Monday Lineup Card: Koji Fatigue?

Monday Lineup Card: Koji Fatigue?

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

White Sox (Chris Sale - L) at Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen - L), 7:05
Marlins (Nathan Eovaldi - R) at Phillies (Roberto Hernandez - R), 7:05
Yankees (Chase Whitley - R) at Blue Jays (Marcus Stroman - R), 7:07
Pirates (Edinson Volquez - R) at Rays (Alex Cobb - R), 7:10
Nationals (Gio Gonzalez - L) at Brewers (Matt Garza - R), 8:00
Reds (Alfredo Simon - R) at Cubs (Jeff Samardzija - R), 8:05
Dodgers (Zack Greinke - R) at Royals (Jeremy Guthrie - R), 8:10
Cardinals (Lance Lynn - R) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin - R), 8:40
Red Sox (John Lackey - R) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R), 10:10
Padres (Andrew Cashner - R) at Giants (Matt Cain - R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Ehire Adrianza, SS, SF (Hamstring) - Dealing with a tight hamstring, which may relegate him to bench duty for the next few days.
Jose Bautista, OF, TOR (Leg) - Slated for an MRI on the left leg that came down with tightness Sunday.
Christian Bergman, P, COL (Hand) - Has severe swelling in his left hand, which may postpone his upcoming start Wednesday versus the Cardinals.
Kyle Blanks, OF, OAK (Calf) - Left Sunday's game with an apparent calf strain.
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (Ankle) - Questionable Monday after rolling his ankle in Sunday's contest.
Andrew Cashner, P, SD (Undsiclosed) - Scratched from his scheduled start Monday for an unknown reason.
Alcides Escobar, SS, KC (Lower Leg) - Suffered a contusion on his left shin via a hit by pitch Sunday.
Chase Headley, 3B, SD (Back) - Missed his third straight outing Sunday due to a herniated disc in his back.
Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, MIA (Elbow) - Sidelined Sunday for a second outing in a row as a result of a sore elbow.
Torii Hunter, OF, DET (Hamstring) - Out of the lineup for a sixth consecutive contest Sunday due to an injured hamstring.
Brett Lawrie, 3B, TOR (Hand) - Diagnosed with a fractured index finger, which he sustained Sunday, and will head to the disabled list.
Mike McKenry, C, COL (Personal) - Placed on the bereavement list, where he'll remain through Thursday at the earliest.
Mike Morse, OF, SF (Back) - Sat out Sunday due to a tight back but should be available to play Monday.
Bud Norris, P, BAL (Groin) - Received treatment on his right groin Sunday and still intends to take mound Friday for the nightcap of a doubleheader.
Derek Norris, C, OAK (Head) - Passed all medical tests after he was hit in the head Sunday during a back swing.
Chris Owings, SS, ARI (Ankle) - Didn't play Sunday as a result of an ankle concern.
Angel Pagan, OF, SF (Back) - Unavailable for Sunday's contest and will be evaluated Monday, at which point a call on a DL stint could be made.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN (Heel) - Removed from Sunday's outing as a result of a bruised heel.
Jose Reyes, SS, TOR (Knee) - Wasn't in the initial lineup Sunday with a sore knee but eventually entered the game, drawing a walk in two plate appearances.
Francisco Rodriguez, P, MIL (Ankle) - Rolled his ankle in Sunday's outing, after which he said the ailment is OK and shouldn't hurt his ability to pitch Monday.
Joe Smith, P, LAA (Neck) - Stated before Sunday's contest that his ailing neck has improved, but his potential availability was up in the air.

Players on the DL
Michael Almanzar, 3B, BAL (Knee) - Moved his rehab assignment to High-A Frederick.
Mike Carp, OF, BOS (Foot) - Commenced hitting off a tee but isn't ready for a rehab assignment.
Andy Dirks, OF, DET (Back) - Approaching the start of a rehab assignment.
Joel Hanrahan, P, DET (Elbow) - Expected to begin facing live hitters at extended spring training in the near future.
Aaron Hicks, OF, MIN (Shoulder) - Started switch hitting again during a rehab contest Saturday at Double-A New Britain.
Daniel Hudson, P, ARI (Elbow) - Could start pitching in Arizona League games this week.
Joe Kelly, P, STL (Hamstring) - Reported no pain following Sunday's two-inning sim game.
Juan Lagares, OF, NYM (Ribs) - Moved his rehab assignment to Double-A Binghamton on Sunday.
Nyjer Morgan, OF, CLE (Knee) - Slated for an evaluation Monday, after adding light throwing and hitting to his pool routine.
Trevor Plouffe, 3B, MIN (Ribs) - Could rejoin the Twins on Friday without going through a rehab assignment, if he stays pain free during the week.
CC Sabathia, P, NYY (Knee) - Threw a third bullpen session, 36 pitches in length, and will continue his throwing program in Tampa.
Tyler Skaggs, P, LAA (Hamstring) - Tossed 64 pitches during a four-inning simulated game Saturday, opening the door for a return to the rotation by the end of the week.
Mark Trumbo, OF, ARI (Foot) - Won't return to the Diamondbacks prior to the All-Star break.
Juan Uribe, 3B, LAD (Hamstring) - Remaining at High-A Rancho Cucamonga through Monday, delaying his activation from the disabled list.
Shane Victorino, OF, BOS (Hamstring) - Likely moving his rehab assignment to Low-A Lowell on Monday, thereby delaying his activation from the disabled list.
Kolten Wong, 2B, STL (Shoulder) - Undergoing an MRI on his shoulder Monday.

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

Activated from the DL
Welington Castillo, C, CHC
Danny Valencia, 3B, KC

Placed on the DL
Rafael Furcal, 2B, MIA
Jaime Garcia, P, STL
Ian Krol, P, DET
Luke Putkonen, P, DET (transferred to the 60-day DL)
Michael Wacha, P, STL

Called Up
Derek Dietrich, 2B, MIA
Shane Robinson, OF, STL
Rob Scahill, P, COL

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Louis Coleman, P, KC
Wilton Lopez, P, COL
Tsuyoshi Wada, P, CHC

Contract Selected
Patrick McCoy, P, DET
Tsuyoshi Wada, P, CHC

Designated for Assignment
Eli Whiteside, C, CHC

Closer Watch

Red Sox - A week ago, discussion of Koji Uehara was apt to conjure camparisons to the one-and-only Mariano Rivera, after capturing his 15th save of the season last Monday versus the Twins. The outing left Uehara with a miniscule 0.57 ERA and 0.663 WHIP, which was complemented by a superb 11.94 K/9 and 0.57 HR/9. His ridiculous usage since May 1 -- 22 innings in 21 appearances during a 43-game span -- was an underlying concern, though, which reared its ugly head in his last three contests. On Wednesday, he served up a solo blast to the Twins' Chris Parmelee in the top of the 10th, only to be bailed out in the bottom of the frame by back-to-back bombs from David Ortiz and Mike Napoli. Uehara then entered a 1-1 contest Saturday at Oakland and promptly allowed a game-winning single, marking his shortest outing of the season: one pitch. Not to be outdone, the 39-year-old was smacked around in Sunday's series finale, yielding two solo homers in the bottom of ninth to all but ensure additional stress to the Red Sox's bullpen. Fortunately, Ortiz threw on his cape and saved the day with another long ball in the very next inning, before Uehara mercifully put together a blank frame with no baserunners for his third victory of the year. A tumultuous week should have the attention of all fantasy players, and with 24 games on the ledger in the team's last 49, Uehara's immediate future should be viewed with keen interest.

Hot Batter Matchups – June 23, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
J. SaltalamacchiaCMIA @ PHI
7:05PM
R. Hernandez11430123.364.462.6361.098
R. Howard1BPHI vs MIA
7:05PM
N. Eovaldi12321311.250.308.583.891
J. RollinsSSPHI vs MIA
7:05PM
N. Eovaldi21831243.381.480.6191.099
T. Frazier3BCIN @ CHC
8:05PM
J. Samardzija22732244.318.423.6361.059
D. MesoracoCCIN @ CHC
8:05PM
J. Samardzija11611210.545.583.8181.402
J. WerthOFWAS @ MIL
8:10PM
M. Garza10311215.300.364.600.964
D. OrtizDHBOS @ SEA
10:10PM
F. Hernandez311021567.323.421.452.873
E. ChavezOFSEA vs BOS
10:10PM
J. Lackey13810102.615.571.6921.264
C. DenorfiaOFSD @ SF
10:15PM
M. Cain13520012.385.429.6151.044
B. PoseyCSF vs SD
10:15PM
A. Cashner12522310.417.462.9171.378
Hot Pitcher Matchups – June 23, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Matt CainSF vs SD
10:15PM
18838173171249.202.252.336.588
Cold Batter Matchups – June 23, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
D. BrownOFPHI vs MIA
7:05PM
N. Eovaldi19400113.211.250.211.461
Y. EscobarSSTB vs PIT
7:10PM
E. Volquez13310006.231.286.308.593
J. Loney1BTB vs PIT
7:10PM
E. Volquez12110222.083.214.167.381
R. SweeneyOFCHC vs CIN
8:05PM
A. Simon11100111.091.167.091.258
B. Phillips2BCIN @ CHC
8:05PM
J. Samardzija33700407.212.206.212.418
O. Infante2BKC vs LAD
8:10PM
Z. Greinke27521103.185.185.333.519
A. Gonzalez1BLAD @ KC
8:10PM
J. Guthrie13420104.308.308.462.769
M. Napoli1BBOS @ SEA
10:10PM
F. Hernandez366313614.167.286.306.591
D. NavaOFBOS @ SEA
10:10PM
F. Hernandez14310103.214.214.286.500
E. CabreraSSSD @ SF
10:15PM
M. Cain18410106.222.222.278.500
C. QuentinOFSD @ SF
10:15PM
M. Cain18221306.111.111.333.444
S. SmithOFSD @ SF
10:15PM
M. Cain29210223.069.152.103.255
H. PenceOFSF vs SD
10:15PM
A. Cashner12100103.083.083.083.167
Cold Pitcher Matchups – June 23, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
John LackeyBOS @ SEA
10:10PM
1104113114614.373.406.518.924

Recommended Pickup

Chris Johnson, 3B, ATL - While the Braves shuffled up their lineup last week, placing impressive rookie second baseman Tommy La Stella at the top of the order, Johnson's steady bat has strung together an eight-game hitting streak. Unfortunately, circumstance hasn't shined on Johnson, whose run has included three RBI, two runs, and no other counting stats. As long as he keeps up the pace, the latter should land in his game lines, but with a home run every 94 at-bats this season, his quick-strike potential is low, to say the least. On a positive note, owners should trust in his June to date -- .342/.366/.430 line in 79 at-bats entering Sunday's action -- while awaiting the production that should arrive with Evan Gattis, Jason Heyward, and Justin Upton batting immediately in front of him.

Other Recent Recommendations:Adam Eaton, Steve Pearce, Jake Arrieta, Matt Dominguez

DraftStreet Value Picks

C - Yadier Molina, STL ($5,302)
1B - Adam LaRoche, WAS ($5,943)
2B - Gordon Beckham, CHW ($5,887)
SS - Jhonny Peralta, STL ($5,022)
3B - Anthony Rendon, WAS ($6,060)
OF - Marlon Byrd, PHI ($5,522)
SP - Chase Whitley, NYY ($11,202)

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. Eric Caturia plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: etcat30, DraftKings: etcat30.
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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.
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