Tuesday Lineup Card: Have A Niese Day

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Mets (Jon Niese – L) at Phillies (Cole Hamels – L), 7:05
Pirates (Charlie Morton – R) at Orioles (Chris Tillman – R), 7:05
Mariners (Chris Young – R) at Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 7:05
Rays (Erik Bedard – L) at Red Sox (John Lackey – R), 7:10
Cubs (Jeff Samardzija – R) at Reds (Alfredo Simon – R), 7:10
Braves (Alex Wood – L) at Marlins (Jose Fernandez – R), 7:10
Athletics (Scott Kazmir – L) at Rangers (Martin Perez – L), 8:05
Tigers (Justin Verlander – R) at White Sox (Jose Quintana – L), 8:10
Blue Jays (Dustin McGowan – R) at Royals (Jason Vargas – L), 8:10
Dodgers (Zack Greinke – R) at Twins (Kyle Gibson – R), 8:10
Nationals (Gio Gonzalez – L) at Astros (Jarred Cosart – R), 8:10
Brewers (Kyle Lohse – R) at Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R), 8:10
Rockies (Tyler Chatwood – R) at Diamondbacks (Michael Bolsinger – R), 9:40
Indians (Corey Kluber – R) at Angels (Jered Weaver – R), 10:05
Padres (Eric Stults – L) at Giants (Matt Cain – R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (oblique) – Out for Cardinals series; DL possible
Yoenis Cespedes, OF, OAK (hamstring) – 50-50 odds for Tuesday's lineup
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, TEX (ankle) – Pinch-hit Monday
Jean Segura, SS, MIL (head) – Should be back in Wednesday or Thursday
Gio Gonzalez, SP, WAS (shoulder) – Feeling good enough to go Tuesday
Wilin Rosario, C, COL (hand) – Sat out Monday
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, MIL (elbow) – Left Monday's game; Tuesday status uncertain
Trevor Plouffe, 3B, MIN (triceps) – Was set to play Sunday before rainout
Jedd Gyorko, 2B, SD (personal) – On paternity leave; could miss whole Giants series
Danny Espinosa, 2B, WAS (knee) – Believes he'll be available Tuesday
Donnie Murphy, 3B, TEX (foot) – Left Monday; X-rays negative

Players on the DL

Clayton Kershaw, SP, LAD (back) – Last rehab start coming Wednesday
Bryce Harper, OF, WAS (thumb) – Surgery will keep him out into July
Chris Sale, SP, CHW (arm) – Sounds like he'll miss more than minimum
Mat Latos, SP, CIN (elbow) – Playing catch; aiming for mid-to-late-May return
Doug Fister, SP, WAS (back) – Threw 59 pitches in Sunday rehab outing
Manny Machado, 3B, BAL (knee) – Orioles to decide on DL activation Tuesday
Josh Hamilton, OF, LAA (thumb) – Took one-handed swings Monday
Chase Headley, 3B, SD (calf) – Could miss just the minimum time
Wilson Ramos, C, WAS (wrist) – Hopes to return early next week
Juan Lagares, OF, NYM (hamstring) – Played Triple-A rehab game Monday
Jake Arrieta, SP, CHC (shoulder) – Likely won't debut until weekend due to rainout
Carlos Quentin, OF, SD (knee) – Doing baseball activities this week
Brett Anderson, SP, COL (finger) – Exercising lightly
Lorenzo Cain, OF, KC (groin) – Could rejoin Royals this week
Tanner Scheppers, SP, TEX (elbow) – Was scheduled for Monday evaluation
Felipe Paulino, SP, CHW (shoulder) – Could start rehab games this weekend
Jhoulys Chacin, SP, COL (shoulder) – Triple-A start Tuesday; could be activated after
Joe Saunders, SP, TEX (ankle) – Has improved; rehab should progress now
Seth Smith, OF, SD (gorin) – Could return during series vs. Giants
Marco Scutaro, 2B, SF (back) – Hasn't really improved, it sounds like
A.J. Ellis, C, LAD (knee) – Doing light running; not ready for rehab trip yet
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, SP, PHI (shoulder) – Threw 94 mph in sim game Sunday
Ethan Martin, RP, PHI (shoulder) – Could start rehab assignment within a week
Skip Schumaker, 2B, CIN (shoulder) – Started rehab assignment monday
Darin Ruf, OF, PHI (oblique) – Won't join Phillies on homestand starting Tuesday
Scott Hairston, OF, WAS (oblique) – Could start rehab trip late this week

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

Placed on DL
Jedd Gyorko, 2B, SD (paternity leave)

Activated From DL

Called Up
Greg Garcia, SS, STL
Randal Grichuk, OF, STL
Tommy Medica, 1B, SD

Sent Down
Kolten Wong, 2B, STL
Shane Robinson, OF, STL
Ryan Goins, 2B, TOR

Traded
Lucas Harrell, SP, ARI (from HOU)

Closer Watch

Angels – Joe Smith got his first save chance since being named closer on Monday, and he converted it with a scoreless ninth, working around a hit. If I was a betting man, I'd bet on Ernesto Frieri winning the job back eventually, as Smith's not really your prototypical closer. But for now, he'll be earning the saves for the Angels, and therefore should be owned pretty much everywhere.

Brewers – Francisco Rodriguez now has 12 – yes, twelve – saves. That is all.

Hot Batter Matchups – April 29, 2014

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
D. Murphy	2B	NYM @ PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	34	12	3	1	5	0	7	.353	.353	.500	.853
D. Wright	3B	NYM @ PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	63	22	9	5	15	4	15	.349	.388	.667	1.055
E. Young Jr.	OF	NYM @ PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	21	9	2	0	3	0	2	.429	.429	.524	.952
A. Soriano	OF	NYY vs SEA 7:05PM	C. Young	17	4	4	2	3	1	3	.235	.316	.765	1.080
I. Suzuki	OF	NYY vs SEA 7:05PM	C. Young	21	8	3	2	6	5	0	.381	.500	.714	1.214
C. Ruiz	C	PHI vs NYM 7:05PM	J. Niese	21	7	2	1	3	2	5	.333	.391	.524	.915
M. Napoli	1B	BOS vs TB 7:10PM	E. Bedard	17	4	3	2	6	4	5	.235	.381	.647	1.028
A. Pierzynski	C	BOS vs TB 7:10PM	E. Bedard	21	9	2	2	4	0	1	.429	.429	.714	1.143
T. Frazier	3B	CIN vs CHC 7:10PM	J. Samardzija	19	6	3	2	2	4	4	.316	.435	.684	1.119
Y. Escobar	SS	TB @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Lackey	15	8	2	0	1	3	2	.533	.579	.667	1.246
M. Joyce	OF	TB @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Lackey	18	6	2	2	6	2	2	.333	.429	.667	1.095
E. Longoria	3B	TB @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Lackey	31	10	5	2	5	3	4	.323	.382	.613	.995
B. Zobrist	2B	TB @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Lackey	27	11	3	0	4	5	3	.407	.515	.519	1.034
Y. Cespedes	OF	OAK @ TEX 8:05PM	M. Perez	12	4	2	0	1	0	0	.333	.333	.583	.917
C. Crisp	OF	OAK @ TEX 8:05PM	M. Perez	13	5	2	0	1	0	3	.385	.385	.538	.923
J. Donaldson	3B	OAK @ TEX 8:05PM	M. Perez	10	4	3	1	2	3	1	.400	.538	.900	1.438
E. Andrus	SS	TEX vs OAK 8:05PM	S. Kazmir	20	8	0	0	0	1	3	.400	.455	.400	.855
S. Choo	OF	TEX vs OAK 8:05PM	S. Kazmir	13	4	1	1	3	3	1	.308	.438	.538	.976
T. Flowers	C	CWS vs DET 8:10PM	J. Verlander	13	3	2	2	2	2	4	.231	.333	.692	1.026
D. Viciedo	OF	CWS vs DET 8:10PM	J. Verlander	18	6	2	1	1	0	4	.333	.333	.556	.889
M. Cabrera	3B	DET @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Quintana	14	4	2	1	3	2	3	.286	.375	.571	.946
R. Davis	OF	DET @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Quintana	17	8	3	1	1	1	1	.471	.500	.765	1.265
J. Kubel	OF	MIN vs LAD 8:10PM	Z. Greinke	32	10	5	2	7	5	8	.313	.405	.625	1.030
J. Bautista	OF	TOR @ KC 8:10PM	J. Vargas	10	1	1	1	2	6	2	.100	.471	.400	.871
M. Cabrera	OF	TOR @ KC 8:10PM	J. Vargas	10	3	1	1	2	0	2	.300	.300	.600	.900
E. Encarnacion	1B	TOR @ KC 8:10PM	J. Vargas	15	5	4	2	5	5	2	.333	.476	.867	1.343
J. Segura	SS	MIL @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	13	7	2	0	2	0	2	.538	.538	.769	1.308
M. Holliday	OF	STL vs MIL 8:15PM	K. Lohse	20	8	2	1	3	3	2	.400	.478	.600	1.078
J. Jay	OF	STL vs MIL 8:15PM	K. Lohse	11	4	2	0	3	0	2	.364	.417	.545	.962
Y. Molina	C	STL vs MIL 8:15PM	K. Lohse	16	9	5	2	5	0	1	.563	.529	1.125	1.654
J. Giambi	DH	CLE @ LAA 10:05PM	J. Weaver	17	6	1	0	2	4	3	.353	.455	.412	.866
C. Santana	C	CLE @ LAA 10:05PM	J. Weaver	14	7	1	0	2	4	1	.500	.611	.571	1.183
C. Denorfia	OF	SD @ SF 10:15PM	M. Cain	13	5	2	0	0	1	2	.385	.429	.615	1.044
X. Nady	OF	SD @ SF 10:15PM	M. Cain	17	6	2	0	2	1	2	.353	.389	.471	.859
J. Arias	SS	SF vs SD 10:15PM	E. Stults	21	8	1	1	2	0	3	.381	.381	.524	.905
B. Crawford	SS	SF vs SD 10:15PM	E. Stults	11	3	2	2	4	0	3	.273	.273	.818	1.091
H. Pence	OF	SF vs SD 10:15PM	E. Stults	28	8	4	3	9	0	5	.286	.276	.643	.919
B. Posey	C	SF vs SD 10:15PM	E. Stults	17	7	3	1	3	3	2	.412	.500	.706	1.206
P. Sandoval	3B	SF vs SD 10:15PM	E. Stults	24	12	4	0	4	3	1	.500	.556	.708	1.264

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

Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 29, 2014

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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
CC Sabathia	NYY vs SEA 7:05PM	117	24	10	3	9	8	36	.205	.253	.341	.595
Erik Bedard	TB @ BOS 7:10PM	131	29	13	9	20	21	31	.221	.345	.438	.782
Justin Verlander	DET @ CWS 8:10PM	245	53	17	13	26	14	65	.216	.261	.392	.652
Matt Cain	SF vs SD 10:15PM	182	37	16	3	13	13	40	.203	.258	.336	.594

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 – April 29, 2014

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
L. Duda	OF	NYM @ PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	13	1	0	0	0	5	7	.077	.333	.077	.410
J. Satin	1B	NYM @ PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	10	1	0	0	1	1	4	.100	.182	.100	.282
K. Johnson	2B	NYY vs SEA 7:05PM	C. Young	11	2	0	0	0	0	3	.182	.182	.182	.364
B. McCann	C	NYY vs SEA 7:05PM	C. Young	12	2	1	1	1	3	1	.167	.333	.417	.750
F. Galvis	2B	PHI vs NYM 7:05PM	J. Niese	10	2	1	1	1	0	5	.200	.200	.500	.700
R. Howard	1B	PHI vs NYM 7:05PM	J. Niese	15	1	0	0	2	1	7	.067	.118	.067	.184
C. Utley	2B	PHI vs NYM 7:05PM	J. Niese	22	2	0	0	1	2	2	.091	.231	.091	.322
J. Buck	C	SEA @ NYY 7:05PM	C. Sabathia	42	8	4	1	4	5	10	.190	.277	.333	.610
M. Saunders	OF	SEA @ NYY 7:05PM	C. Sabathia	15	1	0	0	0	0	7	.067	.067	.067	.133
J. Gomes	OF	BOS vs TB 7:10PM	E. Bedard	25	4	1	1	2	4	9	.160	.300	.280	.580
D. Ortiz	DH	BOS vs TB 7:10PM	E. Bedard	26	5	2	1	4	6	7	.192	.353	.346	.699
D. Pedroia	2B	BOS vs TB 7:10PM	E. Bedard	16	3	2	0	1	2	1	.188	.278	.313	.590
G. Sizemore	OF	BOS vs TB 7:10PM	E. Bedard	13	0	0	0	0	4	6	.000	.278	.000	.278
R. Bernadina	OF	CIN vs CHC 7:10PM	J. Samardzija	12	2	0	0	1	0	3	.167	.167	.167	.333
B. Phillips	2B	CIN vs CHC 7:10PM	J. Samardzija	31	7	0	0	3	0	7	.226	.226	.226	.452
D. Jennings	OF	TB @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Lackey	11	1	0	0	0	0	5	.091	.091	.091	.182
J. Molina	C	TB @ BOS 7:10PM	J. Lackey	12	2	0	0	2	1	2	.167	.286	.167	.452
A. Beltre	3B	TEX vs OAK 8:05PM	S. Kazmir	26	5	1	1	3	3	10	.192	.276	.308	.584
G. Beckham	2B	CWS vs DET 8:10PM	J. Verlander	31	6	1	1	3	0	7	.194	.188	.290	.478
A. De Aza	OF	CWS vs DET 8:10PM	J. Verlander	23	4	2	2	3	2	8	.174	.240	.435	.675
A. Dunn	1B	CWS vs DET 8:10PM	J. Verlander	28	5	3	3	7	2	12	.179	.233	.500	.733
P. Konerko	1B	CWS vs DET 8:10PM	J. Verlander	58	10	4	2	5	5	16	.172	.250	.310	.560
A. Jackson	OF	DET @ CWS 8:10PM	J. Quintana	16	3	1	0	1	1	3	.188	.278	.313	.590
C. Rasmus	OF	TOR @ KC 8:10PM	J. Vargas	10	2	1	0	3	0	3	.200	.200	.300	.500
C. Gomez	OF	MIL @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	14	3	0	0	0	1	7	.214	.267	.214	.481
J. Lucroy	C	MIL @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	15	2	0	0	0	3	6	.133	.278	.133	.411
A. Ramirez	3B	MIL @ STL 8:15PM	L. Lynn	18	2	0	0	0	2	3	.111	.200	.111	.311
M. Ellis	2B	STL vs MIL 8:15PM	K. Lohse	15	3	2	1	3	0	3	.200	.200	.467	.667
M. Brantley	OF	CLE @ LAA 10:05PM	J. Weaver	21	4	1	1	1	0	1	.190	.190	.333	.524
J. Kipnis	2B	CLE @ LAA 10:05PM	J. Weaver	13	2	2	0	0	2	3	.154	.267	.308	.574
D. Murphy	OF	CLE @ LAA 10:05PM	J. Weaver	54	8	4	1	4	4	12	.148	.203	.259	.463
Y. Alonso	1B	SD @ SF 10:15PM	M. Cain	10	1	1	0	0	0	2	.100	.100	.200	.300
E. Cabrera	SS	SD @ SF 10:15PM	M. Cain	18	4	1	0	1	0	6	.222	.222	.278	.500
S. Smith	OF	SD @ SF 10:15PM	M. Cain	29	2	1	0	2	2	3	.069	.152	.103	.255
B. Belt	1B	SF vs SD 10:15PM	E. Stults	15	3	0	0	1	0	2	.200	.250	.200	.450

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

Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 29, 2014

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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
Chris Young	SEA @ NYY 7:05PM	85	21	10	6	15	13	12	.247	.354	.516	.870
John Lackey	BOS vs TB 7:10PM	163	50	14	5	23	14	25	.307	.372	.463	.835
Jason Vargas	KC vs TOR 8:10PM	77	22	9	4	17	12	13	.286	.383	.519	.901
Kyle Lohse	MIL @ STL 8:15PM	98	33	13	4	16	8	13	.337	.387	.544	.931
Eric Stults	SD @ SF 10:15PM	160	50	19	9	28	6	21	.312	.340	.556	.896

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
Jon Niese, SP, NYM – For a guy who's been a proven fantasy asset in the past, Niese's strong start – a 2.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP through his first four outings – has been largely overlooked by the fantasy community. Though fairly widely owned in deeper formats, Niese is widely available in standard leagues despite his strong early returns. It's hard to forget the lefty's strong 2012 season, and though he's made more than 120 starts in the majors, it feels like he really hasn't reached his ceiling yet. At worst, Niese is a reliable mid-rotation arm; at his best, he's shown flashes of dominance. The key to sustaining his early success is going to be reestablishing his curve – making batters miss that pitch was key to his big campaign two seasons ago.

Other Recent Recommendations: James Loney, Matt Harrison, Mark Melancon, Alberto Callaspo, Jenrry Mejia

DraftStreet Value Picks
SP: Jon Niese, NYM ($13,412)
C: Salvador Perez, KC ($5,290)
1B: Joe Mauer, MIN ($5,401)
2B: Dee Gordon, LAD ($5,778)
SS: Chris Owings, ARI ($4,486)
3B: Pablo Sandoval, SF ($4,519)
OF: Wil Myers, TB ($5,669)