Thursday Lineup Card: Axford No Longer Forgotten

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Updated on May 20, 2015 10:27PM EST

Projected Starters - A look at Thursday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Diamondbacks (Archie Bradley – R) at Marlins (Mat Latos – R), 12:10
Mariners (J.A. Happ – L) at Orioles (Chris Tillman – R), 12:35
Astros (Scott Feldman – R) at Tigers (David Price – L), 1:08
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – R) at Mets (Jacob deGrom – L), 1:10
Phillies (Jerome Williams – R) at Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa – L), 3:10
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 3:45
Angels (Matt Shoemaker – R) at Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey – R), 7:07
Brewers (Matt Garza – R) at Braves (Julio Teheran – R), 7:10
Athletics (Jesse Chavez – R) at Rays (Alex Colome – R), 7:10
Rangers (Wandy Rodriguez – L) at Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R), 7:10
Indians (Danny Salazar – R) at White Sox (John Danks – L), 8:10
Cubs (Kyle Hendricks – R) at Padres (Odrisamer Despaigne – R), 9:10

Day Game After Night Game: ARI/MIA, SEA/BAL, HOU/DET, STL/NYM

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Carlos Santana, C, CLE (Back) – Expected to return to action on Thursday.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK (Neck) – Will visit with a neck specialist on Thursday.
Devon Travis, 2B, TOR (Shoulder) – Did not start on Wednesday.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, BOS (Knee) – Did not start on Wednesday.

Players on the DL

Brandon Morrow, SP, SD (Shoulder) – Expected to throw his first bullpen session on Thursday.
Jake Peavy, SP, SF (Back) – Will begin his rehab assignment on Friday.
Casey Fien, RP, MIN (Shoulder) – Threw a successful bullpen session on Wednesday and will now start a rehab assignment.
David Hernandez, RP, ARI (Elbow) – Will throw at Double-A Mobile over the weekend.
Matt Moore, SP, TB (Elbow) – Completed a successful bullpen session on Wednesday.
Bruce Rondon, RP, DET (Shoulder) – Will have to pitch in back-to-back games before being activated from the disabled list.
Erik Kratz, C, KC (Foot) – Will begin a rehab assignment on Thursday.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, LAD (Shoulder) – Will undergo surgery on Thursday and could miss the remainder of the season.
Brandon Workman, RP, BOS (Elbow) – Resumed playing catch after receiving a platelet-rich injection.
Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS (Oblique) – Took some swings in the batting cage and fielded some grounders on Wednesday.
Matt Wieters, C, BAL (Elbow) – Expected to catch in an extended spring training game on Thursday.
Jose Reyes, SS, TOR (Ribs) – Expected to join the Blue Jays on Monday.
Austin Jackson, OF, SEA (Ankle) – Jackson is unlikely to return to action this weekend.
Eric O'Flaherty, RP, OAK (Shoulder) – Expected to throw a bullpen session by the end of the week.
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK (Shoulder) – Expected to make his next rehab session on Friday.
Ben Zobrist, 2B, OAK (Knee) – Will play in a rehab game on Friday.
A.J. Griffin, SP, OAK (Elbow) – Could begin a rehab assignment next week.
Everth Cabrera, SS, BAL (Foot) – Expected to be activated from the disabled list on Friday.
John Jaso, C, TB (Wrist) – Has resumed swinging a bat.
Ryan Brett, 2B, TB (Shoulder) – Has started playing in extended spring training games.
LaTroy Hawkins, RP, COL (Biceps) – Is not close to returning to the Rockies.
Corey Dickerson, OF, COL (Foot) – Does not plan on undergoing surgery.
Brendan Ryan, SS, NYY (Calf) – Returned to action in a rehab game on Wednesday.
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX (Shoulder) – Is expected to play in rehab games at Triple-A Round Rock from Thursday through Saturday.
Drew Pomeranz, SP, OAK (Shoulder) – Pomeranz was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday.
Patrick Corbin, SP, ARI (Elbow) – Next rehab outing may be pushed back.

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

Placed on the DL (15-day DL, unless otherwise noted)

Chase Whitley, SP, NYY – transferred to the 60-day DL.
Drew Pomeranz, SP, OAK
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, NYY

Called Up

Slade Heathcott, OF, NYY
Shaun Marcum, RP, CLE
Brandon Barnes, OF, COL
Phil Klein, RP, TEX
Arnold Leon, RP, OAK
Severino Gonzalez, RP, PHI

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

John Cornely, RP, BOS
Zach Walters, 2B, CLE
Hector Neris, RP, PHI
Edgar Olmos, RP, SEA
Jesus Sucre, C, SEA
Stolmy Pimentel, RP, TEX
Jeff Francis, RP, TOR
Drew Stubbs, OF, COL

Traded

John Cornely, RP, BOS – from Atlanta Braves for cash.

Closer Watch

Colorado Rockies – The Rockies have only given John Axford two save chances since April 27, although Axford was quite successful and locked down both chances without issue. Axford, a name once forgotten amongst closers, has done an admirable job since taking over for the injured Adam Ottavino. The Rockies will have a tough time giving Axford save opportunities; however, if Axford maintains his current level of production, we should expect at least 30 saves total on the season. Axford is a decent buy-candidate, one that shouldn't cost you an arm-and-a-leg to snag.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – May 21, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
S. Pearce	OF	BAL vs SEA 12:35PM	J. Happ	18	6	4	2	5	1	2	.333	.381	.778	1.159
R. Cano	2B	SEA @ BAL 12:35PM	C. Tillman	28	12	3	2	8	2	3	.429	.467	.679	1.145
M. Cabrera	1B	DET vs HOU 1:08PM	S. Feldman	16	9	4	2	5	1	0	.563	.588	1.063	1.651
Y. Cespedes	OF	DET vs HOU 1:08PM	S. Feldman	11	3	2	0	1	3	1	.273	.429	.455	.883
J. Mayberry	OF	NYM vs STL 1:10PM	J. Garcia	13	6	4	0	4	0	1	.462	.462	.769	1.231
C. Ruiz	C	PHI @ COL 3:10PM	J. De La Rosa	11	6	2	0	1	2	2	.545	.643	.727	1.370
G. Sizemore	OF	PHI @ COL 3:10PM	J. De La Rosa	17	4	3	2	2	2	4	.235	.350	.647	.997
C. Utley	2B	PHI @ COL 3:10PM	J. De La Rosa	14	4	2	1	4	1	3	.286	.375	.571	.946
J. Turner	3B	LAD @ SF 3:45PM	M. Bumgarner	25	7	4	2	3	1	3	.280	.308	.600	.908
F. Freeman	1B	ATL vs MIL 7:10PM	M. Garza	12	4	1	1	2	2	4	.333	.429	.583	1.012
A. Pierzynski	C	ATL vs MIL 7:10PM	M. Garza	16	4	2	2	3	1	1	.250	.294	.625	.919
H. Ramirez	SS	BOS vs TEX 7:10PM	W. Rodriguez	24	10	5	1	2	4	3	.417	.500	.792	1.292
E. Andrus	SS	TEX @ BOS 7:10PM	C. Buchholz	11	5	1	0	1	0	4	.455	.455	.545	1.000
M. Bourn	OF	CLE @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Danks	14	4	2	0	2	1	1	.286	.333	.571	.905
J. Kipnis	2B	CLE @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Danks	26	7	3	1	7	3	3	.269	.355	.500	.855
R. Raburn	OF	CLE @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Danks	47	17	11	4	12	6	12	.362	.426	.766	1.192
N. Swisher	1B	CLE @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Danks	25	7	2	2	3	6	1	.280	.419	.520	.939
A. Ramirez	SS	CWS vs CLE 8:10PM	D. Salazar	10	8	2	1	3	0	0	.800	.800	1.200	2.000
M. Montero	C	CHC @ SD 9:10PM	O. Despaigne	10	3	1	1	4	2	1	.300	.417	.600	1.017

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Hot Pitcher Matchups – May 21, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
David Price	DET vs HOU 1:08PM	71	13	3	1	3	4	23	.183	.236	.251	.487
Madison Bumgarner	SF vs LAD 3:45PM	211	42	14	4	13	9	57	.199	.235	.305	.540
Clayton Kershaw	LAD @ SF 3:45PM	337	64	12	2	14	15	91	.190	.227	.239	.466
R.A. Dickey	TOR vs LAA 7:07PM	83	14	7	3	14	6	16	.169	.218	.331	.549
Matt Garza	MIL @ ATL 7:10PM	99	22	8	5	16	10	14	.222	.294	.396	.690

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 – May 21, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
J. Pacheco	C	ARI @ MIA 12:10PM	M. Latos	10	1	0	0	1	0	0	.100	.100	.100	.200
J. Hardy	SS	BAL vs SEA 12:35PM	J. Happ	17	3	3	0	1	3	2	.176	.300	.353	.653
M. Machado	3B	BAL vs SEA 12:35PM	J. Happ	12	2	1	0	0	0	6	.167	.231	.333	.564
D. Young	OF	BAL vs SEA 12:35PM	J. Happ	19	4	0	0	1	0	3	.211	.211	.211	.421
D. Ackley	OF	SEA @ BAL 12:35PM	C. Tillman	12	1	0	0	0	0	2	.083	.083	.083	.167
K. Seager	3B	SEA @ BAL 12:35PM	C. Tillman	13	2	1	0	0	2	4	.154	.267	.231	.497
J. Altuve	2B	HOU @ DET 1:08PM	D. Price	11	3	0	0	0	0	3	.273	.273	.273	.545
C. Carter	DH	HOU @ DET 1:08PM	D. Price	14	2	1	0	1	2	5	.143	.250	.214	.464
C. Rasmus	OF	HOU @ DET 1:08PM	D. Price	25	5	0	0	0	2	6	.200	.286	.200	.486
R. Howard	1B	PHI @ COL 3:10PM	J. De La Rosa	13	3	1	0	5	0	4	.231	.214	.308	.522
A. Ellis	C	LAD @ SF 3:45PM	M. Bumgarner	24	3	1	0	0	3	6	.125	.222	.167	.389
A. Ethier	OF	LAD @ SF 3:45PM	M. Bumgarner	24	3	1	0	1	0	9	.125	.160	.167	.327
A. Gonzalez	1B	LAD @ SF 3:45PM	M. Bumgarner	35	4	2	0	2	0	7	.114	.114	.171	.286
J. Rollins	SS	LAD @ SF 3:45PM	M. Bumgarner	24	4	0	0	0	0	7	.167	.167	.167	.333
N. Aoki	OF	SF vs LAD 3:45PM	C. Kershaw	15	2	0	0	2	0	2	.133	.133	.133	.267
B. Belt	1B	SF vs LAD 3:45PM	C. Kershaw	32	3	1	0	0	3	18	.094	.171	.125	.296
B. Crawford	SS	SF vs LAD 3:45PM	C. Kershaw	18	1	0	0	0	1	7	.056	.105	.056	.161
J. Maxwell	OF	SF vs LAD 3:45PM	C. Kershaw	15	0	0	0	0	2	7	.000	.118	.000	.118
H. Pence	OF	SF vs LAD 3:45PM	C. Kershaw	53	4	0	0	2	0	13	.075	.075	.075	.151
B. Posey	C	SF vs LAD 3:45PM	C. Kershaw	65	13	4	2	7	2	14	.200	.235	.323	.558
M. Joyce	OF	LAA @ TOR 7:07PM	R. Dickey	36	6	3	2	7	3	8	.167	.225	.361	.586
N. Markakis	OF	ATL vs MIL 7:10PM	M. Garza	38	6	1	0	5	5	5	.158	.256	.184	.440
C. Gomez	OF	MIL @ ATL 7:10PM	J. Teheran	10	2	0	0	0	0	7	.200	.273	.200	.473
G. Parra	OF	MIL @ ATL 7:10PM	J. Teheran	11	2	1	0	0	0	4	.182	.182	.273	.455
A. Beltre	3B	TEX @ BOS 7:10PM	C. Buchholz	11	2	2	0	1	1	3	.182	.250	.364	.614
S. Choo	OF	TEX @ BOS 7:10PM	C. Buchholz	12	1	1	0	0	3	4	.083	.313	.167	.479
D. Murphy	OF	CLE @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Danks	11	2	1	0	0	1	4	.182	.250	.273	.523
C. Santana	1B	CLE @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Danks	30	6	3	1	4	6	8	.200	.324	.367	.691

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Pitcher Matchups – May 21, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Scott Feldman	HOU @ DET 1:08PM	61	22	7	2	8	5	4	.361	.409	.567	.976
Jorge De La Rosa	COL vs PHI 3:10PM	75	22	9	4	16	5	17	.293	.351	.529	.880
John Danks	CWS vs CLE 8:10PM	233	67	29	10	36	27	40	.288	.358	.512	.871

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 Miller, SS, SEA – Miller is a deeper-league recommendation, but I'm all about the hot streak he's been on. Good hitting shortstops are a rare find these days, and while Miller may not exactly qualify as "good" he still makes an owner take notice based on his recent power surge (4 HR, 5 R and 5 RBI over the last seven games). Miller's playing time is a tad unpredictable at times, although I'm taking the plunge until he cools down.

Other Recent Recommendations:Enrique Burgos, Matt Shoemaker, Carlos Correa, Brandon Crawford, Maikel Franco, Jose Quintana and Delino DeShields

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Jesse Chavez, OAK ($7,200)
C: Stephen Vogt, OAK ($3,700)
1B: James Loney, TB ($3,500)
2B: Delino DeShields, TEX ($3,700)
SS: Starlin Castro, CHC ($3,600)
3B: Evan Longoria, TB ($4,000)
OF: Nick Markakis, OF ($3,500)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dave Hunter plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: TheRolyPolyBoy, DraftKings: TheRolyPolyBoy.