Tuesday Lineup Card: Alvarez is Back

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Projected Starters – A look at Tuesday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Giants (Tim Lincecum – R) at Phillies (Vance Worley – R), 7:05
Marlins (Ricky Nolasco –R) at Nationals (Jordan Zimmerman – R), 7:05
Angels (Jered Weaver – R) at Indians (Josh Tomlin – R), 7:05
Mariners (Doug Fister – R) at Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 7:05
Orioles (Jake Arrieta – R) at Blue Jays (Brandon Marrow – R), 7:07
Mets (Jonathan Niese – L) at Reds (Johnny Cueto – R), 7:10
Pirates (Jeff Karstens – R) at Braves (Tommy Hanson – R), 7:10
Royals (Danny Duffy – L) at Red Sox (Andrew Miller – L), 7:10
Twins (Carl Pavano – R) at Rangers (C.J. Wilson – L), 8:05
Cubs (Ryan Dempster – R) at Brewers (Chris Narveson – L), 8:10
Tigers (Justin Verlander – R) at White Sox (Jake Peavy – R), 8:10
Astros (Brett Myers – R) at Cardinals (Jake Westbrook – R), 8:15
Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders – L) at Padres (Dustin Moseley – R), 10:05
Rays (David Price – L) at Athletics (Brandon McCarthy – R), 10:05
Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin – R) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L), 10:10

Day game after a night game: None.

Injuries – A brief look at players who have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Laynce Nix, OF, WAS – (Achilles) Out of the starting lineup for a second straight day Sunday but was available to pinch-hit.
Kerry Wood, RP, CHC – (General Soreness) Old-man-itis made him unavailable Sunday.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD – (Hip) Strained his hip flexor but isn't expected to hit the DL.
Angel Pagan, OF, NYM – (Illness) Getting blood test to determine the cause of his fatigue.
Ryan Ludwick, OF, SD – (Undisclosed) Expects to return to the lineup Tuesday.
Jordan Schafer, OF, ATL – (Finger) Has a chip fracture but will avoid the DL.
Chris Heisey, OF, CIN – (Shoulder) MRI came back negative. Should return to the lineup in a day or two.
Alexander Cobb, SP, TB – (Finger) Suffered a blister on a finger after throwing seven innings Sunday. Status for Saturday is up in the air.
Chone Figgins, 3B, SEA – (Personal) Questionable going into Monday's game.
Josh Willingham, OF, OAK – (Neck) Playing through a minor neck injury.

Players on the DL
Chien-Ming Wang, SP, WAS – (Shoulder) Will return from the DL and start against the Mets on Friday.
Roy Oswalt, SP, PHI – (Back) Will make a rehab start Wednesday and it may be the only one he needs.
Ross Ohlendorf, SP, PIT – (Shoulder) May be used out of the bullpen when he returns.
Alex Presley, OF, PIT – (Hand) Placed on the 15-day DL.
Geoff Blum, SS, AZ – (Finger) Will miss 2-3 weeks with a fractured pinky finger.
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI – (Back) Plans to return to the lineup Saturday.
John Jaso, C, TB – (Oblique) Could join the team Friday.
Rafael Soriano, RP, NYY – (Elbow) Could return to the Yankees soon.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY – (Knee) Could return in the second week of August.
Eric Chavez, 3B, NYY – (Foot) Expected to be activated from the DL Tuesday.
Clay Buchholz, SP, BOS – (Back) Expected to be back before mid-August.
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS – (Shoulder) Placed on the 15-day DL.
Alex White, SP, CLE – (Finger) Will pitch out of the bullpen when he returns.
Tony Pena, RP, CHI – (Elbow) Will not play again this season.
Brad Thomas, RP, DET – (Elbow) Placed on the 60-day DL.
Luke Scott, DH, BAL – (Shoulder) Will undergo surgery Tuesday.
Erik Bedard, SP, SEA – (Knee) Will be activated from the DL to Start Friday.
Vladimir Guerreo, DH, BAL – (Hand) Expected to be activated from the DL Tuesday.

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)
Brad Thomas, RP, DET (60-day DL)
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS
Alex Presley, OF, PIT

Activated from DL
Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL
Jon Lester, SP, BOS
Esmil Rogers, SP, COL

Called Up
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT
Chance Ruffin, RP, DET

Sent Down
Jared Goedert, 1B, CLE
Lester Oliveros, RP, DET
Kyle Weiland, RP, BOS
Tyson Ross, SP, OAK
Wilkin Ramirez, OF, ATL
Ryan Cook, RP, AZ

Designated for Assignment
Eric Stults, RP, COL

Closer Watch – A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (also check out our Closer Grid)

Arizona – Zach Duke picked up an unconventional four-inning save after holding the Rockies scoreless in relief for 12 outs. J.J Putz is coming off the DL Tuesday and is expected to reclaim the closer role from David Hernandez.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Javy Guerra has accumulated five saves and a win in July. He's the Dodgers' unquestioned closer right now. Don't let him sit on your waiver wires.

Philadelphia – Ryan Madson was used as the closer to the save Friday and Saturday, so the Phillies went with Antonio Bastardo in the save opportunity Sunday. Bastardo converted the save. Madson remains the primary closer, but Bastardo will get spot work whenever Madson pitches too much.

Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT – Alvarez was recalled to the majors Monday. He's being given the everyday job at third base again, and based on the production the Pirates were getting from their other plug-ins at third, I'd bank on Alvarez sticking at third the rest of the season. While demoted to Triple-A, Alvarez hit .365 with three home runs, 13 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 63 at-bats. He batted fifth on Monday, and hitting in a prime spot for RBI will be perfect for a cleanup-type hitter like Alvarez. Take a flier on him for the next week or two to see if he's fixed whatever was making his bat miss the ball so much earlier this season.

Other recent recommendations:Josh Reddick, Desmond Jennings, Edward Mujica, Cameron Maybin, Travis Snider

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Draft Street Lineup

C Alex Avila (DET-C) $4,705
1B Ryan Howard (PHI-1B) $5,886
2B Ian Kinsler (TEX-2B) $7,821
3B David Wright (NYM-3B) $9,157
SS Hanley Ramirez (FLA-SS) $6,971
OF Ichiro Suzuki (SEA-OF) $5,481
OF Matt Holliday (STL-OF) $6,799
OF Curtis Granderson (NYY-OF) $10,230
U Ryan Zimmerman (WAS-3B) $5,794
U Jose Bautista (TOR-OF) $9,877
SP Jake Peavy (CWS-SP) $8,188
SP David Price (TB-SP) $13,268
RP Ryan Madson (PHI-RP) $1,878
P Andrew Miller (BOS-SP) $3,348

Total: $99,403