The Lineup Card: Hitters Paradise

Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups:

Athletics (Dallas Braden - L) at Twins (Kevin Slowey - R), 1:10
Tigers (Justin Verlander - R) at White Sox (Lucas Harrell - R), 4:10
Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin - R) at Dodgers (John Ely - R), 4:10
Braves (Tim Hudson - R) at Mets (Dillon Gee - R), 4:10
Padres (Chris Young - R) at Cardinals (Jeff Suppan - R), 4:10
Yankees (CC Sabathia - L) at Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie - R), 7:05
Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R) at Astros (Nelson Figueroa - R), 7:05
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann - R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick - R), 7:05
Diamondbacks (Barry Enright - R) at Pirates (James McDonald - R), 7:05
Blue Jays (Ricky Romero - L) at Red Sox (Josh Beckett - R), 7:10
Indians (Justin Masterson - R) at Royals (Sean O'Sullivan - R), 7:10
Cubs (Casey Coleman - R) at Marlins (Anibal Sanchez - R), 7:10
Angels (Joel Pineiro - R) at Rays (David Price - L), 7:10
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - R) at Giants (Tim Lincecum - R), 9:05
Rangers (Cliff Lee - L) at Mariners (Jason Vargas - L), 9:10

Day game after a night game: OAK, MIN, DET, CHW, COL, LAD, ATL, NYM, SD, STL

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT – (Illness) Scratched from Friday's lineup
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA – (Elbow) Wasn't in Friday's lineup
Justin Upton, OF, ARI – (Shoulder) Still not ready to return
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI – (Hamstring) Still out of the lineup Friday
Aaron Hill, 2B, TOR – (Undisclosed) Left Friday's game early
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, OAK – (Back) Could return this week
Denard Span, OF, MIN – (Shoulder) Didn't start Friday
Brian Matusz, P, BAL – (Triceps) Expected to make next start
Gordon Beckham, 3B, CHW – (Hand) Missed two straight games
Paul Konerko, 1B, CHW – (Face) Could play Saturday
Nick Swisher, OF, NYY – (Knee) Didn't start Friday, but could return soon
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS – (Ankle) Hasn't played since September 12
Freddy Garcia, P, CHW – (Back) Won't start Saturday
Jason Donald, SS, CLE – (Finger) Won't join team on current road trip

Players on the DL
Ian Stewart, 3B, COL – (Oblique) Will begin rehab assignment Sunday
Frank Francisco, P, TEX – (Back) Starting a throwing program Monday

Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.

Claimed Off Waivers
Chad Huffman, OF, NYY to CLE

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left)

Arizona – Juan Gutierrez pitched a scoreless ninth Thursday against the Reds to earn his 10th save. He's been flying under the radar despite a 2.84 ERA since the All-Star break.

Key Matchups - Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included) *Check status

Hot
Joe Mauer v. Dallas Braden – 6-for-13 (.462), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.462 OBP)
A.J. Pierzynski v. Justin Verlander – 16-for-45 (.356), 3 HR, 12 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.370 OBP)
Angel Pagan v. Tim Hudson – 6-for-12 (.500), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:0 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Carlos Beltran* v. Tim Hudson – 25-for-67 (.373), 4 HR, 16 RBI, 9:9 BB:K (.447 OBP)
Randy Winn v. Chris Young – 12-for-37 (.324), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:7 BB:K (.359 OBP)
Yorvit Torrealba v. Jeff Suppan – 5-for-11 (.455), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.455 OBP)
Ryan Ludwick v. Jeff Suppan – 7-for-16 (.438), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3:5 BB:K (.526 OBP)
Adrian Gonzalez v. Jeff Suppan – 5-for-13 (.385), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 6:1 BB:K (.579 OBP)
Miguel Tejada v. Jeff Suppan – 11-for-35 (.314), 1 HR, 12 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Nolan Reimold v. CC Sabathia – 7-for-17 (.412), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.421 OBP)
Curtis Granderson v. Jeremy Guthrie – 5-for-13 (.385), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.429 OBP)
Nick Swisher* v. Jeremy Guthrie – 13-for-24 (.542), 2 HR, 9 RBI, 3:4 BB:K (.571 OBP)
Michael Bourn v. Bronson Arroyo – 6-for-19 (.316), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:4 BB:K (.381 OBP)
Hunter Pence v. Bronson Arroyo – 10-for-27 (.370), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:3 BB:K (.414 OBP)
Carlos Lee v. Bronson Arroyo – 14-for-41 (.341), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4:9 BB:K (.413 OBP)
Jim Edmonds* v. Nelson Figueroa – 6-for-12 (.500), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Adam Kennedy v. Kyle Kendrick – 5-for-11 (.455), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.538 OBP)
Willie Harris v. Kyle Kendrick – 5-for-16 (.313), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.353 OBP)
Ryan Zimmerman v. Kyle Kendrick – 8-for-16 (.500), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:3 BB:K (.579 OBP)
Victor Martinez v. Ricky Romero – 8-for-18 (.444), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.474 OBP)
David Ortiz v. Ricky Romero – 8-for-20 (.400), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1:6 BB:K (.429 OBP)
J.D. Drew* v. Ricky Romero – 8-for-18 (.444), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3:5 BB:K (.545 OBP)
Adam Lind v. Josh Beckett – 6-for-13 (.462), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Aaron Hill* v. Josh Beckett – 6-for-13 (.406), 1 HR, 8 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.441 OBP)
Vernon Wells v. Josh Beckett – 12-for-35 (.343), 5 HR, 8 RBI, 4:6 BB:K (.425 OBP)
Dan Johnson v. Joel Pineiro – 4-for-10 (.400), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.417 OBP)
Ryan Braun v. Tim Lincecum – 6-for-15 (.400), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1:5 BB:K (.471 OBP)
Jose Lopez v. Cliff Lee – 9-for-25 (.360), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:0 BB:K (.360 OBP)
Nelson Cruz v. Jason Vargas – 4-for-10 (.274), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.500 OBP)

Justin Verlander v. White Sox: .229/.295/.351 (254 plate appearances)
Yovani Gallardo v. Giants: .225/.289/.427 (99 plate appearances)

Cold
Mark Kotsay v. Justin Verlander – 2-for-20 (.100), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.143 OBP)
Alexei Ramirez v. Justin Verlander – 5-for-25 (.200), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Mark Teahen v. Justin Verlander – 4-for-32 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6:14 BB:K (.263 OBP)
Paul Konerko v. Justin Verlander - 4-for-34 (.118), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:10 BB:K (.211 OBP)
Matt Kemp v. Jhoulys Chacin – 2-for-11 (.182), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:3 BB:K (.308 OBP)
Henry Blanco v. Tim Hudson – 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.091 OBP)
Pedro Feliz v. Chris Young – 2-for-17 (.118), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.158 OBP)
Jerry Hairston Jr. v. Jeff Suppan – 4-for-26 (.154), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.185 OBP)
Cesar Izturis v. CC Sabathia – 6-for-27 (.222), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.222 OBP)
Mark Teixeira v. Jeremy Guthrie - 1-for-18 (.056), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:6 BB:K (.292 OBP)
Humberto Quintero v. Bronson Arroyo – 1-for-15 (.067), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:7 BB:K (.067 OBP)
Geoff Blum v. Bronson Arroyo – 4-for-24 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.231 OBP)
Orlando Cabrera v. Nelson Figueroa – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.143 OBP)
Mike Lowell v. Ricky Romero – 3-for-14 (.214), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.200 OBP)
John Buck v. Josh Beckett – 3-for-14 (.214), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.214 OBP)
Jose Molina v. Josh Beckett – 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.125 OBP)
Billy Butler v. Justin Masterson – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.154 OBP)
Carlos Pena v. Joel Pineiro – 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:8 BB:K (.294 OBP)
Prince Fielder v. Tim Lincecum – 3-for-13 (.231), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3:5 BB:K (.375 OBP)

Jeff Suppan v. Padres: .318/.365/.514 (197 plate appearances)
Kyle Kendrick v. Nationals: .372/.439/.674 (99 plate appearances)
Josh Beckett v. Blue Jays: .324/.385/.613 (193 plate appearances)
Ricky Romero v. Red Sox: .357/.423/.552 (131 plate appearances)

Recommended Pickup

Jhoulys Chacin, P, COL – It's playoff time in many head-to-head leagues, and depending on the league's transaction rules, that can mean searching for streaming options. Consider Chacin for Saturday; he's 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his last four starts and is available in more than 80 of ESPN leagues. Plus, he's pitching on the road, away from the pitcher's nightmare known as Coors Field. Chacin has a 2.80 ERA in road games this season.

Other recent recommendations:Carlos Beltran, Ike Davis, Kyle Drabek, Brayan Pena