This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters – A look at Thursday's matchups (all times Eastern):
American League
Twins (Esmerling Vasquez – R) at Indians (Corey Kluber – R), 12:05
Athletics (Tommy Milone – L) at Tigers (Anibal Sanchez – R), 1:05
Blue Jays (Aaron Laffey – L) at Yankees (Phil Hughes – R), 7:05
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Rays (David Price – L), 7:10
White Sox (Francisco Liriano – L) at Royals (Jeremy Guthrie – R), 8:10
Rangers (Yu Dravish – R) at Angels (Zack Greinke – R), 10:05
National League
Astros (Bud Norris – R) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – L), 1:45
Reds (Johnny Cueto – R) at Cubs (Jason Berken – R), 2:20
Padres (Clayton Richard – L) at Diamondbacks (Tyler Skaggs – L), 3:40
Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa – L) at Giants (Barry Zito – L), 3:45
Brewers (Mike FIers – R) at Pirates (Wandy Rodriguez – L), 4:05
Dodgers (Chris Capuano – L) at Nationals (Ross Detwiler – L), 7:05
Phillies (Tyler Cloyd – R) at Mets (Jeremy Hefner – R), 7:10
Day Game After a Night Game: MIN, CLE, OAK, DET, HOU, STL, CIN, CHC, SD, ARI, COL, SF, MIL, PIT
Injuries - A brief look at players that have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns.
Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
AL
Brett Anderson, P, OAK – (Oblique) Left Wednesday's game with strain.
Alex Avila, C, DET – (Jaw) Out of Wednesday's lineup, could miss again Thursday.
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX – (Stomach) Out of lineup Wednesday, team optimistic he can return Thursday.
Quentin Berry, OF, DET – (Shoulder) Could return Friday.
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, CLE – (Wrist) Left Wednesday's game with soreness.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK – (Eye) Out of Wednesday's lineup.
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR – (Toe) Did not play in either game of doubleheader Wednesday.
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX – (Illness) Out of lineup Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game.
Roberto Hernandez, P, CLE – (Ankle) Will throw bullpen session Friday.
Maicer Izturis, 3B, LAA – (Ribs) Available as pinch-runner, not clear if he can hit yet.
Derek Jeter, SS, NYY – (Ankle) Played in second game of doubleheader Wednesday.
Darin Mastroianni, OF, MIN – (Hand) Tore tendon, can only pinch-run now.
Luis Mendoza, P, KC – (Illness) Feeling better, tentatively scheduled to start Friday.
Roy Oswalt, P, TEX – (Forearm) Threw in bullpen Tuesday, will do so again Thursday and then could be cleared.
Chris Parmelee, 1B, MIN – (Personal) Left team Wednesday night and out until Monday for birth of child.
Trevor Plouffe, SS, MIN – (Hand) Left Tuesday's game after taking line drive to hand, returned to lineup Wednesday.
Tanner Scheppers, P, TEX – (Knee) Day-to-day after MRI revealed no damage.
Max Scherzer, P, DET – (Shoulder) Will not throw for three days, will be evaluated Saturday before he could make a start.
NL
Lance Berkman, OF, STL – (Knee) Could return before end of season.
Andrew Cashner, P, SD – (Back) Shut down for season.
Aroldis Chapman, P, CIN – (Shoulder) Says he needs another bullpen session or two before returning.
Zack Cozart, SS, CIN – (Oblique) Still out of lineup through Wednesday, Reds hope he can return sometime this season.
Danny Espinosa, 2B, WAS – (Shoulder) Played in one game of Wednesday's doubleheader.
Frank Francisco, P, NYM – (Elbow) Dealing with tendinitis, not available Wednesday.
Corey Hart, OF, MIL – (Foot) Out of Wednesday's lineup but was available to pinch-hit.
Paul Janish, SS, ATL – (Shoulder) Returning to Atlanta for tests.
Clayton Kershaw, P, LA – (Hip) Can continue to pitch but next start has not been scheduled.
Ryan Ludwick, OF, CIN – (Groin) Removed from Wednesday's game as precaution with tightness.
Fernando Martinez, OF, HOU – (Knee) Had examination Tuesday, no word from Houston yet.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD – (Achilles) Out of Wednesday's lineup, could be back Thursday.
Bud Norris, P, HOU – (Illness) Flu-like symptoms, could miss Thursday's start.
Andrelton Simmons, SS, ATL – (Shoulder) Braves hope he can return Friday.
Neil Walker, 2B, PIT – (Back) Out of Wednesday's lineup.
Jake Westbrook, P, STL – (Oblique) Throwing in bullpen, hoping to return next week.
Chris Young, OF, ARI – (Quadriceps) Left Tuesday's game and out of Wednesday's lineup.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS – (Shoulder) Played in both games of doubleheader Wednesday.
Players on the DL
AL
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY – (Elbow) Could be activated so he can pinch-run and play defense.
NL
Huston Street, P, SD – (Calf) Was not activated Wednesday, but should return soon.
Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Called Up
Dylan Bundy, P, BAL
Sent Down
None
Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Dellin Betances, P, NYY (transferred to 60-day DL)
Activated from DL
Andy Pettitte, P, NYY
Travis Hafner, DH, CLE
Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left).
Arizona – After dealing with a back injury last week, J.J. Putz earned his first save in ten days. It was his second appearance in four days and it looks like he is good to go.
Florida – Steve Cishek was pulled before he could fully blow Tuesday's save (and actually got credited with a hold) but he was responsible for putting three runners on, all of whom came in to score. Heath Bell has allowed one run in his last nine outings and earned the win Tuesday while pitching the tenth inning. Considering Cishek has allowed nine earned runs in his last 9.2 innings and the Marlins have little to play for, they could consider a committee approach before the end of the year.
Key Matchups
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seth Smith - OF | OAK @ DET 9/20 1:05 PM | Anibal Sanchez | 5-11 | .455 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .818 | .455 | 1.273 | |||||||
Carlos Beltran - OF | STL vs HOU 9/20 1:45 PM | Bud Norris | 4-12 | .333 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .583 | .333 | .917 | |||||||
Matt Holliday - OF | STL vs HOU 9/20 1:45 PM | Bud Norris | 7-25 | .280 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | .600 | .308 | .908 | |||||||
Alfonso Soriano - OF | CHC vs CIN 9/20 2:20 PM | Johnny Cueto | 10-32 | .313 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | .625 | .353 | .978 | |||||||
Jason Giambi - 1B | COL @ SF 9/20 3:45 PM | Barry Zito | 4-17 | .235 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | .647 | .480 | 1.127 | |||||||
Carlos Gonzalez - OF | COL @ SF 9/20 3:45 PM | Barry Zito | 8-19 | .421 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | .684 | .450 | 1.134 | |||||||
Aubrey Huff - 1B | SF vs COL 9/20 3:45 PM | Jorge De La Rosa | 3-10 | .300 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .500 | .417 | .917 | |||||||
Ryan Braun - OF | MIL @ PIT 9/20 4:05 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 14-34 | .412 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 6 | .912 | .459 | 1.371 | |||||||
Rickie Weeks - 2B | MIL @ PIT 9/20 4:05 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 12-34 | .353 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .529 | .463 | .993 | |||||||
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B | WAS vs LAD 9/20 7:05 PM | Chris Capuano | 6-10 | .600 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | .600 | 1.600 | |||||||
Jacoby Ellsbury - OF | BOS @ TB 9/20 7:10 PM | David Price | 3-13 | .231 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .692 | .333 | 1.026 | |||||||
Dustin Pedroia - 2B | BOS @ TB 9/20 7:10 PM | David Price | 6-19 | .316 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | .579 | .409 | .988 | |||||||
B.J. Upton - OF | TB vs BOS 9/20 7:10 PM | Clay Buchholz | 5-11 | .455 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | .818 | .571 | 1.390 | |||||||
Gordon Beckham - 2B | CWS @ KC 9/20 8:10 PM | Jeremy Guthrie | 4-15 | .267 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | .667 | .353 | 1.020 | |||||||
Paul Konerko - 1B | CWS @ KC 9/20 8:10 PM | Jeremy Guthrie | 7-29 | .241 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | .621 | .281 | .902 | |||||||
Jose Lopez - 3B | CWS @ KC 9/20 8:10 PM | Jeremy Guthrie | 8-24 | .333 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .625 | .333 | .958 | |||||||
A.J. Pierzynski - C | CWS @ KC 9/20 8:10 PM | Jeremy Guthrie | 8-25 | .320 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .560 | .320 | .880 | |||||||
Alex Rios - OF | CWS @ KC 9/20 8:10 PM | Jeremy Guthrie | 12-38 | .316 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | .526 | .366 | .892 | |||||||
Kevin Youkilis - 3B | CWS @ KC 9/20 8:10 PM | Jeremy Guthrie | 11-43 | .256 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | .535 | .347 | .882 | |||||||
Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Jorge De La Rosa | COL @ SF 9/20 3:45 PM | Giants Batters | 16-77 | .208 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 15 | .319 | .291 | .610 | |||||||
Chris Capuano | LAD @ WAS 9/20 7:05 PM | Nationals Batters | 18-61 | .295 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 20 | .553 | .332 | .885 | |||||||
Zack Greinke | LAA vs TEX 9/20 10:05 PM | Rangers Batters | 25-118 | .212 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 35 | .277 | .246 | .523 |
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jon Jay - OF | STL vs HOU 9/20 1:45 PM | Bud Norris | 3-15 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .267 | .200 | .467 | |||||||
Skip Schumaker - 2B | STL vs HOU 9/20 1:45 PM | Bud Norris | 3-22 | .136 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | .136 | .240 | .376 | |||||||
Starlin Castro - SS | CHC vs CIN 9/20 2:20 PM | Johnny Cueto | 3-15 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | .200 | .333 | .533 | |||||||
Angel Pagan - OF | SF vs COL 9/20 3:45 PM | Jorge De La Rosa | 2-13 | .154 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .231 | .154 | .385 | |||||||
Pablo Sandoval - 3B | SF vs COL 9/20 3:45 PM | Jorge De La Rosa | 4-20 | .200 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .350 | .238 | .588 | |||||||
Carlos Gomez - OF | MIL @ PIT 9/20 4:05 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 4-20 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .250 | .200 | .450 | |||||||
Shane Victorino - OF | LAD @ WAS 9/20 7:05 PM | Ross Detwiler | 3-13 | .231 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .231 | .231 | .462 | |||||||
Adam Lind - 1B | TOR @ NYY 9/20 7:05 PM | Phil Hughes | 4-22 | .182 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | .409 | .217 | .626 | |||||||
Adam LaRoche - 1B | WAS vs LAD 9/20 7:05 PM | Chris Capuano | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .200 | .273 | .473 | |||||||
Jayson Werth - OF | WAS vs LAD 9/20 7:05 PM | Chris Capuano | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | .300 | .273 | .573 | |||||||
Carlos Pena - 1B | TB vs BOS 9/20 7:10 PM | Clay Buchholz | 2-15 | .133 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | .333 | .235 | .569 | |||||||
Luke Scott - DH | TB vs BOS 9/20 7:10 PM | Clay Buchholz | 3-19 | .158 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .368 | .273 | .641 | |||||||
Ben Zobrist - 2B | TB vs BOS 9/20 7:10 PM | Clay Buchholz | 3-15 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .200 | .333 | .533 | |||||||
Alexei Ramirez - SS | CWS @ KC 9/20 8:10 PM | Jeremy Guthrie | 1-19 | .053 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | .105 | .217 | .323 | |||||||
Billy Butler - DH | KC vs CWS 9/20 8:10 PM | Francisco Liriano | 4-24 | .167 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | .292 | .231 | .522 | |||||||
Josh Hamilton - OF | TEX @ LAA 9/20 10:05 PM | Zack Greinke | 0-16 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .000 | .059 | .059 | |||||||
Ian Kinsler - 2B | TEX @ LAA 9/20 10:05 PM | Zack Greinke | 3-18 | .167 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | .333 | .167 | .500 | |||||||
Mike Napoli - C | TEX @ LAA 9/20 10:05 PM | Zack Greinke | 2-11 | .182 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .455 | .182 | .636 | |||||||
Michael Young - 3B | TEX @ LAA 9/20 10:05 PM | Zack Greinke | 8-30 | .267 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | .267 | .290 | .557 | |||||||
Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Johnny Cueto | CIN @ ChC 9/20 2:20 PM | Cubs Batters | 19-62 | .306 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 12 | .507 | .368 | .874 | |||||||
Barry Zito | SF vs Col 9/20 3:45 PM | Rockies Batters | 19-61 | .311 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | .582 | .432 | 1.014 | |||||||
Wandy Rodriguez | PIT vs Mil 9/20 4:05 PM | Brewers Batters | 65-190 | .342 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 39 | .523 | .391 | .914 | |||||||
Recommended Pickup
Dylan Bundy, P, BAL – The Orioles played an 18-inning game Tuesday and exhausted most of their long relievers, so Bundy was paged to Seattle in time for Wednesday's game. He may only be with the team for a couple of days, but this will trigger his availability in many leagues. Bundy is a good keeper option, and even if he comes at a high price it will be important to get a high bid on him just to keep him out of someone else's hands at a good keeper value. If Bundy pitches at all for the Orioles, it should be just once or twice as he is near his innings limit for the season.
Other Recent Recommendations:Chris Archer, Wily Peralta, Jacob Turner, Chris Nelson, Jed Lowrie
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Draft Street Lineup
C – A.J. Ellis ($3,443)
1B – Kendrys Morales ($5,734)
2B – Danny Espinosa ($4,001)
3B – Josh Donaldson ($4,917)
SS – Asdrubal Cabrera ($6,714)
OF – Michael Morse ($4,482)
OF – Ryan Braun ($9,364)
OF – Jason Kubel ($5,104)
UTIL – Miguel Cabrera ($9,674)
UTIL – Evan Longoria ($6,767)
SP – David Price ($15,238)
SP – Zack Greinke ($12,266)
RP – Glen Perkins ($1,516)
P – Jaime Garcia ($10,655)
Total: $99,875