Sunday Lineup Card: Oliver Gets the Call

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Red Sox (Josh Beckett – R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander – R), 1:05
White Sox (John Danks – R) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero – R), 1:07
Phillies (Vance Worley – R) at Mets (Jon Niese – R), 1:10
Padres (Dustin Moseley – R) at Nationals (Ross Detwiler – R), 1:35
Indians (Justin Masterson – R) at Rays (Jeremy Hellickson – R), 1:40
Diamondbacks (Josh Collmenter – R) at Astros (J.A. Happ – L), 2:05
Giants (Matt Cain – R) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo – R), 2:10
Angels (Dan Haren – R) at Twins (Carl Pavano – R), 2:10
Pirates (Jeff Karstens – R) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster – R), 2:20
Royals (Danny Duffy – L) at Rangers (Alexi Ogando – R), 3:05
Cardinals (Kyle Lohse – R) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin – R), 3:10
Orioles (Zach Britton – R) at Athletics (Guillermo Moscoso – R), 4:05
Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L), 4:10
Yankees (C.C. Sabathia – L) at Mariners (Jason Vargas – R), 4:10
Reds (Johnny Cueto – R) at Braves (Jair Jurrjens – R), 8:05

Day After Night: BAL, OAK, NYY, SEA, FLA, LAD

Injuries - A brief look at players that have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns.

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)

AL
Francisco Liriano, SP, MIN – (Shoulder) Scratched Saturday but not expected to miss more time.
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR – (Toe) Out Saturday and may need a DL trip.
Gordon Beckham, 2B, CHW – (Eye) Hopes to return to the lineup Monday.
J.P. Arencibia, C, TOR – (Toe) Held out Saturday but is available to pinch-hit.
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS – (Hamstring) Not in the lineup Saturday.
Jim Thome, DH, MIN – (Shoulder) Out Saturday after reporting soreness in his shoulder Friday.
Matt Capps, RP, MIN – (Forearm) Should be available if needed.

NL
Yadier Molina, C, STL – (Foot) Left Friday's game with a sore foot but was back starting Saturday.
Brian Tallet, RP, STL – (Elbow) Left Friday's game with elbow tightness.
Corey Hart, OF, MIL – (Personal) Left the team for undisclosed reasons.
Matt Holiday, OF, STL – (Quadriceps) Remains day-to-day going into Sunday.
Steven Pearce, 1B, PIT – (Calf) May not miss any time.
Jeff Baker, 2B, CHC – (Groin) Was unable to play Saturday.
Reed Johnson, OF, CHC – (Back) Held out Saturday.

Players on the DL

AL
Derrek Lee, 1B, BAL – (Oblique) Will begin baseball activities Monday, but probably won't be ready to return Wednesday.
Bobby Jenks, RP, BOS – (Arm) Expected to be activated early this coming week.
Junichi Tazawa, RP, BOS – (Elbow) Gave up eight runs in his rehab start Friday.
Andrew Bailey, RP, OAK – (Forearm) There are rumors he could return as early as Sunday.
Scott Feldman, RP, TEX – (Knee) Shut down from rehab work so he can strength his legs.
Tommy Hunter, SP, TEX – (Groin) Should start a rehab assignment soon.
Shawn Kelley, RP, SEA – (Elbow) Has been advised to shut down everything for a month.
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET – (Ankle) Should rejoin the team early in the coming week.
Brian Matusz, SP, BAL – (Back) Should rejoin the team and start Wednesday.
Jesse Litsch, SP, TOR – (Shoulder) Will not throw for the next seven days.
Joe Nathan, RP, MIN – (Elbow) Placed on the 15-day DL with elbow soreness.
Jose Mijares, RP, MIN – (Elbow) Could return as early as Monday.
Glen Perkins, RP, MIN – (Oblique) Could begin throwing again this week.
Jeff Niemann, SP, TB – (Back) Should begin a rehab assignment soon.
Vernon Wells, OF, ANA – (Groin) Likely still a few weeks away from returning.

NL
Blake Hawksworth, RP, LAD – (Groin) Scheduled to have an MRI after suffering a setback. No return date has been set.
Vincente Padilla, RP, LAD – (Forearm) In line to return June 1.
Humberto Quintero, C, HOU – (Ankle) Sprained his ankle in a plate collision and was put on the DL after the game.
Brad Lidge, RP, PHI – (Shoulder) Could return in mid-to-late June.
Joe Beimel, RP, PIT – (Elbow) Placed on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his left elbow.
Homer Bailey, SP, CIN – (Shoulder) Underwent an MRI and was sent back to Cincinnati.
Geovany Soto, C, CHC – (Groin) Could return to action as early as Sunday.
Marlon Byrd, OF, CHC – (Face) No timetable has been set for his return, but he visited the team at Wrigley on Friday.
Nick Hundley, C, SD – (Oblique) Could begin a rehab assignment this week.
Matt Garza, SP, CHC – (Elbow) Should rejoin the Cubs and start Friday.
Tom Gorzelanny, SP, WAS – (Elbow) Only expects to miss two starts while on the DL.
Wandy Rodriguez, SP, HOU – (Elbow) Placed on the DL with fluid in his elbow.
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM – (Ankle) No timetable has been set for his return yet.

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

Called Up
Jordan Lyles, SP, HOU
Jeremy Horst, P, CIN
Robinson Cancel, C, HOU
Juan Nicasio, SP, COL
Mike McCoy, 2B, TOR
Daniel Moskos, RP, PIT
Collin Balester, RP, WAS
Andrew Oliver, SP, DET

Sent Down
Dan Runzler, RP, SF
Ryan Perry, RP, DET
Bruce Billings, RP, COL
Adam Wilk, RP, DET
Kam Mickolio, RP, AZ
Casey Coleman, SP, CHC

Placed on the DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Humberto Quintero, C, HOU
Joe Beimel, RP, PIT
Wandy Rodriguez, SP, HOU
Tom Gorzelanny, SP, WAS
John McDonald, 2B, TOR
Jason Castro, C, HOU (transferred to the 60-day DL)

Activated from DL
Santiago Casilla, RP, SF
Randy Wells, SP, CHC
Zach Duke, SP, AZ

Signed
Junior Rincon, P, FLA

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left).

Seattle – Brandon League has reestablished himself as the top dog in the Mariners' bullpen through his last five outings. After allowing a shocking 10 earned runs over four consecutive appearances, League has rebounded to throw five scoreless innings through his last five appearances and record four consecutive saves. His owners can rejoice and breathe a sigh of relief.

Texas – Neftali Feliz blew his third save of the season Friday, and it was also his third blown save in his last five save opportunities. The Rangers aren't going to overreact to Feliz' struggles, but his owners should be aware of his struggles. Arthur Rhodes and Darren Oliver would be in line to get save opportunities if anything were to happen to Feliz.

Toronto – Frank Francisco was brought in to get the save Saturday and blew his second save in as many tries. The Jays have spoke about using a three-headed monster of Francisco, Octavio Dotel, and Jon Rauch at closer. Rauch was used to close out Friday's game and was successful. Francisco's poor outing Saturday probably knocks him down a notch, but it's difficult to know who the team will go with from game to game right now. Rauch and Francisco are the best options to own in fantasy right now, and then Dotel and even Jason Frasor might get the call some nights.

Washington – Drew Storen suffered his first blown save of the season Friday. That should give you a good indication of just how well the 23-year-old closer has been throwing this season. He has a 4-1 record with nine saves and a 32:6 K:BB ratio through 25.2 innings pitched.

Key Matchups

Recommended Pickup

Andrew Oliver, SP, DET – Oliver was called up to fill a rotation spot for the Tigers while Phil Coke (foot) is on the DL. Through 51.2 innings over nine starts at Triple-A Toledo this season, Oliver has posted a 3.31 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 49:20 K:BB ratio. He's one of the Tigers top pitching prospects and is in line to be their fifth starter if an injury were to remove someone from their rotation permanently or Coke or Brad Penny were to have prolonged struggles. He was supposed to start Saturday, but that game was postponed. As a result, he'll make his first start of the season Sunday against the Red Sox, and he should get at least one more start before Coke is ready to return from the DL.

Other recent recommendations:Jonathan Lucroy, Brandon Belt, Mike Minor, Allen Craig, Justin Turner

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Be sure to come back to RotoWire's Daily Lineup Card on Sunday for all the analysis you need to dominate the competition and take home cash on DraftStreet.

Draft Street Lineup Recommended Lineup

C – Koyie Hill, CHC ($3, 793)
1B – Todd Helton, COL ($6,605)
2B – Robinson Cano, NYY ($7,490)
3B – Aramis Ramirez, CHC ($4,737)
SS – Troy Tulowitzki, COL ($7, 132)
OF – Alfonso Soriano, CHC ($5,724)
OF – Ichiro Suzuki, SEA ($5,452)
OF – Ryan Braun, MIL ($9,550)
UTIL – Brandon Phillips, CIN ($7,246)
UTIL – Jack Cust, SEA ($2,912)
SP – Yovani Gallardo, SEA ($13,618)
SP – C.C. Sabathia, NYY ($13,472)
RP – Ryan Madson, PHI ($2,642)
P – Danny Duffy, KC ($8,806)

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