This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Thursday's matchups (all times Eastern)Rangers (Nick Martinez - R) at Athletics (Sonny Gray - R), 3:35
Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey - R) at Yankees (Shane Greene - R), 7:05
Red Sox (Brandon Workman - R) at Pirates (Gerrit Cole - R), 7:05
Nationals (Gio Gonzalez - L) at Marlins (Brad Hand - L), 7:10
Dodgers (Zack Greinke - R) at Cubs (Tsuyoshi Wada - L), 8:05
Indians (Danny Salazar - R) at Astros (Scott Feldman - R), 8:10
Brewers (Kyle Lohse - R) at Cardinals (Shelby Miller - R), 8:15
Diamondbacks (Vidal Nuno - L) at Rockies (Yohan Flande - L), 8:40
Phillies (Kyle Kendrick - R) at Padres (Robbie Erlin - L), 9:10
Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) at Angels (Jered Weaver - R), 10:05
Day Game After Night Game: TEX/OAK
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Nolan Arenado, 3B, COL - (Illness) Diagnosed with early-onset pneumonia but manager Walt Weiss anticipates he will return this season.
Jason Heyward, OF, ATL - (Thumb) Left Wednesday's game but X-rays on the thumb were negative.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, LAD - (Elbow) Missed a second straight start Wednesday.
Glen Perkins, P, MIN - (Neck) Sent for additional tests and will not be available until Friday at the earliest.
Evan Gattis, C, ATL - (Illness) Diagnosed with a kidney stone but hopes to return in the next day or two.
Jason Kipnis, 2B, CLE - (Legs) Held out Wednesday due to soreness and fatigue.
Angel Pagan, OF, SF - (Back) Told manager Bruce Bochy that he feels he can play Friday after an MRI came back negative.
Carlos Beltran, OF, NYY - (Personal) Left the team Wednesday to attend to a personal matter.
David Ortiz, DH, BOS - (Personal) Missed another start Wednesday and may not be back until the weekend.
Andrelton Simmons, SS, ATL - (Ankle) Left Wednesday's game after tweaking his ankle.
Oswaldo Arcia, OF, MIN - (Back) Held out Wednesday due to a strain but was able to take swings in the batting cage prior to the game.
Alex Avila, C, DET - (Head) Remained out of the Tigers' lineup Wednesday.
Nick Markakis, OF, BAL - (Shoulder) Sat out Wednesday as a precaution.
David Peralta, OF, AZ - (Back) Held out of the Diamondbacks' lineup again Wednesday.
Juan Lagares, OF, NYM - (Elbow) Expected to miss a few more days at least.
Craig Gentry, OF, OAK - (Concussion) Dealing with sinus issues in addition to his lingering concussion symptoms.
Danny Duffy, P, KC - (Shoulder) In line to make his next start Monday against Cleveland after completing a four-inning simulated game Tuesday.
Tim Hudson, P, SF - (Hip) Bothered by soreness for more than a week but is determined to continue pitching through it.
Arismendy Alcantara, 2B, CHC - (Wrist) MRI revealed a sprain but he thinks it's a minor issue.
Dioner Navarro, C, TOR - (Head) Took a foul ball off his facemask Tuesday and was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday.
Jake Lamb, 3B, AZ - (Quadriceps) Struck out in a pinch-hit appearance Tuesday but was held out of the lineup again Wednesday.
Scott Carroll, P, CWS - (Finger) Remains bothered by a torn fingernail and will miss his next scheduled start.
Eduardo Escobar, 3B, MIN - (Shoulder) Suffered a jammed right shoulder Tuesday night and was not in the lineup Wednesday.
Zach Walters, 3B, CLE - (Ribs) Held out Wednesday but was able to stretch prior to the game.
Jordy Mercer, SS, PIT - (Back) Scratched from Tuesday's lineup and held out again Wednesday.
Scott Baker, P, TEX - (Triceps) Will miss his next scheduled start Friday against the Angels.
Players on the DL
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL - (Hip) No longer using crutches and should soon begin a rehab program.
Manny Machado, 3B, BAL - (Knee) Will head to Los Angeles to continue his rehab.
Anibal Sanchez, P, DET - (Chest) Slated to throw another bullpen session Thursday.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS - (Hamstring) Played five innings in an instructional league game Wednesday.
Everth Cabrera, SS, SD - (Hamstring) Manager Bud Black is hopeful he can return during the team's current homestand, which concludes Sept. 24.
Christian Colon, SS, KC - (Finger) Placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday but will be eligible to return Sept. 22.
Out
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA - (Head) Ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI - (Hamstring) Was unable to take grounders prior to Tuesday's game due to a threat of rain.
Mike Morse, OF, SF - (Oblique) Still experiencing pain and is unable to get off full swings.
Ryan Raburn, OF, CLE - (Knee) Needs surgery to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee.
Roenis Elias, P, SEA - (Elbow) - Ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Transactions - Players who have been called up, sent down, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Rusney Castillo, OF, BOS
Bryce Brentz, OF, BOS
Garin Cecchini, 3B, BOS
Edwin Escobar, P, BOS
Heath Hembree, P, BOS
Ryan Lavarnway, C, BOS
Christian Walker, OF, BAL
Placed on the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Christian Colon, SS, KC
Closer Watch
Minnesota Twins - Manager Ron Gardenhire called on Jared Burton to work the ninth inning Wednesday, with his team up 8-4 over the Tigers. Burton responded by retiring the side in order, in the process lowering his ERA and WHIP to 4.55 and 1.30, respectively. Regular closer Glen Perkins (neck, shoulder) will not be available until Friday at the earliest, leaving open the possibility Burton could get additional opportunities to close out games for Minnesota in the short term. Despite his rather modest numbers, Burton has blown just one save this season (against 14 holds, two saves), and he's given up more than one run in an appearance just twice since the All-Star break.
Hot Batter Matchups – September 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| J. Ellsbury | OF | NYY vs TOR 7:05PM | R. Dickey | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .417 | .417 | .500 | .917 |
| J. Saltalamacchia | C | MIA vs WAS 7:10PM | D. Fister | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .455 | .455 | .909 | 1.364 |
| D. Espinosa | 2B | WAS @ MIA 7:10PM | B. Hand | 11 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .455 | .500 | .818 | 1.318 |
| L. Valbuena | 3B | CHC vs LAD 8:05PM | Z. Greinke | 18 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .389 | .421 | .556 | .977 |
| M. Aviles | SS | CLE @ HOU 8:10PM | S. Feldman | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1.000 |
| S. Gennett | 2B | MIL @ STL 8:15PM | S. Miller | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .462 | .462 | .462 | .923 |
| A. Ramirez | 3B | MIL @ STL 8:15PM | S. Miller | 13 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | .462 | .467 | .923 | 1.390 |
| M. Holliday | OF | STL vs MIL 8:15PM | K. Lohse | 28 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | .357 | .419 | .500 | .919 |
| Y. Molina | C | STL vs MIL 8:15PM | K. Lohse | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | .550 | .545 | 1.150 | 1.695 |
| J. Peralta | SS | STL vs MIL 8:15PM | K. Lohse | 22 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | .364 | .440 | .545 | .985 |
| S. Smith | OF | SD vs PHI 9:10PM | K. Kendrick | 17 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .471 | .500 | .765 | 1.265 |
| M. Trout | OF | LAA vs SEA 10:05PM | F. Hernandez | 47 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 11 | .383 | .404 | .660 | 1.063 |
| D. Ackley | 2B | SEA @ LAA 10:05PM | J. Weaver | 26 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .346 | .393 | .577 | .970 |
| R. Cano | 2B | SEA @ LAA 10:05PM | J. Weaver | 38 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .395 | .410 | .447 | .858 |
| J. Smoak | 1B | SEA @ LAA 10:05PM | J. Weaver | 34 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 6 | .294 | .368 | .647 | 1.015 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Hot Pitcher Matchups – September 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| R.A. Dickey | TOR @ NYY 7:05PM | 171 | 38 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 32 | .222 | .272 | .326 | .597 |
| Felix Hernandez | SEA @ LAA 10:05PM | 408 | 87 | 33 | 9 | 40 | 33 | 104 | .213 | .280 | .342 | .622 |
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 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| E. Andrus | SS | TEX @ OAK 3:35PM | S. Gray | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | .167 | .333 | .167 | .500 |
| R. Chirinos | C | TEX @ OAK 3:35PM | S. Gray | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .091 | .167 | .091 | .258 |
| L. Martin | OF | TEX @ OAK 3:35PM | S. Gray | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | .182 | .308 | .182 | .490 |
| C. Beltran | OF | NYY vs TOR 7:05PM | R. Dickey | 24 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | .208 | .208 | .375 | .583 |
| D. Jeter | SS | NYY vs TOR 7:05PM | R. Dickey | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | .118 | .250 | .118 | .368 |
| I. Suzuki | OF | NYY vs TOR 7:05PM | R. Dickey | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .174 | .174 | .174 | .348 |
| M. Teixeira | 1B | NYY vs TOR 7:05PM | R. Dickey | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .154 | .143 | .385 | .527 |
| C. Young | OF | NYY vs TOR 7:05PM | R. Dickey | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .100 | .100 | .200 | .300 |
| M. Bourn | OF | CLE @ HOU 8:10PM | S. Feldman | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .200 | .200 | .500 | .700 |
| C. Gomez | OF | MIL @ STL 8:15PM | S. Miller | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .125 | .176 | .313 | .489 |
| J. Segura | SS | MIL @ STL 8:15PM | S. Miller | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| M. Carpenter | 3B | STL vs MIL 8:15PM | K. Lohse | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | .071 | .222 | .143 | .365 |
| M. Ellis | 2B | STL vs MIL 8:15PM | K. Lohse | 18 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | .167 | .167 | .389 | .556 |
| A. Pierzynski | C | STL vs MIL 8:15PM | K. Lohse | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .333 | .200 | .533 |
| C. Maybin | OF | SD vs PHI 9:10PM | K. Kendrick | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .083 | .083 | .333 | .417 |
| G. Beckham | 2B | LAA vs SEA 10:05PM | F. Hernandez | 26 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | .192 | .250 | .462 | .712 |
| B. Boesch | OF | LAA vs SEA 10:05PM | F. Hernandez | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .600 | .800 |
| J. Buck | C | LAA vs SEA 10:05PM | F. Hernandez | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .000 | .231 | .000 | .231 |
| K. Calhoun | OF | LAA vs SEA 10:05PM | F. Hernandez | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .077 | .143 | .077 | .220 |
| J. Hamilton | OF | LAA vs SEA 10:05PM | F. Hernandez | 65 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 21 | .169 | .286 | .292 | .578 |
| C. Iannetta | C | LAA vs SEA 10:05PM | F. Hernandez | 20 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | .100 | .250 | .250 | .500 |
| A. Pujols | 1B | LAA vs SEA 10:05PM | F. Hernandez | 35 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 10 | .200 | .222 | .429 | .651 |
| E. Chavez | OF | SEA @ LAA 10:05PM | J. Weaver | 20 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | .150 | .227 | .300 | .527 |
| A. Jackson | OF | SEA @ LAA 10:05PM | J. Weaver | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | .133 | .278 | .200 | .478 |
| B. Miller | SS | SEA @ LAA 10:05PM | J. Weaver | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | .077 | .200 | .077 | .277 |
| M. Zunino | C | SEA @ LAA 10:05PM | J. Weaver | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .100 | .100 | .300 | .400 |
Matchup Info | Career Matchup Stats | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batter | Pos | Game | Pitcher | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Cold Pitcher Matchups – September 18, 2014Matchup Info | Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitcher | Game | AB | H | XBH | HR | RBI | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Brad Hand | MIA vs WAS 7:10PM | 81 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 13 | .309 | .417 | .526 | .942 |
| Kyle Lohse | MIL @ STL 8:15PM | 163 | 54 | 22 | 9 | 33 | 13 | 30 | .331 | .388 | .582 | .970 |
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
Rusney Castillo, OF, BOS - A day after homering in the Triple-A National Championship, Castillo made his major league debut with Boston, finishing 1-for-4 with an infield single in Wednesday's loss to the Pirates. He had a long layoff from organized baseball after defecting from Cuba, but the 27-year-old shook off the rust with 11 games in the minors before getting the call. With Mookie Betts moving in to fill in for Dustin Pedroia (wrist) at second base, center field will be open for Castillo on a near-everyday basis over the remainder of the season. Castillo signed with the Red Sox for $72 million in August, the most ever for a Cuban player, and while he may not make the type of immediate impact as the likes of Yasiel Puig and Jose Abreu did, Castillo possesses both power and speed, making him a perfect target for those looking for that little extra something to get over the hump over the final week-plus.
Other Recent Recommendations:A.J. Pollock, Juan Uribe, Clay Buchholz and Gregor Blanco
DraftKings Value Picks
SP: Shelby Miller, STL ($7,300)
C: A.J. Ellis, LAD ($2,600)
1B: Allen Craig, BOS ($2,900)
2B: Rougned Odor, TEX ($2,700)
SS: Josh Rutledge, COL ($3,200)
3B: Maikel Franco, PHI ($2,800)
OF: Sam Fuld, OAK ($3,500)
