This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Monday's matchups (all times Eastern)BAL (Wei-Yin Chen - L) at BOS (Justin Masterson - R) 11:05 AM
NYY (C.C. Sabathia - L) at DET (Alfredo Simon - R) 7:00 PM
CHC (Jake Arrieta - R) at PIT (A.J. Burnett - R) 7:05 PM
CIN (Anthony DeSclafani - R) at MIL (Wily Peralta - R) 7:20 PM
CLE (Trevor Bauer - R) at CWS (John Danks - L) 8:10 PM
MIN (Kyle Gibson - R) at KC (Edinson Volquez - R) 8:10 PM
SD (Odrisamer Despaigne - R) at COL (Jorge De La Rosa - L) 8:40 PM
OAK (Kendall Graveman - R) at LAA (Matt Shoemaker - R) 10:05 PM
HOU (Asher Wojciechowski - R) at SEA (Hisashi Iwakuma - R) 10:10 PM
Day Game After Night Game: - None
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Carlos Beltran, OF, NYY (illness) -- Has missed two straight games but Yankees' manager Joe Girardi is hopeful he'll return to the lineup Monday.
Carl Crawford, OF, LAD (illness) -- Has missed two straight games due to illness.
Jorge De La Rosa, P, COL (groin) -- Will make his 2015 debut Monday against the Padres.
Alcides Escobar, SS, KC (knee) -- Has missed two straight games due to a knee sprain.
Yunel Escobar, SS, WAS (groin) -- An MRI on Escobar's groin showed inflammation, but he's hoping to return to the starting lineup Tuesday.
Scooter Gennett, 2B, MIL (hand) -- Suffered a gash Sunday that may require stitches.
Jesse Hahn, P, OAK (hand) -- At risk of missing his next start Thursday due to a blister.
Billy Hamilton, OF, CIN (groin) -- Missed Sunday's game after exiting Saturday's contest with right groin soreness.
Felix Hernandez, P, SEA (quadriceps) -- Felt tightness in his left quadriceps during Saturday's start, but still pitched seven innings of one-run ball.
Omar Infante, 2B, KC (groin) -- Left Sunday's game with a left groin strain.
Kevin Kiermaier, OF, TB (illness) -- Has missed two straight games due to illness.
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN (hip) -- Has missed seven straight games and could be a DL candidate if he fails to improve in the next few days.
Mitch Moreland, 1B, TEX (elbow) -- Was available off the bench Saturday and appeared as a pinch-hitter Sunday.
Yasiel Puig, OF, LAD (hamstring) -- Missed Sunday's game due to soreness after returning to the lineup Saturday.
Jose Reyes, SS, TOR (ribs) -- Is hoping to be available for Tuesday's series opener against Baltimore.
Devon Travis, 2B, TOR (ribs) -- Exited Sunday's contest after getting hit by a pitch in the ribs, precautionary x-rays revealed a contusion.
Justin Upton, OF, SD (quadriceps) -- Wasn't available Sunday after exiting Saturday's game due to a left quad strain.
Ben Zobrist, SS, OAK (knee) -- Exited Sunday's game with left knee soreness.
Out
John Axford, P, COL (personal) -- Was placed on the Restricted List on Sunday as he tends to his son, who was bitten on the foot by a rattlesnake during spring training.
Jerry Blevins, P, NYM (forearm) -- Fractured his left forearm Sunday after he was hit by a liner and is expected to miss 4-to-10 weeks.
Travis d'Arnaud, C, NYM (hand) -- Suffered a fractured right hand Sunday after getting hit by a pitch and is likely to miss 4-to-6 weeks with the injury.
Jenrry Mejia, P, NYM (suspension) -- Serving an 80-game suspension.
Ervin Santana, P, MIN (suspension) -- Serving an 80-game suspension.
Players on the DL
Henderson Alvarez, P, MIA (shoulder) -- May start playing catch early next week and is aiming to return at the end of April or early May.
Domonic Brown, OF, PHI (Achilles) -- Is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and could rejoin the Phillies near the end of next week.
Matt Cain, P, SF (forearm) -- Remains without a timetable to return and is still at least a week away from throwing.
Alex Cobb, P, TD (forearm) -- Remains without a timetable to return, as he's been limited to playing catch.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK (elbow) -- Expected to resume baseball activities Monday, but likely won't return until June at the earliest.
Sean Doolittle, P, OAK (shoulder) -- Is scheduled for his first flat-ground throwing session Friday, but A's manager Bob Melvin indicated he likely won't return until late May.
Jose Fernandez, P, MIA (elbow) -- The earliest he's expected to return to the Marlins' starting rotation is June, but July is a more realistic timetable.
Yan Gomes, C, CLE (knee) -- A moderate MCL sprain is expected to sideline him six-to-eight weeks with a return likely in late May or early June.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL (hamstring) -- Expected to miss two-to-three weeks.
Josh Hamilton, OF, LAA (shoulder) -- Is in good shape physically and mentally and could return to the Angels soon if the team allows it.
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL (shoulder) -- Is able to hit off a tee and take ground balls, but has yet to participate in live batting practice.
Greg Holland, P, KC (chest) -- The extend of his pectoral strain is unknown.
Kenley Jansen, P, LAD (foot) -- Threw off a mound Saturday for the first time since his operation.
John Jaso, C, TB (wrist) -- Has yet to swing a bat since suffering a wrist contusion on Opening Day.
Ian Kennedy, P, SD (hamstring) -- Threw a bullpen session Friday and is expected to pitch in an extended spring training game Monday.
James Loney, 1B, TB (upper body) -- Fielded grounders Saturday and could be ready to return as early as April 22.
Jake McGee, P, TB (elbow) -- Will throw a bullpen session Sunday to determine if he's ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment.
Mike Minor, P, ATL (shoulder) -- Experienced more discomfort in his shoulder when throwing off a mound during rehab.
Joe Nathan, P, DET (elbow) -- Has a Grade 1 strain of the elbow flexor and may not be ready to return from the DL when first eligible Wednesday.
Ricky Nolasco, P, MIN (elbow) -- Will begin a minor league rehab assignement at Low-A Cedar Rapids next Saturday.
Mike Olt, 3B, CHC (wrist) -- Will be in a cast for three weeks with a hairline fracture of his ulna.
Bobby Parnell, P, NYM (elbow) -- Is due to return from the DL as soon as this week.
Jake Peavy, P, SF (back) -- An MRI revealed a muscle strain and continued issues with the SI join in his back.
Hunter Pence, OF, SF (forearm) -- Has been taking very light swings with a fungo bat and manager Bruce Bochy believes he'll be back on the field at the end of April.
Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS (knee) -- Remains without a timetable to return, but could play second base when healthy since Yunel Escobar has looked more comfortable at third base.
Alex Rios, OF, KC (hand) -- Expected to miss three to six weeks after fracturing his left pinky finger.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P, LAD (shoulder) -- Has been playing catch, but is not expected to return until mid-May.
Drew Smyly, P, TB (shoulder) -- Was expected to throw roughly 70 pitches during a rehab outing with Double-A Montgomery on Sunday.
Justin Verlander, P, DET (triceps) -- Won't resume his throwing program until the soreness in his shoulder disappears.
Matt Wieters, C, BAL (elbow) -- On track to return in early May after throwing from 120 feet and catching three bullpen sessions last week.
David Wright, 3B, NYM (hamstring) -- Expected to miss three weeks after an MRI revealed a mild right hamstring strain.
Transactions - Players who have been called up, sent down, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Called Up
Dean Anna, SS, STL
Jeff Francis, P, TOR
Gonzalez Germen, P, CHC
Brandon Gomes, P, TB
Sent Down (to Triple-A unless otherwise noted)
Colt Hynes, P, TOR
Matt Szczur, OF, CHC
Michael Taylor, OF, WAS
Adam Wilk, P, LAA
Activated from the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Garrett Richards, P, LAA
Denard Span, OF, WAS
Placed on the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Randal Grichuk, OF, STL
Jacob Turner, P, CHC (60-day DL)
Designated for Assignment
Grant Balfour, P, TB
Released
None
Traded
None
Closer Watch
Houston Astros - Luke Gregerson earned his second save of the season Sunday against the Angels. Tony Sipp and Pat Neshek worked ahead of him in the seventh and eighth innings.
Kansas City Royals - Wade Davis earned his second save of the season Sunday; his first since taking over the Royals' closer role for Greg Holland (chest).
San Diego Padres - With Craig Kimbrel unavailable Sunday after throwing 32 pitches between appearances on Friday and Saturday, Joaquin Benoit earned his first save of the season against the Cubs.
Key Matchups
Hot Batter Matchups – April 20, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| D. Nava | OF | BOS vs BAL 11:05AM | W. Chen | 16 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .438 | .471 | .625 | 1.096 |
| D. Ortiz | DH | BOS vs BAL 11:05AM | W. Chen | 21 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | .381 | .417 | .571 | .988 |
| D. Pedroia | 2B | BOS vs BAL 11:05AM | W. Chen | 27 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | .519 | .567 | .778 | 1.344 |
| S. Castro | SS | CHC @ PIT 7:05PM | A. Burnett | 29 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | .448 | .448 | .552 | 1.000 |
| A. Rizzo | 1B | CHC @ PIT 7:05PM | A. Burnett | 21 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | .238 | .333 | .524 | .857 |
| M. Cabrera | 1B | DET vs NYY 7:08PM | C. Sabathia | 29 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 4 | .345 | .417 | .621 | 1.037 |
| J. Kipnis | 2B | CLE @ CWS 8:10PM | J. Danks | 23 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | .304 | .393 | .565 | .958 |
| R. Raburn | OF | CLE @ CWS 8:10PM | J. Danks | 44 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 11 | .341 | .412 | .682 | 1.094 |
| J. Gyorko | 2B | SD @ COL 8:40PM | J. De La Rosa | 15 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | .667 | .737 | .867 | 1.604 |
| M. Kemp | OF | SD @ COL 8:40PM | J. De La Rosa | 39 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 4 | .385 | .405 | .769 | 1.174 |
| J. Upton | OF | SD @ COL 8:40PM | J. De La Rosa | 19 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .368 | .500 | .421 | .921 |
| J. Altuve | 2B | HOU @ SEA 10:10PM | H. Iwakuma | 25 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | .400 | .357 | .520 | .877 |
| J. Lowrie | SS | HOU @ SEA 10:10PM | H. Iwakuma | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .267 | .267 | .667 | .933 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 20, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Wily Peralta | MIL vs CIN 7:20PM | 101 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 21 | .218 | .275 | .325 | .600 |
| Kyle Gibson | MIN @ KC 8:10PM | 83 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 15 | .253 | .311 | .280 | .591 |
| Hisashi Iwakuma | SEA vs HOU 10:10PM | 151 | 37 | 13 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 38 | .245 | .267 | .395 | .662 |
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 20, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| D. Young | OF | BAL @ BOS 11:05AM | J. Masterson | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .150 | .143 | .200 | .343 |
| M. Napoli | 1B | BOS vs BAL 11:05AM | W. Chen | 17 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | .176 | .222 | .588 | .810 |
| R. Davis | OF | DET vs NYY 7:08PM | C. Sabathia | 40 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | .175 | .214 | .200 | .414 |
| I. Kinsler | 2B | DET vs NYY 7:08PM | C. Sabathia | 23 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | .174 | .240 | .435 | .675 |
| J. Bruce | OF | CIN @ MIL 7:20PM | W. Peralta | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | .188 | .235 | .375 | .610 |
| Z. Cozart | SS | CIN @ MIL 7:20PM | W. Peralta | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .100 | .100 | .150 | .250 |
| B. Phillips | 2B | CIN @ MIL 7:20PM | W. Peralta | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .188 | .278 | .188 | .465 |
| M. Brantley | OF | CLE @ CWS 8:10PM | J. Danks | 25 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .200 | .231 | .360 | .591 |
| C. Carter | DH | HOU @ SEA 10:10PM | H. Iwakuma | 22 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | .136 | .240 | .318 | .558 |
| J. Castro | C | HOU @ SEA 10:10PM | H. Iwakuma | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | .182 | .217 | .182 | .399 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 20, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Wei-Yin Chen | BAL @ BOS 11:05AM | 124 | 40 | 15 | 7 | 21 | 11 | 23 | .323 | .378 | .569 | .948 |
| A.J. Burnett | PIT vs CHC 7:05PM | 72 | 29 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 9 | .403 | .460 | .580 | 1.040 |
| Alfredo Simon | DET vs NYY 7:08PM | 63 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 14 | .302 | .378 | .433 | .811 |
| John Danks | CWS vs CLE 8:10PM | 188 | 55 | 23 | 6 | 30 | 20 | 36 | .293 | .356 | .500 | .857 |
| Jorge De La Rosa | COL vs SD 8:40PM | 112 | 44 | 15 | 3 | 17 | 12 | 18 | .393 | .448 | .597 | 1.045 |
Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Anthony DeSclafani, P, CIN - DeSclafani, who Cincinnati acquired from Miami as part of the Mat Latos deal in December, has certainly exceeded expectations for the Reds to open the 2015 season. After a solid - albeit wild - spring, during which the 25-year-old right-hander compiled a 3.64 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with a 24:11 K:BB over 29.2 Cactus League innings, he's been even more impressive through his first two regular season starts, both of which came against NL Central division rivals. DeSclafani lines up for two starts during the week of April 20: first, a match up with the 2-10 Brewers in Milwaukee on Monday before returning home to face the Cubs for the second time this season on Saturday.
Other Recent Recommendations:Everth Cabrera, Devon Travis, Mike Moustakas, Kendrys Morales, Alex Guerrero.
DraftKings Value Picks
SP - Anthony DeSclafani, CIN ($6,200)
C - Francisco Cervelli, PIT ($3,000)
1B - Adam LaRoche, CWS ($3,800)
2B - Ben Zobrist, OAK ($3,700)
3B - Marcus Semien, OAK ($3,600)
SS - Jose Iglesias, DET ($3,400)
OF - Adam Eaton, CWS ($3,400)
