This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Sponsored by DraftStreetProjected Starters - A look at Friday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Indians (Danny Salazar - R) at White Sox (Hector Santiago - L), 2:10 PM
Phillies (Kyle Kendrick - R) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg - R), 7:05 PM
Cubs (Jake Arrieta - R) at Pirates (Charlie Morton - R), 7:05 PM
Orioles (Jason Hammel - R) at Blue Jays (Todd Redmond - R), 7:07 PM
Royals (Bruce Chen - L) at Tigers (Justin Verlander - R), 7:08 PM
Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda - R) at Red Sox (John Lackey - R), 7:10 PM
Marlins (Brad Hand - L) at Mets (Jonathon Niese - L), 7:10 PM
Padres (Ian Kennedy - R) at Braves (David Hale - R), 7:30 PM
Athletics (Dan Straily - R) at Rangers (Derek Holland - L), 8:05 PM
Reds (Mat Latos - R) at Brewers (Kyle Lohse - R), 8:10 PM
Rays (Chris Archer - R) at Twins (Kevin Correia - R), 8:10 PM
Angels (Jason Vargas - L) at Astros (Brett Oberholtzer - L), 8:10 PM
Mariners (Hisashi Iwakuma - R) at Cardinals (Adam Wainwright - R), 8:15 PM
Rockies (Tyler Chatwood - R) at Diamondbacks (Brandon McCarthy - R), 9:40 PM
Giants (Madison Bumgarner - L) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L), 10:10 PM
Day Game After Night Game: CLE, CHW
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Yadier Molina, C, STL - (Personal) Expected to rejoin the team Friday.
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, TOR - (Wrist) Hit off a tee prior to Thursday's game and will attempt to take batting practice Friday afternoon.
Nathan Eovaldi, P, MIA - (Back) Scratched from his scheduled start Thursday due to tightness.
Jeff Mathis, C, MIA - (Thumb) Held out of the lineup Thursday for the third straight day.
Khris Davis, OF, MIL - (Wrist) Missed a sixth consecutive game Thursday, but appears on track to return at some point this weekend.
Charlie Morton, P, PIT - (Foot) Set to start Friday against the Cubs.
Starling Marte, OF, PIT - (Hand) Took full swings in a simulated game Thursday, which manager Clint Hurtle described as the "last piece" in his recovery.
Trevor Rosenthal, P, STL - (Personal) Left the team Thursday to attend to the birth of his child.
Darren O'Day, P, BAL - (Finger) Experienced numbness in his fingers over the past two weeks and will be unavailable for at least the next four days.
Austin Romine, C, NYY - (Concussion) Could return at some point this weekend.
Jose Molina, C, TB - (Personal) Expected to rejoin the team Friday.
Ivan Nova, P, NYY - (Triceps) Felt good during a bullpen session Thursday and expects to make his scheduled start Saturday.
Justin Masterson, P, CLE - (Oblique) Played catch from 90 feet Thursday.
Players on the DL
Brandon Beachy, P, ATL - (Elbow) Forced to shut down his throwing program after feeling discomfort.
Corey Hart, 1B, MIL - (Knee) Thought to be close to fully recovered from his right knee procedure.
Jason Motte, P, STL - (Elbow) Made 25 throws from around 15 feet Wednesday, marking the first time he has thrown since undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Chad Gaudin, P, SF - (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) Scheduled to throw a simulated game Friday, with activation likely to follow shortly thereafter.
Samuel Deduno, P, MIN - (Shoulder) Leaning toward surgery after an MRI showed inflammation and fraying.
Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR - (Oblique) Said he hopes to return at some point this weekend after taking batting practice Thursday.
Out
Allen Craig, 1B, STL - (Foot) Received a positive re-evaluation Thursday but remains without a timetable for return.
Domonic Brown, OF, PHI - (Achilles) Ran, took some fly ball and hit in the batting cage Wednesday.
Transactions - Players who have been called up, demoted, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Activated from the DL
Jeremy Affeldt, P, SF
Closer Watch
Pittsburgh - With Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli both unavailable Wednesday, manager Clint Hurdle turned to 37-year-old Kyle Farnsworth in the ninth inning to preserve a 7-5 lead over the Rangers. Farnsworth breezed through a perfect frame with just 10 pitches, and thus earned his first save since Sept. 27, 2011. Melancon and Grilli are obviously the top late-inning options, but Farnsworth could end up being a difference maker for the Pirates down the stretch. He has plenty of experience working in high-pressure situations, and he's looked like a new man since joining the Pirates, with just one hit allowed over four scoreless appearances.
Los Angeles Angels - Ernesto Frieri gave up a double and a walk in the ninth inning of a one-run game against the Blue Jays on Thursday, but escaped unscathed with his 33rd save of the season. The right-hander has enjoyed a nice run of success lately, with just one run allowed and a 19:3 K:BB in his last 13 appearances, to reclaim an exclusive hold on the closer's role.
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ian Desmond - SS | WAS vs PHI 9/13 7:05 PM | Kyle Kendrick | 10-23 | .435 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | .870 | .458 | 1.328 | |||||||
Bryce Harper - OF | WAS vs PHI 9/13 7:05 PM | Kyle Kendrick | 6-12 | .500 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | .571 | 1.571 | |||||||
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B | WAS vs PHI 9/13 7:05 PM | Kyle Kendrick | 10-33 | .303 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .606 | .378 | .984 | |||||||
Miguel Cabrera - 3B | DET vs KC 9/13 7:08 PM | Bruce Chen | 13-32 | .406 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | .875 | .525 | 1.400 | |||||||
Prince Fielder - 1B | DET vs KC 9/13 7:08 PM | Bruce Chen | 5-13 | .385 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | .692 | .467 | 1.159 | |||||||
Billy Butler - 1B | KC @ DET 9/13 7:08 PM | Justin Verlander | 21-53 | .396 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 7 | .585 | .448 | 1.033 | |||||||
Dustin Pedroia - 2B | BOS vs NYY 9/13 7:10 PM | Hiroki Kuroda | 6-14 | .429 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .714 | .467 | 1.181 | |||||||
Placido Polanco - 3B | MIA @ NYM 9/13 7:10 PM | Jon Niese | 11-32 | .344 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | .500 | .400 | .900 | |||||||
Curtis Granderson - OF | NYY @ BOS 9/13 7:10 PM | John Lackey | 7-26 | .269 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | .577 | .387 | .964 | |||||||
Lyle Overbay - 1B | NYY @ BOS 9/13 7:10 PM | John Lackey | 6-21 | .286 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | .476 | .375 | .851 | |||||||
Alex Rodriguez - 3B | NYY @ BOS 9/13 7:10 PM | John Lackey | 11-58 | .190 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 25 | .500 | .324 | .824 | |||||||
B.J. Upton - OF | ATL vs SD 9/13 7:30 PM | Ian Kennedy | 3-11 | .273 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | .545 | .400 | .945 | |||||||
Alberto Callaspo - 3B | OAK @ TEX 9/13 8:05 PM | Derek Holland | 11-31 | .355 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | .613 | .375 | .988 | |||||||
Kurt Suzuki - C | OAK @ TEX 9/13 8:05 PM | Derek Holland | 7-20 | .350 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | .800 | .350 | 1.150 | |||||||
Jay Bruce - OF | CIN @ MIL 9/13 8:10 PM | Kyle Lohse | 8-24 | .333 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 7 | .667 | .360 | 1.027 | |||||||
Kelly Johnson - 2B | TB @ MIN 9/13 8:10 PM | Kevin Correia | 7-22 | .318 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 5 | .909 | .400 | 1.309 | |||||||
Marco Scutaro - 2B | SF @ LAD 9/13 10:10 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 5-10 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | |||||||
Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Jason Hammel | BAL @ TOR 9/13 7:07 PM | Blue Jays Batters | 19-60 | .317 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 9 | .510 | .328 | .838 | |||||||
Madison Bumgarner | SF @ LAD 9/13 10:10 PM | Dodgers Batters | 13-70 | .186 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 15 | .215 | .208 | .423 | |||||||
Clayton Kershaw | LAD vs SF 9/13 10:10 PM | Giants Batters | 37-185 | .200 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 52 | .253 | .243 | .497 |
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adam LaRoche - 1B | WAS vs PHI 9/13 7:05 PM | Kyle Kendrick | 3-21 | .143 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | .190 | .280 | .470 | |||||||
Steve Lombardozzi - 2B | WAS vs PHI 9/13 7:05 PM | Kyle Kendrick | 3-12 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .250 | .500 | |||||||
Jayson Werth - OF | WAS vs PHI 9/13 7:05 PM | Kyle Kendrick | 1-14 | .071 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .071 | .133 | .205 | |||||||
Omar Infante - 2B | DET vs KC 9/13 7:08 PM | Bruce Chen | 3-16 | .188 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .375 | .188 | .563 | |||||||
Jamey Carroll - SS | KC @ DET 9/13 7:08 PM | Justin Verlander | 1-16 | .063 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | .063 | .250 | .313 | |||||||
Eric Hosmer - 1B | KC @ DET 9/13 7:08 PM | Justin Verlander | 2-20 | .100 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .150 | .217 | .367 | |||||||
Mike Moustakas - 3B | KC @ DET 9/13 7:08 PM | Justin Verlander | 3-18 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | .167 | .211 | .377 | |||||||
Jarrod Saltalamacchia - C | BOS vs NYY 9/13 7:10 PM | Hiroki Kuroda | 2-11 | .182 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .455 | .250 | .705 | |||||||
Chris Coghlan - OF | MIA @ NYM 9/13 7:10 PM | Jon Niese | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .300 | .273 | .573 | |||||||
Alfonso Soriano - OF | NYY @ BOS 9/13 7:10 PM | John Lackey | 3-30 | .100 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | .133 | .182 | .315 | |||||||
Vernon Wells - OF | NYY @ BOS 9/13 7:10 PM | John Lackey | 7-37 | .189 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | .270 | .250 | .520 | |||||||
Daric Barton - 1B | OAK @ TEX 9/13 8:05 PM | Derek Holland | 1-10 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .100 | .182 | .282 | |||||||
Coco Crisp - OF | OAK @ TEX 9/13 8:05 PM | Derek Holland | 1-10 | .100 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .200 | .182 | .382 | |||||||
Jemile Weeks - 2B | OAK @ TEX 9/13 8:05 PM | Derek Holland | 1-10 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .100 | .100 | .200 | |||||||
Ryan Hanigan - C | CIN @ MIL 9/13 8:10 PM | Kyle Lohse | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .250 | .286 | .536 | |||||||
Ryan Ludwick - OF | CIN @ MIL 9/13 8:10 PM | Kyle Lohse | 3-21 | .143 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | .143 | .182 | .325 | |||||||
Chris Carter - OF | HOU vs LAA 9/13 8:10 PM | Jason Vargas | 0-10 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .000 | .167 | .167 | |||||||
Michael Cuddyer - OF | COL @ ARI 9/13 9:40 PM | Brandon McCarthy | 3-17 | .176 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .353 | .222 | .575 | |||||||
Andre Ethier - OF | LAD vs SF 9/13 10:10 PM | Madison Bumgarner | 1-13 | .077 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .077 | .077 | .154 | |||||||
Adrian Gonzalez - 1B | LAD vs SF 9/13 10:10 PM | Madison Bumgarner | 2-11 | .182 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .273 | .182 | .455 | |||||||
Hanley Ramirez - SS | LAD vs SF 9/13 10:10 PM | Madison Bumgarner | 1-11 | .091 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .091 | .167 | .258 | |||||||
Joaquin Arias - SS | SF @ LAD 9/13 10:10 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 1-12 | .083 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .083 | .154 | .237 | |||||||
Brandon Belt - 1B | SF @ LAD 9/13 10:10 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 3-21 | .143 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | .190 | .250 | .440 | |||||||
Gregor Blanco - OF | SF @ LAD 9/13 10:10 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .200 | .385 | .585 | |||||||
Hunter Pence - OF | SF @ LAD 9/13 10:10 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 1-23 | .043 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .043 | .043 | .087 | |||||||
Buster Posey - C | SF @ LAD 9/13 10:10 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 6-33 | .182 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | .212 | .206 | .418 | |||||||
Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Kyle Kendrick | PHI @ Was 9/13 7:05 PM | Nationals Batters | 44-134 | .328 | 9 | 24 | 18 | 11 | 12 | .683 | .392 | 1.075 | |||||||
Bruce Chen | KC @ Det 9/13 7:08 PM | Tigers Batters | 44-145 | .303 | 8 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 31 | .571 | .377 | .948 | |||||||
Kevin Correia | MIN vs TB 9/13 8:10 PM | Rays Batters | 23-86 | .267 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 14 | .521 | .330 | .851 | |||||||
Recommended Pickup
Moises Sierra, OF, TOR - Since his August 21 recall to the majors, Sierra has been a regular in the Blue Jays' lineup, and it seems the extended reps are beginning to pay off. The 24-year-old is batting .367 with eight doubles, one home run, six runs scored, six RBI and one stolen base so far in September. His success has come as a bit of a surprise, considering he compiled a rather mediocre .261/.309/.422 slash line in 100 games at Triple-A Buffalo prior to his promotion. Sierra's production seems bound to drop off -- he's currently sporting a .341 BABIP -- and the impending return of Colby Rasmus (oblique) will mean less playing time, but Toronto figures to give Sierra a serious look over the final weeks to see if he may be an option for next season.
Other Recent RecommendationsJonathan Villar, Matt Adams, Jarrod Dyson and Josh Rutledge
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DraftStreet Value Picks
SP - Chris Archer, TB ($11,439)
C - Wilin Rosario, COL ($5,652)
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