Sunday Lineup Card: Ethier Packs A Punch

Sunday Lineup Card: Ethier Packs A Punch

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Blue Jays (Drew Hutchison – R) at Indians (Trevor Bauer – R), 1:10
Nationals (Doug Fister – R) at Mets (Dillon Gee – R) 1:10
Phillies (Severino Gonzalez – R) at Marlins (Jarred Cosart – R), 1:10
Rays (Nathan Karns – R) at Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – L), 1:35
Reds (Johnny Cueto – R) at Braves (Julio Teheran – R), 1:35
Tigers (Anibal Sanchez – R) at Royals (Justin Vargas – L), 2:10
White Sox (John Danks – L) at Twins (Mike Pelfrey – R), 2:10
Mariners (J.A. Happ – L) at Astros (Roberto Hernandez – R), 2:10
Pirates (Vance Worley – R) at Cardinals (Michael Wacha – R), 2:15
Brewers (Jimmy Nelson – R) at Cubs (Jason Hammel – R), 2:20
Athletics (Sonny Gray – R) at Rangers (Yovani Gallardo – R), 3:05
Angels (Jered Weaver – R) at Giants (Tim Lincecum – R), 4:05
Diamondbacks (Chase Anderson – R) at Dodgers (Brett Anderson – L), 4:10
Rockies (Tyler Matzek – L) at Diamondbacks (James Shields – R), 4:10
Yankees (Adam Warren – R) at Red Sox (Joe Kelly – R), 8:00

Day Game After Night Game: WAS/NYM, TB/BAL, CIN/ATL, DET/KC, SEA/HOU, OAK/TEX, ARI/LAD, COL/SD

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Aramis Ramirez, 3B, MIL – (Hamstring) Expects to return to the lineup Sunday.
Adam Eaton, OF, CWS – (Illness) Missed second straight start Saturday.
Michael Bourn, OF, CLE – (Neck) Scratched Saturday with a cervical strain.
Denard Span, OF, WAS – (Abdomen) Remained out of the lineup Saturday; expected to return Sunday.

Out

Joaquin Benoit, P, LAD – Dealing with a dead arm; could eventually be headed to the DL.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB – Missed seventh consecutive start Saturday; DL stint possible.

Players on the DL

Shane Victorino, OF, BOS – (Hamstring) Should be able to begin rehab assignment next week.
Matt Moore, SP, TB – (Elbow) Will throw to hitters Sunday; could return in mid-June.
Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS – (Knee) Continued rehab assignment Saturday; return date uncertain.
Scooter Gennett, 2B, MIL – (Shoulder) Made first of four rehab starts Friday.
Chris Capuano, SP, NYY – (Quad) Began rehab assignment Saturday; could return by mid-to-late May.
Jake Peavy, SP, SF – (Back) Threw off a mound Saturday for the first time since his injury.
Jonathan Schoop, 2B, BAL – (Knee) Hopes to begin pool walking next week.
Ryan Flaherty, 2B, BAL – (Groin) Ran the bases Saturday; expected to be out until at least the All-Star break.
Yasiel Puig, OF, LAD – (Hamstring) Could start rehab assignment by the end of the week.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, LAD – (Shoulder) Will throw live batting practice during next week's road trip.
Greg Holland, RP, KC – (Pectoral) Could return to the bullpen as early as Tuesday.
Matt Harrison, SP, TEX – (Back) Could make his first start in extended spring training May 13.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, LAD – (Shoulder) Could begin throwing bullpen session in the next few days.
David Hernandez, RP, ARI – (Elbow) Threw 16 pitches Saturday in bullpen session.
Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, SEA – (Shoulder) MRI reveals lat strain; will remain out 2-to-4 weeks.

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

Placed on the DL

Ryan Hanigan, C, BOS – (Hand)
Eric O'Flaherty, RP, OAK – (Shoulder)

Called Up

Blake Swihart, C, BOS
Billy Burns, OF, OAK
R.J. Alvarez, RP, OAK
Elvis Araujo, RP, PHI

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

Matt West, RP, TOR
Andy Wilkins, 1B, TOR
Luis Jimenez, 3B, MIL
Ian Thomas, RP, ATL
Cody Ross, OF, OAK
David Buchanan, SP, PHI

Claimed

Alex Hassan, OF, OAK

Closer Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates – Through the first month of the season, Mark Melancon's ERA ranks fourth-worst among active closers. The relatively small sample size has produced mixed results for the Pirates, as he does have five saves in 11 appearances. Two particularly rough outings skew the data, so perhaps manager Clint Hurdle is not ready to make a change, but Pittsburgh's is on the growing list of situations to monitor moving forward. Between veteran relievers Tony Watson, Jared Hughes and Antonio Bastardo, the Pirates have plenty of options with experience closing games. Arquimedes Caminero also profiles as a closer-in-waiting with his prodigious velocity, averaging 98 mph with his fastball. Should Melancon stumble twice more, Pirate fans may not be quite as patient as Hurdle has been to make a move.

Hot Batter Matchups – May 3, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
J. LagaresOFNYM vs WAS
1:10PM
D. Fister11500011.455.500.455.955
I. DesmondSSWAS @ NYM
1:10PM
D. Gee4111335310.268.311.488.799
B. HarperOFWAS @ NYM
1:10PM
D. Gee19722421.368.429.6841.113
C. MaybinOFATL vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto12421102.333.333.6671.000
L. Forsythe2BTB @ BAL
1:35PM
W. Chen14422422.286.375.7141.089
E. Longoria3BTB @ BAL
1:35PM
W. Chen25830344.320.414.440.854
A. LaRoche1BCWS @ MIN
2:10PM
M. Pelfrey151031742.667.7371.0001.737
A. AvilaCDET @ KC
2:10PM
J. Vargas16532425.313.389.7501.139
M. Cabrera1BDET @ KC
2:10PM
J. Vargas19651472.316.500.6841.184
Y. CespedesOFDET @ KC
2:10PM
J. Vargas27643518.222.250.593.843
I. Kinsler2BDET @ KC
2:10PM
J. Vargas591992632.322.365.542.907
V. Martinez1BDET @ KC
2:10PM
J. Vargas13500122.385.467.385.851
C. RasmusOFHOU vs SEA
2:10PM
J. Happ12320142.250.438.417.854
O. ArciaOFMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
J. Danks18632602.333.333.7221.056
B. Dozier2BMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
J. Danks13421422.308.400.6151.015
E. EscobarSSMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
J. Danks13421100.308.308.615.923
T. HunterOFMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
J. Danks5016641157.320.393.600.993
J. Mauer1BMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
J. Danks582330968.397.470.448.918
E. NunezSSMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
J. Danks11531301.455.4551.0001.455
N. CruzOFSEA @ HOU
2:10PM
R. Hernandez21643606.286.348.8101.157
J. HeywardOFSTL vs PIT
2:15PM
V. Worley12611211.500.571.7501.321
R. BraunOFMIL @ CHC
2:20PM
J. Hammel13510112.385.529.462.991
A. Lind1BMIL @ CHC
2:20PM
J. Hammel17522513.294.333.647.980
C. IannettaCLAA @ SF
4:05PM
T. Lincecum15631484.400.640.7331.373
M. TrumboOFARI @ LAD
4:10PM
B. Anderson14411424.286.353.500.853
C. GonzalezOFCOL @ SD
4:10PM
J. Shields11532312.455.5001.0911.591
J. Morneau1BCOL @ SD
4:10PM
J. Shields50161041127.320.340.6801.020
D. StubbsOFCOL @ SD
4:10PM
J. Shields14421404.286.286.571.857
J. UptonOFSD vs COL
4:10PM
K. Kendrick26832437.308.424.5771.001
M. Napoli1BBOS vs NYY
8:05PM
A. Warren11311123.273.385.545.930
D. NavaOFBOS vs NYY
8:05PM
A. Warren11641722.545.6151.0911.706
Hot Pitcher Matchups – May 3, 2015
Hot Pitcher Matchups – May 3, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Doug FisterWAS @ NYM
1:10PM
8223547218.280.306.438.744
Julio TeheranATL vs CIN
1:35PM
7011615514.157.224.288.512
Anibal SanchezDET @ KC
2:10PM
13226506818.197.243.238.481
Sonny GrayOAK @ TEX
3:05PM
122191031023.156.231.162.393
Joe KellyBOS vs NYY
8:05PM
7013504720.186.256.275.531
Cold Batter Matchups – May 3, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
D. Murphy2BNYM vs WAS
1:10PM
D. Fister12200003.167.167.167.333
D. Espinosa2BWAS @ NYM
1:10PM
D. Gee15300033.200.368.200.568
D. Uggla2BWAS @ NYM
1:10PM
D. Gee29520205.172.226.276.502
A. PierzynskiCATL vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto10111104.100.100.400.500
M. ByrdOFCIN @ ATL
1:35PM
J. Teheran17210116.118.167.235.402
M. CabreraOFCWS @ MIN
2:10PM
M. Pelfrey20400031.200.304.200.504
N. Castellanos3BDET @ KC
2:10PM
J. Vargas14111104.071.071.286.357
L. CainOFKC vs DET
2:10PM
A. Sanchez16300000.188.188.188.375
J. DysonOFKC vs DET
2:10PM
A. Sanchez19200004.105.105.105.211
E. Hosmer1BKC vs DET
2:10PM
A. Sanchez22510101.227.227.273.500
O. Infante2BKC vs DET
2:10PM
A. Sanchez24400213.167.200.167.367
M. Moustakas3BKC vs DET
2:10PM
A. Sanchez15320034.200.333.333.667
S. PerezCKC vs DET
2:10PM
A. Sanchez15200122.133.235.133.369
T. Plouffe3BMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
J. Danks11200013.182.250.182.432
K. SuzukiCMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
J. Danks20320131.150.250.250.500
A. JacksonOFSEA @ HOU
2:10PM
R. Hernandez19500103.263.263.263.526
I. Davis1BOAK @ TEX
3:05PM
Y. Gallardo10000054.000.333.000.333
A. Beltre3BTEX vs OAK
3:05PM
S. Gray18200014.111.158.111.269
R. ChirinosCTEX vs OAK
3:05PM
S. Gray13100013.077.200.077.277
L. MartinOFTEX vs OAK
3:05PM
S. Gray20200036.100.217.100.317
R. Odor2BTEX vs OAK
3:05PM
S. Gray14210012.143.250.214.464
C. BarmesSSSD vs COL
4:10PM
K. Kendrick12300002.250.250.250.500
D. Pedroia2BBOS vs NYY
8:05PM
A. Warren15200112.133.188.133.321
G. Jones1BNYY @ BOS
8:05PM
J. Kelly13220125.154.267.308.574
Cold Pitcher Matchups – May 3, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Jason VargasKC vs DET
2:10PM
190532611261635.279.337.538.875
John DanksCWS @ MIN
2:10PM
20768219361827.329.389.517.905
Mike PelfreyMIN vs CWS
2:10PM
11640103161111.345.404.491.895
James ShieldsSD vs COL
4:10PM
1254022922624.320.355.6491.004

Recommended Pickup

Andre Ethier, OF, LAD – Despite entering the season as the team's fourth outfielder, Ethier has become arguably the most valuable member of the current trio. With Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford on the disabled list, Ethier has been getting regular at-bats. He has four home runs and nine RBIs to go along with a .327/.424/.653 slash line in just 49 at-bats, so the 32-year-old veteran should be rostered in far more than the 17 percent of Yahoo league in which he is claimed. If available, he makes for an excellent option to provide a boost in several categories as an all-around offensive asset.

Other Recent Recommendations :Odubel Herrera, Kevin Pillar, Luis Valbuena, Jake Marisnick, Rafael Montero and Jimmy Paredes

Draft Kings Value Picks

SP: Jarred Cosart, MIA ($6,500)
C: Blake Swihart, BOS ($3,500)
1B: Yonder Alonso, SD ($3,600)
2B: Joe Panik, SF ($2,900)
SS: Andrelton Simmons, ATL ($3,200)
3B: DJ LeMahieu, COL ($3,000)
OF: Charlie Blackmon, COL ($3,600)

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.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel Kennedy
Kennedy covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for RotoWire. A veteran reporter, Kennedy has covered sports for various newspapers in the Southeast.
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