The Lineup Card: Cheer Up, Derek!

Projected Starters - A look at Monday's matchups:

Royals (Bruce Chen - L) at Nationals (Livan Hernandez - R), 7:05
Reds (Mike Leake - R) at A's (Gio Gonzalez - L), 10:05
Yankees (A.J. Burnett - R) at Diamondbacks (Rodrigo Lopez - R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

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

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

Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA - (Hamstring) Did not play on Sunday, remains day-to-day
Derek Jeter, SS, NYY - (Heel) Returned to the lineup on Sunday
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL - (Knee) Did not play in Sunday's game, remains day-to-day
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS - (Hamstring) Did not start on Sunday, hoping to return on Tuesday
Carlos Ruiz, C, PHI - (Head) Will not return until Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest
Austin Jackson, OF, DET - (Back) Entered Sunday's game as a defensive replacement, remains day-to-day
Tommy Hunter, SP, TEX - (Hip) Expected to start on Tuesday
A.J. Burnett, SP, NYY - (Foot) Expected to make scheduled start on Monday
Gerald Laird, C, DET - (Neck) Did not play on Sunday for the third straight day
Zach Duke, SP, PIT - (Elbow) Will throw a side session on Wednesday, hopes to pitch on Saturday
Humberto Quintero, C, HOU - Removed from Sunday's game after being struck in the head with a bat while catching

Players on the DL

Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI - (Calf) Expected to return Tuesday
Huston Street, RP, COL - (Shoulder) Threw 1.1 innings in a rehab appearance on Saturday, expected to return on Tuesday
Jair Jurrjens, SP, ATL - (Hamstring) Reported no pain following Saturday's rehab start, will make at least one more rehab start
Gil Meche, SP, KC - (Shoulder) Threw bullpen session on Sunday
Travis Snider, OF, TOR - (Wrist) Injury still lingering, now expected to be out until after the All-Star break
John Maine, SP, NYN - (Shoulder) Not comfortable with how he has pitched, will remain on the DL for a while
Matt Diaz, OF, ATL - (Thumb) Took batting practice on Saturday, hopes to return before the All-Star break
Matt Stairs, OF, SD - (Knee) Will travel with the team next week and could be activated to serve as the DH
Luke Hochevar, SP, KC - (Elbow) Royals are hoping to activate him next Sunday barring any setbacks
Bud Norris, SP, HOU - (Biceps) Will make one more rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock this week

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

Activated from DL
Jack Wilson, SS, SEA
Todd Coffey, RP, MIL

Called Up
Jarrett Hoffpauir, 3B, TOR
Bobby Parnell, RP, NYN
Jason Castro, C, HOU
Chris Johnson, 3B, HOU
Jason Bourgeois, OF, HOU

Sent Down
Rick Porcello, SP, DET
Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B, SEA
Ian Snell, SP, SEA
Chris Smith, RP, MIL
Jay Buente, RP, FLA
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR
Jenrry Mejia, P, NYN

Designated For Assignment
Cory Sullivan, OF, HOU
Kevin Cash, C, HOU
Casey Daigle, RP, HOU

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

Houston - Matt Lindstrom blew his fourth save of the season on Sunday in the Astros' loss to the Rangers. Lindstrom had converted his four previous opportunities and is likely to stay in the closer's role. The only cause for concern: his bloated 1.66 WHIP thanks to 35 hits and 12 walks allowed over 28.1 innings.

Chicago (AL) - J.J. Putz was called upon to pitch the ninth inning on Sunday and picked up his first save of the season. Regular closer Bobby Jenks pitched three of the previous five days, so Putz was likely used just to give Jenks a rest. Still, Putz now has a dynamite 32:4 K:BB ratio and has been a closer in the past, so Jenks will have to continue pitching well if he hopes to hold the spot. For now, Jenks remains the closer.

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
Ivan Rodriguez v. Bruce Chen - 4-for-9 (.444), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:0 BB:K (.444 OBP)
Jason Kendall v. Livan Herandez - 12-for-34 (.353), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.389 OBP)
Wilson Betemit v. Livan Hernandez - 5-for-12 (.417), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.462 OBP)
Derek Jeter v. Rodrigo Lopez - 26-for-58 (.448), 4 HR, 11 RBI, 5:8 BB:K (.508 OBP)
Alex Rodriguez v. Rodrigo Lopez - 14-for-48 (.292), 4 HR, 10 RBI, 8:13 BB:K (.404 OBP)

Cold
Jose Guillen v. Livan Hernandez - 3-for-15 (.200), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0L2 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Scott Podsednik - 2-for-11, (.182), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.250 OBP)
Mark Teixeira v. Rodrigo Lopez - 3-for-17 (.176), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.222 OBP)

Rodrigo Lopez v. Yankees - It has been three years since Lopez last faced the Yankees, but he has probably enjoyed not seeing them on the schedule on a regular basis. In 20 career starts against the Bronx Bombers, Lopez is 8-8 with a 5.90 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. Yankee studs Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have owned Lopez (see above) and four other regulars in the lineup have homered off him during their careers. Plus, Lopez has a 5.40 ERA in seven starts at home this season. Based on the stats, bank on the Yankees scoring at least five times off Lopez on Monday.

Recommended Pickup

Gavin Floyd, SP, CHA - After a rough start to the season, Floyd's ratios are starting to come down. He's just 2-7 with a 5.20 ERA this season; but over his last six starts, Floyd has posted a 3.08 ERA and allowed just 43 baserunners over the 38.0 innings covering that span. Throw out a 2.2-inning outing against the Rangers in which he gave up six earned runs and 11 of those baserunners and those numbers are even better. Floyd's 3.74 FIP suggests that his numbers will continue to improve going forward, so hopefully that results in an increase in wins as well. Many of the owners who drafted Floyd jumped ship early and he's currently available in roughly half of leagues run on ESPN and Yahoo!. Give him a shot if you are looking for starting pitching help.

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