This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Thursday's matchups (all times Eastern)
CHC (Kyle Henricks – R) at CIN (Homer Bailey – R), 12:35 PM ET
PHI (David Buchanan – R) at MIL (Matt Garza – R), 2:10 PM ET
OAK (Scott Kazmir – L) at SF (Tim Hudson – R), 3:45 PM ET
CHW (Jose Quintana – L) at BOS (Jon Lester – L), 4:05 PM ET
WAS (Gio Gonzalez – L) at BAL (Wei-Yin Chen – L), 7:05 PM ET
NYY (David Phelps – R) at CLE (T.J. House – L), 7:05 PM ET
ATL (Aaron Harang – R) at NYM (Bartolo Colon – R), 7:10 PM ET
PIT (Edinson Volquez – R) at STL (Shelby Miller – R), 7:15 PM ET
LAA (Hector Santiago – L) at TEX (Colby Lewis – R), 8:05 PM ET
DET (Drew Smyly – L) at KC (Jeremy Guthrie – R), 8:10 PM ET
MIN (Yohan Pino – R) at SEA (Tom Wilhelmsen – R), 10:10 PM ET
SD (Odrisamer Despaigne – R) at LAD (Clayton Kershaw – L), 10:10 PM ET
Day Game After Night Game: NYY/TOR, CIN/NYM, SEA/OAK
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Darwin Barney, 2B, CHC – (Paternity) Out Wednesday and Thursday on paternity leave.
Carlos Beltran, OF, NYY – (Eye) Scratched Wednesday after being hit in the eye in batting practice.
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL – (Back) Manager hopes he can play Thursday.
Jason Castro, C, HOU – (Arm) Out Wednesday, but took batting practice before the game.
Corey Dickerson, OF, COL – (Wrist) Out of lineup Wednesday after suffering injury Tuesday.
Jeurys Familia, P, NYM – (Arm) Unavailable Wednesday after he could not get loose Tuesday.
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY – (Abdomen) Out of Wednesday's lineup with strain.
Alex Gordon, OF, KC – (Wrist) Late scratch Wednesday, getting an MRI Thursday.
Billy Hamilton, OF, CIN – (Hamstring) Revealed he has had tightness in hamstring since this spring.
Adam Lind, 1B, TOR – (Foot) Likely out six-to-eight weeks.
Starling Marte, OF, PIT – (Personal) Will miss a minimum of three games while on bereavement list, beginning Wednesday.
Victor Martinez, DH, DET – (Back) Probably out through the weekend.
Yadier Molina, C, STL – (Thumb) Left Wednesday's game with sprain.
Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC – (Illness) Out of Wednesday's lineup with stomach virus.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN – (Thumb) Left Wednesday's game after trying to make a diving stop.
Players on the DL
Yonder Alonso, 1B, SD – (Wrist) Hit off a tee Wednesday but not close to returning from DL.
Brett Anderson, P, COL – (Finger) Will start Sunday.
Josh Beckett, P, LAD – (Hip) Hoping for a return by the end of the month.
Tyler Chatwood, P, COL – (Elbow) Was shut down from throwing batting practice Wednesday.
Gerrit Cole, P, PIT – (Oblique) Velocity dipped before being placed on DL.
Avisail Garcia, OF, CHW – (Shoulder) Eying an August return.
Jaime Garcia, P, STL – (Shoulder) Will have season-ending surgery Friday.
Cole Gillespie, OF, TOR – (Oblique) Hit DL Tuesday with strain.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL – (Finger) Due to return Friday.
Jedd Gyorko, 2B, SD – (Foot) Doing lite baseball activities, several weeks from returning.
Jim Henderson, P, MIL – (Shoulder) Moved rehab to Double-A, eying return after All-Star break.
Derek Holland, P, TEX – (Knee) First rehab tentative for July 23.
Francisco Liriano, P, PIT – (Oblique) Will start Sunday.
Justin Masterson, P, CLE – (Knee) Throwing light bullpen sessions through the All-Star break.
Wil Myers, OF, KC – (Wrist) May have cast removed Friday.
Wil Nieves, C, PHI – (Quadriceps) Could be activated Friday.
A.J. Pollock, OF, AZ – (Hand) Targeting rehab assignment beginning August 1.
Drew Pomeranz, P, OAK – (Hand) Played catch Monday, could begin rehab soon.
Carlos Ruiz, C, PHI – (Concussion) Cleared to resume baseball activities.
Danny Santana, SS, MIN – (Knee) Out at least through the All-Star break.
Marco Scutaro, 2B, SF – (Back) Should be activated Friday.
Kevin Siegrist, P, STL – (Shoulder) Should begin rehab with Double-A this week.
Masahiro Tanaka, P, NYY – (Elbow) Has inflammation.
Jason Vargas, P, KC – (Appendix) Out three-to-four weeks after surgery.
Activated from the DL
Dillon Gee, P, NYM
Jeff Manship, P, PHI
Placed on the DL
Darwin Barney (paternity list)
Gerrit Cole, P, PIT
Cole Gillespie, P, TOR
Starling Marte, OF, PIT (bereavement list)
Masahiro Tanaka, P, NYY
Claimed Off Waivers
Rubby De La Rosa, P, BOS
Called Up
Arismendy Alcantara, 2B, CHC
Zoilo Almonte, OF, NYY
Dallas Beeler, P, CHC
Brandon Cumpton, P, PIT
Matt Hague, 1B, PIT
Eric Kratz, C, TOR
Stephen Pryor, P, SEA
Christian Vazquez, C, BOS
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Gonzalez Germen, P, NYM
David Holmberg, P, CIN
Donnie Murphy, 2B, TEX (released)
A.J. Pierzynski, C, BOS (designated for assignment)
B.J. Rosenburg, P, PHI
Chris Rusin, P, CHC
Tsuyoshi Wada, P, CHC
Taijuan Walker, P, SEA
Brandon Workman, P, BOS
Closer Watch
Miami – Steve Cishek has delivered some fairly good results as Miami's closer this season. The problem is, when he has been bad, he has been really bad. Take Wednesday when Cishek entered in the bottom of the 10th with a two run lead, for example. Cishek failed to retire a batter and allowed three runs on three hits and a walk. Cishek has allowed one earned run in three games this season, but he has allowed multiple runs in five games, including three times since June 27.
New York Mets – Jenrry Mejia rebounded from his second blown save Monday to notch Wednesday's save while allowing two hits to the Braves.
Tampa Bay – Jake McGee surrendered two runs Tuesday – his first runs allowed since June 5 – but notched his sixth save of the season against the Royals. While he was lucky to enter the game with a three run lead, McGee went over a month without allowing a run and he appears to have Joe Maddon's trust as the closer.
Key Matchups
Hot Batter Matchups – July 10, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| W. Castillo | C | CHC @ CIN 12:35PM | H. Bailey | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .300 | .364 | .500 | .864 |
| A. Rizzo | 1B | CHC @ CIN 12:35PM | H. Bailey | 16 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | .375 | .545 | .625 | 1.170 |
| N. Schierholtz | OF | CHC @ CIN 12:35PM | H. Bailey | 20 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | .400 | .400 | .650 | 1.050 |
| M. Byrd | OF | PHI @ MIL 2:10PM | M. Garza | 19 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 7 | .263 | .286 | .579 | .865 |
| A. De Aza | OF | CWS @ BOS 4:05PM | J. Lester | 14 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .286 | .333 | .571 | .905 |
| A. Dunn | 1B | CWS @ BOS 4:05PM | J. Lester | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | .273 | .467 | .545 | 1.012 |
| P. Konerko | 1B | CWS @ BOS 4:05PM | J. Lester | 28 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6 | .357 | .438 | .786 | 1.223 |
| D. Viciedo | OF | CWS @ BOS 4:05PM | J. Lester | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | .333 | .333 | .600 | .933 |
| B. Upton | OF | ATL @ NYM 7:10PM | B. Colon | 29 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | .310 | .412 | .517 | .929 |
| B. Abreu | OF | NYM vs ATL 7:10PM | A. Harang | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | .400 | .455 | 1.000 | 1.455 |
| D. Murphy | 2B | NYM vs ATL 7:10PM | A. Harang | 17 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | .353 | .353 | .765 | 1.118 |
| R. Tejada | SS | NYM vs ATL 7:10PM | A. Harang | 14 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .429 | .529 | .571 | 1.101 |
| D. Wright | 3B | NYM vs ATL 7:10PM | A. Harang | 26 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 8 | .423 | .500 | .692 | 1.192 |
| C. Young | OF | NYM vs ATL 7:10PM | A. Harang | 27 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | .259 | .310 | .593 | .903 |
| P. Alvarez | 3B | PIT @ STL 7:15PM | S. Miller | 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | .222 | .333 | .722 | 1.056 |
| R. Martin | C | PIT @ STL 7:15PM | S. Miller | 11 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | .364 | .462 | 1.000 | 1.462 |
| N. Walker | 2B | PIT @ STL 7:15PM | S. Miller | 15 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .333 | .412 | .533 | .945 |
| A. Craig | 1B | STL vs PIT 7:15PM | E. Volquez | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .417 | .563 | .500 | 1.063 |
| M. Ellis | 2B | STL vs PIT 7:15PM | E. Volquez | 24 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | .333 | .429 | .500 | .929 |
| M. Holliday | OF | STL vs PIT 7:15PM | E. Volquez | 27 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | .370 | .400 | .630 | 1.030 |
| S. Choo | OF | TEX vs LAA 8:05PM | H. Santiago | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .273 | .333 | .545 | .879 |
| A. Avila | C | DET @ KC 8:10PM | J. Guthrie | 26 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 8 | .269 | .367 | .692 | 1.059 |
| M. Cabrera | 3B | DET @ KC 8:10PM | J. Guthrie | 43 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 8 | .326 | .388 | .535 | .923 |
| I. Kinsler | 2B | DET @ KC 8:10PM | J. Guthrie | 34 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | .353 | .405 | .471 | .876 |
| J. Martinez | OF | DET @ KC 8:10PM | J. Guthrie | 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .917 | 1.250 |
| B. Butler | DH | KC vs DET 8:10PM | D. Smyly | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .545 | .583 | .636 | 1.220 |
| C. Denorfia | OF | SD @ LAD 10:10PM | C. Kershaw | 29 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | .310 | .412 | .690 | 1.101 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – July 10, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Matt Garza | MIL vs PHI 2:10PM | 84 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 18 | .214 | .294 | .323 | .617 |
| Gio Gonzalez | WAS @ BAL 7:05PM | 96 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 22 | .208 | .288 | .237 | .526 |
| Drew Smyly | DET @ KC 8:10PM | 93 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 26 | .258 | .287 | .373 | .659 |
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 – July 10, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| S. Castro | SS | CHC @ CIN 12:35PM | H. Bailey | 32 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | .188 | .257 | .375 | .632 |
| C. Coghlan | OF | CHC @ CIN 12:35PM | H. Bailey | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .200 | .273 | .300 | .573 |
| L. Valbuena | 3B | CHC @ CIN 12:35PM | H. Bailey | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | .071 | .235 | .143 | .378 |
| R. Howard | 1B | PHI @ MIL 2:10PM | M. Garza | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .000 | .167 | .000 | .167 |
| J. Rollins | SS | PHI @ MIL 2:10PM | M. Garza | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .150 | .227 | .150 | .377 |
| N. Punto | 2B | OAK @ SF 3:45PM | T. Hudson | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .091 | .091 | .182 | .273 |
| G. Beckham | 2B | CWS @ BOS 4:05PM | J. Lester | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .167 | .286 | .417 | .702 |
| N. Cruz | OF | BAL vs WAS 7:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | .000 | .286 | .000 | .286 |
| J. Hardy | SS | BAL vs WAS 7:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .200 | .273 | .200 | .473 |
| A. Jones | OF | BAL vs WAS 7:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .211 | .211 | .263 | .474 |
| D. Young | OF | BAL vs WAS 7:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .200 | .273 | .200 | .473 |
| L. Duda | OF | NYM vs ATL 7:10PM | A. Harang | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | .143 | .333 | .357 | .690 |
| J. Jay | OF | STL vs PIT 7:15PM | E. Volquez | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .235 | .235 | .353 | .588 |
| Y. Molina | C | STL vs PIT 7:15PM | E. Volquez | 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | .154 | .214 | .308 | .522 |
| E. Aybar | SS | LAA @ TEX 8:05PM | C. Lewis | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .100 | .250 | .300 | .550 |
| H. Conger | C | LAA @ TEX 8:05PM | C. Lewis | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .167 | .167 | .333 | .500 |
| H. Kendrick | 2B | LAA @ TEX 8:05PM | C. Lewis | 23 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | .217 | .280 | .391 | .671 |
| E. Andrus | SS | TEX vs LAA 8:05PM | H. Santiago | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .200 | .273 | .200 | .473 |
| R. Davis | OF | DET @ KC 8:10PM | J. Guthrie | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .211 | .211 | .263 | .474 |
| T. Hunter | OF | DET @ KC 8:10PM | J. Guthrie | 40 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | .300 | .302 | .375 | .677 |
| A. Jackson | OF | DET @ KC 8:10PM | J. Guthrie | 27 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | .185 | .241 | .333 | .575 |
| D. Kelly | OF | DET @ KC 8:10PM | J. Guthrie | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .222 | .222 | .222 | .444 |
| A. Escobar | SS | KC vs DET 8:10PM | D. Smyly | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .214 | .214 | .286 | .500 |
| A. Gordon | OF | KC vs DET 8:10PM | D. Smyly | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | .118 | .211 | .118 | .328 |
| E. Hosmer | 1B | KC vs DET 8:10PM | D. Smyly | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .200 | .250 | .267 | .517 |
| C. Maybin | OF | SD @ LAD 10:10PM | C. Kershaw | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .125 | .222 | .125 | .347 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – July 10, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Aaron Harang | ATL @ NYM 7:10PM | 136 | 43 | 20 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 33 | .316 | .413 | .574 | .987 |
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
Brad Boxberger, P, TB – One of the best relievers you have not heard of yet is Boxberger. When combining Boxberger's minors and MLB numbers this season, Boxberger has 70 strikeouts in 45.1 innings and is well on his way north of 100 strikeouts as a reliever. No, Boxberger is probably not on his way to becoming a closer in the short term, but league's that can use a setup reliever may want to take notice. The only gripe with Boxberger is that he has been touched for six home runs on the season.
Other Recent Recommendations:
DraftStreet Value Picks
SP: Shelby Miller, STL ($8,820)
C: Wilson Ramos, WAS ($5,450)
1B: Chris Davis, BAL ($3,348)
2B: Brandon Phillips, CIN ($5,002)
SS: Starlin Castro, CHC ($5,082)
3B: David Wright, NYM ($5,440)
OF: Bryce Harper, WAS ($4,940)
