Thursday Lineup Card: Rays Closing Situation Muddled

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Updated on April 29, 2015 11:33PM EST

Projected Starters - A look at Friday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Phillies (David Buchanan – R) at Cardinals (Tim Cooney – L), 1:45
Angels (Garrett Richards – R) at Athletics (Jesse Chavez – R), 3:35
Reds (Mike Leake – R) at Braves (Shelby Miller – R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Daniel Norris – L) at Indians (T.J. House – L), 7:10
Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R) at Mets (Jacob deGrom – R), 7:10
White Sox (Chris Sale – L) at Twins (Trevor May – R), 8:10
Tigers (Alfredo Simon – R) at Royals (Danny Duffy – L), 8:10
Mariners (James Paxton – L) at Astros (Scott Feldman – R), 8:10

Day Game After Night Game: PHI/STL, LAA/OAK

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Casey Fien, RP, MIN (Shoulder) – Appears headed to the DL.
Alcides Escobar, SS, KC (Head) – Was diagnosed with a left cheek contusion.
Mat Latos, SP, MIA (Hamstring) – Removed from Wednesday's game.
Phil Hughes, SP, MIN (Hip) – Expected to throw regularly scheduled bullpen session this week.
Yunel Escobar, SS, WAS (Hand) – Expected to return to action on Thursday.
Jordan Schafer, OF, MIN (Knee) – Sprained his MCL on Wednesday.
Max Scherzer, SP, WAS (Thumb) – Will make his next start on Friday.
Kyle Seager, 3B, SEA (Thumb) – Missed Wednesday's game due to discomfort.
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN (Hip) – Will not catch for another 7-10 days.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB (Knee) – Did not start on Wednesday and not play until next week.

Players on the DL

Hunter Pence, OF, SF (Forearm) – Will likely take batting practice in a couple of days.
Jarrod Parker, SP, OAK (Elbow) – Expected to need multiple outings at the AAA level before joining Oakland.
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK (Shoulder) – Threw off the mound on Tuesday.
Brandon McCarthy, SP, LAD (Elbow) – Will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Thursday.
Archie Bradley, SP, ARI (Face) – Expected to return from the DL after missing the minimum 15 days.
Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS (Knee) – Hit from the batting cage and was able to throw the ball on Wednesday.
Tommy LaStella, 2B, CHC (Oblique) – Has yet to swing a bat.
Shawn Kelley, RP, SD (Calf) – Will begin a rehab assignment on Friday.
Justin Grimm, RP, CHC (Forearm) – Threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is close to appearing in a game.
Vic Black, RP, NYM (Shoulder) – Threw the ball on Wednesday, although he is still progressing slowly.
David Wright, 3B, NYM (Hamstring) – Took live batting practice on Wednesday and also ran in a straight line.
Tsuyoshi Wada, SP, CHC (Groin) – Threw a bullpen session on Wednesday.
Jonathan Schoop, 2B, BAL (Knee) – Had his knee drained on Wednesday.
Reed Johnson, OF, WAS (Calf) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Wesley Wright, RP, BAL (Shoulder) – Will likely begin throwing next week.
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL (Shoulder) – Took some dry swings and did some tee work on Wednesday.
Scooter Gennett, 2B, MIN (Hand) – Will begin a rehab assignment on Friday.
Ryan Flaherty, 2B, BAL (Groin) – Took batting practice on Wednesday.
Patrick Corbin, SP, ARI (Elbow) – Threw a 30-pitch simulated game on Tuesday.
Kirby Yates, RP, TB (Chest) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Manny Parra, RP, CIN (Neck) - Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Homer Bailey, SP, CIN (Elbow) – Transferred to the 60-day DL.

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

Placed on the DL (15-day DL, unless otherwise noted)

Kirby Yates, RP, TB
Homer Bailey, SP, CIN - transferred to the 60-day DL.
Manny Parra, RP, CIN
Reed Johnson, OF, WAS
Mitch Moreland, 1B, TEX
Archie Bradley, SP, ARI

Activated from the Bereavement List

Matt Shoemaker, SP, LAA

Called Up

Kyle Blanks, 1B, TEX
Ryan Webb, RP, CLE
Mike Lorenzen, SP, CIN
Dalier Hinojosa, RP, BOS
Gregorio Petit, SS, NYY
Sammy Solis, RP, WAS
Jack Leathersich, RP, NYM
Michael Taylor, OF, WAS
Tommy Layne, RP, BOS
Enrique Burgos, RP, ARI

Sent Down

Alex Hassan, OF, TEX
Anthony Varvaro, RP, BOS
Jerry Sands, OF, CLE
Cam Bedrosian, RP, LAA
A.J. Cole, SP, WAS
Jackie Bradley, Jr., OF, BOS
Rafael Montero, RP, NYM

Closer Watch

Tampa Bay Rays – Ernesto Frieri picked up his second save of the season on Wednesday night, as the game went 13 innings. Expect Jake McGee to have to earn the closer's role back for the Rays with how well Brad Boxberger has been pitching, although the chances are decent McGee will resume the role from last season. Of course, the bullpen-by-committee approach may be best for the Rays, with all three of McGee, Boxberger and Frieri in the mix for saves. It's certainly not a clear-cut situation.

Detroit Tigers – There was some doubt that Joakim Soria could handle the job for the Tigers, but that's all by the wayside now as he locked down his American League-leading 9th save of the season on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins. Soria has only allowed two runs in 10.2 IP this season, while keeping his base-on-balls to a minimum with only two on the year.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – April 30, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
A. Pujols	1B	LAA @ OAK 3:35PM	J. Chavez	16	7	1	1	4	2	0	.438	.500	.625	1.125
M. Trout	OF	LAA @ OAK 3:35PM	J. Chavez	13	4	3	2	5	2	5	.308	.375	.846	1.221
J. Reddick	OF	OAK vs LAA 3:35PM	G. Richards	12	5	0	0	0	3	0	.417	.533	.417	.950
C. Johnson	3B	ATL vs CIN 7:10PM	M. Leake	19	5	3	2	3	1	2	.263	.333	.632	.965
K. Johnson	3B	ATL vs CIN 7:10PM	M. Leake	13	5	2	1	2	1	1	.385	.429	.692	1.121
A. Simmons	SS	ATL vs CIN 7:10PM	M. Leake	10	5	1	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.600	1.100
D. Mesoraco	C	CIN @ ATL 7:10PM	S. Miller	10	3	2	1	2	0	1	.300	.300	.700	1.000
B. Phillips	2B	CIN @ ATL 7:10PM	S. Miller	17	6	2	1	1	0	5	.353	.353	.588	.941
M. Cabrera	1B	DET @ KC 8:10PM	D. Duffy	18	5	3	0	4	6	5	.278	.440	.444	.884
K. Suzuki	C	MIN vs CWS 8:10PM	C. Sale	12	4	1	0	3	2	1	.333	.467	.417	.883

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

Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 30, 2015

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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 @ NYM 7:10PM	76	16	3	2	6	8	22	.211	.288	.307	.594
Shelby Miller	ATL vs CIN 7:10PM	95	21	9	4	11	10	25	.221	.291	.409	.699
Danny Duffy	KC vs DET 8:10PM	79	16	7	2	10	12	18	.203	.315	.342	.657
Chris Sale	CWS @ MIN 8:10PM	163	40	14	3	14	6	45	.245	.283	.374	.658

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 30, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
D. Freese	3B	LAA @ OAK 3:35PM	J. Chavez	11	1	1	0	3	2	4	.091	.286	.182	.468
F. Freeman	1B	ATL vs CIN 7:10PM	M. Leake	13	1	1	1	2	2	3	.077	.200	.308	.508
J. Bruce	OF	CIN @ ATL 7:10PM	S. Miller	10	1	1	0	1	3	3	.100	.286	.200	.486
M. Byrd	OF	CIN @ ATL 7:10PM	S. Miller	10	2	1	0	0	1	5	.200	.273	.300	.573
Z. Cozart	SS	CIN @ ATL 7:10PM	S. Miller	11	1	0	0	0	0	3	.091	.091	.091	.182
R. Tejada	SS	NYM vs WAS 7:10PM	S. Strasburg	13	2	0	0	0	0	4	.154	.154	.154	.308
V. Martinez	1B	DET @ KC 8:10PM	D. Duffy	15	3	1	0	2	2	1	.200	.294	.267	.561
J. Mauer	1B	MIN vs CWS 8:10PM	C. Sale	24	6	1	0	2	1	7	.250	.280	.292	.572
E. Nunez	SS	MIN vs CWS 8:10PM	C. Sale	12	2	2	0	0	0	2	.167	.167	.333	.500
D. Santana	SS	MIN vs CWS 8:10PM	C. Sale	11	2	1	0	1	0	3	.182	.182	.273	.455
W. Bloomquist	SS	SEA @ HOU 8:10PM	S. Feldman	12	1	1	0	1	0	1	.083	.077	.167	.244
N. Cruz	OF	SEA @ HOU 8:10PM	S. Feldman	10	2	0	0	0	0	2	.200	.273	.200	.473
A. Jackson	OF	SEA @ HOU 8:10PM	S. Feldman	12	2	1	0	0	1	5	.167	.231	.333	.564

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

Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 30, 2015

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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
Garrett Richards	LAA @ OAK 3:35PM	60	19	2	0	4	8	9	.317	.397	.339	.737

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

Luis Valbuena, 2B/3B, Houston Astros – Valbuena (.225/.291/.479) doesn't hit for average, although he's been highly productive to this point with his at-bats against right-handed pitching. The power pace is a bit fluky to this point, but Valbuena is certainly capable of giving you 15-plus homers by season's end – just expect the pace to slow. If you need an infielder in a deeper-league set up, Valbuena is an intriguing option especially if the Astros keep playing him against right-handers.

Other Recent Recommendations:Jake Marisnick, Rafael Montero, Jimmy Paredes, Mark Teixeira, Marcus Semien and Tony Watson.

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Danny Duffy, KC ($6,500)
C: A.J. Pierzynski, ATL ($3,500)
1B: Joe Mauer, MIN ($3,800)
2B: Dan Uggla, WAS ($3,000)
SS: Danny Santana, MIN ($3,400)
3B: Mike Moustakas, KC ($3,800)
OF: Colby Rasmus, HOU ($4,000)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dave Hunter plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: TheRolyPolyBoy, DraftKings: TheRolyPolyBoy.