Sunday Lineup Card: Introducing Charlie Blackmon

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)

Astros (Erik Bedard - L) at Indians (Corey Kluber - R), 1:05
Giants (Yusmeiro Petit - R) at Yankees (Andy Pettitte - L), 1:05
White Sox (Erik Johnson - R) at Tigers (Anibal Sanchez - R), 1:08
Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R) at Pirates (Jeff Locke - L), 1:35
Marlins (Brian Flynn - L) at Nationals (Dan Haren - R), 1:35
Mets (Carlos Torres - R) at Phillies (Cliff Lee - L), 1:35
Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey - R) at Red Sox (Felix Doubront - L), 1:35
Orioles (Scott Feldman - R) at Rays (TBA), 1:40
Rangers (Alexi Ogando - R) at Royals (James Shields - R), 2:10
Braves (Julio Teheran - R) at Cubs (Edwin Jackson - R), 2:20
Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) at Angels (C.J. Wilson - L), 3:35
Twins (Cole De Vries - R) at Athletics (Sonny Gray - R), 4:05
Diamondbacks (Patrick Corbin - L) at Rockies (Juan Nicasio - R), 4:10
Dodgers (Zack Grienke - R) at Padres (Andrew Cashner - R), 4:10
Cardinals (Joe Kelly - R) at Brewers (Wily Peralta - R), 8:05

Day Game After Night Game: HOU/CLE, CIN/PIT, MIA/WAS, NYM/PHI, CWS/DET, KC/TEX, TOR/BOS, ARZ/COL, LAD/SD, SEA/LAA

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Allen Craig, 1B, STL - (Foot) Probably will miss the remainder of the regular season.
Andre Ethier, OF, LAD - (Ankle) Wasn't in the starting lineup Saturday.
Jose Iglesias, SS, DET - (Hand) Was available to pinch run Saturday.
Bruce Rondon, P, DET - (Elbow) Will throw bullpen session Sunday.
Dayan Viciedo, OF, CWS - (Personal) Given time off to spend time with newborn son.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF - (Back) Left Saturday's game with tightness.
Jean Segura, SS, MIL - (Hamstring) Out for third straight game Saturday.
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, CIN - (Thumb) Was out Saturday after jamming thumb on a base Friday.
Starling Marte, OF, PIT - (Hand) Wasn't in the starting lineup Saturday.
Josh WIllingham, OF, MIN - (Foot) Didn't start Saturday, but was available off the bench.
Anthony Swarzak, P, MIN - (Personal) Is out for the weekend to tend to a family issue.
Wilin Rosario, C, COL - (Calf) Could return Sunday.
Joaquin Arias, SS, SF - (Hamstring) Likely to miss at least a couple days.
Robbie Grossman, OF, HOU - (Oblique) Hit off a tee Friday.
Justin Turner, 2B, NYM - (Hamstring) Hasn't been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Marco Scutaro, 2B, SF - (Finger) Missed fifth game in a row Saturday.
Andre Rienzo, P, CWS - (Finger) Will likely make another start or two this season.

Players on the DL

Yasmani Grandal, C, SD - (Knee) Optimistic he will be ready by spring training.
Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR - (Eye) Placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday.
Casey Kelly, P, SD - (Elbow) Has been playing catch from 60 feet.
Chad Gaudin, P, SF - (Illness) Doubtful to return this season.
Brandon Beachy, P, ATL - (Elbow) Has not received clearance to throw off a mound.

Called Up

Zach Britton, P, BAL
Mike Belfiore, P, BAL
Jeff Beliveau, P, TB

Closer Watch

Indians - Bryan Shaw got his first save of the season Friday night in a rain shortened game. Consider this more of a statistical anomaly, with pitchers such as Joe Smith, Marc Rzepczynski, Cody Allenand maybe even Vinnie Pestano will be considered for a save situation ahead of Shaw if Chris Perez is unavailable.

Pirates - Mark Melancon blew two saves in a row with the second being Friday when he gave up a three-run lead against the Reds in a game the Pirates lost eventually in the tenth. Melancon has an ERA of 1.30 over 69 innings through Friday, which is the fourth best amongst pitchers with at least 60 innings pitched, sixth best amongst pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched, and ninth best amongst pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched. The only thing that will cause Melancon to lose the closer job before Jason Grili returns would be if he blew a save in another couple games in a row at this point.

Cardinals - Carlos Martinez got his first career save Friday when he pitched a perfect tenth inning. Edward Mujica was charged with two runs allowed in the ninth inning which was good enough to tie the game. One of those runs came when Mujica was on the mound, and the other was when John Axford allowed the tying run in after Mujica was pulled with the bases loaded and one out to go. It isn't much of a stretch to say that this is likely to be Martinez's first and last save of the season unless something drastic happens.

Key Matchups

Charlie Blackmon, OF, COL - While Blackmon's numbers for this year don't scream at an owner to swoop him off the waiver wire, he has been on a seven game hitting streak through Friday which has seen him hit .424 with a 1.091 OPS. There are some interesting numbers that jump out while looking at Blackmon's splits, with the first being the fact that he has steadily been raising his average from month to month, with an average of .240 in May, .243 in July, .316 in August, and .329 in September thus far. The other and far more intriguing stat is that he hits just as well at home at Coors Field, .305 average and .778 OPS, than he does on the road, .294 average and .796 OPS. Blackmon is also eligible at all three outfield positions in just about any format, which is just another reason to consider him for a pickup.

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C - Chris Iannetta, LAA ($5,257)
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