This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups (all times Eastern)Braves (Aaron Harang - R) at Cardinals (Shelby Miller - R), 2:15
Brewers (Matt Garza - R) at Cubs (Edwin Jackson - R), 2:20
Mets (Bartolo Colon - R) at Nationals (Gio Gonzalez - L), 4:05
Pirates (Edinson Volquez - R) at Yankees (David Phelps - R), 4;05
White Sox (Hector Noesi - R) at Astros (Jarred Cosart - R), 4:10
Athletics (Scott Kazmir - L) at Indians (Josh Tomlin - R), 7:05
Reds (Homer Bailey - R) at Phillies (Cole Hamels - L), 7:05
Tigers (Rick Porcello - R) at Red Sox (John Lackey - R), 7:10
Orioles (Bud Norris - R) at Royals (Danny Duffy - L), 7:10
Mariners (Roenis Elias - L) at Twins (Samuel Deduno - R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle - L) at Rangers (Robbie Ross - L), 8:05
Padres (Robbie Erlin - L) at Rockies (Jordan Lyles - R), 8:10
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L) at Diamondbacks (Chase Anderson - R), 8:10
Rangers (Cesar Ramos - L) at Angels (C.J. Wilson - L), 9:05
Marlins (Tom Koehler - R) at Giants (Tim Lincecum - R), 9:05
Day Game After Night Game: ATL/STL, NYM/WAS, CWS/HOU
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN - (Quadriceps) Diagnosed with a strain after an MRI revealed no structural damage to his left knee.
Shane Victorino, OF, BOS - (Knee) Missed another start Friday and was sent for an MRI.
Ben Revere, OF, PHI - (Illness) Held out of Friday's lineup with a stomach virus.
Ichiro Suzuki, OF, NYY - (Back) Was available off the bench Thursday.
Players on the DL
Josh Hamilton, OF, LAA - (Thumb) Took live batting practice Thursday and is on track to begin a rehab assignment in 7-to-10 days.
Carlos Beltran, OF, NYY - (Elbow) Facing the possibility of a 12-week absence should he elect to undergo surgery.
Jose Fernandez, P, MIA - (Elbow) Underwent successful Tommy John surgery Friday.
Tony Cingrani, P, CIN - (Shoulder) Penciled in to start Sunday against the Phillies.
Wilin Rosario, C, COL - (Illness) Playing in rehab games Friday and Saturday and could come off the DL as soon as Sunday.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P, LAD - (Shoulder) Tossed 75 pitches in a simulated game Friday and could return to the Dodgers' rotation next week.
Jason Kipnis, 2B, CLE - (Oblique) Could head out on a minor league rehab assignment sometime next week.
Bryce Harper, OF, WAS - (Thumb) Set to visit a specialist next week for a follow-up exam.
David Freese, 3B, LAA - (Finger) Begins a minor league rehab assignment Saturday.
Nyjer Morgan, OF, CLE - (Knee) Surgery won't be necessary but there is no timetable for his return.
Matt Harrison, P, TEX - (Back) Intends to try to pitch again even if he needs spinal surgery.
Adam Eaton, OF, CWS - (Hamstring) Not expected back until Monday after Thursday's minor league rehab game was rained out.
Michael Pineda, P, NYY - (Ribs) Completed a 20-pitch bullpen session Friday and reported no pain.
Tyler Chatwood, P, COL - (Elbow) Treated with a PRP injection and could resume throwing late next week.
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, P, PHI - (Shoulder) Gave up three runs on six hits over five innings in his first rehab start for High-A Clearwater on Thursday.
Luke Putkonen, P, DET - (Elbow) Taken off his rehab assignment and will be examined by Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday.
Zach Rosscup, P, CHC - (Shoulder) Cleared of any structural damage by an MRI.
Bruce Chen, P, KC - (Back) Threw 16 pitches from a mound Wednesday.
Eury Perez, OF, WAS - (Toe) Recalled and placed on the 60-day DL with a fracture.
Out
Dioner Navarro, C, TOR - (Personal) Expected to return to the team Saturday.
Transactions - Players who have been called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Activated from the DL
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN
Placed on the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Eury Perez, OF, WAS (60-day DL)
Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Brad Brach, P, BAL
Greg Dobbs, 1B, WAS
Eury Perez, OF, WAS
Kyle Crockett, P, CLE (from Double-A)
Casey Coleman, P, KC
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Danny Salazar, P, CLE
Sandy Leon, C, WAS
Nick Christiani, P, CIN
Kevin Quackenbush, P, SD
Designated for Assignment
Justin Maxwell, OF, KC
Evan Meek, P, BAL
Jeff Francis, P, CIN
Closer Watch
Los Angeles Angels - After Ernesto Frieri picked up his fifth save of the season with a clean frame against the Phillies on Tuesday, manager Mike Scoscia turned to Joe Smith to nail down Wednesday's victory. Smith responded by retiring the side in order, in the process lowering his ERA and WHIP down to 2.65 and 1.00, respectively. It appears the duo will continue to share ninth-inning duties for the time being, but Frieri still seems like the slightly better bet for save chances, given he's averaged close to five more strikeouts per nine innings in his career than Smith has (12.2 K/9 against 7.4). Frieri has, however, had trouble keeping the ball in the yard this season (six homers in 17.1 innings) and if those issues persist, Smith could claim the role for himself.
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
P. Bourjos | OF | STL vs ATL 2:15PM | A. Harang | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | .462 | .462 | .923 | 1.385 |
J. Peralta | SS | STL vs ATL 2:15PM | A. Harang | 28 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | .357 | .379 | .679 | 1.058 |
R. Braun | OF | MIL @ CHC 2:20PM | E. Jackson | 25 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | .320 | .370 | .520 | .890 |
J. Lucroy | C | MIL @ CHC 2:20PM | E. Jackson | 26 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | .346 | .370 | .654 | 1.024 |
D. Wright | 3B | NYM @ WAS 4:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .286 | .450 | .714 | 1.164 |
K. Johnson | 2B | NYY vs PIT 4:05PM | E. Volquez | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | .333 | .467 | .417 | .883 |
R. Ludwick | OF | CIN @ PHI 7:05PM | C. Hamels | 20 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | .300 | .417 | .600 | 1.017 |
M. Byrd | OF | PHI vs CIN 7:05PM | H. Bailey | 16 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | .375 | .353 | .813 | 1.165 |
M. Napoli | 1B | BOS vs DET 7:10PM | R. Porcello | 12 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .333 | .385 | .667 | 1.051 |
M. Cabrera | 3B | DET @ BOS 7:10PM | J. Lackey | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .333 | .385 | .667 | 1.051 |
R. Davis | OF | DET @ BOS 7:10PM | J. Lackey | 28 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | .393 | .393 | .536 | .929 |
I. Kinsler | 2B | DET @ BOS 7:10PM | J. Lackey | 35 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1 | .429 | .488 | .857 | 1.345 |
V. Martinez | DH | DET @ BOS 7:10PM | J. Lackey | 27 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .407 | .484 | .444 | .928 |
A. Beltre | 3B | TEX vs TOR 8:05PM | M. Buehrle | 33 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | .364 | .364 | .515 | .879 |
S. Choo | OF | TEX vs TOR 8:05PM | M. Buehrle | 33 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | .424 | .472 | .606 | 1.078 |
G. Parra | OF | ARI vs LAD 8:10PM | C. Kershaw | 21 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .333 | .417 | .476 | .893 |
C. Ross | OF | ARI vs LAD 8:10PM | C. Kershaw | 23 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | .348 | .400 | .478 | .878 |
A. Ethier | OF | LAD @ ARI 8:10PM | J. Collmenter | 11 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .455 | .538 | .636 | 1.175 |
G. Jones | 1B | MIA @ SF 9:05PM | T. Lincecum | 17 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | .235 | .235 | .647 | .882 |
S. Rodriguez | SS | TB @ LAA 9:05PM | C. Wilson | 18 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | .333 | .455 | .500 | .955 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Gio Gonzalez | WAS vs NYM 4:05PM | 99 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 31 | .162 | .255 | .318 | .573 |
Scott Kazmir | OAK @ CLE 7:05PM | 104 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 27 | .125 | .187 | .190 | .376 |
Cole Hamels | PHI vs CIN 7:05PM | 79 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 17 | .203 | .284 | .381 | .664 |
Clayton Kershaw | LAD @ ARI 8:10PM | 167 | 35 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 47 | .210 | .266 | .296 | .562 |
Tim Lincecum | SF vs MIA 9:05PM | 63 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 26 | .206 | .275 | .371 | .646 |
C.J. Wilson | LAA vs TB 9:05PM | 117 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 31 | .214 | .333 | .332 | .666 |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
M. Holliday | OF | STL vs ATL 2:15PM | A. Harang | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | .115 | .179 | .115 | .294 |
E. Bonifacio | 2B | CHC vs MIL 2:20PM | M. Garza | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .357 | .357 | .357 | .714 |
L. Overbay | 1B | MIL @ CHC 2:20PM | E. Jackson | 30 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | .133 | .235 | .267 | .502 |
B. Abreu | OF | NYM @ WAS 4:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | .063 | .118 | .125 | .243 |
C. Granderson | OF | NYM @ WAS 4:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | .105 | .150 | .263 | .413 |
D. Murphy | 2B | NYM @ WAS 4:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .200 | .273 | .200 | .473 |
B. Phillips | 2B | CIN @ PHI 7:05PM | C. Hamels | 28 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | .143 | .172 | .286 | .458 |
J. Votto | 1B | CIN @ PHI 7:05PM | C. Hamels | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .143 | .250 | .214 | .464 |
A. Cabrera | SS | CLE vs OAK 7:05PM | S. Kazmir | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .000 | .143 | .000 | .143 |
D. Murphy | OF | CLE vs OAK 7:05PM | S. Kazmir | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .143 | .200 | .143 | .343 |
R. Raburn | OF | CLE vs OAK 7:05PM | S. Kazmir | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | .176 | .176 | .353 | .529 |
N. Swisher | 1B | CLE vs OAK 7:05PM | S. Kazmir | 35 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | .143 | .211 | .229 | .439 |
D. Brown | OF | PHI vs CIN 7:05PM | H. Bailey | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .091 | .091 | .182 | .273 |
J. Rollins | SS | PHI vs CIN 7:05PM | H. Bailey | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .188 | .188 | .188 | .375 |
D. Pedroia | 2B | BOS vs DET 7:10PM | R. Porcello | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .200 | .250 | .300 | .550 |
G. Sizemore | OF | BOS vs DET 7:10PM | R. Porcello | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .200 | .250 | .200 | .450 |
E. Andrus | SS | TEX vs TOR 8:05PM | M. Buehrle | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .125 | .222 | .250 | .472 |
A. Rios | OF | TEX vs TOR 8:05PM | M. Buehrle | 25 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | .160 | .222 | .280 | .502 |
P. Goldschmidt | 1B | ARI vs LAD 8:10PM | C. Kershaw | 23 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | .174 | .240 | .348 | .588 |
M. Montero | C | ARI vs LAD 8:10PM | C. Kershaw | 29 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | .207 | .207 | .310 | .517 |
A. Pollock | OF | ARI vs LAD 8:10PM | C. Kershaw | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .176 | .176 | .235 | .412 |
M. Prado | 3B | ARI vs LAD 8:10PM | C. Kershaw | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .115 | .148 | .115 | .264 |
J. Uribe | 3B | LAD @ ARI 8:10PM | J. Collmenter | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .200 | .273 | .300 | .573 |
R. Johnson | OF | MIA @ SF 9:05PM | T. Lincecum | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .091 | .167 | .182 | .348 |
C. McGehee | 3B | MIA @ SF 9:05PM | T. Lincecum | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .182 | .182 | .182 | .364 |
D. DeJesus | OF | TB @ LAA 9:05PM | C. Wilson | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .118 | .211 | .118 | .328 |
D. Jennings | OF | TB @ LAA 9:05PM | C. Wilson | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | .111 | .238 | .167 | .405 |
E. Longoria | 3B | TB @ LAA 9:05PM | C. Wilson | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | .158 | .360 | .316 | .676 |
J. Molina | C | TB @ LAA 9:05PM | C. Wilson | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | .188 | .188 | .313 | .500 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
John Lackey | BOS vs DET 7:10PM | 179 | 60 | 17 | 7 | 21 | 13 | 34 | .335 | .390 | .519 | .909 |
Josh Collmenter | ARI vs LAD 8:10PM | 69 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 17 | 6 | 12 | .348 | .406 | .715 | 1.121 |
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
Ichiro Suzuki, OF, NYY - Relegated to bench duty to open 2014, Suzuki quietly went 20-for-55 (.364 average) with nine runs scored and two steals in his first 30 games of the season. Carlos Beltran (elbow) is expected to miss at least six-to-eight weeks and could be out up to three months if surgery is ultimately deemed necessary, so the door is open for Suzuki to slot back in as an everyday player. The now 40-year-old Suzuki has been dealing with an injury of his own of late, a back issue that sprung up after a diving attempt last weekend, but he was available off the bench Thursday and is seemingly close to turning the page on the ailment. Zoilo Almonte isn't much of a threat to steal playing time, and as long as Suzuki can stay healthy, he should prove to be a buoy in batting average and runs.
Other Recent Recommendations:Anthony Gose, Darren O'Day, Johnny Giavotella and Rafael Montero
DraftStreet Value Picks
SP - Homer Bailey, CIN ($14,529)
C - Josmil Pinto, MIN ($5,218)
1B - Eric Hosmer, KC ($5,481)
2B - Jedd Gyorko, SD ($5,355)
SS - Ian Desmond, WAS ($5,466)
3B - Matt Carpenter, STL ($5,144)
OF - Ichiro Suzuki, NYY ($5,233)