This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Saturday's Starters
Cardinals (Joe Kelly -- R) at Cubs (Jeff Samardzija -- R), 1:05
Tigers (Anibal Sanchez -- R) at Blue Jays (Henderson Alvarez -- R), 1:07
Red Sox (Jon Lester -- L) at Yankees (CC Sabathia -- L), 4:05
Dodgers (Chad Billingsley -- R) at Giants (Barry Zito -- L), 4:05
Royals (Bruce Chen -- L) at Mariners (Kevin Millwood -- R), 4:10
Athletics (Bartolo Colon -- R) at Orioles (Tommy Hunter -- R), 7:05
Pirates (Erik Bedard -- L) at Astros (Armando Galarraga -- R), 7:05
Indians (Justin Masterson -- R) at Twins (Sam Deduno -- R), 7:10
Phillies (Joe Blanton -- R) at Braves (Mike Minor -- L), 7:10
Padres (Ross Ohlendorf -- R) at Marlins (Nathan Eovaldi -- R), 7:10
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann -- R) at Brewers (Randy Wolf -- L), 7:10
White Sox (Phil Humber -- R) at Rangers (Matt Harrison -- L), 8:05
Reds (Johnny Cueto -- R) at Rockies (Christian Friedrich -- L), 8:10
Mets (Chris Young -- R) at Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy -- R), 8:10
Rays (Matt Moore -- L) at Angels (C.J. Wilson -- L), 9:05
Day Game After A Night Game: DET/TOR, BOS/NYY, LAD/SF, KC/SEA
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Carlos Beltran, OF, STL (knee) -- Out of the lineup for the second consecutive game Friday but expected back Saturday.
Lance Berkman, 1B, STL (knee) -- Returned to lineup Friday after missing three straight starts.
Francisco Cordero, RP, HOU (toe) -- Unavailable for Friday's game.
Yunel Escobar, SS, TOR (back) -- Scratched from Friday's lineup with tightness.
David Freese, 3B, STL (calf) -- Held out of the starting lineup Friday, but was available for pinch-hitting duties.
Matt Garza, SP, CHC (triceps) -- MRI on Friday revealed fluid in triceps. Not expected to pitch until after July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL (ribs) -- In the lineup Friday and should be considered healthy going forward.
Adam Lind, 1B, TOR (back) -- Scratched from Friday's lineup with tightness.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD (wrist) -- Returned to starting lineup Friday for the first time in eight games.
Roy Oswalt, SP, TEX (back) -- Threw 50 pitches without issue Friday but will have start moved to Monday.
A.J. Pierzynski, C, CWS (shoulder) -- Not in lineup Friday but hopes to play Saturday.
Albert Pujols, 1B, LAA (elbow) -- Returned to lineup Friday against the Rays.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF (hamstring) -- Not in starting lineup Friday but injury is reportedly improving.
Nick Swisher, OF, NYY (hip) -- Out of the lineup Friday.
Matt Wieters, C, BAL (biceps) -- Out of Friday's lineup due to soreness.
Disabled List
Jason Castro, C, HOU (knee) -- Eyeing a return to the lineup in a week or two.
Jaime Garcia, SP, STL (shoulder) -- Threw two sets of 20 pitches to live hitters Friday.
Colby Lewis, SP, TEX (forearm) -- Had successful surgery Friday and will begin rehabbing next week.
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB (hamstring) -- Went 0-for-3 with a walk in his first rehab game with Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Jeff Niemann, SP, TB (ankle) -- Threw 50-pitch bullpen session Friday and said ankle "felt great."
David Ortiz, DH, BOS (Achilles) -- No longer wearing a boot on injured foot and expected to be activated when eligible next week.
Drew Smyly, SP, DET (rib strain) -- Threw a 50-pitch bullpen session Thursday.
Transactions
Called Up
Nathan Eovaldi, SP, MIA
Stephen Fife, SP, LAD
Donnie Murphy, 3B, MIA
Luis Perdomo, RP, MIN
Andrew Romine, C, LAA
Miguel Socolovich, RP, BAL
Sent Down (Triple-A unless otherwise noted)
Edwar Cabrera, SP, COL
Enerio Del Rosario, RP, HOU
Jean Segura, SS, MIL (assigned to Double-A Huntsville)
Ariel Pena, SP, MIL (assigned to Double-A Huntsville)
John Hellweg, SP, MIL (assigned to Double-A Huntsville)
Activated from the DL(15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Scott Elbert, P, LAD
Todd Helton, 1B, COL
Vernon Wells, OF, LAA (60-day DL)
Placed on the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Erick, Aybar, SS, LAA
Carl Pavano, SP, MIN (Transferred to 60-day DL)
Trevor Plouffe, OF, MIN
Traded
Zack Greinke, SP, from MIL to LAA
Jean Segura, SS, from LAA to MIL
Ariel Pena, SP, from LAA to MIL
John Hellweg, SP, from LAA to MIL
Designated for Assignment
Dana Eveland, P, BAL
Brock Kjeldgaard, OF, MIL
Edwin Maysonet, SS, MIL
Claimed off Waivers
Chuckie Fick, RP, HOU
Signed
Brian Broderick, P, WAS
Rusty Ryal, 2B, ATL
Released
Rick Ankiel, OF, WAS
Closer Watch
New York (NL) -- Bobby Parnell was superb in Thursday's save opportunity against the free-swinging Diamondbacks, striking out the side in a 3-1 victory. Though it was Parnell's best performance to date since being handed the ninth inning role after Frank Francisco hit the DL, he's blown two of his five save opportunities and gave up a run in another non-save situation. With Francisco (oblique) on the mend and expected to return next week, if not before the weekend ends, it doesn't look like Parnell has done enough to justify keeping him on as closer.
Pittsburgh -- Joel Hanrahan recorded his NL-leading 30th save of the season in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Astros. While he did surrender a run in the outing, he's still been one of the most dependable closers in baseball for a surprising Pirates squad.
Seattle -- Not enough can be said about how excellent Tom Wilhelmsen has been since overtaking the closer's role from Brandon League in early June. Since earning the role, he's 12 for 13 in save opportunities with the only blown save coming off an unearned run, lowering his ERA from 3.81 to 2.26 in the process. With 62 strikeouts in 51.2 innings this season, he's got the requisite K/9 rate that could make him a long-term answer at closer for the Mariners.
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kelly Johnson - 2B | TOR vs DET 7/28 1:07 PM | Anibal Sanchez | 4-13 | .308 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | .538 | .357 | .895 | |||||||
Mike Aviles - 2B | BOS @ NYY 7/28 4:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 5-10 | .500 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .600 | .500 | 1.100 | |||||||
Jerry Hairston Jr. - 3B | LAD @ SF 7/28 4:05 PM | Barry Zito | 4-12 | .333 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | .667 | .529 | 1.196 | |||||||
Matt Kemp - OF | LAD @ SF 7/28 4:05 PM | Barry Zito | 19-46 | .413 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | .543 | .491 | 1.034 | |||||||
Buster Posey - C | SF vs LAD 7/28 4:05 PM | Chad Billingsley | 8-19 | .421 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .474 | .421 | .895 | |||||||
Nate Schierholtz - OF | SF vs LAD 7/28 4:05 PM | Chad Billingsley | 6-14 | .429 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .714 | .467 | 1.181 | |||||||
Alex Gordon - OF | KC @ SEA 7/28 4:10 PM | Kevin Millwood | 5-18 | .278 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | .611 | .316 | .927 | |||||||
Kurt Suzuki - C | OAK @ BAL 7/28 7:05 PM | Tommy Hunter | 5-13 | .385 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .538 | .385 | .923 | |||||||
Chipper Jones - 3B | ATL vs PHI 7/28 7:10 PM | Joe Blanton | 6-17 | .353 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | .529 | .421 | .950 | |||||||
Brian McCann - C | ATL vs PHI 7/28 7:10 PM | Joe Blanton | 8-20 | .400 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .700 | .500 | 1.200 | |||||||
Martin Prado - OF | ATL vs PHI 7/28 7:10 PM | Joe Blanton | 6-16 | .375 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .750 | .375 | 1.125 | |||||||
Justin Morneau - 1B | MIN vs CLE 7/28 7:10 PM | Justin Masterson | 5-12 | .417 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .750 | .462 | 1.212 | |||||||
Denard Span - OF | MIN vs CLE 7/28 7:10 PM | Justin Masterson | 5-14 | .357 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | .643 | .526 | 1.169 | |||||||
Adam LaRoche - 1B | WAS @ MIL 7/28 7:10 PM | Randy Wolf | 7-22 | .318 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | .500 | .400 | .900 | |||||||
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B | WAS @ MIL 7/28 7:10 PM | Randy Wolf | 4-11 | .364 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .455 | .417 | .872 | |||||||
Stephen Drew - SS | ARI vs NYM 7/28 8:10 PM | Chris Young | 4-13 | .308 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | .462 | .471 | .933 | |||||||
Justin Upton - OF | ARI vs NYM 7/28 8:10 PM | Chris Young | 4-10 | .400 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .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 | |||||||||
Barry Zito | SF vs LAD 7/28 4:05 PM | Dodgers Batters | 45-205 | .219 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 41 | .310 | .308 | .619 | |||||||
CC Sabathia | NYY vs BOS 7/28 4:05 PM | Red Sox Batters | 42-186 | .226 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 45 | .270 | .290 | .560 | |||||||
Kevin Millwood | SEA vs KC 7/28 4:10 PM | Royals Batters | 23-99 | .232 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 16 | .323 | .273 | .596 |
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carl Crawford - OF | BOS @ NYY 7/28 4:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 16-58 | .276 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | .362 | .288 | .650 | |||||||
Jacoby Ellsbury - OF | BOS @ NYY 7/28 4:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 1-13 | .077 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .077 | .077 | .154 | |||||||
Adrian Gonzalez - 1B | BOS @ NYY 7/28 4:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .200 | .429 | .629 | |||||||
Dustin Pedroia - 2B | BOS @ NYY 7/28 4:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 4-26 | .154 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | .154 | .241 | .395 | |||||||
Nick Punto - 2B | BOS @ NYY 7/28 4:05 PM | CC Sabathia | 6-36 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | .194 | .211 | .405 | |||||||
Andre Ethier - OF | LAD @ SF 7/28 4:05 PM | Barry Zito | 5-31 | .161 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | .194 | .325 | .519 | |||||||
James Loney - 1B | LAD @ SF 7/28 4:05 PM | Barry Zito | 2-28 | .071 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .071 | .071 | .142 | |||||||
Hanley Ramirez - SS | LAD @ SF 7/28 4:05 PM | Barry Zito | 1-16 | .063 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .125 | .167 | .292 | |||||||
Juan Uribe - 3B | LAD @ SF 7/28 4:05 PM | Barry Zito | 2-19 | .105 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .105 | .150 | .255 | |||||||
Nick Swisher - OF | NYY vs BOS 7/28 4:05 PM | Jon Lester | 4-25 | .160 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | .480 | .290 | .770 | |||||||
Mark Teixeira - 1B | NYY vs BOS 7/28 4:05 PM | Jon Lester | 4-24 | .167 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | .292 | .231 | .523 | |||||||
Manny Burriss - SS | SF vs LAD 7/28 4:05 PM | Chad Billingsley | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .200 | .273 | .473 | |||||||
Pablo Sandoval - 3B | SF vs LAD 7/28 4:05 PM | Chad Billingsley | 6-33 | .182 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | .242 | .229 | .471 | |||||||
Yuniesky Betancourt - SS | KC @ SEA 7/28 4:10 PM | Kevin Millwood | 8-49 | .163 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | .163 | .208 | .371 | |||||||
Chone Figgins - 3B | SEA vs KC 7/28 4:10 PM | Bruce Chen | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .250 | .154 | .404 | |||||||
Chris Snyder - C | HOU vs PIT 7/28 7:05 PM | Wandy Rodriguez | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | .167 | .231 | .398 | |||||||
Dan Uggla - 2B | ATL vs PHI 7/28 7:10 PM | Joe Blanton | 3-19 | .158 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | .211 | .273 | .484 | |||||||
Mark DeRosa - 3B | WAS @ MIL 7/28 7:10 PM | Randy Wolf | 4-24 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .167 | .259 | .426 | |||||||
Chris Young - OF | ARI vs NYM 7/28 8:10 PM | Chris Young | 0-16 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | .000 | .158 | .158 | |||||||
Andres Torres - OF | NYM @ ARI 7/28 8:10 PM | Ian Kennedy | 3-17 | .176 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .235 | .176 | .411 | |||||||
Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Joe Blanton | PHI @ Atl 7/28 7:10 PM | Braves Batters | 33-109 | .303 | 6 | 10 | 19 | 8 | 14 | .502 | .355 | .857 | |||||||
Recommended Pickup
Chris Davis, 1B/3B/OF, BAL -- A much-hyped sleeper pick going into 2009 after mashing 17 homers in 295 at-bats during his rookie season with the Rangers in 2008, Davis' propensity for striking out never allowed the lofty praise to be realized during his tenure with Texas. The team finally cut bait by trading him to the Orioles last season, giving the team a much-needed power bat. Although his strikeouts (97 in 310 at-bats) do damage to his batting average (.258), Davis still has 16 homers and 47 RBI on the season as of this writing. Those numbers essentially make Davis a poor man's Adam Dunn, albeit with a slightly higher batting average, a lower walk rate, but best of all, multi-position eligibility. Though he hasn't logged a game at third base this season, he is likely eligible at the position after suiting up at the hot corner in 26 contests last season. In addition, he has started enough games in the outfield and at first base this season that he should have three-position eligibility in most leagues. Davis' versatility and power numbers should make him a more sought after commodity in fantasy leagues, but as of now, he is owned in just 61 percent of CBS leagues, 48 percent of ESPN, and 44 percent of Yahoo! leagues, respectively.
Other recent recommendations:Starling Marte, Matt Harvey, Travis Snider, Casper Wells and Lorenzo Cain
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DraftStreet Lineup
C -- John Jaso, SEA ($6,221)
1B -- Prince Fielder, DET ($8,629)
2B -- Dustin Pedroia, BOS ($6,260)
3B -- Mike Moustakas, KC ($6,540)
SS -- Jhonny Peralta, DET ($5,960)
OF -- Yoenis Cespedes, OAK ($9,673)
OF -- Andrew McCutchen, PIT ($9,517)
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UT -- Logan Morrison, MIA ($4,798)
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RP -- Joe Nathan, TEX ($2,692)
P -- Randy Wolf, MIL ($8,518)
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