This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups (all times Eastern)CLE (Trevor Bauer – R) at NYY (CC Sabathia – L) 1:05 PM
TEX (Cole Hamels – L) at DET (Matt Boyd – L) 1:08 PM
ARI (Chase Anderson – R) at CIN (Raisel Iglesias – R) 1:10 PM
PHI (Aaron Nola – R) at MIA (Adam Conley – L) 1:10 PM
MIN (Mike Pelfrey – R) at BAL (Kevin Gausman – R) 1:35 PM
KC (Edinson Volquez – R) at BOS (Eduardo Rodriguez – L) 1:35 PM
MIL (Matt Garza – R) at WAS (Jordan Zimmermann – R) 1:35 PM
LAD (Clayton Kershaw – L) at HOU (Lance McCullers – R) 2:10 PM
ATL (Matt Wisler – R) at CHC (Jason Hammel – R) 2:20 PM
TOR (R.A. Dickey – R) at LAA (Garrett Richards – R) 3:35 PM
TB (Jake Odorizzi – R) at OAK (Kendall Graveman – R) 4:05 PM
CWS (John Danks – L) at SEA (Taijuan Walker – R) 4:10 PM
STL (Michael Wacha – R) at SD (Colin Rea – R) 4:10 PM
NYM (Logan Verrett – R) at COL (David Hale – R) 4:10 PM
SF (Ryan Vogelsong – R) at PIT (Francisco Liriano – L) 8:00 PM
Day Game After Night Game: MIL/WAS, MIN/BAL, TEX/DET, ARI/CIN, KC/BOS, LAD/HOU, PHI/MIA, NYM/COL, STL/SD, TB/OAK, TOR/LAA, CWS/SEA
Injuries
Out
None
Day-to-Day
Derek Norris, C, SD – (Wrist) Was diagnosed with a left wrist contusion after taking a fastball off the wrist in the eighth inning of Saturday's game against the Cardinals.
Nick Hundley, C, COL - (Undisclosed) Removed from Saturday's game for precautionary reasons.
Danny Valencia, 3B, OAK - (Hamstring) Expected to miss a few days as he continues to battle tightness.
Brock Holt, 3B, BOS - (Oblique) Scratched from Saturday's lineup due to tightness.
Yunel Escobar, SS, WAS - (Neck) Did not start Saturday after hyperextending his neck Friday.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY - (Leg) Remained out of the lineup Saturday, but a DL stint is not expected to be necessary.
Players on the DL
Kyle Kendrick, SP, COL - (Shoulder) Will pitch in an upcoming simulated game to begin rehab.
David Wright, 3B, NYM - (Back) Has gone 9-for-28 (.321) with five walks in a week of rehab appearances, but will not regain starting 3B position upon return.
Steven Matz, SP, NYM - (Lat) Will make his next rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday.
James Paxton, SP, SEA - (Finger) Will begin rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Tacoma.
George Springer, OF, HOU - (Wrist) Took swings with regulation bat Friday, and could be cleared for rehab assignment during the Astros' upcoming road trip.
Mike Minor, SP, ATL - (Shoulder) Set to begin throwing program in about two weeks.
Angel Pagan, OF, SF - (Knee) Manager Bruce Bochy said he was ready to begin rehab assignment.
Chad Bettis, SP, COL - (Elbow) Threw five scoreless innings during a rehab start at Triple-A Albequerque on Thursday; could be activated next week.
Jake McGee, RP, TB - (Knee) Could return by season's end based on encouraging results of Friday's surgery.
Phil Hughes, SP, MIN - (Back) Has not begun any baseball activities.
Aaron Hicks, OF, MIN - (Hamstring) Remains confident he will not spend more than the minimum time allowed on the DL.
Michael Pineda, SP, NYY - (Forearm) Expected to start Wednesday's game against the Astros.
Cody Anderson, SP, CLE - (Oblique) Will make a rehab start for Low-A Lake County on Monday.
Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI - (Wrist) Interim manager Pete Mackanin said Friday there is a chance he might return before the end of the season.
Rick Porcello, SP, BOS - (Triceps) Made his second rehab start Friday at Triple-A Pawtuckett; should be activated soon.
Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Placed on the DL
Lucas Duda, 1B, NYM - (Back)
Ike Davis, 1B, OAK - (Hip) Transferred to 60-day DL
Called Up
Dario Alvarez, RP, NYM
Grant Green, SS, LAA
Randy Wolf, RP, DET
Brandon Pinder, RP, NYY
Lance McCullers, SP, HOU
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Conor Gillaspie, 3B, LAA
Nick Tropeano, RP, LAA
Dan Otero, RP, OAK
Chris Capuano, RP, NYY
Ryan Lollis, RF, SF
Jose Valdez, RP, DET
A.J. Achter, RP, MIN
Traded
Eric Young Jr., OF, NYM
Closer Watch
Seattle Mariners – Carson Smith blew the save Saturday night after he allowed two runs on two hits in the ninth inning against the White Sox. After displacing Fernando Rodney earlier this season, it seemed Smith would close out the 2015 campaign in the ninth-inning role. Given his recent struggles – he's blown two of his last three save chances – his job may not be as safe as it once seemed. Smith's inability to punch hitters out at a dominant clip prevents him from being an ideal candidate to finish games and gives him little wiggle room. The Mariners do not offer Smith many chances to hold down leads, so every time he fails to convert, he moves closer to removal from the role, thanks to a razor-thin margin for error.
Hot Batter Matchups – August 23, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| J. Rutledge | SS | BOS vs KC 1:35PM | E. Volquez | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .400 | .455 | .600 | 1.055 |
| P. Sandoval | 3B | BOS vs KC 1:35PM | E. Volquez | 16 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .375 | .375 | .563 | .938 |
| J. Segura | SS | MIL @ WAS 1:35PM | J. Zimmermann | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .385 | .429 | .615 | 1.044 |
| J. Werth | OF | WAS vs MIL 1:35PM | M. Garza | 14 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | .429 | .467 | .714 | 1.181 |
| C. Gomez | OF | HOU vs LAD 2:10PM | C. Kershaw | 20 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | .300 | .364 | .550 | .914 |
| N. Markakis | OF | ATL @ CHC 2:20PM | J. Hammel | 16 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .688 | 1.188 |
| A. Pierzynski | C | ATL @ CHC 2:20PM | J. Hammel | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .300 | .300 | .600 | .900 |
| E. Encarnacion | 1B | TOR @ LAA 3:35PM | G. Richards | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .300 | .364 | .700 | 1.064 |
| R. Cano | 2B | SEA vs CWS 4:10PM | J. Danks | 15 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | .400 | .471 | .733 | 1.204 |
| N. Cruz | OF | SEA vs CWS 4:10PM | J. Danks | 20 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | .300 | .300 | .550 | .850 |
| A. Jackson | OF | SEA vs CWS 4:10PM | J. Danks | 49 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 7 | .429 | .481 | .673 | 1.155 |
| A. Ramirez | 3B | PIT vs SF 8:08PM | R. Vogelsong | 27 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .333 | .379 | .556 | .935 |
| N. Walker | 2B | PIT vs SF 8:08PM | R. Vogelsong | 19 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | .421 | .421 | .684 | 1.105 |
| B. Posey | C | SF @ PIT 8:08PM | F. Liriano | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .455 | .500 | .455 | .955 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – August 23, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| CC Sabathia | NYY vs CLE 1:05PM | 103 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 27 | .262 | .290 | .327 | .616 |
| R.A. Dickey | TOR @ LAA 3:35PM | 110 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 21 | .191 | .256 | .266 | .522 |
| Garrett Richards | LAA vs TOR 3:35PM | 69 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 18 | .174 | .230 | .264 | .493 |
| Francisco Liriano | PIT vs SF 8:08PM | 66 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 17 | .258 | .299 | .274 | .572 |
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 – August 23, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| M. Brantley | OF | CLE @ NYY 1:05PM | C. Sabathia | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .091 | .091 | .091 | .182 |
| R. Raburn | OF | CLE @ NYY 1:05PM | C. Sabathia | 26 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | .154 | .214 | .231 | .445 |
| B. Gardner | OF | NYY vs CLE 1:05PM | T. Bauer | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .182 | .308 | .364 | .671 |
| V. Martinez | 1B | DET vs TEX 1:08PM | C. Hamels | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .182 | .250 | .455 | .705 |
| G. Parra | OF | BAL vs MIN 1:35PM | M. Pelfrey | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | .222 | .222 | .222 | .444 |
| I. Desmond | SS | WAS vs MIL 1:35PM | M. Garza | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .200 | .273 | .200 | .473 |
| Y. Escobar | SS | WAS vs MIL 1:35PM | M. Garza | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .100 | .182 | .200 | .382 |
| D. Espinosa | 2B | WAS vs MIL 1:35PM | M. Garza | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | .214 | .214 | .214 | .429 |
| N. Swisher | 1B | ATL @ CHC 2:20PM | J. Hammel | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | .200 | .333 | .400 | .733 |
| E. Aybar | SS | LAA vs TOR 3:35PM | R. Dickey | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .200 | .188 | .200 | .388 |
| D. DeJesus | OF | LAA vs TOR 3:35PM | R. Dickey | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | .105 | .261 | .105 | .366 |
| J. Bautista | OF | TOR @ LAA 3:35PM | G. Richards | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .100 | .182 | .100 | .282 |
| J. Smoak | 1B | TOR @ LAA 3:35PM | G. Richards | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .125 | .222 | .188 | .410 |
| F. Gutierrez | OF | SEA vs CWS 4:10PM | J. Danks | 41 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 8 | .195 | .233 | .415 | .647 |
| K. Seager | 3B | SEA vs CWS 4:10PM | J. Danks | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .167 | .167 | .167 | .333 |
| P. Alvarez | 3B | PIT vs SF 8:08PM | R. Vogelsong | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | .125 | .176 | .188 | .364 |
| N. Aoki | OF | SF @ PIT 8:08PM | F. Liriano | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .200 | .273 | .200 | .473 |
| G. Blanco | OF | SF @ PIT 8:08PM | F. Liriano | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .200 | .200 | .300 | .500 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – August 23, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Edinson Volquez | KC @ BOS 1:35PM | 69 | 21 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 10 | .304 | .356 | .468 | .825 |
| Jason Hammel | CHC vs ATL 2:20PM | 83 | 27 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 5 | 14 | .325 | .364 | .534 | .898 |
| John Danks | CWS @ SEA 4:10PM | 152 | 48 | 17 | 7 | 23 | 11 | 30 | .316 | .362 | .532 | .894 |
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
Byron Buxton, OF, MIN – Nine weeks ago, readers were encouraged to avoid blowing their FAAB or wasting their league's top waiver priority on baseball's top prospect. Those who exercised patience might still have a chance to own one the sport's brightest rising stars – at a fraction of the cost, and during a point in the season when the stakes are highest. Most avid fantasy gamers know Buxton's initial stint with the big-league club in Minnesota lasted only a brief while (11 games) before he ended up on the shelf with a sprained left thumb. These same folks also probably realize the 21-year-old was activated Wednesday and is playing in place of Aaron Hicks, who himself hit the DL this week. If Buxton impresses in the next 10 days, the job is likely his to lose. Even in the midst of a pennant chase, the Twins are so invested in Buxton, they will be hard-pressed to keep him on the bench in September if he closes the month with a flourish.
Other Recent Recommendations:Derek Dietrich, Travis Shaw, Gregor Blanco, Raisel Iglesias, Carlos Beltran and Jackie Bradley
Draft Kings Value Picks
SP: Aaron Nola, PHI ($6,500)
C: Buster Posey, SF ($3,700)
1B: Carlos Santana, CLE ($3,900)
2B: Yangervis Solarte, SD ($3,200)
SS: Marcus Semien, OAK ($3,000)
3B: Evan Longoria, TB ($3,500)
OF: Gregory Polanco, PIT ($3,500)
