Sunday Lineup Card: Quietly Building A Contender

Sunday Lineup Card: Quietly Building A Contender

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups (all times Eastern)
LAD (Zack Greinke – R) at NYM (Jacob deGrom – R), 1:10 PM
CWS (Carlos Rodon – L) at CLE (Danny Salazar – R), 1:10 PM
BAL (Wei-Yin Chen – R) at TB (Matt Moore – L), 1:10 PM
WAS (Joe Ross – R) at PIT (Gerrit Cole – R), 1:35 PM
HOU (Dallas Keuchel – L) at KC (Yordano Ventura – R), 2:10 PM
NYY (Nathan Eovaldi – R) at MIN (Kyle Gibson – R), 2:10 PM
ATL (Matt Wisler – R) at STL (Michael Wacha – R), 2:15 PM
PHI (Aaron Nola – R) at CHC (Jason Hammel – R), 2:20 PM
TEX (Nick Martinez – R) at LAA (Andrew Heaney – L), 3:35 PM
OAK (Kendall Graveman – R) at SF (Tim Hudson – R), 4:05 PM
TOR (Mark Buehrle – L) at SEA (Taijuan Walker – R), 4:10 PM
MIA (Mat Latos – R) at SD (Odrisamer Despaigne – R), 4:10 PM
CIN (Michael Lorenzen – R) at COL (Kyle Kendrick – R), 4:10 PM
MIL (Matt Garza – R) at ARI (Jeremy Hellickson – R), 4:10 PM
DET (Shane Greene – R) at BOS (Eduardo Rodriguez – L), 8:00 PM

Day Game After Night Game: WAS/PIT, CWS/CLE, HOU/KC, NYY/MIN, LAD/NYM, ATL/STL, CIN/COL, MIL/ARI, MIA/SD, TEX/LAA

Injuries

Out

Jon Niese, P, NYM – Placed on paternity list on Saturday.

Day-to-Day

Brett Anderson, P, LAD – (Achilles) Expected to start Tuesday.
Billy Burns, OF, OAK – (Groin) Hopes to rejoin starting lineup Sunday.
Zack Greinke, P, LAD – (Personal) Will start Sunday when he returns from paternity leave.
Alex Guerrero, OF, LAD – (Back) Has made just three starts in July.
Stephen Piscotty, OF, STL – (Neck) Expected to return Sunday.
Jason Kipnis, 2B, CLE – (Neck) Held out of Saturday's lineup.

Players on the DL

Aaron Harang, SP, PHI – (Foot) Hopes to begin rehab assignment next week.
Drew Smyly, SP, TB – (Elbow) Scheduled to begin rehab assignment Sunday.
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK – (Shoulder) Threw 15 pitches Saturday off flat ground.
Tim Lincecum, SP, SF – (Forearm) Played catch Saturday and will throw for a few more days before tossing off a mound.
James Paxton, SP, SEA – (Finger) Remains weeks away from throwing a bullpen session.
Jaime Garcia, SP, STL – (Groin) Will likely start Tuesday.
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET – (Calf) Took part in light fielding drills Saturday; could return in mid-August.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, ARI – (Neck) Will be activated when first eligible Tuesday.
Wily Peralta, SP, MIL – (Oblique) Expected to start Tuesday.
Henderson Alvarez, SP, MIA – (Shoulder) Will be evaluated by Dr. James Andrews this week.
Alfredo Simon, SP, DET – (Groin) Left Saturday's game with a groin strain; could be ready for next scheduled start Thursday.
Adam Lind, 1B, MIL – (Back) Left Saturday's game with lower back tightness.

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

Placed on the DL

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS – (Hamstring)

Signed

Clayton Cook, RP, ATL
Michael Bowden, RP, MIN
Rudy Owens, RP, COL

Called Up

Adonis Garcia, RP, ATL
Daniel Castro, RP, ATL
Nick Goody, RP, NYY
Zach Lee, SP, LAD
Logan Verrett, RP, NYM
Chris Bassitt, RP, OAK
Steven Wright, SP, BOS

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

Ian Thomas, RP, LAD
Brent Morel, 3B, PIT
Joey Terdoslavich, RP, ATL
Justin Sellers, SS, PIT
Gregorio Petit, 2B, NYY
Branden Pinder, RP, NYY
Steve Delabar, RP, TOR
Heath Hembree, RP, BOS
Nick Tropeano, RP, LAA
Danny Muno, 3B, NYM
John Mayberry Jr., OF, NYM
Tim Cooney, SP, STL

Closer Watch

Minnesota Twins – After enduring his first blown save of the season last Saturday, Glen Perkins was lit up last night by the Yankees, as he surrendered four runs on five hits while only recording two outs in the ninth. He was straddled with his second loss and the Twins' lead over Toronto for the final AL Wild Card spot is now only four games. Despite two forgetable weekends, the veteran reliever is still one of the most bankable commodities in baseball for saves. His season on the whole has been remarkable, as he had allowed just six runs all season before Saturday's implosion. If the Twins falter down the stretch, Perkins – who has 29 saves – is unlikely to be the culprit.

Hot Batter Matchups – July 26, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
A. JonesOFBAL @ TB
1:10PM
M. Moore19932714.474.500.8421.342
M. Machado3BBAL @ TB
1:10PM
M. Moore10320110.300.417.6001.017
M. WietersCBAL @ TB
1:10PM
M. Moore14832335.571.6471.0711.718
A. RamirezSSCWS @ CLE
1:10PM
D. Salazar13931300.692.6921.0771.769
L. Duda1BNYM vs LAD
1:10PM
Z. Greinke10311113.300.364.600.964
L. Forsythe2BTB vs BAL
1:10PM
W. Chen20632522.300.364.6501.014
B. GuyerOFTB vs BAL
1:10PM
W. Chen14530002.357.400.571.971
J. Loney1BTB vs BAL
1:10PM
W. Chen16531101.313.313.625.938
A. RiosOFKC vs HOU
2:10PM
D. Keuchel23840414.348.375.522.897
K. CalhounOFLAA vs TEX
3:35PM
N. Martinez11621311.545.583.9091.492
C. Cron1BLAA vs TEX
3:35PM
N. Martinez10521101.500.500.9001.400
J. BruceOFCIN @ COL
4:10PM
K. Kendrick20632305.300.300.650.950
S. SchumakerOFCIN @ COL
4:10PM
K. Kendrick321042323.313.353.563.915
J. Votto1BCIN @ COL
4:10PM
K. Kendrick18631223.333.400.6111.011
J. UptonOFSD vs MIA
4:10PM
M. Latos17841234.471.550.8821.432
R. Cano2BSEA vs TOR
4:10PM
M. Buehrle329531133.281.343.625.968
F. GutierrezOFSEA vs TOR
4:10PM
M. Buehrle22832915.364.391.6821.073
A. JacksonOFSEA vs TOR
4:10PM
M. Buehrle24920125.375.423.458.881
M. TrumboOFSEA vs TOR
4:10PM
M. Buehrle12653501.500.5001.4171.917
Hot Pitcher Matchups – July 26, 2015
Hot Pitcher Matchups – July 26, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Zack GreinkeLAD @ NYM
1:10PM
1222611410724.213.256.399.655
Cold Batter Matchups – July 26, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
C. Davis1BBAL @ TB
1:10PM
M. Moore13210022.154.267.231.497
C. GrandersonOFNYM vs LAD
1:10PM
Z. Greinke489513311.188.235.375.610
O. Infante2BKC vs HOU
2:10PM
D. Keuchel11200002.182.182.182.364
E. AybarSSLAA vs TEX
3:35PM
N. Martinez17311201.176.176.353.529
M. TroutOFLAA vs TEX
3:35PM
N. Martinez11110220.091.294.182.476
P. Goldschmidt1BARI vs MIL
4:10PM
M. Garza13200124.154.267.154.421
C. BarmesSSSD vs MIA
4:10PM
M. Latos15110025.067.176.133.310
M. KempOFSD vs MIA
4:10PM
M. Latos19300236.158.273.158.431
N. CruzOFSEA vs TOR
4:10PM
M. Buehrle22200024.091.167.091.258
Cold Pitcher Matchups – July 26, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Matt MooreTB vs BAL
1:10PM
872812515820.322.385.596.981
Wei-Yin ChenBAL @ TB
1:10PM
11733166161018.282.339.526.865
Nick MartinezTEX @ LAA
3:35PM
8222841177.268.350.448.797
Mark BuehrleTOR @ SEA
4:10PM
1384017927924.290.339.535.874

Recommended Pickup

Mike Leake, SP, CIN – Between the pair of Cincinnati Reds hurlers garnering interest from other teams in advance of next week's trade deadline, Johnny Cueto is regarded as the "big catch" to be had on the open market. Unfortunately, a starter of Cueto's caliber is not floating around on your league's waiver wire. The other arm generating the attention of contending clubs, however, is very likely to be sitting there despite a remarkable month of success. In his last seven starts, Mike Leake is 5-1 with six quality starts. His stuff has never overwhelmed big league hitters, but Leake has simply been a consistent innings eater toiling away on a mediocre club for most of his career. The time may soon come when he is thrust into a pennant chase. If his repertoire is good enough for some savvy GM to add him in the midst of playoff contention, the same should be good enough to help make the difference for a championship challenger in the realm of fantasy.

Other Recent Recommendations:Michael Conforto, Jose Iglesias, Jake McGee, Joe Ross, Alex Rios and Aaron Nola

Draft Kings Value Picks

SP: Aaron Nola, PHI ($5,600)
C: Jonathan Lucroy, MIL ($3,500)
1B: Edwin Encarnacion, TOR ($3,700)
2B: Justin Turner, LAD ($3,500)
SS: Francisco Lindor, CLE ($3,300)
3B: Adrian Beltre, TEX ($3,400)
OF: Joc Pederson, LAD ($3,400)

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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