Sunday Lineup Card: Undervalued Utility

Sunday Lineup Card: Undervalued Utility

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Tigers (Anibal Sanchez – R) at Yankees (Masahiro Tanaka – R) 1:05
Orioles (Chris Tillman – R) at Blue Jays (Scott Copeland – R), 1:07
Rays (Alex Colome – R) at Indians (Cody Anderson – R), 1:10
Marlins (David Phelps – R) at Reds (Michael Lorenzen – R), 1:10
Pirates (Charlie Morton – R) at Nationals (Gio Gonzalez – L), 1:35
Cardinals (Michael Wacha – R) at Phillies (Adam Morgan – L), 1:35
Rangers (Yovani Gallardo – R) at White Sox (Jose Quintana – L), 2:10
Red Sox (Wade Miley – L) at Royals (Chris Young – R), 2:10
Cubs (Jake Arrieta – R) at Twins (Kyle Gibson – R), 2:10
Angels (Garrett Richards – R) at Athletics (Scott Kazmir – L), 4:05
Astros (Vincent Velasquez – R) at Mariners (J.A. Happ – L), 4:10
Brewers (Matt Garza – R) at Rockies (Chris Rusin – L), 4:10
Padres (Andrew Cashner – R) at Diamondbacks (Jeremy Hellickson – R) 4:10
Mets (Matt Harvey – R) at Braves (Julio Teheran – R), 5:05
Giants (Tim Lincecum – R) at Dodgers (Brett Anderson – L), 8:00

Day Game After Night Game: DET/NYY, TB/CLE, MIA/CIN, BOS/KC, LAA//OAK, HOU/SEA, SD/ARI, NYM/ATL

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Mason Williams, OF, NYY – (Shoulder) Will likely miss Sunday's game; results from MRI were negative.
Erasmo Ramirez, SP, TB – (Groin) Left Saturday's game; could miss next start.
Blake Swihart, C, BOS – (Foot) Missed Saturday's game; status for Sunday is uncertain.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, BOS – (Leg) Left Saturday's game and left the stadium in a walking boot.
Jeurys Familia, RP, NYM – (Groin) Expected to miss Sunday's game after cramping Friday.
Travis d'Arnaud, C, NYM – (Elbow) Will be available in emergency situations Sunday after diagnosis of injury Saturday.
Norichika Aoki, OF, SF – (Leg) Left Saturday's game and is doubtful for Sunday with contusion.
Jose Altuve, 2B, HOU – (Hamstring) Missed third game Saturday; status for Sunday is uncertain.
Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL – (Wrist) Remained out of the lineup Saturday; status for Sunday is uncertain.
Neil Walker, 2B, PIT – (Illness) Missed fourth straight game Saturday.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL – (Hip) Has missed seven out of last 10 games; DL stint becoming more likely.

Players on the DL

Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS – (Neck) Threw a bullpen session Saturday; could return this week.
Michael Morin, RP, LAA – (Oblique) Will begin rehab assignment Sunday; will make at least four appearances before returning.
Tim Beckham, SS, TB – (Hamstring) Could start rehab assignment Monday.
Dylan Bundy, SP, BAL – (Shoulder) Suffering from inflammation and will undergo additional testing.
Matt Moore, SP, TB – (Elbow) Will throw 90 pitches in rehab start Sunday and should return before the All-Star break.
Chris Narveson, RP, MIA – (Elbow) Made his third rehab start Saturday.

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

Placed on the DL

Jason Garcia, RP, BAL – (Shoulder) Transferred to 60-day DL.

Signed

Matt Buschmann, RP, OAK
Joe Patterson, RP, CIN

Called Up

Mychal Givens, RP, BAL
Justin Nicolino, RP, MIA
Aaron Brooks, RP, KC
Seth Rosin, RP, PHI
Matt West, RP, LAD

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

Tyler Wilson, RP, BAL
Mike Wright, RP, BAL
Jhonatan Solano, C, MIA
Yohan Pino, RP, KC
Shaun Marcum, SP, CLE
Phillippe Aumont, RP, PHI
Miguel Gonzalez, SP, BAL
Dustin McGowan, RP, PHI

Closer Watch

Toronto Blue Jays – Four of Brett Cecil's last five outings have been far more adventurous than fantasy owners – and Blue Jays fans – would have hoped. Credited with just one blown save since reclaiming the closer role in Toronto, the 28-year-old left hander has nevertheless allowed six earned runs through his five most recent innings pitched. He has already once relinquished ninth-inning duties this season and could be subject to removal again if manager John Gibbons does not see rapid improvement. The Blue Jays are rumored to be interested in bolstering their collection of relief pitchers – possibly by acquiring Francisco Rodriguez – which could limit Cecil's save chances moving forward. Whether or not Toronto goes outside the organization to add bullpen depth, the grip he has on the closer's role looks much more tenuous.

Hot Batter Matchups – June 21, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
J. BautistaOFTOR vs BAL
1:07PM
C. Tillman349525410.265.333.529.863
J. Donaldson3BTOR vs BAL
1:07PM
C. Tillman17631511.353.389.6471.036
R. Goins2BTOR vs BAL
1:07PM
C. Tillman17611214.353.389.529.918
K. PillarOFTOR vs BAL
1:07PM
C. Tillman10321304.300.300.7001.000
J. ReyesSSTOR vs BAL
1:07PM
C. Tillman26941202.346.346.577.923
W. RamosCWAS vs PIT
1:35PM
C. Morton11500110.455.500.455.955
A. LaRoche1BCWS vs TEX
2:10PM
Y. Gallardo331152659.333.421.6061.027
J. ReddickOFOAK vs LAA
4:05PM
G. Richards15600030.400.500.400.900
P. Goldschmidt1BARI vs SD
4:10PM
A. Cashner14511323.357.438.5711.009
C. GonzalezOFCOL vs MIL
4:10PM
M. Garza15443405.267.267.9331.200
C. CarterDHHOU @ SEA
4:10PM
J. Happ10422324.400.5001.0001.500
L. Duda1BNYM @ ATL
5:05PM
J. Teheran20742344.350.458.7501.208
C. GrandersonOFNYM @ ATL
5:05PM
J. Teheran14421232.286.389.571.960
Y. PuigOFLAD vs SF
8:08PM
T. Lincecum171040113.588.650.9411.591
J. MaxwellOFSF @ LAD
8:08PM
B. Anderson10420001.400.400.7001.100
B. PoseyCSF @ LAD
8:08PM
B. Anderson11420200.364.364.545.909
Hot Pitcher Matchups – June 21, 2015
Hot Pitcher Matchups – June 21, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
J.A. HappSEA vs HOU
4:10PM
6013739913.217.319.433.751
Andrew CashnerSD @ ARI
4:10PM
76195412217.250.269.438.707
Julio TeheranATL vs NYM
5:05PM
108247491221.222.303.381.684
Cold Batter Matchups – June 21, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
S. DrewSSNYY vs DET
1:05PM
A. Sanchez23510306.217.240.304.544
G. Jones1BNYY vs DET
1:05PM
A. Sanchez12210003.167.167.250.417
C. YoungOFNYY vs DET
1:05PM
A. Sanchez16210107.125.125.188.313
J. Smoak1BTOR vs BAL
1:07PM
C. Tillman11200042.182.400.182.582
A. McCutchenOFPIT @ WAS
1:35PM
G. Gonzalez10200021.200.333.200.533
D. Uggla2BWAS vs PIT
1:35PM
C. Morton11110014.091.167.182.348
B. Butler1BOAK vs LAA
4:05PM
G. Richards11000025.000.154.000.154
A. Hill2BARI vs SD
4:10PM
A. Cashner12211303.167.167.417.583
C. OwingsSSARI vs SD
4:10PM
A. Cashner10200102.200.200.200.400
C. PenningtonSSARI vs SD
4:10PM
A. Cashner10100103.100.100.100.200
C. RasmusOFHOU @ SEA
4:10PM
J. Happ15320145.200.368.333.702
W. Middlebrooks3BSD @ ARI
4:10PM
J. Hellickson15210009.133.133.200.333
T. d'ArnaudCNYM @ ATL
5:05PM
J. Teheran12100110.083.214.083.298
J. LagaresOFNYM @ ATL
5:05PM
J. Teheran14300103.214.214.214.429
R. TejadaSSNYM @ ATL
5:05PM
J. Teheran14100003.071.071.071.143
A. EllisCLAD vs SF
8:08PM
T. Lincecum18320176.167.400.278.678
Y. GrandalCLAD vs SF
8:08PM
T. Lincecum14221113.143.200.429.629
J. RollinsSSLAD vs SF
8:08PM
T. Lincecum437201510.163.250.209.459
A. PaganOFSF @ LAD
8:08PM
B. Anderson10100001.100.100.100.200
Cold Pitcher Matchups – June 21, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Chris TillmanBAL @ TOR
1:07PM
21164228291834.303.364.480.844
Brett AndersonLAD vs SF
8:08PM
722460958.333.377.436.812

Recommended Pickup

Brock Holt, UTIL, BOS – The versatility of this 27-year-old has made him a popular stopgap for fantasy owners to plug into their lineups in place of injured stars. Rarely viewed as a permanent fixture, perhaps it is time to find him a more regular spot. In the last two weeks, Holt has reached base in nearly half his at-bats, going 18-for-50 with 10 runs, nine walks, a home run, a stolen base and four RBIs over that stretch. At that rate, Holt is on pace for 120 runs, 12 homers, 12 steals, 108 walks and a .458 OBP over 600 at-bats. Eligible at shortstop, that line would easily make him one of the five or six most valuable players at that position. The Swiss army knife is one flex option that should be rostered in more than just the 21 percent of leagues in which he currently owned.

Other Recent Recommendations:Kyle Schwarber, Anibal Sanchez, David Phelps, Byron Buxton, Rougned Odor and Francisco Lindor.

Draft Kings Value Picks

SP: Vincent Velasquez, HOU ($4,700)
C: Kyle Schwarber, CHC ($3,500)
1B: Adrian Gonzalez, LAD ($3,800)
2B: Ian Kinsler, DET ($3,800)
SS: Elvis Andrus, TEX ($3,500)
3B: Joey Gallo, TEX ($3,600)
OF: Cameron Maybin, ATL ($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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