The Lineup Card: Kneel Before the King

Projected Starters - A look at Monday's matchups:

Rockies (Jason Hammel - R) at Phillies (Joe Blanton - R), 1:05
Yankees (Javier Vazquez - R) at Indians (Jake Westbrook - R), 7:05
Orioles (Brad Bergesen - R) at Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow - R), 7:07
Tigers (Max Scherzer - R) at Rays (Matt Garza - R), 7:10
Cubs (Carlos Silva - R) at Astros (Wesley Wright - L), 8:05
Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R) at Brewers (Randy Wolf - L), 8:10
Twins (Francisco Liriano - L) at Royals (Zack Greinke - R), 8:10
Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) at White Sox (John Danks - L), 8:10
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz - R) at Angels (*Dan Haren - R), 10:05
Marlins (Ricky Nolasco - R) at Giants (Barry Zito - L), 10:15

Day game following night game: None

Injuries - A brief look at players that have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)

Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT - (Shoulder) Returned to the lineup on Sunday
Corey Hart, OF, MIL - (Wrist) Did not play on Sunday. Remains day-to-day
Russell Branyan, 1B, SEA - (Back) Did not play on Sunday
Johnny Damon, OF, DET - (Illness) Pinch hit in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader and started Game 2
Nick Swisher, OF, NYY - (Achilles) Returned to the lineup on Sunday
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY - (Illness) Returned to the lineup on Sunday
Orlando Hudson, 2B, MIN - (Oblique) Did not play on Sunday and is likely headed to the DL
Andrew Bailey, RP, OAK - (Back) Was not available on Sunday but hopes to return on Tuesday following Monday's off day
Matt Diaz, OF, ATL - (Hand) Did not start on Sunday but entered as a pinch runner
Rod Barajas, C, NYM - (Oblique) Will be examined on Monday and could be headed to the DL
Fred Lewis, OF, TOR - (Ankle) Returned to the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader
Scott Rolen, 3B, CIN - (Hamstring) Missed his ninth straight game on Sunday but expects to return to the lineup on Monday
Johnny Damon, OF, DET - (Illness) Did not play on Sunday for the second straight day
Rajai Davis, OF, OAK - (Hamstring) Missed his third straight game on Sunday. Remains day-to-day
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY - Removed from Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch on his left arm
R.A. Dickey, SP, NYN - Removed from Sunday's game with an left leg injury. Will be examined on Monday
Denard Span, OF, MIN - Did not play on Sunday due to an illness. Considered day-to-day
Travis Snider, OF, TOR - Return could be pushed back to Friday because the Blue Jays need to call up a starting pitcher for Wednesday's game

Players on the DL

Victor Martinez, C, BOS - (Thumb) Will likely return to the lineup on Monday
Brett Anderson, SP, OAK - (Elbow) Made his final rehab start on Sunday and is expected to return to the rotation on Friday or Saturday
Mark Teahen, 2B, CHW - (Finger) Will likely be cleared to resume baseball activities on Monday
Dan Runzler, RP, SF - (Knee) Has resumed playing catch but still expected to be out until late August
Andy Pettitte, SP, NYY - (Groin) Threw lightly on Saturday and could to return a couple weeks earlier than four-to-five weeks he was originally expected to miss
Kris Benson, SP, AZ - (Shoulder) Threw a bullpen session on Saturday but still needs to regain his stamina before returning
Ben Sheets, SP, OAK - (Elbow) Will receive a second opinion about his injury on Tuesday
Jody Gerut, OF, MIL - (Heel) Began a rehab assignment on Sunday

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

Placed on the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET
Carlos Guillen, 2B, DET
Jhan Marinez, RP, FLA
Eugenio Velez, OF, SF
J.D. Martin, SP, WAS

Activated from DL
Matt Wieters, C, BAL

Called Up
J.A. Happ, SP, PHI
Ryan Rohlinger, 3B, SF
Fernando Abad, RP, HOU
Jeff Larish, 1B, DET
Will Rhymes, 2B, DET
Chris Volstad, SP, FLA
Ross Detwiler, SP, WAS

Sent Down
Brad Lincoln, SP, PIT
Vance Worley, RP, PHI
Chris Sampson, RP, HOU
Craig Tatum, C, BAL

Designated For Assignment
Casey Fien, RP, DET
Brendan Donnelly, RP, PIT

Traded
Dan Haren, SP - From AZ to LAA
Joe Saunders, SP - From LAA to AZ

Released
Billy Buckner

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left).

Detroit - Jose Valverde took the loss on Sunday by giving up a two-run home run to Lyle Overbay in the top of the ninth inning in the Tigers' loss to the Blue Jays. The loss was Valverde's first since April 7 and he still has just one blown save this season; however, he has given up at least one run (and six total) in four of his last nine outings after giving up an astonishingly low two runs over the season's first three months. Valverde isn't going anywhere, but just be aware he is getting hit around a bit more than he was earlier in the year.

Oakland - Michael Wuertz picked up his third save with Andrew Bailey (back) unavailable on Sunday. Oakland has the day off on Monday, and Bailey hopes that he'll be healthy enough to pitch again on Tuesday, so Wuertz's chances of picking up more saves in the near future are slim. However, for those who have room on the roster and are looking for saves any way possible, Wuertz could be a nice one-week pick-up just in case Bailey suffers a setback.

Philadelphia - Brad Lidge made things interesting in the ninth inning on Sunday by loading the bases with two outs and a one-run lead, but he struck out Ian Stewart to record the final out and his ninth save. Lidge has not allowed a run in his last five appearances, but he has a hair-raising six walks over that span and just six strikeouts. He has a fairly strong grasp on the closer's role, but the Phillies have available options - Ryan Madson, Jose Contreras - to replace him if the walks continue and they end up turning into runs.

Key Matchups - Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included).

Hot

Melvin Mora v. Joe Blanton - 5-for-14 (.357), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.357 OBP) *check lineup
Asdrubal Cabrera v. Javier Vazquez - 7-for-15 (.467), 0 HR, 4 RBI 2:3 BB:K (.529 OBP)
Alex Rodriguez v. Jake Westbrook - 9-for-24 (.375), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:4 BB:K (.423 OBP)
Jorge Posada v. Jake Westbrook - 5-for-13 (.385), 2 HR, 9 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Marcus Thames v. Jake Westbrook - 5-for-12 (.417), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.500 OBP) *check lineup
Carlos Lee v. Carlos Silva - 10-for-31 (.323), 0 HR, 6 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.344 OBP)
Aramis Ramirez v. Wesley Wright - 4-for-5 (.800), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.857 OBP) *small sample size but a 2.857 OPS
Craig Counsell v. Bronson Arroyo - 12-for-31 (.387), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4:2 BB:K (.457 OBP) *check lineup
Orlando Cabrera v. Randy Wolf - 13-for-41 (.317), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3:3 BB:K (.370 OBP)
Jason Kubel v. Zack Greinke - 7-for-22 (.318), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.375 OBP) *career cycle
Delmon Young v. Zack Greinke - 5-for-16 (.313), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Mark Kotsay v. Felix Hernandez - 7-for-19 (.368), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.429 OBP) *four doubles, check lineup
Adrian Beltre v. Dan Haren - 17-for-41 (.415), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6:8 BB:K (.489 OBP)
David Ortiz v. Dan Haren - 6-for-15 (.400), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2:0 BB:K (.471 OBP)
Pat Burrell v. Ricky Nolasco - 5-for-14 (.357), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:3 BB:K (.471 OBP)
Cody Ross v. Barry Zito - 5-for-13 (.385), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.467 OBP)

Felix Hernandez v. White Sox - Hernandez has made just eight career starts against the White Sox, but he has owned them in the last two. Just last week, Hernandez pitched eight innings against the White Sox with great results - zero earned runs, two hits, zero walks, and eight strikeouts. In his previous start against the Sox - which came in 2009 - Hernandez also allowed zero earned runs and struck out 10. Amazingly, the King did not record the victory in either of these two starts, but that does not mean he's any less likely to pick up the win on Monday. Current White Sox are hitting just .198 against Hernandez and no one on the active roster has homered off of him, so expect another dominant outing.

Cold

Jhonny Peralta v. Javier Vazquez - 5-for-31 (.161), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1:10 BB:K (.188 OBP)
Travis Hafner v. Javier Vazquez - 4-for-22 (.182), 0 HR, 6 RBI, 2:7 BB:K (.240 OBP)
Curtis Granderson v. Jake Westbrook - 5-for-23 (.217), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.280 OBP)
Nick Swisher v. Jake Westbrook - 2-for-23 (.087), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:7 BB:K (.087 OBP)
Mark Teixeira v. Jake Westbrook - 3-for-14 (.214), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3:3 BB:K (.389 OBP)
Johnny Damon v. Matt Garza - 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.176 OBP)
Rickie Weeks v. Bronson Arroyo - 2-for-21 (.095), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:10 BB:K (.208 OBP)
Yuniesky Betancourt v. Francisco Liriano - 2-for-17 (.118), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.118 OBP)
Billy Butler v. Francisco Liriano - 3-for-14 (.214), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.313 OBP)
Joe Mauer v. Zack Greinke - 7-for-32 (.219), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5:5 BB:K (.324 OBP)
Nick Punto v. Zack Greinke - 4-for-19 (.211), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:5 BB:K (.348 OBP)
Alexi Casilla v. Zack Greinke - 2-for-10 (.200), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.250 OBP)
A.J. Pierzynski v. Felix Hernandez - 4-for-19 (.211), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:6 BB:K (.250 OBP)
Omar Vizquel v. Felix Hernandez - 0-for-11 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.083 OBP)
Ichiro Suzuki v. John Danks - 5-for-25 (.200), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:3 BB:K (.286 OBP)
Chone Figgins v. John Danks - 4-for-19 (.211), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:5 BB:K (.250 OBP)
Kevin Youkilis v. Dan Haren - 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.077 OBP)
Jeremy Hermida v. Dan Haren - 0-for-10 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.000 OBP)
Edgar Renteria v. Ricky Nolasco - 0-for-15 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:2 BB:K (.167 OBP)
Dan Uggla v. Barry Zito - 4-for-17 (.235), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.278 OBP)
Hanley Ramirez v. Barry Zito - 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.200 OBP)

Middle of the Pack

Prince Fielder v. Bronson Arroyo - 9-for-34 (.265), 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5:3 BB:K (.341 OBP) - see Berkman

Franklin Gutierrez v. John Danks - 7-for-31 (.226), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.273 OBP) - poor batting average but five of seven hits have went for extra bases

Recommended Pickup

Madison Bumgarner, SP, SF - The Giants have been reluctant to include Bumgarner in any deals for potential offensive help, and he's proving why. He has a 2.43 ERA since coming to the majors in late June, and he has pitched particularly well in his last four starts. Over that span, Bumgarner is 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 21:8 BB:K ratio. Those numbers are good enough to make Bumgarner fantasy-worthy in more than just NL-only formats, but he is still owned in just 36% of Yahoo! leagues and 53% of ESPN leagues. Bumgarner has locked down a spot in the Giants' rotation; he should have one in yours too.

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