Saturday Lineup Card: Not Paxing It In

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters (All Times Eastern)

NYY (Masahiro Tanaka - R) at BOS (Joe Kelly - R) 1:05 PM
PIT (Francisco Liriano - L) at CIN (Alfredo Simon - R) 1:05 PM
MIA (Nathan Eovaldi - R) at WAS (Stephen Strasburg - R) 1:05 PM
SD (Eric Stults - L) at SF (Jake Peavy - R) 4:05 PM
BAL (Wei-Yin Chen - L) at TOR (J.A. Happ - L) 4:07 PM
TB (Alex Colome - R) at CLE (Carlos Carrasco - R) 6:05 PM
ATL (Aaron Harang - R) at PHI (A.J. Burnett - R) 7:05 PM
MIN (Ricky Nolasco - R) at DET (Kyle Lobstein - L) 7:08 PM
CHC (Tsuyoshi Wada - L) at MIL (Wily Peralta - R) 7:10 PM
HOU (Samuel Deduno - R) at NYM (Rafael Montero - R) 7:10 PM
KC (Danny Duffy - L) at CWS (John Danks - L) 7:10 PM
OAK (Jeff Samardzija - R) at TEX (Derek Holland - L) 8:05 PM
STL (Lance Lynn - R) at ARI (Wade Miley - L) 8:10 PM
COL (Eddie Butler - R) at LAD (Dan Haren - R) 9:10 PM
LAA (C.J. Wilson - L) at SEA (James Paxton - L) 9:10 PM

Day Game After Night Game: NYY/BOS, PIT/CIN, MIA/WAS, SD/SF, BAL/TOR

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Buster Posey, C, SF - Had precautionary MRI on his back that came back negative.
Matt Shoemaker, SP, LAA - (Oblique) Feels close to getting on the mound.
Chris Owings, SS/2B, ARI - Scratched from Friday's lineup with a sore left shoulder.
Abraham Almonte, OF, SD - (Ankle) Out of the lineup again Friday.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD - (Illness) Out of the lineup Friday.
Jordan Schafer, OF, MIN - (Elbow) Won't need an MRI as his injury isn't believed to be serious.
Avisail Garcia, OF, CWS - (Back) Out of the lineup Friday.
Craig Gentry, OF, OAK - (Concussion) Hit off a tee and shagged balls prior to Friday's game.
Ike Davis, 1B, PIT - Out of the lineup with flu-like symptoms.
Scooter Gennett, 2B, MIL - (Quad) Out of the lineup Friday.
Carlos Sanchez, 3B, CWS - (Personal) Out of the lineup Friday.
David Ortiz, DH, BOS - (Wrist) Out of the lineup Friday.
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, BOS - (Hand) Out of the lineup Friday.
Billy Hamilton, OF, CIN - (Concussion) Out of the lineup Friday.
Jon Niese, SP, NYM - Left Friday's game with an elevated heart rate.

Out

Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, LAD - (Shoulder) Threw off a mound Friday and is scheduled for a bullpen session Sunday.
Travis d'Arnaud, C, NYM - Has a bone spur in his right elbow that will end his season. He will undergo surgery on it next Wednesday.
Aaron Hill, 2B, ARI - (Pinky) Out of the lineup again Friday.
Zach Walters, 3B, CLE - (Ribs) Out of the lineup Friday.

Players on the DL

Charlie Morton, SP, PIT - (Groin) Underwent surgery Friday to repair the labrum in his right hip.
Christian Colon, SS, KC - (Finger) Played six innings in an instructional league game Thursday.

Transactions

Activated from the DL

Anthony DeSclafani, RP, MIA

Called Up

Taylor Hill, SP, WAS

Closer Watch

San Francisco Giants - Santiago Casilla converted his 18th save of the season Thursday, getting through the inning relatively easily. He has now converted 18 of 22 save opportunities on the season, and will likely be the favorite to retain the job heading into next season. With the plethora of pitchers in the Giants bullpen, however, the team may leave the 34-year-old with a relatively short leash compared to some of the other closers in the league.

Washington Nationals - Drew Storen picked up his 11th save of the season Thursday against the Mets, and continues to ride a scoreless streak of outings dating back to Aug. 5. He has been flawless since taking over the closer role from Rafael Soriano in early September, converting all ten of his opportunities. The 27-year-old should continue in the role for the Nationals in the postseason, and would be the top candidate for the duties again next year assuming he returns to the team.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – September 27, 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
T. Frazier	3B	CIN vs PIT 1:05PM	F. Liriano	20	6	3	2	3	3	6	.300	.391	.650	1.041
C. Heisey	OF	CIN vs PIT 1:05PM	F. Liriano	12	5	4	2	4	1	2	.417	.462	1.083	1.545
T. Snider	OF	PIT @ CIN 1:05PM	A. Simon	12	5	1	0	4	2	3	.417	.467	.500	.967
J. Arias	SS	SF vs SD 4:05PM	E. Stults	24	9	2	1	2	0	3	.375	.375	.542	.917
B. Crawford	SS	SF vs SD 4:05PM	E. Stults	15	4	2	2	5	1	4	.267	.313	.667	.979
H. Pence	OF	SF vs SD 4:05PM	E. Stults	33	10	4	3	9	0	5	.303	.294	.606	.900
B. Posey	C	SF vs SD 4:05PM	E. Stults	21	9	4	2	4	4	2	.429	.520	.810	1.330
P. Sandoval	3B	SF vs SD 4:05PM	E. Stults	28	12	4	0	4	4	1	.429	.500	.607	1.107
B. Harper	OF	WAS vs MIA 4:05PM	N. Eovaldi	10	4	0	0	0	1	3	.400	.455	.400	.855
A. LaRoche	1B	WAS vs MIA 4:05PM	N. Eovaldi	16	7	2	1	5	0	1	.438	.412	.688	1.099
A. Rendon	2B	WAS vs MIA 4:05PM	N. Eovaldi	15	6	2	0	1	2	1	.400	.471	.533	1.004
N. Schierholtz	OF	WAS vs MIA 4:05PM	N. Eovaldi	11	5	3	1	5	0	1	.455	.455	1.091	1.545
N. Cruz	OF	BAL @ TOR 4:07PM	J. Happ	12	7	1	0	2	0	1	.583	.538	.667	1.205
K. Johnson	2B	BAL @ TOR 4:07PM	J. Happ	10	2	2	2	3	0	1	.200	.200	.800	1.000
S. Pearce	OF	BAL @ TOR 4:07PM	J. Happ	15	5	3	2	5	1	1	.333	.389	.800	1.189
F. Freeman	1B	ATL @ PHI 7:05PM	A. Burnett	12	3	1	1	2	3	2	.250	.400	.500	.900
J. Heyward	OF	ATL @ PHI 7:05PM	A. Burnett	14	6	2	2	4	1	1	.429	.467	.857	1.324
C. Johnson	3B	ATL @ PHI 7:05PM	A. Burnett	14	6	3	1	2	1	2	.429	.467	.786	1.252
G. Laird	C	ATL @ PHI 7:05PM	A. Burnett	10	5	1	0	1	1	1	.500	.545	.600	1.145
J. Upton	OF	ATL @ PHI 7:05PM	A. Burnett	11	4	2	1	1	1	4	.364	.417	.727	1.144
D. Brown	OF	PHI vs ATL 7:05PM	A. Harang	11	5	2	0	1	1	1	.455	.500	.727	1.227
M. Byrd	OF	PHI vs ATL 7:05PM	A. Harang	23	10	3	3	6	1	3	.435	.458	.826	1.284
R. Howard	1B	PHI vs ATL 7:05PM	A. Harang	29	9	5	3	8	7	6	.310	.444	.690	1.134
W. Nieves	C	PHI vs ATL 7:05PM	A. Harang	12	4	2	1	1	0	5	.333	.333	.667	1.000
G. Sizemore	OF	PHI vs ATL 7:05PM	A. Harang	27	13	4	0	1	2	6	.481	.533	.630	1.163
C. Utley	2B	PHI vs ATL 7:05PM	A. Harang	32	13	5	1	6	4	2	.406	.472	.625	1.097
A. Rizzo	1B	CHC @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	21	9	6	5	10	3	3	.429	.500	1.190	1.690
E. Hosmer	1B	KC @ CWS 7:10PM	J. Danks	16	7	0	0	1	2	1	.438	.500	.438	.938
R. Ibanez	OF	KC @ CWS 7:10PM	J. Danks	11	4	3	1	4	0	2	.364	.364	.818	1.182
A. Callaspo	3B	OAK @ TEX 8:05PM	D. Holland	41	13	7	1	4	3	2	.317	.364	.537	.900
J. Donaldson	3B	OAK @ TEX 8:05PM	D. Holland	17	6	4	2	3	2	1	.353	.421	.824	1.245
M. Ellis	2B	STL @ ARI 8:10PM	W. Miley	24	10	5	4	4	4	1	.417	.500	.958	1.458
K. Morales	1B	SEA vs LAA 9:10PM	C. Wilson	25	10	3	1	2	2	1	.400	.429	.600	1.029
J. Smoak	1B	SEA vs LAA 9:10PM	C. Wilson	38	10	4	3	10	3	12	.263	.317	.526	.843

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

Hot Pitcher Matchups – September 27, 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
Stephen Strasburg	WAS vs MIA 4:05PM	120	18	3	0	7	8	39	.150	.208	.183	.392
John Danks	CWS vs KC 7:10PM	194	41	10	2	15	19	46	.211	.283	.288	.571
James Paxton	SEA vs LAA 9:10PM	60	12	4	2	3	3	16	.200	.238	.335	.573
C.J. Wilson	LAA @ SEA 9:10PM	238	53	15	6	24	23	57	.223	.295	.339	.635

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 – September 27, 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
J. Bruce	OF	CIN vs PIT 1:05PM	F. Liriano	16	0	0	0	0	0	6	.000	.000	.000	.000
Z. Cozart	SS	CIN vs PIT 1:05PM	F. Liriano	17	3	1	1	1	3	4	.176	.300	.353	.653
B. Pena	C	CIN vs PIT 1:05PM	F. Liriano	23	5	0	0	3	0	4	.217	.208	.217	.426
I. Davis	1B	PIT @ CIN 1:05PM	A. Simon	12	2	1	0	0	2	2	.167	.286	.250	.536
R. Martin	C	PIT @ CIN 1:05PM	A. Simon	11	1	1	0	0	2	2	.091	.286	.182	.468
J. Mercer	SS	PIT @ CIN 1:05PM	A. Simon	12	2	0	0	0	1	2	.167	.286	.167	.452
N. Walker	2B	PIT @ CIN 1:05PM	A. Simon	13	2	1	1	3	2	4	.154	.267	.385	.651
A. Hechavarria	SS	MIA @ WAS 4:05PM	S. Strasburg	19	3	1	0	2	1	6	.158	.200	.263	.463
G. Jones	1B	MIA @ WAS 4:05PM	S. Strasburg	18	1	0	0	0	0	9	.056	.056	.056	.111
C. McGehee	3B	MIA @ WAS 4:05PM	S. Strasburg	12	1	0	0	2	0	4	.083	.083	.083	.167
J. Saltalamacchia	C	MIA @ WAS 4:05PM	S. Strasburg	10	1	0	0	0	0	3	.100	.100	.100	.200
D. Solano	2B	MIA @ WAS 4:05PM	S. Strasburg	16	3	1	0	2	2	2	.188	.316	.250	.566
C. Yelich	OF	MIA @ WAS 4:05PM	S. Strasburg	17	3	0	0	1	2	8	.176	.263	.176	.440
B. Belt	1B	SF vs SD 4:05PM	E. Stults	18	3	0	0	1	0	3	.167	.211	.167	.377
J. Perez	OF	SF vs SD 4:05PM	E. Stults	11	1	0	0	0	1	2	.091	.167	.091	.258
J. Hardy	SS	BAL @ TOR 4:07PM	J. Happ	15	3	3	0	1	2	2	.200	.294	.400	.694
D. Young	OF	BAL @ TOR 4:07PM	J. Happ	16	3	0	0	0	0	2	.188	.188	.188	.375
W. Castillo	C	CHC @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	13	3	1	0	0	0	4	.231	.231	.308	.538
J. Lake	OF	CHC @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	10	0	0	0	0	0	6	.000	.000	.000	.000
L. Valbuena	3B	CHC @ MIL 7:10PM	W. Peralta	15	3	0	0	0	2	0	.200	.294	.200	.494
B. Butler	DH	KC @ CWS 7:10PM	J. Danks	35	7	2	0	3	1	9	.200	.216	.257	.473
A. Escobar	SS	KC @ CWS 7:10PM	J. Danks	15	0	0	0	0	2	5	.000	.118	.000	.118
A. Gordon	OF	KC @ CWS 7:10PM	J. Danks	32	5	1	0	0	3	4	.156	.250	.188	.438
M. Moustakas	3B	KC @ CWS 7:10PM	J. Danks	13	1	1	0	1	2	2	.077	.200	.154	.354
S. Perez	C	KC @ CWS 7:10PM	J. Danks	11	2	0	0	0	1	2	.182	.250	.182	.432
J. Willingham	OF	KC @ CWS 7:10PM	J. Danks	17	3	0	0	3	2	8	.176	.250	.176	.426
C. Crisp	OF	OAK @ TEX 8:05PM	D. Holland	22	4	2	1	4	1	5	.182	.217	.364	.581
J. Lowrie	SS	OAK @ TEX 8:05PM	D. Holland	19	3	1	0	1	0	6	.158	.158	.211	.368
D. Ackley	2B	SEA vs LAA 9:10PM	C. Wilson	27	5	2	0	1	1	4	.185	.214	.259	.474
M. Saunders	OF	SEA vs LAA 9:10PM	C. Wilson	23	3	0	0	2	4	6	.130	.259	.130	.390
K. Seager	3B	SEA vs LAA 9:10PM	C. Wilson	31	3	0	0	0	3	15	.097	.176	.097	.273

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

Cold Pitcher Matchups – September 27, 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
Eric Stults	SD @ SF 4:05PM	161	52	19	9	26	11	21	.323	.369	.561	.930
Nathan Eovaldi	MIA @ WAS 4:05PM	131	40	12	4	20	8	20	.305	.349	.469	.817
A.J. Burnett	PHI vs ATL 7:05PM	139	43	12	7	20	17	32	.309	.385	.491	.876
Aaron Harang	ATL @ PHI 7:05PM	170	64	23	8	24	18	32	.376	.439	.618	1.056

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

James Paxton, SP, SEA - Although Paxton's most recent start was less than desirable, it came on the road in Toronto, which is notoriously a hitter's ballpark. He is much better at home in Seattle, posting a 1.88 ERA, a .202 BAA and 20 strikeouts over four starts and 24 innings. The 25-year-old starter may also be facing a depleted Angels lineup considering they clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs Friday, making him a good option for Saturday.

DraftKings Daily Value Pickups

SP: Joe Kelly, BOS ($6,400)
C: Wilson Ramos, WAS ($3,400)
1B: Carlos Santana, CLE ($4,100)
2B: Joe Panik, SF ($3,000)
3B: Jimmy Paredes, BAL ($3,400)
SS: Jose Ramirez, CLE ($2,900)
OF: Carlos Beltran, NYY ($3,100)