This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Thursday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Cubs (Kyle Hendricks – R) at Pirates (Charlie Morton – R), 12:35
Athletics (Sean Nolin – L) at White Sox (Jose Quintana – L), 2:10
Marlins (Jarred Cosart – R) at Nationals (Tanner Roark – R), 7:05
Orioles (Chris Tillman – R) at Rays (Matt Moore – L), 7:10
Royals (Yordano Ventura – R) at Indians (Corey Kluber – R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Marco Estrada – R) at Braves (Matt Wisler – R), 7:10
Astros (Lance McCullers – R) at Rangers (Colby Lewis – R), 8:05
Cardinals (John Lackey – R) at Brewers (Jimmy Nelson – R), 8:10
Angels (Hector Santiago – L) at Twins (Tommy Milone – L), 8:10
Day Game After Night Game: CHC/PIT and OAK/CHW
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Justin Upton, OF, SD (Illness) – Did not start Wednesday.
Jimmy Rollins, SS, LAD (Finger) – The pain resurfaced and is temporarily shut down.
Dixon Machado, SS, DET (Hamstring) – Did not start Wednesday.
Brayan Pena, C, CIN (Hamstring) – Did not start Wednesday.
Nick Castellanos, 3B, DET (Groin) – Was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.
Scott Van Slyke, OF, LAD (Hand) – Did not start Wednesday.
Brandon Crawford, SS, SF (Calf) – Did not start Wednesday.
Billy Hamilton, OF, CIN (Shoulder) – Did not start Wednesday.
Carl Crawford, OF, LAD (Hamstring) – Did not start Wednesday.
Derek Norris, C, SD (Hand) – Did not start Wednesday.
Trayce Thompson, OF, CHW (Elbow) – Was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.
Billy Burns, OF, OAK (Hamstring) – Did not start Wednesday.
Jason Motte, RP, CHC (Hamstring) – Was not available to pitch Wednesday.
Danny Valencia, 3B, OAK (Shoulder) - Did not start Wednesday.
Jed Lowrie, SS, HOU (Foot) - Did not start Wednesday.
Stephen Vogt, C, OAK (Groin) - Did not start Wednesday.
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI (Knee) – Expects to return this season.
Carlos Torres, RP, NYM (Calf) – Expected to return to action in a few days.
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (Back) – Was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.
Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, MIA (Hamstring) - Did not start Wednesday.
Out
Joe Kelly, SP, BOS (Shoulder) – Has been officially shut down for the season.
Luke Gregerson, RP, HOU (Personal) – Left Wednesday to be with his wife for the birth of their child.
Players on the DL
Joe Panik, 2B, SF (Back) – Placed on the 60-day DL and will miss the rest of the season.
Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI (Wrist) – Will take batting practice on Friday.
Jason Motte, RP, CHC (Shoulder) – Has started throwing on flat ground.
Josh Johnson, SP, SD (Elbow) – Will undergo his third Tommy John surgery.
Jesse Chavez, SP, OAK (Ribs) – Placed on the 60-day DL and will miss the rest of the season.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, BOS (Shoulder) – Not expected to get game action at first base.
Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Activated from the DL
Daniel Norris, SP, DET
Placed on the DL
Jesse Chavez, SP, OAK – placed on the 60-day DL.
Joe Panik, 2B, SF - placed on the 60-day DL.
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Daniel Carbonell, OF, SF
Scott Copeland, RP, TOR
Called-Up
Mac Williamson, OF, SF
Trevor Brown, C, SF
Barry Zito, RP, OAK
Cody Martin, RP, OAK
Scott Carroll, RP, CHW
Closer Watch
As of this writing, there is no current closer action to report from Wednesday's games.
Key Matchups
Hot Batter Matchups – September 17, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| S. Castro | SS | CHC @ PIT 12:35PM | C. Morton | 27 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 3 | .444 | .444 | .815 | 1.259 |
| C. Coghlan | OF | CHC @ PIT 12:35PM | C. Morton | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | .400 | .500 | .900 | 1.400 |
| C. McGehee | 3B | MIA @ WAS 7:05PM | T. Roark | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .400 | .400 | .600 | 1.000 |
| A. Jones | OF | BAL @ TB 7:10PM | M. Moore | 21 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 4 | .524 | .565 | .857 | 1.422 |
| M. Wieters | C | BAL @ TB 7:10PM | M. Moore | 14 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | .571 | .647 | 1.071 | 1.718 |
| C. Santana | 1B | CLE vs KC 7:10PM | Y. Ventura | 15 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .333 | .474 | .733 | 1.207 |
| E. Hosmer | 1B | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 37 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 7 | .270 | .325 | .649 | .974 |
| M. Moustakas | 3B | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 35 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | .457 | .500 | .686 | 1.186 |
| E. Longoria | 3B | TB vs BAL 7:10PM | C. Tillman | 46 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 7 | .348 | .412 | .826 | 1.238 |
| J. Lowrie | SS | HOU @ TEX 8:05PM | C. Lewis | 23 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .348 | .375 | .478 | .853 |
| L. Valbuena | 3B | HOU @ TEX 8:05PM | C. Lewis | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .231 | .286 | .692 | .978 |
| C. Cowgill | OF | LAA @ MIN 8:10PM | T. Milone | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .462 | .462 | .769 | 1.231 |
| A. Pujols | 1B | LAA @ MIN 8:10PM | T. Milone | 22 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .409 | .435 | .727 | 1.162 |
| K. Davis | OF | MIL vs STL 8:10PM | J. Lackey | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | .250 | .250 | .750 | 1.000 |
| A. Lind | 1B | MIL vs STL 8:10PM | J. Lackey | 37 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | .432 | .432 | .595 | 1.027 |
| J. Segura | SS | MIL vs STL 8:10PM | J. Lackey | 13 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .615 | .615 | .615 | 1.231 |
| B. Dozier | 2B | MIN vs LAA 8:10PM | H. Santiago | 11 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .364 | .364 | .545 | .909 |
| M. Carpenter | 3B | STL @ MIL 8:10PM | J. Nelson | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | .364 | .462 | .636 | 1.098 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – September 17, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Jose Quintana | CWS vs OAK 2:10PM | 67 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 17 | .149 | .217 | .193 | .411 |
| Colby Lewis | TEX vs HOU 8:05PM | 159 | 42 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 5 | 33 | .264 | .287 | .447 | .734 |
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 – September 17, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| D. Fowler | OF | CHC @ PIT 12:35PM | C. Morton | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .200 | .385 | .200 | .585 |
| M. Montero | C | CHC @ PIT 12:35PM | C. Morton | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .182 | .308 | .182 | .490 |
| B. Butler | 1B | OAK @ CWS 2:10PM | J. Quintana | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11 | .185 | .333 | .185 | .519 |
| D. Valencia | 3B | OAK @ CWS 2:10PM | J. Quintana | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .143 | .133 | .143 | .276 |
| A. Hechavarria | SS | MIA @ WAS 7:05PM | T. Roark | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .267 | .467 |
| C. Yelich | OF | MIA @ WAS 7:05PM | T. Roark | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .200 | .333 | .200 | .533 |
| C. Davis | 1B | BAL @ TB 7:10PM | M. Moore | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .200 | .333 | .267 | .600 |
| Y. Gomes | C | CLE vs KC 7:10PM | Y. Ventura | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .077 | .143 | .077 | .220 |
| L. Cain | OF | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .192 | .192 | .231 | .423 |
| J. Dyson | OF | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 30 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .233 | .258 | .233 | .491 |
| A. Escobar | SS | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 37 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .189 | .189 | .216 | .405 |
| A. Gordon | OF | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 32 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 13 | .188 | .297 | .406 | .704 |
| K. Morales | 1B | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .188 | .235 | .250 | .485 |
| S. Perez | C | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | .190 | .250 | .286 | .536 |
| A. Rios | OF | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | .235 | .235 | .235 | .471 |
| B. Zobrist | 2B | KC @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Kluber | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .091 | .091 | .091 | .182 |
| K. Kiermaier | OF | TB vs BAL 7:10PM | C. Tillman | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .143 | .200 | .143 | .343 |
| J. Loney | 1B | TB vs BAL 7:10PM | C. Tillman | 32 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .156 | .270 | .281 | .552 |
| H. Conger | C | HOU @ TEX 8:05PM | C. Lewis | 21 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .238 | .238 | .333 | .571 |
| E. Gattis | C | HOU @ TEX 8:05PM | C. Lewis | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .250 | .250 | .333 | .583 |
| R. Braun | OF | MIL vs STL 8:10PM | J. Lackey | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .250 | .250 | .313 | .563 |
| T. Hunter | OF | MIN vs LAA 8:10PM | H. Santiago | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .200 | .333 | .200 | .533 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – September 17, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Charlie Morton | PIT vs CHC 12:35PM | 79 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 11 | 16 | .329 | .420 | .531 | .951 |
| Matt Moore | TB vs BAL 7:10PM | 114 | 40 | 14 | 6 | 20 | 10 | 22 | .351 | .412 | .592 | 1.004 |
| Tommy Milone | MIN vs LAA 8:10PM | 131 | 42 | 15 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 20 | .321 | .377 | .459 | .835 |
| John Lackey | STL @ MIL 8:10PM | 100 | 36 | 11 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 14 | .360 | .366 | .525 | .891 |
| Jimmy Nelson | MIL vs STL 8:10PM | 80 | 28 | 7 | 2 | 21 | 5 | 17 | .350 | .381 | .492 | .873 |
| Hector Santiago | LAA @ MIN 8:10PM | 64 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 4 | .375 | .459 | .655 | 1.114 |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Kelby Tomlinson, 2B, San Francisco – I like Tomlinson mainly as a middle infield fill-in, helping with batting average, runs scored and stolen bases. Tomlinson is hitting .300, with 14 runs, four stolen bases and 15 RBI since taking over for Joe Panik. Panik's season just ended as he was just placed on the 60-day DL, so expect Tomlinson to get full-time at-bats down the last stretch of the season. Sometimes all we need is a live body in our middle infield slot, right?
Other Recent Recommendations: Nolan Reimold, Corey Seager, Steven Souza, Colby Rasmus, Marcus Stroman and Vidal Nuno
DraftKings Value Picks
SP: Marco Estrada, TOR ($7,900)
C: Russell Martin, TOR ($3,600)
1B: Albert Pujols, LAA ($3,900)
2B: Neil Walker, PIT ($3,600)
SS: Francisco Lindor, CLE ($4,000)
3B: Trevor Plouffe, MIN ($4,100)
OF: Adam Jones, BAL ($3,900)
