Wednesday Lineup Card: Advantage, Bats

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Red Sox (Jon Lester - L) v. Indians (Mitch Talbot - R) 12:05
Braves (Mike Minor - L) v. Pirates (James McDonald - R) 1:05
Rays (Andy Sonnanstine - R) v. Tigers (Brad Penny - R) 1:05
Blue Jays (Jo-Jo Reyes - L) v. Yankees (Freddy Garcia - R) 1:05
Mariners (Eric Bedard - L) v. Twins (Brian Duensing - L) 1:10
Nationals (Jason Marquis - R) v. Brewers (Zack Greinke - R) 1:10
White Sox (Gavin Floyd - R) v. Rangers (C.J. Wilson - L) 2:05
Dodgers (Ted Lilly - L) v. Astros (Aneury Rodriguez - R) 2:05
Cardinals (Chris Carpenter - R) v. Padres (Mat Latos - R) 6:35
Reds (Travis Wood - L) v. Phillies (Roy Halladay - R) 7:05
Royals (Luke Hochevar - R) v. Orioles (Jake Arrieta - R) 7:05
Mets (Dillon Gee - R) v. Cubs (Casey Coleman - R) 8:05
Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy - R) v. Rockies (Jason Hammel - R) 8:40
Athletics (Trevor Cahill - R) v. Angels (Ervin Santana - R) 10:05
Marlins (Chris Volstad - R) v. Giants (Madison Bumgarner - L) 10:15

Day After Night: Bos/Cle, Atl/Pit, Tam/Det, Tor/NYY, Sea/Min, Was/Mil, ChW/Tex, LA

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Matt Holliday, OF, STL - (Quadriceps) may return to game action on Friday
Andre Ethier, OF, LAD - (General soreness) made pinch-hit appearance in Monday's game; didn't start Tuesday
Jeff Baker, 2B, CHI-N - (Groin) received treatment on Monday and may play on Wednesday
Todd Helton, 1B, COL - (Back) is stiff still, but hoping that off-day Monday rest will help
Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL - (Hamstring) rest on Monday off-day should help him, too
Howie Kendrick, 2B, ANA - (Hamstring) received cortisone injection and will be off for a few days
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS - (Ankle) after being given day off Tuesday, may return on Wednesday
Michael Cuddyer, OF, MIN - (Hip) left in eighth inning of Monday's game with right hip tightness
Delmon Young, OF, MIN - (Leg) left Monday's game with left leg contusion
Nick Swisher, OF, NYY - (Forearm) sitting last couple of games to help break a slump
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, OAK - (Groin) took both fielding and batting practice on Monday
Justin Ruggiano, OF, TB - (Illness) stomach illness sidelined him on Monday
Elliot Johnson, 2B, TB - (Knee) left Monday's game with sore left knee
Reid Brignac, SS, TB - (Bereavement) will return to team on Friday
Julio Borbon, OF, TEX - (Hamstring) running drills but won't be coming off DL this week

Players on the DL
Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS - (Elbow) - threw off a mound on Monday, first time since Tommy John surgery
Aaron Cook, SP, COL - (Shoulder/hand) - pitched five innings, allowing four runs and seven hits in rehab start
Brandon Lyon, RP, HOU - (Shoulder) - threw on flat ground for ten minutes on Monday
Jason Bourgeois, OF, HOU - (Oblique) - swung a bat on Monday, first time since going on the DL
Jose Contreras, RP, PHI - (Elbow) - rehab appearance rained out on Monday
Brian Matusz, SP, BAL - (Elbow) - scheduled for one more rehab start; return to majors expected by June 1
Bobby Jenks, RP, BOS - (Arm) - may be activated at the end of Boston's current road trip
John Lackey, SP, BOS - (Elbow) - will throw Tuesday for first time since going on DL
Diasuke Matsusaka, SP, BOS - (Elbow) - seeking a second opinion, not opting for surgery just yet
Marco Scutaro, SS, BOS - (Oblique) - worked out before Monday's game, but still not swinging a bat
Mark Teahan, 3B, CHI-A - (Oblique) - swung off a tee on Monday; soon headed for rehab assignment
Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE - (Knee) - performed agility drills on Monday without any issues
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET - (Ankle) - will begin light field work on Friday
Joe Mauer, C, MIN - (Leg) - plans to play in extended spring game on Tuesday
Tsyoshi Nishioka, 2B, MIN - (Leg) - headed for 7-10 rehab stint later this week
Andrew Bailey, RP, OAK - (Forearm) - had a scoreless inning in rehab on Monday; may be in Oakland soon
Brandon Webb, SP, TEX - (Shoulder) - started an extended spring game on Tuesday
Adam Lind, 1B, TOR - (Back) - will start an extended spring game on Wednesday

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

Called Up
Kam Mickolio, P, ARI
Adam Wilk, SP, DET

Sent Down
Robbie Weinhardt, P, DET (DFA'd)

Placed on DL
Matt Garza, SP, CHC (elbow)
Sam Demel, RP, ARI (shoulder)
Phil Coke, SP, DET (ankle)
Jonathan Broxton, RP, LAD (elbow)

Activated from DL
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX
Nelson Cruz, OF, TEX

Closer Watch

Oakland A's - Brian Fuentes is quickly losing his grip on the closer role in Oakland after a recent string of appearances. He has actually been tagged with losses in each of his last four appearances and news of Andrew Bailey's continued success with his minor league rehab may mean that Fuentes will give away this role very soon, especially after Fuentes' comments about manager Bob Geren following Monday's loss.

Boston - Daniel Bard was thought to be in position to push Jonathan Papelbon, when this season began, but, he has stumbled out of the gate and was tagged with his fourth loss and second blown save of the season on Monday night in Cleveland. Meanwhile Papelbon, who is in the final year of his current contract, has a record of 2-0, 2.29 ERA and eight saves in nine opportunities to solidify his hold on the closer job here.

L.A. Dodgers - Kenley Jansen gave up three earned runs in his second save opportunity of the season as he surrendered three ninth-inning runs and took the loss on Monday night. With incumbent closer Jonathan Broxton going on the DL, this has opened the door for a wide-open competition at the back of the Dodgers' bullpen. With second option Vicente Padilla also on the DL, look for a bullpen by committee including Matt Guerrier, Mike MacDougal and Jansen to share this responsibility until one of them rises to the role.

L.A. Angels - Jordan Walden has converted 9-of-12 save opportunities and seems to have overtaken a struggling Fernando Rodney, who brushed aside whispers of arm troubles, indicating that he was having mechanical difficulties. For his part, Walden seems up to the task of late, earning his most recent save with a three-up, three-down inning in his 10-pitch effort Monday.

Recommended Pickup

Allen Craig, INF/OF, STL - Craig has made a very favorable impression as a fill-in for Skip Schumaker at second base in recent games. In the past week alone, he has posted three multi-hit games and has also added two homers in his last five games. For the season, he is now hitting .314 in 70 at-bats. He has also posted a .395 OBP and a .500 slugging percentage-all numbers which should lead to more playing time for a guy who can play almost anywhere on the field defensively (albeit, and a very mediocre level). For those in deeper leagues, this is the type of player you want in a utility role as you can plug him in anywhere.

Other recent recommendations:Josh Outman, Chris Denorfia, Brendan Ryan, Juan Rivera

Draft Street Lineup

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Our Draft Sheet Lineup

C - Jonathan Lucroy, MIL ($6,216)
1B - Justin Morneau, MIN ($3,882)
2B - Ben Zobrist, TB ($5,782)
3B - Jack Hannahan, CLE ($5,121)
SS - Jimmy Rollins, PHI ($6,789)
OF - Ryan Braun, MIL ($10,170)
OF - Josh Hamilton, TEX ($8,960)
OF - Carlos Gonzalez, COL ($8,624)
UT - Corey Hart, MIL ($7,339)
UT - Jordan Schafer, ATL ($2,499)
SP - Zack Greinke, MIL ($13,543)
SP - Chris Carpenter, STL ($9,112)
RP - Craig Kimbrel, ATL ($2,838)
P - Dillon Gee, NYM ($9,071)

Total: $99,946

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