Wednesday Lineup Card: Another Catcher to Consider

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Phillies (Roy Oswalt – R) at Nationals (John Lannan – L), 1:05 PM
Rangers (Colby Lewis – R) at Rays (David Price – L), 1:10 PM
White Sox (Gavin Floyd – R) at Red Sox (Tim Wakefield – R), 1:35 PM
Astros (Brett Myers – R) at Cubs (Doug Davis – L), 2:20 PM
Yankees (A.J. Burnett – R) at Athletics (Gio Gonzalez – L), 3:35 PM
Orioles (Brian Matusz – L) at Mariners (Michael Pineda – R), 3:40 PM
Angels (Tyler Chatwood – R) at Royals (Felipe Paulino – R), 4:10 PM
Twins (Scott Baker – R) at Tigers (Rick Porcello – R), 7:05 PM
Indians (Josh Tomlin – R) at Blue Jays (Kyle Drabek – R), 7:07 PM
Brewers (Shaun Marcum – R) at Reds (Mike Leake – R), 7:10 PM
Padres (Clayton Richard – L) at Braves (Tommy Hanson – R), 7:10 PM
Pirates (Kevin Correia – R) at Mets (Chris Capuano – L), 7:10 PM
Marlins (Javier Vazquez – R) at Diamondbacks (Dan Hudson – R), 7:40 PM
Giants (Tim Lincecum – R) at Cardinals (Jake Westbrook – R), 8:15 PM
Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez – R) at Dodgers (Jon Garland – R), 10:10 PM

Day game after a night game: PHI, WAS, TEX, TB, CHW, BOS, HOU, CHC, NYY, OAK, BAL, LAA, KC

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)
Jed Lowrie, SS, BOS – (Shoulder) Played Tuesday night.
Clay Buchholz, SP, BOS – (Back) Stiffness a recurring issue, but shouldn't force a missed start.
Matt Harrison, SP, TEX – (Finger) Should start Thursday despite missing bullpen session.
Jesse Crain, SP, CHI-A – (Hip) Took a line drive off the hip Monday, but only sustained a bruise and shouldn't miss time.
Russell Martin C, NYY – (Toe) Returned to the lineup Tuesday night.
Casey Kotchman, 1B, TB – (Ankle) Out of Tuesday's lineup against Texas; should avoid DL.
Jason Kubel, OF, MIN – (Foot) Missed Tuesday's game against Detroit.
Elvis Andrus, SS, TEX – (Foot) Should return to the lineup Wednesday.
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR – (Toe) Should be ready to return Wednesday after having a toenail removed.
Adam Jones, OF, BAL – (Shoulder) Returned to the lineup Tuesday.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA – (Back) Sat out for second straight day Tuesday.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD - (Knee) Out of the lineup again Tuesday; Padres to decide if DL is necessary soon.
Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL - (Knee) Returned to the lineup Tuesday; may require occasional rest days to avoid DL.
Ryan Spilborghs, OF, COL – (Groin) Did not start Tuesday; remains day-to-day.
Matt Holliday, OF, STL – (Quad) Scratched from Tuesday's lineup.

Players on the DL
Jeff Niemann, SP, TB – (Back) Will begin rehab assignment Friday.
Brandon Webb, SP, TEX – (Shoulder) Shelled in rehab start at Double-A Frisco.
Joe Mauer, C, MIN – (Leg) Went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as DH at extended spring training Monday.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, 2B, MIN – (Leg) Went 0-for-3 at extended spring training Monday.
Rich Harden, SP, OAK – (Shoulder) Threw off mound Tuesday; will accompany team on upcoming road trip.
Franklin Morales, RP, BOS – (Forearm) MRI revealed no structural damage; should be activated as soon as eligible.
Marco Scutaro, SS, BOS – (Oblique) Cleared to resume baseball activities.
Dustin McGowan, SP, TOR – (Shoulder) Hit 95 MPH on radar gun, may be used as starter after rehab stint.
Adam Rosales, 2B, OAK – (Foot) Will begin rehab assignment Wednesday.
Josh Johnson, SP, FLA – (Shoulder) Will throw bullpen session later this week.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS – (Abdomen) Will take part in extended spring game Wednesday.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF – (Hand) On track to begin rehab assignment later this week.
Matt Garza, SP, CHC - (Elbow) Scheduled to return Monday against Cincinnati.
Homer Bailey, SP, CIN - (Shoulder) Threw without pain Tuesday; will try again Wednesday.
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM - (Ankle) Will wear a walking boot to deal with bruise; shut down for three weeks.
Zach Braddock, RP, MIL - (Illness) Will pitch twice more in minor league rehab assignment; should return for upcoming series against Marlins.
Takashi Saito, RP, MIL - (Oblique) Threw a bullpen session Tuesday; slated to return in second half of season.
Juan Uribe, 2B, LAD – (Hip) Will begin rehab assignment Friday.
Vicente Padilla, P, LAD – (Forearm) Could be activated as soon as Friday.

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)
Alfonso Soriano, OF, CHC

Activated from DL
Bobby Jenks, P, BOS

Called Up
Anthony Slama, P, MIN
Alex Cobb, P, TB
Mike Zagurski, P, PHI
Chad Reineke, P, CIN
Tyler Colvin, OF, CHC

Sent Down
Brandon Gomes, P, TB
Vance Worley, P, PHI
Michael Bowden, P, BOS
Pat Misch, P, NYM

Designated For Assignment
Tom Cochran

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

Los Angeles (AL) – With Jordan Walden unavailable, Fernando Rodney picked up his third save of the season Monday. Walden should be called upon for the next ninth inning opportunity, however.

Kansas City – Joakim Soria blew his fifth save of the season against the Angels on Monday. Manager Ned Yost has decided to give Soria a break, so Aaron Crow will be the new closer for Kansas City. Soria has been too good in the past to just outright drop, and projections still have him among the best relievers in the league. Look to stash him if at all possible, particularly in keeper leagues.

Recommended Pickup

Chris Iannetta, C, COL - Given how difficult it is to find a true five-stat (or even four-stat) producer at the catcher position, particularly in the wake of Buster Posey's season-ending injury, sometimes fantasy owners need to take hits at some positions to get production there. Iannetta is a black hole when it comes to average - he's a strikeout machine and doesn't have any special skills to bring his batting average above .250 - but when he makes contact, he makes it count. In 166 plate appearances, Iannetta already has seven home runs, 21 runs scored, and 22 RBI. If he keeps mashing like this, he'll force manager Jim Tracy to keep him in the starting lineup essentially every day.

Other recent recommendations:Eric Young, Jr., Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Andrew Oliver, Jonathan Lucroy, Brandon Belt

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C - Kurt Suzuki, OAK, $4,310
1B - Albert Pujols, STL, $6,797
2B - Neil Walker, PIT, $5,411
3B - Placido Polanco, PHI, $6,163
SS - Alexei Ramirez, CHW, $7,493
OF - Carlos Gonzalez, COL, $8,181
OF - Logan Morrison, FLA, $6,714
OF - Josh Hamilton, TEX, $7,327
UTIL - Prince Fielder, MIL, $9,361
UTIL - Jordan Schafer, ATL, $2,956
SP - Michael Pineda, SEA, $14,558
SP - Roy Oswalt, PHI, $10,320
RP - J.J. Putz, ARI, $2,859
P - Brett Myers, HOU, $7,389

Total: $99,839

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