN (thumb) -- Will be re-examined by team doctors Monday after continuing his rehab with Low-A Dayton over the weekend.
A.J. Pollock, OF, ARI (hand) -- Could return to the Diamondbacks this week.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, LAD (oblique) -- Is swinging a bat at 90 percent and could return late next weekend.
Hyun-jin Ryu, P, LAD (leg) -- Will miss at least two start with a Grade 1-2 glute strain.
Anibal Sanchez, P, DET (chest) -- An early-September return to the Tigers' rotation is a best-case scenario.
Joakim Soria, P, DET (oblique) -- Will likely return from the DL when first eligible on Aug. 25.
George Springer, OF, HOU (quadriceps) -- May not return until September after doctors recommended two weeks rest.
Masahiro Tanaka, P, NYY (elbow) -- Threw fastballs off a mound Saturday without pain.
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL (hip) -- Underwent successful season-ending labral repair surgery Friday.
Shane Victorino, OF, BOS (back) -- Will miss the remainder of the season.
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN (quadriceps) -- Was transferred to the 60-day DL on Saturday in a procedural move, but could still return in September.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS (hamstring) -- Recently began a strengthening program on his injured hamstring, hoping for a mid-September return.
Transactions - Players who have been called up, sent down, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Called Up
Jim Johnson, P, DET
Carlos Martinez, P, STL
Brent Morel, 3B, PIT
Ben Paulsen, 1B, COL
Curtis Partch, P, CIN
Danny Salazar, P, CLE
Matt Szczur, OF, CHC
Steven Wright, P, BOS
Sent Down (to Triple-A unless otherwise noted)
Tyler Holt, OF, CLE
Melvin Mercedes, P, DET
Austin Romine, C, NYY
Kevin Siegrist, P, STL
Dan Straily, P, CHC
Activated from the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Brian McCann, C, NYY (7-day concussion DL)
Placed on the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Charlie Morton, P, PIT (hip)
Designated for Assignment
Corey Brown, OF, BOS
Kevin Whelan, P, DET
Signed
Matt Nevarez, P, PIT
Closer Watch
Los Angeles Angels - Huston Street blew his first save as a member of the Angels on Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits without recording an out in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers. Prior to the four-hit outing, however, Street had allowed four hits combined in all of his 12 appearances with the team. He's not in danger of losing his job as the Angels' closer.
New York Mets - Jenrry Mejia took his sixth loss of the season on Sunday after serving up a solo home run to Starlin Castro in the top of the ninth inning of a 2-1 loss to the Cubs. Mejia announced last week that he's been pitching through a sports hernia, and while he wants to finish the season before having surgery, New York may choose to shut him down and go with Jeurys Familia as their closer.
Key Matchups
Hot Batter Matchups – August 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| A. Hill | 2B | ARI @ WAS 7:05PM | J. Zimmermann | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .364 | .417 | .455 | .871 |
| J. Nix | 3B | PIT vs ATL 7:05PM | E. Santana | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | .182 | .308 | .727 | 1.035 |
| Y. Cespedes | OF | BOS vs LAA 7:10PM | C. Wilson | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | .400 | .550 | .400 | .950 |
| D. Pedroia | 2B | BOS vs LAA 7:10PM | C. Wilson | 21 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .429 | .500 | .714 | 1.214 |
| N. Cruz | OF | BAL @ CWS 8:10PM | C. Sale | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | .455 | .500 | .727 | 1.227 |
| D. Young | OF | BAL @ CWS 8:10PM | C. Sale | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1.000 |
| J. Mauer | C | MIN vs KC 8:10PM | J. Vargas | 24 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .417 | .462 | .458 | .920 |
| E. Nunez | SS | MIN vs KC 8:10PM | J. Vargas | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .533 | .867 |
| C. Parmelee | 1B | MIN vs KC 8:10PM | J. Vargas | 13 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .538 | .571 | .769 | 1.341 |
| M. Adams | 1B | STL vs CIN 8:15PM | M. Leake | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1.000 |
| M. Holliday | OF | STL vs CIN 8:15PM | M. Leake | 28 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | .393 | .433 | .607 | 1.040 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – August 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Justin Masterson | STL vs CIN 8:15PM | 56 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12 | .179 | .285 | .249 | .534 |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Batter Matchups – August 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| T. Snider | OF | PIT vs ATL 7:05PM | E. Santana | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .100 | .182 | .100 | .282 |
| D. Ackley | 2B | SEA @ PHI 7:05PM | J. Williams | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | .192 | .300 | .231 | .531 |
| D. Ortiz | DH | BOS vs LAA 7:10PM | C. Wilson | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .125 | .125 | .188 | .313 |
| T. Plouffe | 3B | MIN vs KC 8:10PM | J. Vargas | 22 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .182 | .217 | .409 | .626 |
| K. Suzuki | C | MIN vs KC 8:10PM | J. Vargas | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | .188 | .257 | .188 | .445 |
| J. Bruce | OF | CIN @ STL 8:15PM | J. Masterson | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .143 | .200 | .357 | .557 |
| R. Santiago | SS | CIN @ STL 8:15PM | J. Masterson | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | .111 | .304 | .111 | .415 |
| M. Carpenter | 3B | STL vs CIN 8:15PM | M. Leake | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .188 | .222 | .188 | .410 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – August 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Chris Sale | CWS vs BAL 8:10PM | 54 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 10 | .333 | .398 | .553 | .952 |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Michael Cuddyer, OF, COL - The Rockies activated Cuddyer from the 60-day DL on Saturday after he missed more than two months with a shoulder injury. The 35-year-old has been limited to just 32 games so far this season, but he's performed well when healthy, slashing .312/.360/.488 with five home runs and 16 RBI. Cuddyer will likely occupy a spot in the top third of the Rockies' lineup the rest of the way with Troy Tulowitzki (hip) and Carlos Gonzalez (knee) out for the year, so check and see if he's available in your league for the stretch run.
Other Recent Recommendations:Avisail Garcia, Mike Fiers, Norichika Aoki, Josh Rutledge and Michael Pineda.
DraftKings Value Picks
SP - C.J. Wilson, LAA ($6,600)
C - Wilson Ramos, WAS ($3,400)
1B - Joe Mauer, MIN ($3,900)
2B - Omar Infante, KC ($3,400)
3B - Conor Gillaspie, CWS ($3,600)
SS - Jimmy Rollins, PHI ($3,800)
OF - Bryce Harper, WAS ($4,000)
