This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L) at Blue Jays (Drew Hutchinson - R), 1:07
Phillies (David Buchanan - R) at Reds (Homer Bailey - R), 1:10
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - R) at Pirates (Jeff Locke - L), 1:35
Athletics (Scott Kazmir - L) at Orioles (Ubaldo Jimenez - R), 1:35
Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) at Rays (Chris Archer - R), 1:40
Astros (Collin McHugh - R) at Twins (Samuel Deduno - R), 2:10
Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda - R) at Royals (James Shields - R), 2:10
Marlins (Henderson Alvarez - R) at Cubs (Jake Arrieta - R), 2:20
Indians (Justin Masterson - R) at Rangers (Joe Saunders - L), 3:05
White Sox (Jose Quintana - L) at Angels (C.J. Wilson - L), 3:35
Mets (Zack Wheeler - R) at Giants (Tim Lincecum - R), 4:05
Braves (Aaron Harang - R) at Diamondbacks (Chase Anderson - R), 4:10
Dodgers (Clayton Kersaw - L) at Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa - L), 4:10
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann - R) at Padres (Eric Stults - L), 4:10
Red Sox (John Lackey - R) at Tigers (Anibal Sanchez - R), 8:07
Day Game After Night Game: NYY/KC, OAK/BAL, CWS/LAA, NYM/SF, ATL/ARZ, and WAS/SD
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Gerrit Cole, P, PIT - (Shoulder) Will miss Monday's scheduled start due to fatigue.
Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS - (Thumb) Wasn't in Saturday's lineup even though X-rays were negative.
Yasiel Puig, OF, LAD - (Hip) Exited Saturday in the fifth inning due to a hip flexor.
Dee Gordon, SS, LAD - (Hip) Left Saturday's game in the fourth because of discomfort.
Alex Avila, C, DET - (Concussion) Had to make it through pregame workouts to be cleared to play.
Wilin Rosario, C, COL - (Illness) Scratched from Saturday's lineup.
Michael Saunders, OF, SEA - (Shoulder) Didn't start Saturday after Friday's injury.
Justin Smoak, 1B, SEA - (Quadcriceps) Wasn't in Saturday's starting lineup.
Oswaldo Arcia, OF, MIN - (Ankle) Didn't start Saturday.
Kolten Wong, 2B, STL - (Shouler) Missed second straight start Sunday.
Jonathan Villar, SS, HOU - (Elbow) Missed fouth consecutive start Saturday.
Players on the DL
Gio Gonzalez, P, WAS - (Shoulder) Will make another rehab start on June 12.
Tyler Thornburg, P, MIL - (Elbow) Placed on the 15-day disabled list due to soreness.
Mike Adams, P, PHI - (Shoulder) Placed on the 15-day DL due to inflammation.
Tom Gorzelanny, P, MIL - (Shoudler) Manager encouraged after Friday's rehab appearance.
Mike Napoli, 1B, BOS - (Finger) Scheduled to start Sunday at first base.
Ryan Sweeney, OF, CHC - (Hamstring) Could begin rehab assignment next week.
Zach Rosscup, P, CHC - (Shoudler) Rehab assignment was scheduled to start Saturday.
Chad Billingsley, P, LAD - (Elbow) Begins rehab assignment Sunday.
Nick Swisher, 1B, CLE - (Knee) Ran the bases Saturday for first time since his injury.
A.J. Ellis, C, LAD - (Ankle) Participated in agility drills Saturday.
Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR - (Hamstring) Begins rehab assingment in the next few days.
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN - (Quadriceps) Will begin rehab assignment on Sunday.
J.J. Putz, P, ARZ - (Forearm) Gave up a hit and two walks over one inning in recent rehab game.
Mark Trumbo, OF, ARZ - (Foot) Took batting practice for the first time since injury.
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS - (Knee) Threw a simulated game Saturday.
Activated From the DL
Andrew Cashner, P, SD
Placed on the DL
Tyler Thornberg, P, MIL
Mike Adams, P, PHI
Called Up
Kevin Gausman, P, BAL
Kirby Yates, P, TB
Cory Rasmus, OF, LAA
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Tim Berry, P, BAL
Josh Lueke, P, TB
Grant Green, OF, LAA
Closer Watch
Astros - Chad Qualls picked up his seventh save of the season Friday when he pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth against the Twins. Qualls has seven saves in his second time playing for the Astros, which actually eclipses the six saves that he recorded in the four combined seasons he played from 2004-2007. Some fantasy owners will be wary of picking up Qualls as he has put up some really terrible seasons in his 10 year career as a reliever, but the 35-year-old hasn't given up a run since April 19. With saves being a premium category in so many different formats there is no reason that Qualls isn't owned in more leagues especially considering how well he has been pitching.
Key Matchups
Hot Batter Matchups – June 8, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| M. Byrd | OF | PHI @ CIN 1:10PM | H. Bailey | 18 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | .389 | .368 | .833 | 1.202 |
| N. Markakis | OF | BAL vs OAK 1:35PM | S. Kazmir | 24 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 5 | .417 | .481 | .667 | 1.148 |
| R. Braun | OF | MIL @ PIT 1:35PM | C. Morton | 18 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | .444 | .524 | .778 | 1.302 |
| A. McCutchen | OF | PIT vs MIL 1:35PM | Y. Gallardo | 46 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 4 | .304 | .333 | .609 | .942 |
| G. Sanchez | 1B | PIT vs MIL 1:35PM | Y. Gallardo | 30 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 | .267 | .353 | .533 | .886 |
| D. DeJesus | OF | TB vs SEA 1:40PM | F. Hernandez | 34 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | .324 | .378 | .500 | .878 |
| M. Montero | C | ARI vs ATL 4:10PM | A. Harang | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | .556 | .652 | .778 | 1.430 |
| A. Gonzalez | 1B | LAD @ COL 4:10PM | J. De La Rosa | 34 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 12 | .382 | .463 | .706 | 1.169 |
| M. Kemp | OF | LAD @ COL 4:10PM | J. De La Rosa | 29 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 4 | .379 | .387 | .793 | 1.180 |
| H. Ramirez | SS | LAD @ COL 4:10PM | J. De La Rosa | 21 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | .381 | .480 | .714 | 1.194 |
| R. Davis | OF | DET vs BOS 8:07PM | J. Lackey | 31 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | .387 | .387 | .548 | .935 |
| I. Kinsler | 2B | DET vs BOS 8:07PM | J. Lackey | 38 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1 | .421 | .477 | .842 | 1.319 |
| V. Martinez | DH | DET vs BOS 8:07PM | J. Lackey | 30 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .400 | .471 | .433 | .904 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – June 8, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Yovani Gallardo | MIL @ PIT 1:35PM | 244 | 50 | 18 | 5 | 21 | 31 | 61 | .205 | .297 | .320 | .617 |
| Felix Hernandez | SEA @ TB 1:40PM | 156 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 14 | 47 | .205 | .272 | .252 | .523 |
| Tim Lincecum | SF vs NYM 4:05PM | 116 | 22 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 43 | .190 | .283 | .294 | .577 |
| Jordan Zimmermann | WAS @ SD 4:10PM | 78 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 14 | .218 | .247 | .306 | .553 |
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 – June 8, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| J. Rollins | SS | PHI @ CIN 1:10PM | H. Bailey | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .211 | .211 | .211 | .421 |
| P. Alvarez | 3B | PIT vs MIL 1:35PM | Y. Gallardo | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | .077 | .250 | .115 | .365 |
| C. Barmes | SS | PIT vs MIL 1:35PM | Y. Gallardo | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | .050 | .136 | .050 | .186 |
| B. Zobrist | 2B | TB vs SEA 1:40PM | F. Hernandez | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | .107 | .257 | .107 | .364 |
| M. Teixeira | 1B | NYY @ KC 2:10PM | J. Shields | 48 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15 | .125 | .236 | .125 | .361 |
| A. Beltre | 3B | TEX vs CLE 3:05PM | J. Masterson | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .158 | .238 | .158 | .396 |
| D. Wright | 3B | NYM @ SF 4:05PM | T. Lincecum | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | .130 | .231 | .130 | .361 |
| C. Young | OF | NYM @ SF 4:05PM | T. Lincecum | 51 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 17 | .157 | .259 | .333 | .592 |
| D. LeMahieu | 2B | COL vs LAD 4:10PM | C. Kershaw | 19 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .368 | .368 | .421 | .789 |
| A. Ethier | OF | LAD @ COL 4:10PM | J. De La Rosa | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .158 | .158 | .211 | .368 |
| S. Drew | SS | BOS @ DET 8:07PM | A. Sanchez | 18 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | .278 | .300 | .389 | .689 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – June 8, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Hiroki Kuroda | NYY @ KC 2:10PM | 79 | 26 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 9 | .329 | .368 | .472 | .840 |
| Aaron Harang | ATL @ ARI 4:10PM | 87 | 31 | 14 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 14 | .356 | .454 | .632 | 1.086 |
| Jorge De La Rosa | COL vs LAD 4:10PM | 131 | 41 | 18 | 7 | 23 | 12 | 31 | .313 | .368 | .568 | .936 |
| John Lackey | BOS @ DET 8:07PM | 201 | 68 | 23 | 8 | 25 | 15 | 38 | .338 | .393 | .542 | .935 |
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
Collin McHugh, P, HOU - If McHugh is still available in your fantasy league, then you might want to consider picking him up even the smaller leagues that have deeper waiver wires. Since being called up by the Astros on April 22 McHugh has been one of the best pitchers in the bigs by recording a 2.52 ERA, four wins, 54 strikeouts, and only 14 walks over 50 inning pitched. McHugh is in his third MLB season, but is also on his third MLB team of his young career. There must not have been a lot of people thinking McHugh would dominate like he has in first eight starts with the Astros as the Mets 18th round pick in 2008 had given up 47 runs over 47.1 innings in 15 games for the Mets and then the Rockies in his first two seasons. Either way fantasy sports are won and lost on the waiver wires in many of leagues, and McHugh could make a difference on many of rosters as long as he continues at his current pace.
Other Recent Recommendations:Eddie Butler, Joba Chamberlain, Brock Holt, Jorge De La Rosa, and Jonathan Singleton
DraftStreet Value Picks
C - Miguel Montero, ARZ ($5,461)
1B - Mark Reynolds, MIL ($5,338)
2B - Rougned Odor, TEX ($5,129)
3B - Manny Machado, BAL ($5,283)
SS - Xander Bogaerts, BOS ($5,152)
OF - Denard Span, WAS ($5,288)
SP - Justin Masterson, CLE ($9,580)
