Saturday Lineup Card: Familiar Faces

Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups:

Mets (Mike Pelfrey - R) at Yankees (Philip Hughes - R), 1:05
Angels (Jered Weaver - R) at Cubs (Ted Lilly - L), 1:05
Giants (Matt Cain - R) at Blue Jays (Jesse Litsch - R), 1:07
Dodgers (Vicente Padilla - R) at Red Sox (Tim Wakefield - R), 4:10
White Sox (Jake Peavy - R) at Nationals (J.D. Martin - R), 4:10
Twins (Kevin Slowey - R) at Phillies (Cole Hamels - L), 4:10
Diamondbacks (Edwin Jackson - R) at Tigers (Rick Porcello - R), 7:05
Rangers (Colby Lewis - R) at Astros (Brian Moehler - R), 7:05
Indians (David Huff - L) at Pirates (Jeffrey Karstens - R), 7:05
Royals (Zack Greinke - R) at Braves (Kris Medlen - R), 7:10
Rays (Jeff Niemann - R) at Marlins (Chris Volstad - R), 7:10
Athletics (Ben Sheets - R) at Cardinals (Adam Wainwright - R), 7:15
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - R) at Rockies (Jeff Francis - L), 8:10
Orioles (Kevin Millwood - R) at Padres (Clayton Richard - L), 8:35
Reds (Sam LeClure - R) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R), 10:10

Day game after night game: NYM, NYY, SF, TOR, LAD, BOS, CHW, WAS, MIN, PHI

Injuries – A brief look at players that have been missing time and their expected returns.

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

Omar Infante, 2B, ATL – (Foot) Hasn't played since June 11; retroactive DL stint possible
Will Venable, OF, SD – (Neck) Hasn't started since Monday and a DL stint isn't out of the question
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL – (Knee) Unavailable Friday; questionable for Saturday
Dallas Braden, P, OAK – (Forearm) Still feeling arm stiffness, but not expected to miss any starts
Austin Jackson, OF, DET – (Back) Out again Friday; could return any day
Jake Peavy, P, CHW – (Shoulder) Expected to start Saturday, but says shoulder soreness may linger all season
Tommy Hunter, P, TEX – (Hip) Threw off flat ground Friday and expected to start Tuesday
Gerald Laird, C, DET – (Neck) Scratched from Friday's lineup with stiff neck

Players on the DL

Luis Castillo, 2B, NYM – (Foot) Won't be activated this weekend as originally reported
Aramis Ramirez, 2B, CHC – (Thumb) Beginning rehab assignment Saturday; expects to return Wednesday
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI – (Calf) Could be activated Sunday, but Tuesday is more likely
John Baker, C, FLA – (Forearm) Transferred to 60-day disabled list Friday
Jason Marquis, P, WAS – (Elbow) Threw from 90 feet Friday, but still has no timetable for his return
Kyle Blanks, OF, SD – (Elbow) Felt stiffness during rehab assignment; returning to San Diego for reevaluation
Jordan Zimmermann, P, WAS – (Elbow) Threw 35 pitches off a mound Friday; still a couple of months away
Bobby Seay, P, DET – (Shoulder) Started throwing from 90 feet, but remains a long way away
Derek Holland, P, TEX – (Shoulder) Tweaked his knee Friday; will be evaluated Saturday
Daisuke Matsuzaka, P, BOS – (Forearm) Will throw simulated game Saturday; scheduled to start Thursday
Rich Harden, P, TEX – (Glute) Had injection in lower back; throwing program pushed back a few days
Dustin McGowan, P, TOR – (Shoulder) Visiting with Dr. James Andrews on Monday

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

Placed on DL
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL
Clay Hensley, P, FLA
John Baker, C, FLA (transferred from 15-day to 60-day)

Activated from DL
Orlando Hudson, 2B, MIN

Called Up
Dayan Viciedo, 3B, CHW
Chris Nelson, SS, COL
Felix Doubront, P, BOS
Mike Lamb, 3B, FLA
Scott Strickland, P, FLA

Sent Down
Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA
Mike McCoy, SS, TOR
Boof Bonser, P, BOS (designated for assignment)

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

No notable closer implosions Thursday. Andrew Bailey blew a save, but he's not going anywhere.

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). *Check Status

Hot
Marlon Byrd v. Jered Weaver – 7-for-22 (.318), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:7 BB:K (.423 OBP)
Hideki Matsui v. Ted Lilly – 9-for-25 (.360), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 3:2 BB:K (.414 OBP)
Aubrey Huff v. Jesse Litsch – 5-for-15 (.333), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.412 OBP)
Kevin Youkilis v. Vicente Padilla – 5-for-12 (.417), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Victor Martinez v. Vicente Padilla – 6-for-14 (.429), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.467 OBP)
David Ortiz v. Vicente Padilla – 5-for-15 (.333), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3:1 BB:K (.444 OBP)
J.D. Drew v. Vicente Padilla – 7-for-19 (.368), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4:3 BB:K (.478 OBP)
Cristian Guzman v. Jake Peavy – 6-for-14 (.429), ) 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.429 OBP)
Placido Polanco v. Kevin Slowey – 5-for-13 (.385), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.429 OBP)
Aaron Miles v. Ben Sheets – 8-for-20 (.400), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Albert Pujols v. Ben Sheets – 26-for-70 (.371), 4 HR, 11 RBI, 3:14 BB:K (.392 OBP)
Corey Hart v. Jeff Francis – 4-for-12 (.333), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Orlando Cabrera v. Felix Hernandez – 16-for-32 (.500), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.485 OBP)

Yovani Gallardo v. Rockies – The sample size isn't all that large (just 67 plate appearances), but current Rockies batters have hit just .263 against Gallardo. Plus, the Brewers' youngster has been lights-out over his last four starts this season, posting a 1.55 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 29 innings. In other words, we don't expect a repeat of his only other career start at Coors Field (2.2 innings, 11 runs … yikes).

Cold
Mike Cameron v. Vicente Padilla – 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.231 OBP)
Marco Scutaro v. Vicente Padilla – 3-for-18 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.211 OBP)
Mike Lowell v. Vicente Padilla – 8-for-41 (.195), 0 HR, 6 RBI, 2:4 BB:K (.233 OBP)
Reed Johnson v. Tim Wakefield – 2-for-18 (.111), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:7 BB:K (.238 OBP)
Ben Francisco v. Kevin Slowey – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.083 OBP)
Johnny Damon v. Edwin Jackson – 3-for-22 (.136), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:3 BB:K (.240 OBP)
Omar Infante v. Zack Greinke – 0-for-13 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.000 OBP)
Jim Edmonds v. Jeff Francis – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.083 OBP)

Ben Sheets v. Cardinals – Sheets used to have regular battles against the Cardinals when he was a Brewer, so he'll be plenty familiar with Busch Stadium. In this case however, familiarity might breed contempt, since St. Louis hitters have a career .309 average off Sheets. The biggest culprit is a predictable one – Albert Pujols – who is hitting .371 with four homers and 11 RBI in 70 career at-bats against Sheets.

Recommended Pickup

Carlos Guillen, 2B, DET – Guillen entered Friday's game with a robust .346/.386/.558 line in June, including two homers and 11 RBI in 14 games. He's been starting regularly at second base for the Tigers, giving him positional versatility (OF, 2B) in most league formats. So why is he only owned in 18 percent of ESPN leagues and 29 percent of CBS leagues? His stint on the disabled list for nearly all of May likely scared off some owners who have since been slow to catch on that he's back at a new position and raking at the plate. Don't be fooled by last year's .242 average – he was an unlucky .263 on balls in play last season, a number that has returned to its previous levels this year, coinciding with his newfound success. He's been a top-10 second baseman since coming off the DL and should be owned in a lot more leagues.