Monday Lineup Card: Buying Lo for Saves

Monday Lineup Card: Buying Lo for Saves

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Sponsoredby DraftStreet

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

Mets (Dillon Gee - R) at Twins (Kyle Gibson - R), 2:10
Rays (David Price - L) at Orioles (Chris Tillman - R), 7:05
Rockies (Jeff Manship - R) at Phillies (Ethan Martin - R), 7:05
Diamondbacks (Randall Delgado - R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R), 7:10
Dodgers (Hyun-Jin Ryu - L) at Marlins (Jose Fernandez - R), 7:10
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann - R) at Cubs (Jeff Samardzija - R), 8:05
Astros (Lucas Harrell - R) at Rangers (Matt Garza - R), 8:05
Cardinals (Shelby Miller - R) at Brewers (Marco Estrada - R), 8:10
Mariners (Aaron Harang - R) at Athletics (Jarrod Parker - R), 10:05
Indians (Danny Salazar - R) at Angels (Jered Weaver - R), 10:05
Pirates (Francisco Liriano - L) at Padres (Andrew Cashner - R), 10:10
Red Sox (Jon Lester - L) at Giants (Tim Lincecum - R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Jhoulys Chacin, P, COL (Personal) - Will leave the team Monday in order to deal with the death of his grandmother in Venezuela.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK (Wrist) - Targeting a return to the lineup Monday, after not starting the last seven outings due to a wrist concern.
Samuel Deduno, P, MIN (Shoulder) - Reported discomfort in his right shoulder after Sunday's start and was examined by the team's medical staff.
Conor Gillaspie, 3B, CHW (Hand) - Missed his second game in a row Sunday due to a bruised left hand.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL (Knee) - Hopes to be back in the lineup for next weekend's series at Cincinnati.
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL (Back) - Kept out of the lineup Sunday, but manager Buck Showalter said that he likes his chances of returning to the lineup Monday.
Omar Infante, 2B, DET (Back) - Sat out Sunday as a result of minor back spasms but will likely return to the lineup Tuesday.
Mike Napoli, 1B, BOS (Foot) - Remains out of the lineup Sunday for a second consecutive game due to a bout with plantar fasciitis.
Eduardo Nunez, SS, NYY (Ankle) - Left Sunday's game after jamming his ankle on a slide back into first base.
Alexi Ogando, P, TEX (Shoulder) - The Rangers are hopeful that he'll miss just one start and avoid the disabled list.
Marco Scutaro, 2B, SF (Back) - Not in the lineup Sunday due to ongoing back and neck concerns.
Yorvit Torrealba, C, COL (Head) - Will be watched closely for concussion symptoms the next few days, after he took a foul tip behind the plate Sunday.
Mike Trout, OF, LAA (Hamstring) - Removed from Sunday's game due to a tight right hamstring but is hopeful that he'll be able to play Monday.
Michael Young, 3B, PHI (Achilles) - Out of the lineup Sunday, after leaving Saturday's outing due to an Achilles injury.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS (Lower Leg) - Held out of the lineup Sunday, after fouling a ball off his shin Saturday.

Players on the DL
Brett Anderson, P, OAK (Foot) - May rejoin the pitching staff after one more rehab outing.
Lance Berkman, 1B, TEX (Hip) - Has been unable to participate in batting practice the past three days and is unlikely to be activated before September 1.
Wilson Betemit, 3B, BAL (Knee) - Expected to be ready for activation from the DL by August 25.
Willie Bloomquist, SS, ARI (Back) - Able to swing a bat and will soon embark upon a rehab assignment.
Lorenzo Cain, OF, KC (Oblique) - Believes that his ailing oblique will keep him sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks.
Neftali Feliz, P, TEX (Elbow) - Threw a scoreless inning Saturday at Triple-A Round Rock.
Jason Hammel, P, BAL (Arm) - Scheduled to throw off flat ground Monday and Wednesday in anticipation of mound work Friday.
Jeff Karstens, P, PIT (Shoulder) - Started a throwing program at the team's minor league facility Sunday, after his right shoulder was examined Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Corey Kluber, P, CLE (Finger) - Played catch from 120 feet Saturday and will soon remove the protective tape from his finger for further long-toss sessions.
Miguel Montero, C, ARI (Back) - Slated to catch 3-to-5 innings Monday in the Arizona League.
Matt Moore, P, TB (Elbow) - Racked up 55 throws from 75 feet Sunday, after which he relayed the session went great.
Roy Oswalt, P, COL (Hamstring) - Will toss a side session Monday, after doing so Saturday without complication.
Angel Pagan, OF, SF (Hamstring) - Expected to transfer his rehab assignment to Triple-A Fresno sometime this week.
Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR (Oblique) - Close to returning to physical activities, including running.
Ben Revere, OF, PHI (Foot) - Still on crutches, as there is no specific timetable for his return to the lineup.
Josh Tomlin, P, CLE (Elbow) - Gave up one run on two hits to go with three strikeouts across four innings in Friday's rehab start.
Ramon Troncoso, P, CHW (Chest) - Released from the hospital Sunday, after inflammation detected in heart tissue required a night of medical supervision.

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)
Mike McKenry, C, PIT (Transferred to 60-day DL)
Jenrry Mejia, P, NYM

Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Greg Burke, P, NYM
Kris Johnson, P, PIT (Contract selected)
Tommy Milone, P, OAK

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Andrew Lambo, OF, PIT
Josh Stinson, P, BAL

Traded
Doug Mathis, P, PIT (From MIA)

Signed
Carlos Fisher, P, TB
Mike Zagurski, P, OAK

Closer Watch

Houston - The Astros are experimenting with a two-closer scheme at the moment, despite one of the options (Josh Fields) displaying little consistency on the mound, while the other (Chia-Jen Lo) has yet to yield a run in seven appearances. Fields' previous outing Saturday at the Angels was crisp at the start, as he faced the minimum number of batters in emerging from the ninth inning unscathed. However, manager Bo Porter sent him in for another frame, during which the underwhelming Josh Hamilton belted a one-out, walkoff home run, marking Fields' second loss in his past six games. While Fields has ultimately succeeded in two of three save opportunities, albeit with a 8.53 ERA and two long balls allowed during the preceding six-outing stretch, Lo is in actuality the safer play, at least at the moment, out of Houston's bullpen for save chances, however fleeting they may be.

KEY MATCHUPS: HOT

Hot Batter MatchupsAt-BatsAVGHRXBHRBIBBKSLGOBPOPS
Brian Roberts - 2BBAL vs TB
8/19 7:05 PM
David Price3-10.30001321.500.385.885
Evan Longoria - 3BTB @ BAL
8/19 7:05 PM
Chris Tillman6-12.500334301.250.6001.850
Aaron Hill - 2BARI @ CIN
8/19 7:10 PM
Bronson Arroyo7-19.36824530.789.4781.268
Martin Prado - 3BARI @ CIN
8/19 7:10 PM
Bronson Arroyo6-12.50012310.833.5001.333
Ian Kinsler - 2BTEX vs HOU
8/19 8:05 PM
Jordan Lyles3-11.27301241.455.467.921
Ian Desmond - SSWAS @ CHC
8/19 8:05 PM
Jeff Samardzija5-10.50002003.700.5001.200
Yadier Molina - CSTL @ MIL
8/19 8:10 PM
Marco Estrada6-10.60011201.900.6001.500
Jason Giambi - 1BCLE @ LAA
8/19 10:05 PM
Jered Weaver5-12.41700143.417.563.979
Chris Young - OFOAK vs SEA
8/19 10:05 PM
Aaron Harang6-22.27333525.682.3331.015
Kendrys Morales - 1BSEA @ OAK
8/19 10:05 PM
Jarrod Parker5-12.41701002.500.417.917
 
Hot Pitcher MatchupsAt-BatsOpp
AVG
HR
Allow
XBH
Allow
RBI
Allow
BBKOpp
SLG
Opp
OBP
Opp
OPS
Jeff SamardzijaCHC vs WAS
8/19 8:05 PM
Nationals Batters15-66.227369214.404.250.654
Tim LincecumSF vs BOS
8/19 10:15 PM
Red Sox Batters19-90.211398726.399.268.667

 

KEY MATCHUPS: COLD

Cold Batter MatchupsAt-BatsAVGHRXBHRBIBBKSLGOBPOPS
Alexi Casilla - 2BBAL vs TB
8/19 7:05 PM
David Price1-10.10000000.100.100.200
Adam Jones - OFBAL vs TB
8/19 7:05 PM
David Price5-29.17202217.241.200.441
Darwin Barney - 2BCHC vs WAS
8/19 8:05 PM
Jordan Zimmermann2-11.18202112.455.250.705
Adrian Beltre - 3BTEX vs HOU
8/19 8:05 PM
Jordan Lyles3-12.25000101.250.250.500
Ryan Zimmerman - 3BWAS @ CHC
8/19 8:05 PM
Jeff Samardzija0-11.00000003.000.000.000
Michael Brantley - OFCLE @ LAA
8/19 10:05 PM
Jered Weaver3-15.20000000.200.200.400
Asdrubal Cabrera - SSCLE @ LAA
8/19 10:05 PM
Jered Weaver6-30.20003215.300.226.526
Seth Smith - OFOAK vs SEA
8/19 10:05 PM
Aaron Harang2-12.16701110.250.231.481
Jeff Francoeur - OFSF vs BOS
8/19 10:15 PM
Jon Lester1-13.07700012.077.143.220
 
Cold Pitcher MatchupsAt-BatsOpp
AVG
HR
Allow
XBH
Allow
RBI
Allow
BBKOpp
SLG
Opp
OBP
Opp
OPS
Chris TillmanBAL vs TB
8/19 7:05 PM
Rays Batters17-65.262591188.586.352.938
Bronson ArroyoCIN vs Ari
8/19 7:10 PM
Diamondbacks Batters23-65.35438956.589.400.989
 
Recommended Pickup

Brandon Belt, 1B, SF - Before combining to go hitless in seven at-bats Saturday and Sunday, Belt was owner of an 11-game hitting streak, during which he posted five multi-hit outings en route to a .413 average (19-for-46), four homers, nine RBI, and 14 runs scored. The aforementioned run has boosted his 2013 batting line to a more-than-respectable .274/.351/.479, and because he bats third in front of cornerstone catcher Buster Posey most days, Pence should garner enough hittable pitches to sustain or even build upon his plate prowess of late. It remains to be seen if he can uphold his scorching second half, but everything is lined up perfectly for the 25-year-old first baseman to do just that.

Other Recent Recommendations:Travis d'Arnaud, Sonny Gray, Alex Cobb, Will Venable

$300 Weekly Draftstreet Freerolls

Draftstreet will be running weekly freerolls for Rotowire fans throughout the entire MLB season. This free contest will be Pick 'em style drafting. The way Pick 'Em leagues work is you have eight tiers of players and each tier will have players to choose from. All you have to do is select one player from each tier. There's absolutely nothing to lose and it takes five minutes to build a team.

CLICK HERE to sign up now!

Oh, and don't forget to take advantage of DraftStreet's 30% deposit bonus (up to $150). Simply enter the code ROTOWIRE in the Promo Code box when making your first deposit.

CLICK HERE to sign up for free and join the $300 Freeroll on DraftStreet.com.

DraftStreet Lineup

SP - Jon Lester, BOS ($11,372)
C - Wil Nieves, ARI ($4,713)
1B - Anthony Rizzo, CHC ($5,547)
2B - Jurickson Profar, TEX ($5,923)
SS - Grant Green, OAK ($4,397)
3B - Will Middlebrooks, BOS ($5,221)
OF - Chris Carter, HOU ($5,802)

Register for a free account at DraftStreet.com and start playing daily fantasy sports games today!

RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only MLB Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire MLB fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eric Caturia
An employee of RotoWire since December 2011, Eric is the assistant NFL editor for the site. In this capacity, he's been heavily involved with the production of the annual Fantasy Football Guide, which has received numerous nominations for best fantasy football publication.
Farm Futures: Rookie Outfielder Rankings
Farm Futures: Rookie Outfielder Rankings
Offseason Deep Dives: Reynaldo Lopez
Offseason Deep Dives: Reynaldo Lopez
Offseason Deep Dives: Hunter Greene
Offseason Deep Dives: Hunter Greene
Farm Futures: November Dynasty Mailbag!
Farm Futures: November Dynasty Mailbag!
All-Bust Fantasy Team: Relief Pitchers
All-Bust Fantasy Team: Relief Pitchers
Collette Calls: Thinking About Pitchers Returning From Injuries
Collette Calls: Thinking About Pitchers Returning From Injuries