The Lineup Card: Did You Miss Me?

Projected Starters - A look at Tuesday's matchups:

Orioles (Jake Arrieta - R) at Indians (Justin Masterson - R), 7:05
Rays (Jeremy Hellickson - R) at Tigers (Max Scherzer - R), 7:05
Marlins (Anibal Sanchez - R) at Nationals (Stephen Strasburg - R), 7:05
Dodgers (Vicente Padilla - R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick - R), 7:05
Red Sox (Daisuke Matsuzaka - R) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero - L), 7:07
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L) at Reds (Johnny Cueto - R), 7:10
Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez - R) at Mets (Mike Pelfrey - R), 7:10
Yankees (A.J. Burnett - R) at Rangers (C.J. Wilson - L), 8:05
Braves (Jair Jurrjens - R) at Astros (J.A. Happ -L), 8:05
Twins (Scott Baker - R) at White Sox (Freddy Garcia - R), 8:10
Diamondbacks (Barry Enright - R) at Brewers (Manny Parra -L), 8:10
Royals (Bryan Bullington - R) at Angels (Dan Haren - R), 10:05
Pirates (Jeffrey Karstens - R) at Padres (Wade LeBlanc - L), 10:05
Athletics (Brett Anderson - L) at Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R), 10:10
Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R) at Giants (Tim Lincecum - R), 10:15

Day game after a night game: None

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Cody Ross, OF, FLA – (Neck) Expected to be ready Tuesday
Gaby Sanchez, 1B, FLA – (Hamstring) Could return Tuesday
Rafael Furcal, SS, LAD – (Back) Expected to return Tuesday
Stephen Strasburg, P, WAS – (Shoulder) Will be activated to start Tuesday
Jerry Hairston Jr., SS, SD – (Shin splints) Has been playing through the injury
Ronald Belisario, P, LAD – (Personal) Will be activated from the restricted list Tuesday
Corey Hart, OF, MIL – (Back) Wasn't in Monday's lineup, still day-to-day
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL – (Wrist) Wasn't in Monday's lineup, still day-to-day
Geovany Soto, C, CHC – (Shoulder) Played Monday, but shoulder could be a lingering issue
Derrek Lee, 1B, CHC – (Personal) Missed Monday's game to be with ill grandfather
Michael Saunders, OF, SEA – (Shoulder) Hasn't played since Thursday
Kevin Slowey, P, MIN – (Elbow) Next start pushed back to Sunday
Alexi Casilla, 2B, MIN – (Ankle) Could miss a couple more days
Adam Moore, C, SEA – (Back) Tuesday status unknown
A.J. Burnett, P, NYY – (Back) Expected to pitch Tuesday after having start pushed back
Jack Wilson, SS, SEA – (Hand) Team is still evaluating broken hand
Gordon Beckham, 3B, CHW – (Groin) Questionable for Tuesday
Vernon Wells, OF, TOR – (Toe) Could miss a few more games
Wade Davis, P, TB – (Shoulder) DL still a possibility
Daric Barton, 1B, OAK – (Shoulder) Not in Monday's lineup but could return Tuesday

Players on the DL
Eric Young Jr., 2B, COL – (Leg) Resumed playing at Triple-A, could be a September call-up
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI – (Ankle) Off crutches, but may not be ready when he's eligible on August 17
Juan Gutierrez, P, ARI – (Shoulder) Likely 7-10 days away from returning
Jeff Weaver, P, LAD – (Knee) Threw bullpen session Sunday, could return August 18
Tommy Manzella, SS, HOU – (Finger) Reported to Double-A to begin rehab assignment
Martin Prado, 2B, ATL – (Finger) Swelling is down, but may not return until late August
Carlos Silva, P, CHC – (Illness) Underwent cardiac ablation Monday; timetable still unknown
John Buck, C, TOR – (Hand) Played catch Monday and expects to return August 20
Eric Chavez, 3B, OAK – (Neck/Back) Contemplating retirement
Mitch Talbot, P, CLE – (Back) Could rejoin rotation this weekend
Andy Pettitte, P, NYY – (Groin) Felt good in Monday's bullpen session, could throw simulated game this week
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN – (Concussion) Possible setback, won't travel with the team to Chicago as expected

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

Called Up
Craig Tatum, C, BAL
Chris Carter, 1B, OAK
Jeff Larish, 1B, OAK
Mark Melancon, P, HOU
Michael Ekstrom, P, TB
Marcos Mateo, P, CHC
Chris Woodward, SS, SEA

Sent Down
Mitch Atkins, P, CHC
Collin Balester, P, WAS
Travis Wood, P, CIN
Matt Carson, OF, OAK
Will Rhymes, 2B, DET
Troy Patton, P, BAL
Ramon Troncoso, P, LAD
John Mayberry, OF, PHI
Wesley Wright, P, HOU

Traded
Jim Edmonds, OF, from MIL to CIN
Chris Dickerson, OF, from CIN to MIL

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Jack Wilson, SS, SEA
Matt Watson, OF, OAK
Jeff Niemann, P, TB

Activated from DL
Carlos Guillen, 2B, DET

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

Boston – Papelbon pitched 1.1 scoreless innings Monday to earn the save in Boston's win over the Yankees, an outing that included strikeout sof Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira. He's now allowed just one earned run since June 24 and seems to be over his early-season struggles.

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
Luke Scott v. Justin Masterson: 5-for-10 (.500), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.545 OBP)
Adam Dunn v. Anibal Sanchez: 5-for-14 (.357), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:5 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Raul Ibanez v. Vicente Padilla: 9-for-28 (.321), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4:5 BB:K (.394 OBP)
James Loney v. Kyle Kendrick: 6-for-10 (.600), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.600 OBP)
Andre Ethier v. Kyle Kendrick: 3-for-8 (.375), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3:0 BB:K (.545 OBP)
Aaron Hill v. Daisuke Matsuzaka: 5-for-20 (.250), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.286 OBP)
Victor Martinez v. Ricky Romero: 4-for-11 (.364), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.417 OBP)
David Ortiz v. Ricky Romero: 6-for-13 (.462), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.500 OBP)
J.D. Drew v. Ricky Romero: 5-for-12 (.417), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:4 BB:K (.533 OBP)
Colby Rasmus v. Johnny Cueto: 4-for-11 (.364), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.462 OBP)
Troy Tulowitzki v. Mike Pelfrey: 5-for-12 (.417), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.462 OBP)
Derek Jeter v. C.J. Wilson: 4-for-10 (.400), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:4 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Nick Swisher v. C.J. Wilson: 5-for-15 (.333), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4:4 BB:K (.474 OBP)
Paul Konerko v. Scott Baker: 7-for-27 (.259), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3:2 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Jason Kubel v. Freddy Garcia: 6-for-10 (.600), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.667 OBP)
Joe Mauer v. Freddy Garcia: 11-for-29 (.379), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4:1 BB:K (.455 OBP)
Willie Bloomquist v. Dan Haren: 4-for-11 (.364), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.364 OBP)
Yuniesky Betancourt v. Dan Haren: 9-for-21 (.429), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.435 OBP)
Ichiro Suzuki v. Brett Anderson: 6-for-15 (.400), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Chone Figgins v. Brett Anderson: 7-for-14 (.500), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.533 OBP)
Kurt Suzuki v. Felix Hernandez: 5-for-14 (.357), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.438 OBP)
Freddy Sanchez v. Ryan Dempster: 6-for-17 (.353), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.421 OBP)
Edgar Renteria v. Ryan Dempster: 7-for-22 (.318), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4:3 BB:K (.423 OBP)
Pat Burrell v. Ryan Dempster: 8-for-25 (.320), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 7:6 BB:K (.485 OBP)
Blake DeWitt v. Tim Lincecum: 6-for-13 (462), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Derrek Lee* v. Tim Lincecum: 6-for-16 (.375), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.412 OBP)

Daisuke Matsuzaka v. Blue Jays: Matsuzaka has allowed more than two earned runs just once in his last five times out. He should continue his success against Toronto, whose current crop of hitters has a .185/.220/.356 line against Dice-K. No Blue Jay with at least 10 plate appearances against Matsuzaka is hitting better than .250.

A.J. Burnett v. Rangers: Current Rangers have managed a meager .197/.276/.339 line off Burnett in a large sample size of 203 plate appearances. Burnett will be working on extra rest after having his scheduled start pushed back due to back stiffness, but if he's healthy, the numbers indicate he'll stymie the Rangers.

Scott Baker v. White Sox: Since a six-run stomping by the Indians in mid-July, Baker has been strong, allowing five earned runs in his last 20.1 innings. Current White Sox hitters have a .204/.246/.324 composite line against him.

Tim Lincecum v. Cubs: Cubs hitters have a .233/.275/.311 line against him, and one of the few guys who has found success, Derrek Lee, may not play. Oh, and Lincecum is pretty good too.

Cold
Nick Markakis v. Justin Masterson: 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.167 OBP)
Ryan Zimmerman v. Anibal Sanchez: 6-for-27 (.222), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.300 OBP)
Brian Schneider v. Vicente Padilla: 1-for-16 (.063), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.167 OBP)
John McDonald v. Daisuke Matsuzaka: 0-for-10 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.000 OBP)
Adam Lind v. Daisuke Matsuzaka: 1-for-20 (.050), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:8 BB:K (.095 OBP)
Vernon Wells v. Daisuke Matsuzaka: 5-for-26 (.192), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.222 OBP)
Albert Pujols v. Johnny Cueto: 3-for-14 (.214), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:2 BB:K (.353 OBP)
Clint Barmes v. Mike Pelfrey: 0-for-11 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.000 OBP)
Brad Hawpe v. Mike Pelfrey: 1-for-10 (.100), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:2 BB:K (.357 OBP)
Jorge Cantu v. A.J. Burnett: 0-for-12 (.000), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.000 OBP)
Ian Kinsler v. A.J. Burnett: 4-for-18 (.222), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.300 OBP)
Vladimir Guerrero v. A.J. Burnett: 10-for-45 (.222), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4:11 BB:K (.286 OBP)
Alex Rodriguez v. C.J. Wilson: 0-for-10 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:3 BB:K (.286 OBP)
Brian McCann v. J.A. Happ: 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.231 OBP)
Chipper Jones v. J.A. Happ: 3-for-13 (.231), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.231 OBP)
Alexis Rios v. Scott Baker: 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.214 OBP)
Alexei Ramirez v. Scott Baker: 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.176 OBP)
Denard Span v. Freddy Garcia: 1-for-10 (.100), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:0 BB:K (.250 OBP)
Orlando Hudson v. Freddy Garcia: 2-for-19 (.105), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.100 OBP)
Jim Thome v. Freddy Garcia: 3-for-17 (.176), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 9:6 BB:K (.462 OBP)
Nick Punto v. Freddy Garcia: 5-for-25 (.200), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Jose Guillen v. Dan Haren: 3-for-19 (.158), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Franklin Gutierrez v. Brett Anderson: 3-for-18 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.250 OBP)
Coco Crisp v. Felix Hernandez: 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:4 BB:K (.267 OBP)
Kevin Kouzmanoff v. Felix Hernandez: 3-for-16 (.188), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:5 BB:K (.316 OBP)
Aaron Rowand v. Ryan Dempster: 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:5 BB:K (.143 OBP)
Aubrey Huff v. Ryan Dempster: 3-for-16 (.188), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.188 OBP)
Kosuke Fukudome v. Tim Lincecum: 2-for-10 (.200), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.273 OBP)
Aramis Ramirez v. Tim Lincecum: 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.077 OBP)
Mike Fontenot v. Tim Lincecum: 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:6 BB:K (.077 OBP)

Ricky Romero v. Red Sox: Romero has been outstanding since the All-Star break, but Boston shelled him for five earned runs in just 2.1 innings the last time they met. Plus, Boston hitters are hitting .413 against him in 96 plate appearances. It's worth noting, however, that Kevin Youkilis is responsible for some of that damage (4-for-10, 2 HR), so Romero will catch a break by not having to worry about him.

Recommended Pickup

Chris Carter, OF, OAK – The A's officially recalled Carter on Monday, and he'll likely spend most of his time in the outfield despite being listed as a first baseman. He also probably won't play everyday (manager Bob Geren said he'd take it day-by-day), but if he gets hot, like he has been at Triple-A, Oakland will make sure he's in the lineup. Carter was hitting .371 with three homers, 13 RBI and nine walks in his last 10 games at Sacramento, so he's worth targeting in AL-only and deeper mixed leagues. However, keep in mind that he has tended to struggle after each one of his promotions through the minors and is no guarantee to play everyday, so don't go too crazy.

Other recent recommendations:Carlos Zambrano, Mike Minor, Neil Walker, Chris Johnson, Josh Tomlin