This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Athletics (Jesse Chavez - R) at Indians (Justin Masterson - R), 1:05
Pirates (Charlie Morton - R) at Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 1:05
Pirates (Gerrit Cole - R) at Yankees (Vidal Nuno - L), TBD
Reds (Tony Cingrani - L) at Phillies (Cliff Lee - L), 1:35
Mets (Zack Wheeler - R) at Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann - R), 1:35
Orioles (Ubaldo Jimenez - R) at Royals (James Shields - R), 2:10
White Sox (John Danks - L) at Astros (Brad Peacock - R), 2:10
Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) at Twins (Ricky Nolasco - R), 2:10
Braves (Gavin Floyd - R) at Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L), 2:15
Brewers (Marco Estrada - R) at Cubs (Travis Wood - L), 2:20
Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey - R) at Rangers (Nick Martinez - R), 3:05
Rays (David Price - L) at Angels (Matt Shoemaker - R), 3:35
Marlins (Jacob Turner - R) at Giants (Ryan Vogelsong - R), 4:05
Dodgers (Dan Haren - R) at Diamondbacks (Josh Collmenter - R), 4:10
Padres (Donn Roach - R) at Rockies (Juan Nicasio - R), 4:10
Tigers (Anibal Sanchez - R) at Red Sox (Jake Peavy - R), 8:05
Day Game After Night Game: CIN/PHI, OAK/CLE, BAL/KC, SEA/MIN, TOR/TEX, LAD/ARZ, SD/COL, MIA/SF, TB/LAA
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Tim Hudson, P, SF - (Hip) Should be fine for next start according to manager.
Ryan Hanigan, C, TB - (Hamstring) Cited soreness as reason for missing Saturday's game.
Aaron Hill, 2B, ARZ - (Shoulder) Was a late scratch Saturday.
Prince Fielder, 1B, TEX - (Neck) Herniated disc will cause him to miss at least two games.
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN - (Quadriceps) Manager hopeful he will return soon.
Ben Revere, OF, PHI - (Illness) Missed second straight game Saturday because of a stomach virus.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, NYY - (Illness) Didn't start Saturday and is day-to-day.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL - (Back) Was a late scratch Saturday with tightness.
Players on the DL
Jay Bruce, OF, CIN - (Knee) Said Saturday hitting feels more normal than in a long time.
Andrew Cashner, P, SD - (Elbow) Placed on 15-day DL on Saturday and will have MRI Monday.
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, BOS - (Finger) Sent to DL on Saturday with a broken finger.
Adam LaRoche, 1B, WAS - (Quadriceps) "Shocked" at improvement Friday after stretching.
Jason Grilli, P, PIT - (Oblique) Will have to prove he can pitch on back-to-back days.
Stolmy Pimentel, P, PIT - (Shoulder) Threw bullpen session Saturday.
Justin Ruggiano, OF, CHC - (Hamstring) Will start rehab assignment in the near future at Triple-A.
Ryan Sweeney, OF, CHC - (Hamstring) Suffered setback in recovery.
J.J. Putz, P, ARZ - (Forearm) Is about two weeks away from being able to return.
Mark Trumbo, ARZ - (Foot) X-ray on Friday showed significant healing.
Derek Holland, P, TEX - (Knee) Threw bullpen session Saturday after a simulated game Thursday.
Placed on the DL
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB (Bereavement List)
Andrew Cashner, P, SD
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, BOS
Activated Fom the DL
Dioner Navarro, C, TOR (from Bereavement List)
Called Up
Kevin Kiermaier, OF, TB
T.J. House, P, CLE
Brock Holt, 3B, BOS
Kevin Quackenbush, P, SD
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Paul Clemens, P, HOU
Ethan Martin, P, PHI
Henry Rodriguez, P, MIA
Daric Barton, 1B, OAK
C.C. Lee, P, CLE
Evan Meek, P, PIT
Signed
Kyle Farnsworth, P, HOU
Jayson Nix, SS, TB
Closer Watch
Rays - Grant Balfour has not been the consistent force that the front office in Tampa Bay were hoping for after signing him as a free agent who just finished a season with 38 saves for Oakland. Having pitched in a save situation Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week he accumulated three earned runs, two walks, one hit, but also two saves. Wednesday and Friday Balfour pitched perfect ninths and earned a save in each, but on Thursday his stat line looked really shaky partially because he was pulled after loading the bases and then, his replacement allowed them in. There is no way of knowing if Balfour could have worked himself out of that jam, but it must not have affected him much because the next day he was perfect against the same team. The closer role is Balfour's for now, but he will have to prove that he can improve his command as he has more walks, 14, than strikeouts, 12, in 16.1 innings in 2014.
Key Matchups
Hot Batter Matchups – May 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Y. Cespedes | OF | OAK @ CLE 1:05PM | J. Masterson | 17 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .294 | .333 | .529 | .863 |
| J. Jaso | C | OAK @ CLE 1:05PM | J. Masterson | 16 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | .313 | .389 | .813 | 1.201 |
| B. Phillips | 2B | CIN @ PHI 1:35PM | C. Lee | 31 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .323 | .333 | .581 | .914 |
| J. Votto | 1B | CIN @ PHI 1:35PM | C. Lee | 19 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .421 | .421 | .632 | 1.053 |
| D. Murphy | 2B | NYM @ WAS 1:35PM | J. Zimmermann | 38 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .316 | .333 | .658 | .991 |
| A. Jones | OF | BAL @ KC 2:10PM | J. Shields | 42 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 7 | .310 | .326 | .548 | .873 |
| E. Hosmer | 1B | KC vs BAL 2:10PM | U. Jimenez | 23 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | .391 | .517 | .652 | 1.169 |
| J. Mauer | C | MIN vs SEA 2:10PM | F. Hernandez | 33 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | .424 | .486 | .727 | 1.214 |
| K. Suzuki | C | MIN vs SEA 2:10PM | F. Hernandez | 35 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | .314 | .385 | .514 | .899 |
| C. Hart | 1B | SEA @ MIN 2:10PM | R. Nolasco | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | .333 | .353 | .533 | .886 |
| J. Peralta | SS | STL vs ATL 2:15PM | G. Floyd | 39 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 11 | .308 | .386 | .513 | .899 |
| S. Castro | SS | CHC vs MIL 2:20PM | M. Estrada | 21 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .381 | .381 | .571 | .952 |
| R. Braun | OF | MIL @ CHC 2:20PM | T. Wood | 22 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | .318 | .348 | .636 | .984 |
| A. Rios | OF | TEX vs TOR 3:05PM | R. Dickey | 15 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .267 | .353 | .667 | 1.020 |
| A. Hill | 2B | ARI vs LAD 4:10PM | D. Haren | 28 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | .321 | .345 | .643 | .988 |
| C. Figgins | OF | LAD @ ARI 4:10PM | B. Arroyo | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .353 | .368 | .588 | .957 |
| M. Kemp | OF | LAD @ ARI 4:10PM | B. Arroyo | 26 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | .423 | .483 | .654 | 1.137 |
| H. Ramirez | SS | LAD @ ARI 4:10PM | B. Arroyo | 24 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | .333 | .333 | .583 | .917 |
| C. Headley | 3B | SD @ COL 4:10PM | J. Nicasio | 15 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | .400 | .400 | .800 | 1.200 |
| M. Cabrera | 3B | DET @ BOS 8:05PM | J. Peavy | 45 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 14 | .289 | .347 | .511 | .858 |
| T. Hunter | OF | DET @ BOS 8:05PM | J. Peavy | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | .438 | .471 | .813 | 1.283 |
| A. Jackson | OF | DET @ BOS 8:05PM | J. Peavy | 28 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | .321 | .367 | .571 | .938 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – May 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Justin Masterson | CLE vs OAK 1:05PM | 149 | 33 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 11 | 20 | .221 | .279 | .422 | .701 |
| Marco Estrada | MIL @ CHC 2:20PM | 94 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 26 | .202 | .248 | .438 | .686 |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Batter Matchups – May 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| A. Callaspo | 3B | OAK @ CLE 1:05PM | J. Masterson | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | .174 | .269 | .217 | .487 |
| J. Reddick | OF | OAK @ CLE 1:05PM | J. Masterson | 21 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | .190 | .227 | .476 | .703 |
| L. Duda | OF | NYM @ WAS 1:35PM | J. Zimmermann | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | .167 | .250 | .222 | .472 |
| N. Cruz | OF | BAL @ KC 2:10PM | J. Shields | 17 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | .235 | .278 | .412 | .690 |
| J. Hardy | SS | BAL @ KC 2:10PM | J. Shields | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .133 | .316 | .200 | .516 |
| A. Escobar | SS | KC vs BAL 2:10PM | U. Jimenez | 25 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | .160 | .241 | .240 | .481 |
| M. Moustakas | 3B | KC vs BAL 2:10PM | U. Jimenez | 26 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | .154 | .214 | .231 | .445 |
| S. Perez | C | KC vs BAL 2:10PM | U. Jimenez | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .125 | .125 | .125 | .250 |
| J. Kubel | OF | MIN vs SEA 2:10PM | F. Hernandez | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .136 | .208 | .136 | .345 |
| A. Rizzo | 1B | CHC vs MIL 2:20PM | M. Estrada | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .056 | .056 | .056 | .111 |
| C. Gomez | OF | MIL @ CHC 2:20PM | T. Wood | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | .188 | .316 | .375 | .691 |
| R. Weeks | 2B | MIL @ CHC 2:20PM | T. Wood | 21 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .095 | .240 | .238 | .478 |
| H. Kendrick | 2B | LAA vs TB 3:35PM | D. Price | 23 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | .217 | .250 | .304 | .554 |
| A. Gonzalez | 1B | LAD @ ARI 4:10PM | B. Arroyo | 32 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .156 | .206 | .250 | .456 |
| A. Avila | C | DET @ BOS 8:05PM | J. Peavy | 21 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .190 | .320 | .381 | .701 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – May 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | |||||
| There are no pitchers who qualify as "cold" today. | |||||||||||||||||
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
Ryan Vogelsong, P, SF - While Vogelsong gave up four runs in his second loss of the season Tuesday, he did show signs of fantasy value by striking out eight Braves over those six innings. In the three starts before that Vogelsong looked dominant by going a combined 20.1 innings, striking out 14, and giving up only two runs in the process. In deeper fantasy leagues Vogelsong should at least be looked at for a spot start Sunday against a Marlins team that has only won five out of 21 road games in 2014. A consistent starting pitcher is a valuable commodity in fantasy baseball, and if Vogelsong can bounce back from his last start with a strong performance against Miami he may be worth picking up off the waiver wire for teams looking for more starting pitching depth in most formats of fantasy baseball.
Other Recent Recommendations:Ichiro Suzuki, Anthony Gose, Darren O'Day, Johnny Giavotella, and Rafael Montero
DraftStreet Value Picks
C - Yan Gomes, CLE ($5,900)
1B - Joe Mauer, MIN ($5,351)
2B - Brandon Phillips, CIN ($4,557)
3B - Mike Olt, CHC ($5,392)
SS - Jean Segura, MIL ($5,920)
OF - Junior Lake, CHC ($4,189)
SP - Brad Peacock, HOU ($10,426)
