The Lineup Card: Hammerin' Hanley

Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups:

Rays (Wade Davis - R) at Indians (Justin Masterson - R), 1:05
Royals (Sean O'Sullivan - R) at Yankees (Philip Hughes - R), 1:05
Blue Jays (Brett Cecil - L) at Tigers (Armando Galarraga - R), 1:05
Braves (Jair Jurrjens - R) at Marlins (likely Chris Volstad - R), 1:10
Twins (Kevin Slowey - R) at Orioles (Jake Arrieta - R), 1:35
Rockies (Jeff Francis - L) at Phillies (J.A. Happ - L), 1:35
Padres (Wade LeBlanc - L) at Pirates (Brad Lincoln - R), 1:35
Reds (Mike Leake - R) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez - L), 2:05
Nationals (Ross Detwiler - L) at Brewers (David Bush - R), 2:10
White Sox (Daniel Hudson - R) at Athletics (Dallas Braden - L), 4:05
Red Sox (Daisuke Matsuzaka - R) at Mariners (Doug Fister - R), 4:10
Mets (R.A. Dickey - R) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L), 4:10
Giants (Tim Lincecum - R) at Diamondbacks (Barry Enright - R), 4:10
Blue Jays (Jesse Litsch - R) at Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman - R), 6:05
Angels (Trevor Bell - R) at Rangers (Tommy Hunter - R), 8:05
Cardinals (Chris Carpenter - R) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R), 8:05

Day game after a night game: TB, CLE, TOR/DET (first game of double-header), ATL, FLA, MIN, BAL, SD, PIT, CIN, HOU, WAS, MIL, BOS, SEA, SF, ARI

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)

Zach Braddock, P, MIL - (Arm) Still day-to-day
Scott Rolen, 3B, CIN - (Hamstring) DL still possible, but Reds hoping he'll be OK soon
Corey Hart, OF, MIL - (Wrist) Not in Saturday's lineup, could miss a few more days
Rod Barajas, C, NYM - (Oblique) Left Saturday's game, DL is possible
Matt Diaz, OF, ATL - (Hand) Didn't start Saturday, but was available to pinch-hit
Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT - (Shoulder) Didn't start Saturday; Tuesday return seems likely
Russell Branyan, 1B, SEA - (Back) Hasn't played since Monday
Fred Lewis, OF, TOR - (Ankle) Didn't start Saturday
Andrew Bailey, P, OAK - (Back spasms) Might not be available Sunday
Rajai Davis, OF, OAK - (Hamstring) Didn't play Saturday
Johnny Damon, OF, DET - (Illness) Didn't start Saturday, could play Sunday
Orlando Hudson, 2B, MIN - (Oblique) Will go on DL if he can't play Sunday
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY - (Illness) Likely to play Sunday
Nick Swisher, OF, NYY - (Achilles) Pinch-hit Saturday, could play Sunday
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET - (Ankle) Out 6-8 weeks
Carlos Guillen, OF, DET - (Calf) Left Saturday's game

Players on the DL

Mike Adams, P, SD - (Oblique) Targeting August 1 return
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL - (Wrist) Hopes to return Tuesday
Reed Johnson, OF, LAD - (Back) Suffers setback, about a week or so away from returning
John Maine, P, NYM - (Shoulder) Done for the season
Jason Marquis, P, WAS - (Elbow) Made rehab start Friday, hoping to return in August, but might not have a spot
Tyler Walker, P, WAS - (Shoulder) Shut down due to lingering pain
LaTroy Hawkins, P, MIL - (Shoulder) Continuing at Triple-A Nashville for now
Erik Bedard, P, SEA - (Shoulder) Getting third opinion
Rich Harden, P, TEX - (Glute) Making third (and likely final) rehab start Monday
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS - (Foot) Played catch without protective boot Friday
Mike Lowell, 3B, BOS - (Hip) Staying at Triple-A for at least a week
Joel Zumaya, P, DET - (Elbow) Underwent surgery, expected to be ready for spring training
Brett Anderson, P, OAK - (Elbow) Will make another rehab start Monday
Victor Martinez, C, BOS - (Thumb) Could return Monday
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS - (Ribs) Beginning rehab assignment Monday
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN - (Concussion) Worked out Friday, but still has a ways to go
Luke Hochevar, P, KC - (Elbow) Had throwing session Saturday but probably won't return until the second half of August
Jim Johnson, P, BAL - (Elbow) Will begin throwing BP soon
Luis Montanez, OF, BAL - (Oblique) Doing baseball activities
Anthony Reyes, P, CLE - (Elbow) Return could be coming soon
Kerry Wood, P, CLE - (Finger) Played catch from 100 feet Saturday
Derek Holland, P, TEX - (Shoulder) Could return in early August, but will there be a rotation spot for him?

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

Called Up
Cedrick Bowers, P, OAK
Collin Balester, P, WAS
Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX
Joseph Martinez, P, SF

Sent Down
Jhoulys Chacin, P, COL
Jonathan Albaladejo, P, NYY
Luis Durango, OF, SD
P.J. Walters, P, STL

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise indicated)
Eric Young Jr. (transferred from 15-day to 60-day), OF, COL
Matt Treanor, C, TEX
Ben Sheets, P, OAK
Jeremy Affeldt, P, SF

Activated from DL
Mat Latos, P, SD
Ryan Ludwick, OF, STL
Sergio Mitre, P, NYY
Taylor Buchholz, P, COL

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

Atlanta - In the midst of blowing a save Friday, Billy Wagner was checked out on the mound by a trainer, but he stayed in the game and there have been no further reports of an injury. He seems to be okay.

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

B.J. Upton v. Justin Masterson - 5-for-11 (.455), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.385 OBP)
Carlos Pena v. Justin Masterson - 4-for-12 (.333), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.429 OBP)
Evan Longoria v. Justin Masterson - 5-for-14 (.357), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.357 OBP)
Dan Uggla v. Jair Jurrjens - 7-for-17 (.412), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.412 OBP)
Hanley Ramirez v. Jair Jurrjens - 5-for-17 (.294), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Jayson Werth v. Jeff Francis - 5-for-13 (.385), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.467 OBP)
Ramon Hernandez v. Wandy Rodriguez - 5-for-13 (.385), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.385 OBP)
Jonny Gomes v. Wandy Rodriguez - 6-for-13 (.462), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.462 OBP)
Joey Votto v. Wandy Rodriguez - 7-for-22 (.318), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.348 OBP)
Adam Kennedy v. David Bush - 4-for-10 (.400), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Garret Anderson v. R.A. Dickey - 8-for-24 (.333), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Johnny Damon* v. Jesse Litsch - 5-for-14 (.357), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.357 OBP)
Vernon Wells v. Jeremy Bonderman - 7-for-22 (.318), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2:3 BB:K (.375 OBP)
Ryan Theriot v. Chris Carpenter - 5-for-12 (.417), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.462 OBP)
Alfonso Soriano v. Chris Carpenter - 12-for-36 (.333), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1:7 BB:K (.351 OBP)
Matt Holliday v. Ryan Dempster - 6-for-12 (.500), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Jason LaRue v. Ryan Dempster - 5-for-13 (.385), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.429 OBP)
Ryan Ludwick v. Ryan Dempster - 10-for-23 (.435), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.435 OBP)
Skip Schumaker v. Ryan Dempster - 14-for-35 (.400), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Albert Pujols v. Ryan Dempster - 13-for-42 (.310), 4 HR, 10 RBI, 8:1 BB:K (.410 OBP)

Jeremy Bonderman v. Blue Jays - This is a case where "Hot" definitely refers to history against the opponent, not recent performance. Bonderman sports a brutal 7.48 ERA over his last five starts and has just 11 strikeouts in his last 27.2 innings. However, if he's going to turn things around, the Blue Jays might be a good opponent to do it against, considering that Toronto's hitters have a career line of .224/.303/.265 against Bonderman. And although they've been homer-happy this season, no current Blue Jay has ever homered off him (109 plate appearances). With all that said, he's only a recommended play if you're devoid of other, safer options.

Tim Lincecum v. Diamondbacks - Speaking of safer options, how about this guy? Sure he got hit hard his last time out, it shouldn't take him long to get back on track. His numbers against Arizona hitters are fantastic; the D-Backs have hit just .172/.234/.290 against him in 187 plate appearances, including a whopping 57 strikeouts.

Cold

Jorge Cantu v. Jair Jurrjens - 2-for-17 (.118), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.167 OBP)
Jay Bruce v. Wandy Rodriguez - 1-for-17 (.059), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:10 BB:K (.059 OBP)
Ryan Zimmerman v. David Bush - 3-for-13 (.231), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.231 OBP)
Adam Dunn v. David Bush - 3-for-18 (.167), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4:8 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Jose Lopez v. Daisuke Matsuzaka - 3-for-16 (.188), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.235 OBP)
Kelly Johnson v. Tim Lincecum - 2-for-17 (.118), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:4 BB:K (.211 OBP)
Miguel Montero v. Tim Lincecum - 3-for-19 (.158), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Mark Reynolds v. Tim Lincecum - 3-for-19 (.158), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:12 BB:K (.238 OBP)
Chris Young v. Tim Lincecum - 2-for-27 (.074), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:10 BB:K (.138 OBP)
Stephen Drew v. Tim Lincecum - 5-for-28 (.179), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:10 BB:K (.207 OBP)
Jose Molina v. Jeremy Bonderman - 2-for-11 (.182), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.182 OBP)
Aaron Hill v. Jeremy Bonderman - 3-for-14 (.214), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.214 OBP)
Lyle Overbay v. Jeremy Bonderman - 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5:3 BB:K (.333 OBP)
John Buck v. Jeremy Bonderman - 6-for-27 (.222), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:7 BB:K (.323 OBP)
Kosuke Fukudome v. Chris Carpenter - 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.267 OBP)
Aaron Miles v. Ryan Dempster - 2-for-10 (.200), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.273 OBP)
Randy Winn v. Ryan Dempster - 2-for-22 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:7 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Felipe Lopez v. Ryan Dempster - 5-for-29 (.172), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:9 BB:K (.226 OBP)

Justin Masterson v. Rays - It's not a very large sample size, but there weren't many options to choose from today. In addition to sporting a collective .296 average against Masterson, Rays hitters have five homers in 71 at-bats, going yard at a rate of once every 14 at-bats. Toss in the fact that Masterson has a 6.07 ERA in his last seven starts and you have all the makings of a Rays run-scoring rampage.

Recommended Pickup

Brett Anderson, P, OAK - We can't envision too many owners were willing to bail on Anderson when he got hurt, but he's only owned in 66 percent of ESPN leagues, so clearly there are people out there who have cut him loose since he landed on the disabled list. If you're lucky enough to be in one of those leagues, make sure to snap him up. Although he is still scheduled for one more rehab assignment Monday, the recent re-injury to Ben Sheets means the A's are going to need Anderson back soon. He was showing no signs of a sophomore slump before the injury, going 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA and a 22:4 K:BB ratio in six starts.

Other recent recommendations:Alex Gordon, Gordon Beckham, Tommy Hunter, R.A. Dickey, Lorenzo Cain