Wednesday Lineup Card: Doc's Recommendation

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Twins (Carl Pavano - R) at Indians (Justin Masterson - R), 12:05
Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R), 12:35
Nationals (Yunesky Maya - R) at Giants (Matt Cain - R), 3:45
Rockies (Aaron Cook - R) at Padres (Dustin Moseley - R), 6:35
Athletics (Josh Outman - L) at Orioles (Zach Britton - L), 7:05
Red Sox (Tim Wakefield - R) at Yankees (A.J. Burnett - R), 7:05
Diamondbacks (Zach Duke - L) at Pirates (Paul Maholm - L), 7:05
Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda - R) at Phillies (Cole Hamels - L), 7:05
Braves (Derek Lowe - R) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco - R), 7:10
Tigers (Phil Coke - L) at Rangers (Alexi Ogando - R), 8:05
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L) at Astros (Bud Norris - R), 8:05 P
Blue Jays (Carlos Villanueva - R) at Royals (Danny Duffy - L), 8:10
Mariners (Jason Vargas - L) at White Sox (Gavin Floyd - R), 8:10
Mets (Mike Pelfrey - R) at Brewers (Randy Wolf - L), 8:10
Rays (James Shields - R) at Angels (Jered Weaver - R), 10:05

Day game after a night game: MIN, CLE, CWS, CIN, WAS, SF, COL, SD

Injuries – A brief look at players who have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Vernon Wells, OF, ANA - (Groin) Returned to the lineup Tuesday
B.J. Upton, OF, TB – (Illness) Returned to the lineup Tuesday
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB – (Illness) Did not start Tuesday
Lance Berkman, OF, STL – (Wrist) Returned to the lineup Tuesday
Carlos Beltran, OF, NYM – (Leg) Started Tuesday's game
Ramon Santiago, SS, DET - (Forearm) Suffered a bruised left knee and right forearm; should avoid DL
Matt Harrison, P, TEX - (Upper Body) Made scheduled start Tuesday despite kidney stones
Jake Peavy, P, CHI-A - (Groin) Will be placed on the DL
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI - (Knee) – Not in Tuesday's lineup; Phillies will decide on DL in the next day or two
Scott Rolen, 3B, CIN - (Illness) Out of Tuesday's lineup due to strep throat
Luke Scott, OF, BAL – (Shoulder) Returned to the lineup Tuesday
Vinnie Pestano, RP, CLE – (Back) Was available out of the bullpen for Monday's game
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY – Left Tuesday's game after being hit by a pitch on right knee
Jed Lowrie, SS, BOS – Will undergo an MRI to cause of shoulder pain
Denard Span, OF, MIN – Did not start Tuesday due to lingering neck stiffness and dizziness
Endy Chavez, OF, TEX – Did not start Tuesday after fouling a ball off his foot Monday

Players on the DL
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS - (Abdomen) Went 2-for-3 in rehab appearance; unlikely to return MLB action until next week
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET - (Ankle) Expects to return to the lineup Thursday
Jason Heyward, OF, ATL – (Shoulder) Could start swinging a bat this week
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF – (Wrist) Will resume rehab assignment Tuesday
Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS – (Elbow) Throwing three bullpen sessions per week
Brad Lidge, RP, PHI – (Shoulder) Received cortisone shot; hopes to resume throwing this week
Rafael Furcal, SS, LAD – (Oblique) Won't return for 25-to-30 days
Jonathan Broxton, RP, PHI – (Elbow) Threw bullpen session Tuesday; scheduled for another Thursday
Scott Feldman, P, TEX - (Knee) Threw a bullpen session Monday; still likely out until mid-July or later
Junichi Tazawa, P, BOS - (Elbow ) Threw three scoreless innings in rehab start at High-A
Jason Kendall, C, KC - (Shoulder) Took live batting practice on the field, eying return around All-Star break
Aroldis Chapman, P, CIN - (Shoulder) Sent out to continue rehab assignment with Double-A Carolina
Vicente Padilla, P, LAD – (Forearm) Out indefinitely with bulging disk in his neck
Mike Fontenot, 2B, SF - (Groin) Expected to begin running and take batting practice next week
Matt Daley, P, COL - (Shoulder) MRI confirmed no structural damage, just inflammation
Barry Zito, P, SF - (Foot) Made first of three rehab starts for High-A San Jose on Monday
Nate McLouth, OF, ATL – (Oblique) Taking swings off a tee
Justin Duchscherer, P, BAL – (Hip) Extended spring outing cut short due to soreness
Kenley Jansen, P, LAD – (Shoulder) Will begin rehab assignment Thursday
Hong-Chih Kuo, P, LAD – (Shoulder) Will begin rehab assignment Thursday
Angel Guzman, P, CHC – (Shoulder) Set to begin rehab assignment
Jason Castro, C, HOU – (Knee) Has resumed baseball activities

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)
Brett Anderson, SP, OAK
Mark Ellis, 2B, OAK
Dallas Braden, SP, OAK – transferred to 60-day DL
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL

Activated from DL
Francisco Liriano, P, MIN
Vernon Wells, OF, LAA
Marco Scutaro, SS, BOS

Called Up
Edinson Volquez, SP, CIN
Jemile Weeks, 2B, OAK
Charlie Blackmon, OF, COL
Vin Mazzaro, P, KC
Tony Watson, RP, PIT
Bobby Cramer, P, OAK

Sent Down
Alexi Amarista, 2B, LAA
Anthony Slama, P, MIN
Daryl Thompson, P, CIN
Jesse Chavez, P, KC

Designated For Assignment
Jose Ascanio, P, PIT

Closer Watch – A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (also check out our Closer Grid)

Kansas City - How quickly things can turn. Soria pitched his third straight scoreless outing (including his fourth and fifth consecutive scoreless innings) in the 10th and 11th frames of Monday's game against Toronto. In the wake of Soria's phoenix-esque rebirth, Ned Yost has named him closer yet again, according to MLB.com. This means Aaron Crow is relegated to the setup role, but since it's only been three outings and five innings since we've seen "bad Soria," the KC bullpen situation is anything but certain.

Recommended Pickup

Charlie Morton, SP, PIT - Perhaps his 2.52 ERA through 11 starts hasn't convinced you. In that case, pat yourself on the back, for you are a properly vigilant fantasy owner. However, Morton has more to him this year than just a shiny ERA. The 28-year-old leads all qualified starters in ground ball rate at 63.7% (percentage of batted balls as ground balls, from FanGraphs.com). Now, he will likely fall off this pace a little bit - even though he's copied Roy Halladay's delivery, he isn't Doc - but anybody who can induce ground balls on such a consistent basis is going to maintain a low ERA. Expect a 3.50 ERA with some strikeouts, and even a few wins, on this year's improved Pirates club.

Other recent recommendations:Dee Gordon, Freddie Freeman, Adam Kennedy, Brian Matusz, Ben Revere

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Draft Street Lineup

C – Brian McCann, ATL ($8,070)
1B – Justin Morneau, MIN ($5,167)
2B - Robinson Cano, NYY ($8,635)
3B – Alex Rodriguez, NYY ($7,636)
SS – Troy Tulowitzki, COL ($7,056)
OF – Hunter Pence, HOU ($7,372)
OF – Carl Crawford, BOS ($7,024)
OF – Michael Cuddyer, MIN ($5,201)
UTIL – Howie Kendrick, LAA ($4,525)
UTIL – Chipper Jones, ATL ($6,541)
SP – Cole Hamels, PHI ($16,096)
SP – Randy Wolf, MIL ($9,446)
RP – Ryan Madson, PHI ($2,759)
P – Bronson Arroyo, CIN ($4,422)

Total: $99,950

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