This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups (all times Eastern)
DET (Alfredo Simon – R) at BOS (Steven Wright – R), 4:05 PM
PHI (Cole Hamels – L) at CHC (Jake Arrieta – R), 4:05 PM
OAK (Chris Bassitt – R) at SF (Madison Bumgarner – L), 4:05 PM
TOR (Drew Hutchison – R) at SEA (J.A. Happ – L), 4:10 PM
BAL (Miguel Gonzalez – R) at TB (Erasmo Ramirez – R), 6:10 PM
WAS (Gio Gonzalez – L) at PIT (A.J. Burnett – R), 7:05 PM
CHW (Chris Sale – L) at CLE (Carlos Carrasco – R), 7:10 PM
HOU (Scott Feldman – R) at KC (Danny Duffy – L), 7:10 PM
NYY (C.C. Sabathia – L) at MIN (Tommy Milone – L), 7:10 PM
LAD (Undecided) at NYM (Matt Harvey – R), 7:10 PM
ATL (Shelby Miller – R) at STL (Carlos Martinez – R), 7:15 PM
CIN (Johnny Cueto – R) at COL (Chris Rusin – L), 8:10 PM
MIL (Taylor Jungmann – R) at AZ (Rubby De La Rosa – R), 8:10 PM
MIA (David Phelps – R) at SD (Ian Kennedy – R), 8:40 PM
TEX (Yovani Gallardo – R) at LAA (Hector Santiago – L), 9:05 PM
Day Game After Night Game: DET/BOS, OAK/SF, TOR/SEA
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Brett Anderson, P, LAD – (Achilles) Expected to start Tuesday.
Billy Burns, OF, OAK – (Groin) Removed from Friday's game.
Welington Castillo, C, AZ – (Hamstring) Out of lineup Friday for third straight day.
Yunel Escobar, SS, WAS – (Wrist) Was out of the lineup again Friday.
Zack Greinke, P, LAD – (Personal) Will start Sunday when he returns from paternity leave.
Alex Guerrero, OF, LAD – (Back) Late scratch Friday with stiffness.
Mike McKenry, C, COL – (Knee) Out of lineup both Wednesday and again Friday.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS – (Hamstring) Out of lineup Friday with soreness.
Stephen Piscotty, OF, STL – (Neck) Out again Friday with stiffness.
Clint Robinson, 1B, WAS – (Illness) Scratched Friday.
Players on the DL
Norichika Aoki, OF, SF – (Leg) Likely to play at least two more rehab games.
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS – (Elbow) Is five to six weeks from returning.
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, TB – (Hamstring) Took batting practice Friday, should be able to return after minimum stint on DL.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK – (Neck) Manager Bob Melvin says he will head out on rehab soon.
Michael Cuddyer, OF, NYM – (Knee) Could not play through bone bruise, placed on DL.
Sean Doolittle, P, OAK – (Shoulder) Will throw from flat ground Saturday, on track to throw bullpen session by end of the month.
Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL – (Wrist) Played in first rehab game Friday, targeting Thursday return.
Jaime Garcia, P, STL – (Groin) Had five no-hit innings in Thursday rehab at Low-A, likely to start Wednesday.
Jason Garcia, P, BAL – (Shoulder) May not be activated until early-August.
Alex Gordon, OF, KC – (Groin) Began throwing Thursday, should begin hitting within 10 days.
Drew Hutchison, P, TOR – (Illness) Scheduled to start Saturday.
Brandon Morrow, P, SD – (Shoulder) Will make rehab start at Triple-A Saturday, should need multiple starts.
Ross Ohlendorf, P, TEX – (Groin) Should be activated during upcoming home stand.
Aaron Sanchez, P, TOR – (Back) Should be activated Saturday.
Michael Saunders, OF, TOR – (Knee) Increasing knee activity, but nowhere near return.
Cory Spangenberg, 2B, SD – (Knee) Will work out at spring training facility for now.
Stephen Strasburg, P, WAS – (Oblique) Threw simulated game Friday, threw 51 pitches, should head out on rehab next.
Pat Venditte, P, OAK – (Shoulder) Pain free throwing right-handed Thursday, will throw left-handed in Saturday rehab.
Jered Weaver, P, LAA – (Hip) Will not return in Angels' next series, could make a start next weekend.
David Wright, 3B, NYM – (Back) Cleared to begin baseball activities next week.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS – (Foot) Played seven innings Thursday, should remain on rehab until he can play in back-to-back games.
Activated from the DL
Corey Dickerson, OF, COL
Placed on the DL
Matt Belisle, P, STL (transferred to 60-day DL)
Michael Cuddyer, OF, NYM
Zack Greinke, P, LAD (paternity list)
Rafael Montero, P, NYM (transferred to 60-day DL)
Claimed Off Waivers/Traded/Signed
Steve Borkowski, P, ATL (minor league contract)
Steve Cishek, P, STL from MIA for prospect
Conor Gillaspie, 3B, LAA from CHW for prospects
Brandon Koch, P, MIA (minor league contract)
Called Up
Jesus Aguilar, 1B, CLE
Angel Castro, P, OAK
Michael Conforto, OF, NYM
Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, KC
Josh Ravin, P, LAD
Andre Rienzo, P, MIA
Nick Tropeano, P, LAA
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Kyle Barraclough, P, MIA
Rex Brothers, P, COL
Dusty Coleman, 3B, KC
Kyle Crockett, P, CLE
Grant Green, 1B, LAA
L.J. Hoes, OF, HOU
Arnold Leon, P, OAK
Alex Presley, OF, HOU (designated for assignment)
Adam Wilk, P, LAA (designated for assignment)
Closer Watch
Chicago Cubs – Jason Motte blew a save opportunity for the first time this season Friday afternoon, allowing a run on two hits against the Phillies. He is 6-for-7 on the season with seven wins to his name. Hector Rondon had a hold in the eighth inning and continues to be in the picture if Motte is removed. Rafael Soriano pitched in extra innings and gave up a two-run homer to Jeff Francoeur.
Colorado – John Axford blew a save by allowing a ninth inning solo home run to Joey Votto Friday night and has allowed four runs in his three appearances out of the All-Star break. Whether this helps or hurts his value is in the eye of the beholder, since Axford could be hurting his trade value and it is unlikely he would close for another team. LaTroy Hawkins also allowed a run in the eighth inning, his first since June 15.
St. Louis – Trevor Rosenthal had pitched three straight days, so Kevin Siegrist came on to earn his fifth save Friday while Rosenthal got the night off.
Tampa Bay – Jake McGee might be working his way back into the closing picture while earning his fifth save Friday. The Rays were off on Thursday, so both McGee and Brad Boxberger were rested. Boxberger took a loss – but not a blown save – Wednesday. The closing picture is looking less clear here.
Key Matchups
Hot Batter Matchups – July 25, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| C. Coghlan | OF | CHC vs PHI 4:05PM | C. Hamels | 26 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | .346 | .433 | .731 | 1.164 |
| S. Marte | OF | PIT vs WAS 7:05PM | G. Gonzalez | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .250 | .308 | .583 | .891 |
| B. Harper | OF | WAS @ PIT 7:05PM | A. Burnett | 19 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .263 | .333 | .526 | .860 |
| R. Raburn | OF | CLE vs CWS 7:10PM | C. Sale | 28 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 10 | .250 | .323 | .571 | .894 |
| M. Cabrera | OF | CWS @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Carrasco | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | .462 | .533 | .769 | 1.303 |
| A. Eaton | OF | CWS @ CLE 7:10PM | C. Carrasco | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .364 | .462 | .455 | .916 |
| L. Cain | OF | KC vs HOU 7:10PM | S. Feldman | 13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .538 | .538 | .615 | 1.154 |
| A. Rios | OF | KC vs HOU 7:10PM | S. Feldman | 45 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | .267 | .283 | .556 | .838 |
| T. Plouffe | 3B | MIN vs NYY 7:10PM | C. Sabathia | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .333 | .385 | .583 | .968 |
| K. Suzuki | C | MIN vs NYY 7:10PM | C. Sabathia | 31 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 6 | .226 | .314 | .645 | .959 |
| C. Gonzalez | OF | COL vs CIN 8:10PM | J. Cueto | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | .308 | .400 | .615 | 1.015 |
| D. LeMahieu | 2B | COL vs CIN 8:10PM | J. Cueto | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .455 | .455 | .455 | .909 |
| T. Tulowitzki | SS | COL vs CIN 8:10PM | J. Cueto | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .300 | .364 | .700 | 1.064 |
| A. Pujols | 1B | LAA vs TEX 9:05PM | Y. Gallardo | 27 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 3 | .444 | .515 | .926 | 1.441 |
| A. Beltre | 3B | TEX @ LAA 9:05PM | H. Santiago | 22 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | .318 | .423 | .818 | 1.241 |
| R. Odor | 2B | TEX @ LAA 9:05PM | H. Santiago | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .455 | .538 | .545 | 1.084 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – July 25, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Miguel Gonzalez | BAL @ TB 6:10PM | 119 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 22 | .218 | .295 | .295 | .590 |
| A.J. Burnett | PIT vs WAS 7:05PM | 126 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 38 | .222 | .283 | .363 | .646 |
| Gio Gonzalez | WAS @ PIT 7:05PM | 63 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 18 | .159 | .249 | .248 | .496 |
| Chris Sale | CWS @ CLE 7:10PM | 148 | 33 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 35 | .223 | .286 | .322 | .608 |
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 – July 25, 2015Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| D. Fowler | OF | CHC vs PHI 4:05PM | C. Hamels | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .190 | .227 | .190 | .418 |
| D. Ross | C | CHC vs PHI 4:05PM | C. Hamels | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | .091 | .231 | .091 | .322 |
| N. Cruz | OF | SEA vs TOR 4:10PM | D. Hutchison | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .167 | .167 | .222 | .389 |
| J. Reyes | SS | TOR @ SEA 4:10PM | J. Happ | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .125 | .222 | .188 | .410 |
| K. Kiermaier | OF | TB vs BAL 6:10PM | M. Gonzalez | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .182 | .182 | .273 | .455 |
| J. Loney | 1B | TB vs BAL 6:10PM | M. Gonzalez | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | .174 | .240 | .217 | .457 |
| I. Desmond | SS | WAS @ PIT 7:05PM | A. Burnett | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | .143 | .250 | .190 | .440 |
| Y. Escobar | SS | WAS @ PIT 7:05PM | A. Burnett | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .143 | .200 | .143 | .343 |
| D. Uggla | 2B | WAS @ PIT 7:05PM | A. Burnett | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | .154 | .267 | .385 | .651 |
| M. Aviles | 2B | CLE vs CWS 7:10PM | C. Sale | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .158 | .238 | .158 | .396 |
| M. Brantley | OF | CLE vs CWS 7:10PM | C. Sale | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | .115 | .179 | .154 | .332 |
| A. Escobar | SS | KC vs HOU 7:10PM | S. Feldman | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .176 | .250 | .235 | .485 |
| E. Hosmer | 1B | KC vs HOU 7:10PM | S. Feldman | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .125 | .176 | .125 | .301 |
| K. Morales | 1B | KC vs HOU 7:10PM | S. Feldman | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .125 | .176 | .125 | .301 |
| M. Moustakas | 3B | KC vs HOU 7:10PM | S. Feldman | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .143 | .143 | .143 | .286 |
| S. Perez | C | KC vs HOU 7:10PM | S. Feldman | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .200 | .250 | .267 | .517 |
| J. Rollins | SS | LAD @ NYM 7:10PM | M. Harvey | 16 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | .188 | .278 | .500 | .778 |
| J. Mauer | 1B | MIN vs NYY 7:10PM | C. Sabathia | 41 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 16 | .171 | .239 | .220 | .459 |
| B. Ryan | SS | NYY @ MIN 7:10PM | T. Milone | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .176 | .222 | .235 | .458 |
| C. McGehee | 3B | MIA @ SD 8:40PM | I. Kennedy | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .083 | .267 | .083 | .350 |
| E. Andrus | SS | TEX @ LAA 9:05PM | H. Santiago | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | .182 | .308 | .182 | .490 |
| A. Rosales | 2B | TEX @ LAA 9:05PM | H. Santiago | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – July 25, 2015Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | |||||
| There are no pitchers who qualify as "cold" today. | |||||||||||||||||
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
Michael Conforto, OF, NYM – In the year of the prospect promotion, Conforto probably will not make as much of an impact as Kris Bryant or Carlos Correa. Conforto is a medium impact prospect who has logged just 45 games at Double-A playing for a offense that has been anything but potent. When Michael Cuddyer returns in a couple weeks, he could reclaim the spot in left field. That said, Conforto is slashing .297/.372/.482 in 91 games at Double-A and High-A with 12 home runs. He could be worth a flyer for now and is a strong play in keeper leagues since there is a strong chance Conforto is an every day player in 2016.
Other Recent Recommendations:Jose Iglesias, Jake McGee, Joe Ross, Alex Rios, Aaron Nola, Trevor Plouffe
DraftKingsValue Picks
SP: Carlos Martinez, STL ($9,800)
C: Jonathan Lucroy, MIL ($3,500)
1B: Brandon Belt, SF ($3,700)
2B: Matt Duffy, SF ($3,700)
SS: Alcides Escobar, KC ($3,900)
3B: Mike Moustakas, KC ($3,900)
OF: Kole Calhoun, LAA ($3,700)
