This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Tuesday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Braves (Alex Wood – L) at Marlins (Mat Latos – R), 7:10
Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – L) at Rays (Nathan Karns – R), 7:10
Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R) at Cubs (Jake Arrieta – R), 8:05
Rockies (Jordan Lyles – R) at Brewers (Matt Garza – R), 8:10
Giants (Ryan Vogelsong – R) at Diamondbacks (Rubby De La Rosa – R), 9:40
Rangers (Colby Lewis – R) at Athletics (Jesse Hahn – R), 10:05
Angels (C.J. Wilson – L) at Mariners (James Paxton – L), 10:10
Padres (Tyson Ross – R) at Dodgers (Zack Greinke – R), 10:10
Day Game After Night Game: None
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (oblique) – Left Monday's game; serious concerns here
Yordano Ventura, SP, KC (thumb) – Not expected to miss next start
Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, SEA (finger) – Blister not expected to keep him from starting Wednesday
Justin Verlander, SP, DET (triceps) – Availability still in question for first start Sunday
Denard Span, OF, WAS (abdomen) – Planning to take BP Tuesday, but still weeks away
Matt Cain, SP, SF (forearm) – Has strained flexor; headed for DL
Jake Peavy, SP, SF (back) – Won't start on schedule Tuesday, but hoping to pitch Sunday
Jenrry Mejia, RP, NYM (elbow) – Couldn't get loose Monday; having MRI Tuesday
Dale Thayer, RP, SD (illness) – Wasn't available Monday due to stomach ailment
John Jaso, C, TB (wrist) – Has sprain; hoping to avoid DL
Players on the DL
Chris Sale, SP, CHW (foot) – Looks like he'll return to start April 12
Kenley Jansen, RP, LAD (foot) – Supposed to shed walking boot soon
Drew Smyly, SP, TB (shoulder) – Making first rehab start Thursday
Jayson Werth, OF, WAS (shoulder) – Taking BP Tuesday; starting rehab stint Thursday
Joe Kelly, SP, BOS (biceps) – Sounds like he'll need one more rehab start
Brad Peacock, SP, HOU (hip) – Heading out on rehab assignment at end of week
David Lough, OF, BAL (hamstring) – Will be activated when first eligible Saturday
Michael Saunders, OF, TOR (knee) – Should be ready in about two weeks
Transactions - Players who have been called up, sent down, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Called Up
Brandon Cunniff, RP, ATL
Ryan Lavarnway, C, BAL
Placed on the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Cesar Puello, OF, NYM (back)
Josh Outman, RP, ATL (shoulder)
Designated for Assignment
Carlos Quentin, OF, ATL
Ryan Webb, RP, BAL
Released
Juan Oramas, RP, TOR
Closer Watch
Mets – With Jenrry Mejia's elbow suddenly acting up on him on Opening Day, preventing him from warming up for a save chance against Washington, noted guy-that-no-one-owns Buddy Carlyle ended up finishing off the ninth inning. But the pickup here for save speculators is Jeurys Familia, who's in line to take over Mejia's job, perhaps semi-permanently.
Astros – Luke Gregerson put his stamp on Houston's closing gig straight off Monday, needing just six pitches for a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout. You might as well dump your Chad Qualls shares now.
Braves – Jason Grilli jumped right in with Craig Kimbrel gone for his first save with the Braves, as he pitched a scoreless ninth while striking out two in Miami. Grilli's the man to own here, no doubt.
Dodgers – With Kenley Jansen out for all of April, this is currently a temporary-closer situation in flux. The first man up was Chris Hatcher, and he delivered a spotless ninth with a strikeout to preserve a three-run lead Monday against the Padres. Joel Peralta seems like a likelier save candidate, but he pitched the eighth Thursday, which gives us some indication that Don Mattingly may prefer him in a more flexible role. That leaves the ninth to Hatcher for now.
Key Matchups
Hot Batter Matchups – April 7, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| F. Freeman | 1B | ATL @ MIA 7:10PM | M. Latos | 12 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | .583 | .583 | .833 | 1.417 |
| C. Johnson | 3B | ATL @ MIA 7:10PM | M. Latos | 17 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | .412 | .474 | .765 | 1.238 |
| S. Castro | SS | CHC vs STL 8:05PM | L. Lynn | 27 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | .370 | .370 | .556 | .926 |
| C. Gonzalez | OF | COL @ MIL 8:10PM | M. Garza | 12 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | .250 | .250 | 1.000 | 1.250 |
| C. Gomez | OF | MIL vs COL 8:10PM | J. Lyles | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .455 | .500 | .545 | 1.045 |
| A. Hill | 2B | ARI vs SF 9:40PM | R. Vogelsong | 16 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | .563 | .611 | .813 | 1.424 |
| J. Pacheco | C | ARI vs SF 9:40PM | R. Vogelsong | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .400 | .455 | .900 | 1.355 |
| C. Barmes | SS | SD @ LAD 10:10PM | Z. Greinke | 13 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .538 | .571 | .692 | 1.264 |
| J. Upton | OF | SD @ LAD 10:10PM | Z. Greinke | 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | .455 | .600 | .818 | 1.418 |
| R. Cano | 2B | SEA vs LAA 10:10PM | C. Wilson | 30 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .367 | .441 | .433 | .875 |
| N. Cruz | OF | SEA vs LAA 10:10PM | C. Wilson | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | .400 | .538 | .800 | 1.338 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 7, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Jordan Lyles | COL @ MIL 8:10PM | 95 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 15 | .263 | .288 | .319 | .607 |
| Matt Garza | MIL vs COL 8:10PM | 61 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 17 | .213 | .262 | .411 | .673 |
| C.J. Wilson | LAA @ SEA 10:10PM | 123 | 25 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 33 | .203 | .289 | .294 | .583 |
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 – April 7, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| D. Jennings | OF | TB vs BAL 7:10PM | W. Chen | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .111 | .158 | .167 | .325 |
| E. Longoria | 3B | TB vs BAL 7:10PM | W. Chen | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .167 | .231 | .167 | .397 |
| T. Tulowitzki | SS | COL @ MIL 8:10PM | M. Garza | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .182 | .182 | .182 | .364 |
| A. Ramirez | 3B | MIL vs COL 8:10PM | J. Lyles | 21 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .238 | .238 | .286 | .524 |
| H. Kendrick | 2B | LAD vs SD 10:10PM | T. Ross | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .100 | .100 | .100 | .200 |
| W. Venable | OF | SD @ LAD 10:10PM | Z. Greinke | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .077 | .143 | .231 | .374 |
| D. Ackley | OF | SEA vs LAA 10:10PM | C. Wilson | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .167 | .211 | .222 | .433 |
| A. Jackson | OF | SEA vs LAA 10:10PM | C. Wilson | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .143 | .250 | .286 | .536 |
| K. Seager | 3B | SEA vs LAA 10:10PM | C. Wilson | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | .130 | .200 | .130 | .330 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 7, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Mat Latos | MIA vs ATL 7:10PM | 65 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 18 | .338 | .377 | .595 | .971 |
| Lance Lynn | STL @ CHC 8:05PM | 65 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 12 | .338 | .414 | .519 | .934 |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Recommended Pickup
Daniel Norris, SP, TOR – Here's a train for you to jump on before your fellow fantasy owners figure it out. Norris has seen marginal attention in fantasy circles despite a spring that should jump out at you – a 2.93 ERA with a 30:8 K:BB in 27.2 innings. That's nothing new for him. Over the course of his metoric three-level rise through the minors last year, Norris put up a patently ridiculous 163 strikeouts (and 43 walks) in 124.1 innings. He'll have his control issues at times, but Norris has a rotation spot locked down and some of the highest strikeout upside of any MLB starter. The community hasn't been paying attention yet; grab Norris off your wire before he becomes a hot commodity.
Other Recent Recommendations:Jason Grilli
DraftKings Value Picks
SP: Jesse Hahn, OAK ($6,000)
C: Mike Zunino, SEA ($3,600)
1B: C.J. Cron, LAA ($3,400)
2B: Rougned Odor, TEX ($3,500)
3B: Kyle Seager, SEA ($3,600)
SS: Everth Cabrera, BAL ($3,100)
OF: Joc Pederson, LAD ($3,500)
