Tuesday Lineup Card: First Closer Down

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Updated on April 7, 2015 7:43AM EST

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

Braves (Alex Wood – L) at Marlins (Mat Latos – R), 7:10
Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – L) at Rays (Nathan Karns – R), 7:10
Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R) at Cubs (Jake Arrieta – R), 8:05
Rockies (Jordan Lyles – R) at Brewers (Matt Garza – R), 8:10
Giants (Ryan Vogelsong – R) at Diamondbacks (Rubby De La Rosa – R), 9:40
Rangers (Colby Lewis – R) at Athletics (Jesse Hahn – R), 10:05
Angels (C.J. Wilson – L) at Mariners (James Paxton – L), 10:10
Padres (Tyson Ross – R) at Dodgers (Zack Greinke – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (oblique) – Left Monday's game; serious concerns here
Yordano Ventura, SP, KC (thumb) – Not expected to miss next start
Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, SEA (finger) – Blister not expected to keep him from starting Wednesday
Justin Verlander, SP, DET (triceps) – Availability still in question for first start Sunday
Denard Span, OF, WAS (abdomen) – Planning to take BP Tuesday, but still weeks away
Matt Cain, SP, SF (forearm) – Has strained flexor; headed for DL
Jake Peavy, SP, SF (back) – Won't start on schedule Tuesday, but hoping to pitch Sunday
Jenrry Mejia, RP, NYM (elbow) – Couldn't get loose Monday; having MRI Tuesday
Dale Thayer, RP, SD (illness) – Wasn't available Monday due to stomach ailment
John Jaso, C, TB (wrist) – Has sprain; hoping to avoid DL

Players on the DL

Chris Sale, SP, CHW (foot) – Looks like he'll return to start April 12
Kenley Jansen, RP, LAD (foot) – Supposed to shed walking boot soon
Drew Smyly, SP, TB (shoulder) – Making first rehab start Thursday
Jayson Werth, OF, WAS (shoulder) – Taking BP Tuesday; starting rehab stint Thursday
Joe Kelly, SP, BOS (biceps) – Sounds like he'll need one more rehab start
Brad Peacock, SP, HOU (hip) – Heading out on rehab assignment at end of week
David Lough, OF, BAL (hamstring) – Will be activated when first eligible Saturday
Michael Saunders, OF, TOR (knee) – Should be ready in about two weeks

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

Called Up
Brandon Cunniff, RP, ATL
Ryan Lavarnway, C, BAL

Placed on the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)
Cesar Puello, OF, NYM (back)
Josh Outman, RP, ATL (shoulder)

Designated for Assignment
Carlos Quentin, OF, ATL
Ryan Webb, RP, BAL

Released
Juan Oramas, RP, TOR

Closer Watch

Mets – With Jenrry Mejia's elbow suddenly acting up on him on Opening Day, preventing him from warming up for a save chance against Washington, noted guy-that-no-one-owns Buddy Carlyle ended up finishing off the ninth inning. But the pickup here for save speculators is Jeurys Familia, who's in line to take over Mejia's job, perhaps semi-permanently.

Astros – Luke Gregerson put his stamp on Houston's closing gig straight off Monday, needing just six pitches for a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout. You might as well dump your Chad Qualls shares now.

Braves – Jason Grilli jumped right in with Craig Kimbrel gone for his first save with the Braves, as he pitched a scoreless ninth while striking out two in Miami. Grilli's the man to own here, no doubt.

Dodgers – With Kenley Jansen out for all of April, this is currently a temporary-closer situation in flux. The first man up was Chris Hatcher, and he delivered a spotless ninth with a strikeout to preserve a three-run lead Monday against the Padres. Joel Peralta seems like a likelier save candidate, but he pitched the eighth Thursday, which gives us some indication that Don Mattingly may prefer him in a more flexible role. That leaves the ninth to Hatcher for now.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – April 7, 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
F. Freeman	1B	ATL @ MIA 7:10PM	M. Latos	12	7	3	0	6	0	2	.583	.583	.833	1.417
C. Johnson	3B	ATL @ MIA 7:10PM	M. Latos	17	7	4	1	3	2	5	.412	.474	.765	1.238
S. Castro	SS	CHC vs STL 8:05PM	L. Lynn	27	10	4	0	3	0	4	.370	.370	.556	.926
C. Gonzalez	OF	COL @ MIL 8:10PM	M. Garza	12	3	3	3	4	0	5	.250	.250	1.000	1.250
C. Gomez	OF	MIL vs COL 8:10PM	J. Lyles	11	5	1	0	0	1	1	.455	.500	.545	1.045
A. Hill	2B	ARI vs SF 9:40PM	R. Vogelsong	16	9	2	1	3	2	3	.563	.611	.813	1.424
J. Pacheco	C	ARI vs SF 9:40PM	R. Vogelsong	10	4	3	1	2	1	0	.400	.455	.900	1.355
C. Barmes	SS	SD @ LAD 10:10PM	Z. Greinke	13	7	2	0	2	1	1	.538	.571	.692	1.264
J. Upton	OF	SD @ LAD 10:10PM	Z. Greinke	11	5	2	1	2	4	4	.455	.600	.818	1.418
R. Cano	2B	SEA vs LAA 10:10PM	C. Wilson	30	11	2	0	1	3	4	.367	.441	.433	.875
N. Cruz	OF	SEA vs LAA 10:10PM	C. Wilson	10	4	2	1	2	3	2	.400	.538	.800	1.338

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

Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 7, 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
Jordan Lyles	COL @ MIL 8:10PM	95	25	5	0	6	2	15	.263	.288	.319	.607
Matt Garza	MIL vs COL 8:10PM	61	13	5	4	7	4	17	.213	.262	.411	.673
C.J. Wilson	LAA @ SEA 10:10PM	123	25	7	1	5	14	33	.203	.289	.294	.583

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 7, 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. Jennings	OF	TB vs BAL 7:10PM	W. Chen	18	2	1	0	0	1	1	.111	.158	.167	.325
E. Longoria	3B	TB vs BAL 7:10PM	W. Chen	12	2	0	0	0	1	3	.167	.231	.167	.397
T. Tulowitzki	SS	COL @ MIL 8:10PM	M. Garza	11	2	0	0	0	0	1	.182	.182	.182	.364
A. Ramirez	3B	MIL vs COL 8:10PM	J. Lyles	21	5	1	0	2	0	3	.238	.238	.286	.524
H. Kendrick	2B	LAD vs SD 10:10PM	T. Ross	10	1	0	0	0	0	1	.100	.100	.100	.200
W. Venable	OF	SD @ LAD 10:10PM	Z. Greinke	13	1	1	0	0	1	7	.077	.143	.231	.374
D. Ackley	OF	SEA vs LAA 10:10PM	C. Wilson	18	3	1	0	0	1	3	.167	.211	.222	.433
A. Jackson	OF	SEA vs LAA 10:10PM	C. Wilson	14	2	1	0	1	2	3	.143	.250	.286	.536
K. Seager	3B	SEA vs LAA 10:10PM	C. Wilson	23	3	0	0	0	2	10	.130	.200	.130	.330

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

Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 7, 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
Mat Latos	MIA vs ATL 7:10PM	65	22	10	3	13	4	18	.338	.377	.595	.971
Lance Lynn	STL @ CHC 8:05PM	65	22	8	2	7	8	12	.338	.414	.519	.934

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
Daniel Norris, SP, TOR – Here's a train for you to jump on before your fellow fantasy owners figure it out. Norris has seen marginal attention in fantasy circles despite a spring that should jump out at you – a 2.93 ERA with a 30:8 K:BB in 27.2 innings. That's nothing new for him. Over the course of his metoric three-level rise through the minors last year, Norris put up a patently ridiculous 163 strikeouts (and 43 walks) in 124.1 innings. He'll have his control issues at times, but Norris has a rotation spot locked down and some of the highest strikeout upside of any MLB starter. The community hasn't been paying attention yet; grab Norris off your wire before he becomes a hot commodity.

Other Recent Recommendations:Jason Grilli

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Jesse Hahn, OAK ($6,000)
C: Mike Zunino, SEA ($3,600)
1B: C.J. Cron, LAA ($3,400)
2B: Rougned Odor, TEX ($3,500)
3B: Kyle Seager, SEA ($3,600)
SS: Everth Cabrera, BAL ($3,100)
OF: Joc Pederson, LAD ($3,500)

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.