Monday Lineup Card: Closer Committee In Cincy

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters – A look at Monday's matchups (all times Eastern):

American League
Royals (Luke Hochevar – R) at Tigers (Duane Below – L), 7:05
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Orioles (Tommy Hunter – R), 7:05
Royals (Felipe Paulino – R) at Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda – R), 7:05
Blue Jays (Kyle Drabek – R) at Rays (Jeremy Hellickson – R), 7:10
Angels (Jerome Williams – R) at Athletics (Tom Milone – L), 10:05
Rangers (Yu Darvish – R) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R), 10:10

National League
Mets (Johan Santana – L) at Pirates (Erik Bedard – L), 7:05
Nationals (Gio Gonzalez – L) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R), 7:05
Rockies (Jamie Moyer – L) at Marlines (Mark Buehrle – L), 7:10
Braves (Mike Minor – L) at Reds (Mike Leake – R), 7:10
Cubs (Matt Garza – R) at Astros (Bud Norris – R), 8:05
Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L) at Brewers (Randy Wolf – L), 8:05
Padres (Clayton Richard – L) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – L), 8:15
Dodgers (Chris Capuano – L) at Diamondbacks (Patrick Crobin – L), 9:40

Day Game After a Night Game: None

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
Ryan Doumit, C, MIN – (Calf) Got a pinch-hit at-bat Saturday, not in Sunday's lineup.
Evan Crawford, P, TOR – (Back) Could be available Sunday after leaving Friday's game with back spasms.
Jon Lester, P, BOS – (Back) Says he had a stiff back during Saturday's start in which he threw six innings.
Paul Konerko, 1B, CHW – (Eye) Could return Tuesday.
Torii Hunter, OF, LAA – (Personal) May be back by completion of road trip, which ends May 27.
Austin Jackson, OF, DET – (Abdomen) Not in Sunday's lineup.
Jose Valverde, P, DET – (Back) Not available Sunday.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY – (Illness) Pinch-hit Sunday, lifted for pinch runner.
Brent Morel, 3B, CHW – (Back) Out of Sunday's lineup.
Cody Ross, OF, BOS – (Foot) Hopes to return to lineup on Monday.
Ben Francisco, OF, TOR – (Hamstring) Left Sunday's game with tightness.
Jose Molina, C, TB – (Face) Took ball to mask, left Sunday's game.
Vernon Wells, OF, LAA – (Thumb) Left Sunday's game.
Ryan Sweeney, OF, BOS – (Concussion) Trying to return Monday.
Jack Hannahan, 3B, CLE – (Back) Feels better but missed again Sunday.

NL
Stephen Drew, SS, AZ – (Ankle) A couple more extended spring training games before starting rehab.
Jason Grilli, P, PIT – (Personal) Placed on bereavement list.
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI – (Knee) Pinch hit Saturday, out of Sunday's lineup.
Jordan Schafer, OF, HOU – (Ankle) Hopes to play Monday.

Players on the DL

AL
Kevin Youkilis, 3B, BOS – (Back) Will rehab at least a few more days.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, P, BOS – (Elbow) Has neck pain in addition to elbow, had cortisone injection and will miss next rehab start.
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY – (Elbow) Eying early-June return, elbow being examined to determine next course of rehab.
David Robertson, P, NYY – (Oblique) Having discomfort, appears he is a month from returning to Yankees.
Brandon McCarthy, P, OAK (Shoulder) Strained shoulder following dominant start.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK – (Illness) Could be activated Monday.

NL
Emilio Bonifacio, OF, MIA – (Thumb) Placed on DL.
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI – (Knee) Continues to take grounders, still no timetable.
Miguel Batista, P, NYM – (Back) Placed on DL Sunday.
Jason Bay, OF, NYM – (Ribs) Will try for batting practice Monday.

Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.

Called Up
Jeff Locke, P, PIT
Donovan Solano, 2B, MIA
Chris Coghlan, OF, MIA
Chris Schwinden, P, NYM
Che-Hsuan Lin, OF, BOS
Jim Miller, P, OAK
Adam Ottavino, P, COL
Matt Adams, 1B, STL
Matt Palmer, P, SD

Sent Down
Brooks Conrad, 2B, MIL
Mauro Gomez, 1B, BOS
Nick Vincent, P, SD
Rex Brothers, P, COL

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Jason Grilli, P, PIT (bereavement)
Emilio Bonifacio, OF, MIA
Brandon McCarthy, P, OAK
Miguel Batista, P, NYM
Cory Luebke, P, SD (transferred to 60-day DL)
Lance Berkman, OF, STL

Activated from DL
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL

Signed

Traded
None

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left).

Cincinnati – The Reds will use a closer by committee approach and Aroldis Chapman will be a part of it. Others who could pick up save opportunities include Jose Arredondo, Logan Ondrusek, and Sean Marshall. Chapman earned the first opportunity Sunday and converted it successfully.

Detroit – With Jose Valverde remaining day-to-day, Joaquin Benoit got the call Sunday and earned the save.

Key Matchups

Recommended Pickup

Andy Dirks, OF, DET – The Tigers have taken their time at deciding who should get an outfield job over the last few years. It is a situation that can be frustrating to fantasy owners, trying to decide which players have the most value between Brennan Boesch, Don Kelly, Ryan Raburn, Clete Thomas and Don Kelly. All have had opportunities, but none has received consistent full time at-bats. Finally, Jim Leyland appears to have made up his mind. Boesch has started almost every game this season, while the dust has finally settled and Dirks is getting every day action. And Dirks has not disappointed while wedged between Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera in the second spot in the order. He is currently leading the team in hitting, and while that may not last, his strikeout ratio is miniscule at eight K's in 94 at-bats. Over the last 30 days, he has been more valuable than outfielders like Alex Gordon, Shane Victorino and Jason Kubel. He should be getting more mixed league attention by now.

Other Recent Recommendations:Felipe Paulino, Welington Castillo, Yonder Alonso, Jarrod Dyson, Anthony Bass, Jordan Lyles

Draft Street Lineup
C – Miguel Montero ($4,609)
1B – Chris Davis ($4,645)
2B – Jose Altuve ($6,869)
3B – Chris Johnson ($4,513)
SS – Derek Jeter ($6,299)
OF – Kirk Nieuwenhuis ($4,336)
OF – Andre Ethier ($7,783)
OF – Mike Trout ($7,952)
UTIL – Kendrys Morales ($5,694)
UTIL – Bryan LaHair ($5,781)
SP – Jaime Garcia ($11,290)
SP – Jeremy Hellickson ($12,124)
RP – Rafael Soriano ($1,768)
P – Yu Darvish ($16,281)
Total: $99,944