Sunday Lineup Card: The Cardinal Effect

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen - L) at Yankees (Andy Pettitte - L), 1:05
Royals (James Shields - R) at Blue Jays (J.A. Happ - L), 1:07
Indians (Danny Salazar - R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander - R), 1:08
White Sox (Andre Rienzo - R) at Red Sox (Felix Doubront - L), 1:35
Cardinals (Joe Kelly - R) at Pirates (Kris Johnson - L), 1:35
Angels (C.J. Wilson - L) at Brewers (Kyle Lohse - R), 2:10
Mariners (Hisashi Iwakuma - R) at Astros (Brett Oberholtzer - L), 2:10
Phillies (Kyle Kendrick - R) at Cubs (Jake Arriera - R) 2:20
Twins (Kevin Correia - R) at Rangers (Travis Blackley - L), 3:05
Rays (Roberto Hernandez - R) at Athletics (A.J. Griffin - R), 4:05
Reds (Mike Leake - R) at Rockies (Tyler Chatwood - R), 4:10
Padres (Tyson Ross - R) at Dodgers (Zack Grienke - R), 4:10
Giants (Yusmeiro Petit - R) at Diamondbacks (Patrick Corbin - L), 4:10
Marlins (Nathan Eovaldi - R) at Braves (Alex Wood - L), 5:00
Mets (Jon Niese - L) at Nationals (Ross Ohlendorf - R), 8:05

Day Game After Night Game: STL/PIT, CLE/DET, LAA/MIL, CWS/BOS, SEA/HOU, MIN/TEX, CIN/COL, SF/ARZ, TB/OAK, SD/LAA

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Ike Davis, 1B, NYM - (Oblique) Suffered strain Saturday meaning his season could be over.
Josh Hamilton, OF, LAA - (Shoulder) Was available as a pinch hitter Saturday.
Michael Saunders, OF, SEA - (Hamstring) Didn't start Saturday because of tightness.
Yonder Alonso, 1B, SD - (Hand) Could miss seven-to-ten days.
Chase Headley, 3B, SD - (Back) Was out of the lineup Saturday for the third straight game.
Justin Upton, OF, ATL - (Hand) Will be in the lineup Sunday.
Mike Carp, OF, BOS - (Shoulder) Missed Saturday's game more because of the pitching match up than injury.
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, DET - (Abdomen) Didn't start Saturday.
Dominic Brown, OF, PHI - (Achilles) Undergoes an MRI on Monday.
Cody Ashe, 3B, PHI - (Hamstring) Didn't start Saturday.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY - (Illness) Was scratched from Saturday's lineup with flu-like symptons.
Eduardo Nunez, SS, NYY - (Knee) Was expected to be available for Saturday's games.

Players on the DL

Jason Grilli, P, PIT - (Forearm) Pitched scoreless inning in rehab game Saturday.
Nick Tepesch, P, TEX - (Elbow) Expected to come off disabled list Sunday.
Matt Kemp, OF, LAD - (Ankle) Looks like he won't return Sunday.
Sean Marshall, P, CIN - (Shoulder) Scheduled for a bullpen session Sunday.
Johnny Cueto, P, CIN - (Back) To be examined Monday.
Matt Cain, P, SF - (Forearm) On track to start next Saturday.
Alexi Ogando, P, TEX - (Shoulder) Pitched bullpen session Saturday with another one scheduled for Monday.
Luke Scott, DH, TB - (Back) Was cleared to return from the disabled list Sunday.
Cody Ross, OF, ARZ - (Hip) Surgery is expected to sideline him until the middle of spring training.
Octavio Dotel, P, DET - (Elbow) Left rehab appearance with an arm issue.
Scott Baker, P, CHC - (Elbow) Threw bullpen session Friday.
Ryan Sweeney, OF, CHC - (Ribs) Likely to be recalled Sunday.
Luis Valbuena, 3B, CHC - (Oblique) Likely to be recalled Sunday.
Rafael Dolis, P, CHC - (Forearm) Should return to bigs at some point in September.
Dustin McGowan, P, TOR - (Oblique) Expected to rejoin the Blue Jays on Sunday.
Steve Delabar, P, TOR - (Shoulder) Expected to be rejoin the Blue Jays on Saunday.
Steve Pearce, OF, BAL - (Wrist) Placed on the disabled list Saturday.
Felipe Paulino, P, KC - (Elbow) Was pulled from rehab assignment Saturday.
Brandon Morrow, P, TOR - (Forearm) Attempting to avoid surgery.
Jake Westbrook, P, STL - (Back) Threw second bullpen session of the week Friday.
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS - (Shoulder) Threw 53 pitches Friday in his second rehab start.
John Lannan, P, PHI - (Knee) Transferred to 60-day disabled list.

Placed on the DL

Steve Pearce, OF, BAL

Activated from the DL

Jason Kubel, OF, CLE
Kyle Blanks, OF, SD

Called Up

Jose Constanza, OF, ATL
Josmil Pinto, C, MIN
Phil Coke, P, DET
Hernan Perez, 2B, DET
Stolmy Pimentel, P, PIT

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

Evan Gattis, C, ATL
Carlos Carrasco, P, CLE
Anthony Bass, P, SD
Jeremy Boderman, P, DET
Luke Putkonen, P, DET
Jared Hughes, P, PIT
Andrew Lambo, P, PIT

Traded

Justin Morneau, 1B, PIT (from MIN)
Alex Presley, OF, MIN (from PIT)

Closer Watch

Mets - LaTroy Hawkins recorded his sixth save of the season Friday when he pitched a perfect ninth inning in a one-run game. Hawkins now has two appearances under his belt without giving up a run after getting torched for five earned runs in a blowout loss to the Tigers. Hawkins seems to be the man in terms of save situations for the Mets, and is looking like a legitimate fantasy option with the Mets save leader this season, Bobby Parnell, out.

Braves - With Craig Kimbrel out after pitching in three straight games Anthony Varvaro got his first career save Friday. Varvaro got the last six outs against the Marlins where he only gave up one hit, no walks while needing only seventeen pitches. This save should just be an anomaly for Varvaro as Kimbrel is entrenched into the Braves closer role.

Key Matchups

Joe Kelly, P, STL - While Kelly may not strike out that many batters, 4.8 SO/9 as a starter, he doesn't give up many runs, 2.17 ERA as a starter, and when a starting pitcher does that for a team that is as good as the Cardinals are then he will pick up some wins, six in ten starts. Wins are one of the harder stats to find, and Kelly has all six of his wins in his last eight starts, so there is no reason why he shouldn't be picked up as a spot starter in any league that he is still available.

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C - Brayan Pena, DET ($5,962)
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