Sunday Lineup Card: Recycling Closers

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Updated on April 12, 2015 12:41AM EST

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

Tigers (Kyle Lobstein – L) at Indians (T.J. House – R), 1:10
Cardinals (Carlos Martinez – R) at Reds (Raisel Iglesias – R), 1:10
Rays (Nathan Karns – R) at Marlins (Henderson Alvarez – R), 1:10
Blue Jays (Drew Hutchison – R) at Orioles (Chris Tillman – R), 1:35
Mets (Bartolo Colon – R) at Braves (Alex Wood – L), 1:35
Nationals (Max Scherzer – R) at Phillies (Sean O'Sullivan – R), 1:35
Twins (Phil Hughes – R) at White Sox (Chris Sale – L), 2:10
Pirates (Casey Sadler – R) at Brewers (Kyle Lohse – R), 2:10
Astros (Dallas Kuechel – L) at Rangers (Colby Lewis – R), 3:05
Royals (Yordano Ventura – R) at Angels (C.J. Wilson – L), 3:35
Mariners (Felix Hernandez – R) at Athletics (Jesse Hahn – R), 4:05
Giants (Jake Peavy – R) at Padres (Tyson Ross – R), 4:10
Cubs (Kyle Hendricks – R) at Rockies (Jordan Lyles – R), 4:10
Dodgers (Zack Greinke – R) at Diamondbacks (Josh Collmenter – R), 4:10
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R) at Yankees (Masahiro Tanaka – R), 8:00

Day Game After Night Game: TOR/BAL, NYM/ATL, WAS/PHI, PIT/MIL, HOU/TEX, KC/LAA, SFG/SDP, CHC/COL, LAD/ARI

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Michael Brantley, OF, CLE – (Back) Missed Saturday's game; Indians contemplating DL stint.
Gerald Laird, C, ARI – (Back) Missed Saturday's game.
Juan Uribe, 3B, LAD – (Hamstring) Left Saturday's game.
Victor Martinez, 1B, DET – (Leg) Expected to return to lineup Sunday.
Justin Turner, 3B, LAD – (Hand) Left Saturday's game after getting spiked in hand.

Out

Francisco Liriano, SP, PIT – Will make his next start Wednesday at Detroit after missing the weekend series due to the birth of his daughter.
Yan Gomes, C, CLE – Likely headed to DL after he left Saturday's game with a knee sprain; will undergo MRI on Sunday.

Players on the DL

Chad Billingsley, SP, PHI – (Elbow) Will make second rehab start at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.
Justin Verlander, SP, DET – (Triceps) Threw 30 pitches off a mound Friday and reported no setbacks.
Garrett Richards, SP, LAA – (Knee) Will make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.
Jorge De La Rosa, SP, COL – (Groin) Threw bullpen session Saturday, will make start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday.
Denard Span, OF, WAS – (Core surgery) Played three innings at extended spring training, could return by end of April.
Josh Hamilton, OF, LAA – (Shoulder) Continues rehab without the assurance of ownership he will return to the team.
Josh Riddick, OF, OAK – (Oblique) Will be activated Sunday.
Jarrod Parker, SP, OAK – (Elbow) Continues recovery from Tommy John surgery; not expected to return before June 1.
David Lough, OF, BAL – (Hamstring) Could be activated after rehab game Sunday.
Hunter Pence, OF, SFG – (Forearm) Expected to return at the end of April.
Travis Ishikawa, OF, SFG – (Back) Began rehab assignment Saturday.
Matt Wieters, C, BAL – (Elbow) Took batting practice Saturday; no definite timetable for his return.
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL – (Shoulder) Could begin rehab stint at Double-A Bowie on Thursday.

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

Placed on the DL

Wesley Wright, RP, BAL – (Shoulder)
Ricky Nolasco, SP, MIN – (Elbow)
Ivan Nova, SP, NYY – (Elbow) transferred to 60-day DL
Lisalverto Bonilla, RP, TEX – (Elbow) transferred to 60-day DL
Derek Holland, SP, TEX – (Shoulder) placed on 60-day DL
Ryan Rua, OF, TEX – (Ankle)

Called Up

Matt Tracy, RP, NYY
Trevor May, SP, MIN
Carlos Peguero, OF, TEX
Eddie Gamboa, RP, BAL

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

Chasen Schreve, RP, NYY
Ehire Adrianza, 2B, SFG
Carlos Sanchez, 3B, CWS

Claimed off Waivers

Stolmy Pimentel, RP, TEX

Closer Watch

Detroit Tigers – Last season, Joe Nathan was among the most volatile options in the ninth inning of any late-inning reliever. His reputation as a future Hall of Famer, however, seemed to supercede any relative ineffectiveness, and he began the season once again as the Tigers' primary closer. Despite the inexplicibly long leash, fantasy owners frequently selected setup man Joakim Soria before Nathan in drafts. The confidence shown in Soria seems to have been rewarded handsomely, as he inherited ninth-inning duties for one of the league's winningest teams following Nathan's elbow injury that will likely cost him at least the first month of the season. As long as Soria remains the closer in Detroit, he should rank as one of the 10 best leaguewide.

Hot Batter Matchups – April 12, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
D. Jennings	OF	TB @ MIA 1:10PM	H. Alvarez	11	4	2	2	4	0	0	.364	.364	.909	1.273
E. Longoria	3B	TB @ MIA 1:10PM	H. Alvarez	13	7	3	3	6	2	3	.538	.600	1.231	1.831
F. Freeman	1B	ATL vs NYM 1:35PM	B. Colon	10	6	3	0	2	0	1	.600	.600	.900	1.500
J. Gomes	OF	ATL vs NYM 1:35PM	B. Colon	18	7	4	2	2	1	4	.389	.421	.889	1.310
A. Simmons	SS	ATL vs NYM 1:35PM	B. Colon	10	4	0	0	0	0	0	.400	.400	.400	.800
J. Lagares	OF	NYM @ ATL 1:35PM	A. Wood	11	3	2	1	2	1	4	.273	.333	.636	.970
J. Mayberry	OF	NYM @ ATL 1:35PM	A. Wood	10	3	2	1	1	0	2	.300	.300	.700	1.000
D. Murphy	2B	NYM @ ATL 1:35PM	A. Wood	11	5	0	0	0	0	3	.455	.455	.455	.909
J. Bautista	OF	TOR @ BAL 1:35PM	C. Tillman	28	8	4	2	5	4	10	.286	.364	.571	.935
J. Reyes	SS	TOR @ BAL 1:35PM	C. Tillman	22	7	3	1	2	0	2	.318	.318	.545	.864
J. Abreu	1B	CWS vs MIN 2:10PM	P. Hughes	10	4	3	0	3	0	2	.400	.500	.700	1.200
A. Eaton	OF	CWS vs MIN 2:10PM	P. Hughes	11	3	2	0	0	1	2	.273	.333	.545	.879
B. Dozier	2B	MIN @ CWS 2:10PM	C. Sale	19	5	3	2	4	1	6	.263	.333	.632	.965
K. Suzuki	C	MIN @ CWS 2:10PM	C. Sale	11	4	1	0	3	1	1	.364	.462	.455	.916
A. McCutchen	OF	PIT @ MIL 2:10PM	K. Lohse	41	13	5	2	8	2	2	.317	.333	.537	.870
N. Walker	2B	PIT @ MIL 2:10PM	K. Lohse	33	11	5	1	9	7	8	.333	.450	.576	1.026
J. Altuve	2B	HOU @ TEX 3:05PM	C. Lewis	10	4	1	0	0	0	2	.400	.400	.500	.900
J. Lowrie	SS	HOU @ TEX 3:05PM	C. Lewis	17	6	1	1	2	1	2	.353	.389	.529	.918
O. Infante	2B	KC @ LAA 3:35PM	C. Wilson	15	7	2	0	2	0	0	.467	.467	.600	1.067
K. Morales	1B	KC @ LAA 3:35PM	C. Wilson	28	10	3	1	2	2	1	.357	.387	.536	.923
A. Rios	OF	KC @ LAA 3:35PM	C. Wilson	21	8	3	2	5	3	1	.381	.480	.714	1.194
M. Montero	C	CHC @ COL 4:10PM	J. Lyles	14	7	2	0	5	1	0	.500	.529	.643	1.172
A. Ellis	C	LAD @ ARI 4:10PM	J. Collmenter	10	4	2	2	2	3	3	.400	.538	1.000	1.538
A. Gonzalez	1B	LAD @ ARI 4:10PM	J. Collmenter	10	6	2	1	2	1	2	.600	.636	1.000	1.636
Y. Puig	OF	LAD @ ARI 4:10PM	J. Collmenter	10	2	2	1	4	2	2	.200	.333	.600	.933
J. Rollins	SS	LAD @ ARI 4:10PM	J. Collmenter	13	5	2	0	2	2	2	.385	.467	.538	1.005
J. Upton	OF	SD vs SF 4:10PM	J. Peavy	13	7	2	1	5	0	1	.538	.538	.923	1.462
B. Belt	1B	SF @ SD 4:10PM	T. Ross	11	4	2	0	3	3	4	.364	.533	.545	1.079
A. Pagan	OF	SF @ SD 4:10PM	T. Ross	12	5	1	0	0	1	2	.417	.462	.500	.962
B. Posey	C	SF @ SD 4:10PM	T. Ross	11	4	2	0	1	3	2	.364	.500	.636	1.136
A. Rodriguez	3B	NYY vs BOS 8:05PM	C. Buchholz	25	10	2	2	7	2	3	.400	.429	.640	1.069

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 12, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Drew Hutchison	TOR @ BAL 1:35PM	83	17	7	3	8	3	26	.205	.246	.361	.607
Chris Sale	CWS vs MIN 2:10PM	140	35	12	3	13	5	37	.250	.289	.386	.675
Phil Hughes	MIN @ CWS 2:10PM	101	24	9	1	9	4	27	.238	.276	.355	.631
Felix Hernandez	SEA @ OAK 4:05PM	127	26	4	2	11	11	27	.205	.272	.268	.540
Zack Greinke	LAD @ ARI 4:10PM	120	25	7	2	2	9	30	.208	.269	.297	.566

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Batter Matchups – April 12, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
K. Johnson	3B	ATL vs NYM 1:35PM	B. Colon	12	2	1	0	1	1	5	.167	.231	.333	.564
R. Flaherty	2B	BAL vs TOR 1:35PM	D. Hutchison	11	1	1	0	1	1	6	.091	.154	.182	.336
A. Jones	OF	BAL vs TOR 1:35PM	D. Hutchison	21	3	0	0	0	0	5	.143	.143	.143	.286
G. Sizemore	OF	PHI vs WAS 1:35PM	M. Scherzer	14	1	0	0	0	1	2	.071	.188	.071	.259
G. Beckham	2B	CWS vs MIN 2:10PM	P. Hughes	18	2	2	0	2	0	7	.111	.111	.222	.333
E. Nunez	SS	MIN @ CWS 2:10PM	C. Sale	10	1	1	0	0	0	1	.100	.100	.200	.300
C. Hart	1B	PIT @ MIL 2:10PM	K. Lohse	26	5	3	0	1	0	5	.192	.192	.308	.500
E. Andrus	SS	TEX vs HOU 3:05PM	D. Keuchel	27	5	0	0	3	1	3	.185	.207	.185	.392
S. Choo	OF	TEX vs HOU 3:05PM	D. Keuchel	13	2	1	0	1	0	6	.154	.200	.231	.431
L. Martin	OF	TEX vs HOU 3:05PM	D. Keuchel	15	3	1	0	4	0	7	.200	.200	.267	.467
A. Escobar	SS	KC @ LAA 3:35PM	C. Wilson	12	1	1	0	1	1	2	.083	.154	.167	.321
E. Hosmer	1B	KC @ LAA 3:35PM	C. Wilson	11	2	0	0	0	0	1	.182	.182	.182	.364
S. Fuld	OF	OAK vs SEA 4:05PM	F. Hernandez	17	2	0	0	0	0	5	.118	.118	.118	.235
B. Zobrist	2B	OAK vs SEA 4:05PM	F. Hernandez	31	4	0	0	2	6	11	.129	.263	.129	.392
C. Pennington	SS	ARI vs LAD 4:10PM	Z. Greinke	11	0	0	0	0	3	3	.000	.214	.000	.214
S. Castro	SS	CHC @ COL 4:10PM	J. Lyles	13	2	1	0	0	1	3	.154	.214	.308	.522
J. Uribe	3B	LAD @ ARI 4:10PM	J. Collmenter	12	2	1	0	1	1	3	.167	.231	.250	.481
C. Barmes	SS	SD vs SF 4:10PM	J. Peavy	21	5	0	0	2	0	3	.238	.238	.238	.476
B. Crawford	SS	SF @ SD 4:10PM	T. Ross	12	2	0	0	0	0	3	.167	.167	.167	.333
M. Teixeira	1B	NYY vs BOS 8:05PM	C. Buchholz	25	4	2	2	6	2	8	.160	.214	.400	.614

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 12, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Bartolo Colon	NYM @ ATL 1:35PM	151	46	19	4	12	7	22	.305	.340	.496	.836
Alex Wood	ATL vs NYM 1:35PM	65	21	7	3	6	6	15	.323	.387	.508	.896
C.J. Wilson	LAA vs KC 3:35PM	122	37	12	4	17	10	15	.303	.363	.470	.833
Josh Collmenter	ARI vs LAD 4:10PM	93	27	13	5	15	13	15	.290	.383	.547	.930

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Recommended Pickup

Stephen Vogt, 1B/OF/C, OAK – A number of fantasy owners will spend the greater part of the 2015 season attempting to fill a catcher position that is relatively thin on talent. Still available in too many leagues, Vogt is a legitimate power bat who qualifies for this difficult spot. After starting last season with a .358/.388/.532 slash line through the end of July, Vogt's performance tapered off due to a foot injury that lingered in the season's final months to hamper his overall line. He started this season 5 for his first 14 at-bats with a home run, and appears to be healthy. If he is still available, he won't be for long.

Draft Kings Value Picks

SP: Jesse Hahn, SD ($6,200)
C: Travis d'Arnaud, NYM ($3,600)
1B: Kennys Vargas, MIN ($3,800)
2B: Joe Panik, SFG ($2,900)
SS: Jake Smolinski, HOU ($3,200)
3B: Marcus Semien, OAK ($3,300)
OF: Lorenzo Cain, KC ($3,900)

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.