Sunday Lineup Card: Finding Affordable Relief

Sunday Lineup Card: Finding Affordable Relief

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Sunday Lineup Card:
Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Yankees (Brandon McCarthy – R) at Blue Jays (J.A. Happ – L) , 1:07
Phillies (A.J. Burnett – R) at Mets (Dillon Gee – R), 1:10
Twins (Ricky Nolasco – R) at Orioles (Wei-Yin Chen – L), 1:35
Reds (Johnny Cueto – R) at Pirates (Francisco Liriano – L), 1:35
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Rays (Alex Cobb – R), 1:40
Tigers (Rick Porcello – R) at White Sox (Jose Quintana – L), 2:10
Rangers (Nick Martinez – R) at Astros (Dallas Keuchel – L), 2:10
Cubs (Travis Wood – L) at Cardinals (John Lackey – R), 2:15
Athletics (Scott Kazmir – L) at Angels (Matt Shoemaker – R), 3:35
Brewers (Kyle Lohse – R) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 4:05
Nationals (Tanner Roark – R) at Mariners (Hisashi Iwakuma – R), 4:10
Dodgers (Hyun-Jin Ryu – L) at Padres (Eric Stults – L), 4:10
Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa – L) at Diamondbacks (Chase Anderson – R), 4:10
Marlins (Nathan Eovaldi – R) at Braves (Alex Wood – L), 5:10
Indians (T.J. House – L) at Royals (Danny Duffy – L), 8:00

Day Game After Night Game: PHI/NYM, MIN/BAL, BOS/TB, TEX/HOU, OAK/LAA, MIL/SF, WAS/SEA, LAD/SD, COL/ARI, MIA/ATL

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, NYY – (Ankle) Did not start Saturday; unlikely to play Sunday.
Anthony Rizzo, 1B, CHC – (Back) Will not play this weekend.
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT – (Foot) Did not start Saturday.
Travis Snyder, OF, PIT – (Hamstring) Did not start Saturday.
Steven Pearce, 1B, BAL – (Adomen) MRI revealed no tears; did not start Saturday.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB – (Knee) Did not start Saturday.
Chris Denorfia, OF, SEA – (Neck) Did not start Saturday.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK – (Neck) Did not start Saturday.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS – (Head) Left Saturday's game after he was struck with a forearm.
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET – (Ankle) Left Saturday's game after aggravating existing injury.

Players on the DL

Joakim Soria, P, DET – (Oblique) Target date for return remains unclear.
Carter Capps, P, MIA – (Elbow) Expected to rejoin team when rosters expand Sept. 1.
Dan Jennings, P, MIA – (Concussion) Expected to rejoin team when rosters expand Sept. 1.
Charlie Morton, P, PIT – (Sports Hernia) Decision has not been made on possible surgery.
George Springer, OF, HOU – (Quadriceps) Has yet to run at full speed.
Matt Garza, P, MIL – (Oblique) Will start Wednesday against Cubs.

Placed on the DL (15-day DL, unless otherwise noted)

Josh Zeid, P, HOU – Transferred to 60-day DL

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

Called Up

Eric Surkamp, P, CWS
Brent Morel, 3B, PIT
Aaron Thompson, P, MIN
Alfredo Figaro, P, MIL
Jesse Hahn, P, SD
Michael Roth, P, LAA

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

Scott Carroll, P, CWS
Christian Colon, SS, KC
Jeff Locke, P, PIT
Anthony Ranaudo, P, BOS
Nick Tepesch, P, TEX
Jimmy Nelson, P, MIL
Efren Navarro, 1B, LAA

Claimed

Samuel Deduno, P, HOU

Closer Watch

Oakland Athletics – Eric O'Flaherty seems to have the confidence of manager Bob Melvin in the ninth inning role while Sean Doolittle remains on the disabled list. Melvin insists Ryan Cook and Luke Gregerson remain in their customary set-up roles, probably in an effort not to disrupt their rhythm in anticipation of the postseason. That means O'Flaherty will probably receive a number of save opportunities over the next two weeks, with the Athletics facing divisional games against the Mariners and Astros before heading out to Chicago to face the White Sox on Sept. 8. Reports indicate O'Flaherty was acquired last winter for just this type of scenario, as the front office believed him capable of filling in as a part of end-game situations. Should O'Flaherty stumble, however, the A's bullpen is well-stocked with arms capable of closing games, so Cook and Gregerson are names to monitor closely down the stretch.

Hot Batter Matchups – August 31, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
C. BeltranOFNYY @ TOR
1:07PM
J. Happ21743623.333.375.8101.185
D. JeterSSNYY @ TOR
1:07PM
J. Happ14722311.500.533.9291.462
M. Prado3BNYY @ TOR
1:07PM
J. Happ13331131.231.375.615.990
C. GrandersonOFNYM vs PHI
1:10PM
A. Burnett21541245.238.385.524.908
J. LagaresOFNYM vs PHI
1:10PM
A. Burnett10420304.400.400.6001.000
R. Howard1BPHI @ NYM
1:10PM
D. Gee239761416.391.4171.2171.634
J. RollinsSSPHI @ NYM
1:10PM
D. Gee281342533.464.516.7501.266
T. Frazier3BCIN @ PIT
1:35PM
F. Liriano17532336.294.400.7061.106
J. HarrisonOFPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto10420201.400.455.6001.055
A. McCutchenOFPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto521494669.269.356.615.971
A. Dunn1BCWS vs DET
2:10PM
R. Porcello25842239.320.393.6401.033
A. GarciaOFCWS vs DET
2:10PM
R. Porcello10500101.500.500.5001.000
C. Gillaspie3BCWS vs DET
2:10PM
R. Porcello20921502.450.450.6501.100
P. Konerko1BCWS vs DET
2:10PM
R. Porcello401441552.350.422.500.922
M. Cabrera3BDET @ CWS
2:10PM
J. Quintana20721323.350.409.550.959
R. DavisOFDET @ CWS
2:10PM
J. Quintana23931114.391.417.6091.025
V. MartinezDHDET @ CWS
2:10PM
J. Quintana15600100.400.400.400.800
A. RiosOFTEX @ HOU
2:10PM
D. Keuchel17630312.353.389.529.918
M. Carpenter3BSTL vs CHC
2:15PM
T. Wood26832424.308.345.577.922
M. HollidayOFSTL vs CHC
2:15PM
T. Wood3411636210.324.378.6761.055
J. JayOFSTL vs CHC
2:15PM
T. Wood271130531.407.467.519.985
Y. MolinaCSTL vs CHC
2:15PM
T. Wood3314731206.424.412.8181.230
G. Beckham2BLAA vs OAK
3:35PM
S. Kazmir10330002.300.300.600.900
J. HamiltonOFLAA vs OAK
3:35PM
S. Kazmir18632602.333.333.7221.056
R. BraunOFMIL @ SF
4:05PM
M. Bumgarner17642304.353.353.8241.176
M. MorseOFSF vs MIL
4:05PM
K. Lohse17741515.412.444.7651.209
A. PaganOFSF vs MIL
4:05PM
K. Lohse10410401.400.364.500.864
D. Barney2BLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults14651421.429.529.9291.458
C. CrawfordOFLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults10521202.500.5001.0001.500
A. EllisCLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults11211341.182.400.455.855
A. Gonzalez1BLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults22652512.273.304.682.986
M. KempOFLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults13520102.385.357.538.896
Y. PuigOFLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults11610112.545.583.6361.220
H. RamirezSSLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults15620103.400.438.533.971
J. Turner2BLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults11530001.455.455.8181.273
J. HeywardOFATL vs MIA
5:10PM
N. Eovaldi251130214.440.462.6001.062
A. SimmonsSSATL vs MIA
5:10PM
N. Eovaldi17520011.294.333.529.863
C. YelichOFMIA @ ATL
5:10PM
A. Wood12610000.500.500.6671.167
M. BrantleyOFCLE @ KC
8:07PM
D. Duffy10400102.400.400.400.800
C. SantanaCCLE @ KC
8:07PM
D. Duffy13521201.385.385.7691.154
Hot Pitcher Matchups – August 31, 2014
Hot Pitcher Matchups – August 31, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Ricky NolascoMIN @ BAL
1:35PM
89181049322.202.228.410.639
Johnny CuetoCIN @ PIT
1:35PM
24646185172153.187.260.306.566
Clay BuchholzBOS @ TB
1:40PM
1633591122241.215.303.280.583
Nathan EovaldiMIA @ ATL
5:10PM
145328111826.221.264.310.575
Alex WoodATL vs MIA
5:10PM
78236212117.295.304.432.736
Cold Batter Matchups – August 31, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
B. GardnerOFNYY @ TOR
1:07PM
J. Happ10210004.200.200.300.500
C. Headley3BNYY @ TOR
1:07PM
J. Happ12211102.167.167.417.583
B. McCannCNYY @ TOR
1:07PM
J. Happ19310124.158.238.211.449
B. RyanSSNYY @ TOR
1:07PM
J. Happ13210001.154.154.231.385
A. Lind1BTOR vs NYY
1:07PM
B. McCarthy14300212.214.250.214.464
D. Wright3BNYM vs PHI
1:10PM
A. Burnett314104312.129.200.161.361
C. Utley2BPHI @ NYM
1:10PM
D. Gee25520122.200.276.280.556
K. Johnson2BBAL vs MIN
1:35PM
R. Nolasco20410134.200.304.250.554
N. MarkakisOFBAL vs MIN
1:35PM
R. Nolasco14100003.071.071.071.143
D. YoungOFBAL vs MIN
1:35PM
R. Nolasco10220103.200.200.400.600
J. BruceOFCIN @ PIT
1:35PM
F. Liriano16000006.000.000.000.000
Z. CozartSSCIN @ PIT
1:35PM
F. Liriano17311134.176.300.353.653
B. PenaCCIN @ PIT
1:35PM
F. Liriano20500304.250.238.250.488
P. Alvarez3BPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto30600136.200.265.200.465
C. BarmesSSPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto14210003.143.143.214.357
I. Davis1BPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto17310016.176.222.235.458
S. MarteOFPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto14000004.000.000.000.000
R. MartinCPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto15110254.067.333.133.467
J. MercerSSPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto16400002.250.250.250.500
G. Sanchez1BPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto11220114.182.250.364.614
T. SniderOFPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto14100015.071.133.071.205
J. TabataOFPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto12000002.000.000.000.000
N. Walker2BPIT vs CIN
1:35PM
J. Cueto38721547.184.279.289.569
Y. CespedesOFBOS @ TB
1:40PM
A. Cobb13100003.077.077.077.154
Y. EscobarSSTB vs BOS
1:40PM
C. Buchholz16311241.188.350.375.725
B. Zobrist2BTB vs BOS
1:40PM
C. Buchholz36410266.111.238.139.377
T. FlowersCCWS vs DET
2:10PM
R. Porcello11000024.000.154.000.154
A. RamirezSSCWS vs DET
2:10PM
R. Porcello50811103.160.160.220.380
E. AndrusSSTEX @ HOU
2:10PM
D. Keuchel24500312.208.231.208.439
L. MartinOFTEX @ HOU
2:10PM
D. Keuchel15310407.200.200.267.467
M. Adams1BSTL vs CHC
2:15PM
T. Wood10200000.200.200.200.400
J. PeraltaSSSTL vs CHC
2:15PM
T. Wood10210112.200.333.300.633
C. GomezOFMIL @ SF
4:05PM
M. Bumgarner10200122.200.333.200.533
G. ParraOFMIL @ SF
4:05PM
M. Bumgarner15200225.133.235.133.369
M. MonteroCARI vs COL
4:10PM
J. De La Rosa14200015.143.200.143.343
A. EthierOFLAD @ SD
4:10PM
E. Stults15211102.133.133.333.467
A. CabreraSSWAS @ SEA
4:10PM
H. Iwakuma10100013.100.182.100.282
F. Freeman1BATL vs MIA
5:10PM
N. Eovaldi26421532.154.241.308.549
C. Johnson3BATL vs MIA
5:10PM
N. Eovaldi12000002.000.000.000.000
B. UptonOFATL vs MIA
5:10PM
N. Eovaldi15310115.200.250.267.517
J. UptonOFATL vs MIA
5:10PM
N. Eovaldi17300115.176.211.176.387
A. HechavarriaSSMIA @ ATL
5:10PM
A. Wood11200004.182.182.182.364
G. StantonOFMIA @ ATL
5:10PM
A. Wood10221203.200.200.600.800
J. Kipnis2BCLE @ KC
8:07PM
D. Duffy10211101.200.200.500.700
Cold Pitcher Matchups – August 31, 2014
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Dillon GeeNYM vs PHI
1:10PM
157481910301020.306.357.547.904
Alex CobbTB vs BOS
1:40PM
711630111212.225.345.268.614
Jose QuintanaCWS vs DET
2:10PM
119398211622.328.358.439.797
Travis WoodCHC @ STL
2:15PM
1585322829929.335.374.577.951
Scott KazmirOAK @ LAA
3:35PM
812712211516.333.372.515.887
Kyle LohseMIL @ SF
4:05PM
94309114320.319.336.449.785
Eric StultsSD vs LAD
4:10PM
1344823720917.358.403.6501.054

Recommended Pickup

Wade Davis, P, KC – While forward-thinking owners in keeper leagues gobble up shares of Dellin Betances in their leagues, those in redraft leagues should do the same with Davis. A high-leverage reliever who has been lights out this season for the Royals, the former Tampa Bay Rays prospect is a cheap speculative play for a possible boost in wins, strikeouts and ratios. Gamblers who are losing ground – and possibly closers like Sean Doolittle – could do worse than take a stab at a guy who has posted 87 strikeouts, a 0.77 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in just 58 innings this season. Davis is also top five among relievers in wins with eight. He won't rack up saves and might not win many leagues in 2014, but the Royals' reliever could tide some Doolittle owners over until the Athletics' closer is activated.

Other Recent Recommendations :Russell Martin, Drew Smyly, Eric O'Flaherty, Jorge Soler, and Jarred Cosart

Draft Kings Value Picks

SP: Danny Duffy, KC ($7,500)
C: Jason Castro, HOU ($3,500)
1B: Matt Adams, STL ($3,800)
2B: Kolten Wong, STL ($3,400)
SS: Mookie Betts, BOS ($3,400)
3B: Pablo Sandoval, SF ($3,800)
OF: Josh Harrison, PIT ($3,800)

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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