The Lineup Card: He's Still Available? You're Lyon

Projected Starters – A look at Monday's matchups:

White Sox (Mark Buehrle - L) at Indians (Mitch Talbot - R), 7:05
A's (Trevor Cahill - R) at Yankees (Dustin Moseley - R), 7:05
Nationals (Jason Marquis - R) at Marlins (Alex Sanabia - R), 7:10
Brewers (Randy Wolf - L) at Reds (Homer Bailey - R), 7:10
Mets (Pat Misch - L) at Braves (Jair Jurrjens - R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Brett Cecil - L) at Rays (Wade Davis - R), 7:10
Pirates (Paul Maholm - L) at Cubs (Carlos Zambrano - R), 8:05
Cardinals (Jake Westbrook - L) at Astros (J.A. Happ - L), 8:05
Rangers (C.J. Wilson - R) at Royals (Kyle Davies - R), 8:10
Padres (Wade LeBlanc - L) at Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders - L), 9:40
Phillies (Roy Halladay - R) at Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 10:10
Angels (Ervin Santana - R) at Mariners (David Pauley - R), 10:10
Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa - L) at Giants (Jonathan Sanchez - 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)

Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY - (Thumb) Did not play on Sunday but could return as early as Monday
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN – (Wrist) Pinch ran in Sunday's game against the Cubs. Remains day-to-day
Adam Jones, OF, BAL – (Shoulder) Felt better on Sunday but was still unable to play. Remains day-to-day
Colby Rasmus, OF, STL – (Calf) Was originally in Sunday's lineup but was later scratched. Remains day-to-day
Yadier Molina, C, STL – (Knee) Returned to the lineup on Sunday
Rafael Betancourt, RP, COL – (Abdomen) Appeared in Sunday's game and is available going forward
Jose Reyes, SS, NYM – (Oblique) Did not play on Sunday and probably will not return until he is near or at 100 percent
Gerald Laird, C, DET – (Back) Did not play in Sunday's game
Lyle Overbay, 1B, TOR – (Illness) Did not play on Sunday. Remains day-to-day
Orlando Hudson, 2B, MIN – (Ankle) Returned to the lineup on Sunday
Jim Thome, DH, MIN – (Back) Did not play in Sunday's game. Remains day-to-day
Brett Anderson, SP, OAK - (Knee) Felt good after Sunday's throwing session and is expected to make scheduled start on Wednesday
Jeffrey Karstens, SP, PIT - (Arm) - Expected to start on Tuesday
Geoff Blum, 3B, HOU - (Neck) Returned to the lineup on Sunday
Ian Stewart, 3B, COL - (Oblique) Did not play on Sunday and will likely miss a few games
Derrek Lee, 1B, ATL - (Upper Body) Did not play on Sunday but will return to action on Monday
Billy Butler, 1B, KC - (Hand) Returned to the lineup on Sunday
Clint Barmes, 2B, COL - (Personal) Will return to the team on Monday
Buster Posey, C, SF - (Forearm) Was not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA - Removed from Sunday's game after feeling light headed, but expects to play on Monday
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COl - Removed from Sunday's game with tightness in his groin, hopes to play on Monday
Matt LaPorta, 1B, CLE - Removed from Sunday's game with a strained left hip
Evan Meek, RP, PIT - Suffered a bruised forearm in Sunday's game against the Brewers
Chris Denorfia, OF, SD - Scratched from Sunday's lineup with a sore back

Players on the DL

Jose Ascanio, RP, PIT - (Shoulder/Hand) Out for the remainder of the season
Ross Ohlendorf, SP, PIT - (Shoulder) May be shut down for the rest of the season
Matt Lindstrom, RP, HOU - (Back) Suffered a setback on Saturday and his rehab has been delayed indefinitely
Scott Feldman, P, TEX - (Knee) Will likely begin rehab assignment later this week
Nelson Cruz, OF, TEX - (Hamstring) Will return to the lineup and start in right field on Monday
Aaron Cook, SP, COL - (Toe) On track to start Thursday's game against the Phillies
Jeff Francis, SP, COL - (Shoulder) Will throw a simulated game on Tuesday
Andy Pettitte, SP, NYY - (Groin) Felt good after Sunday's throwing session, on track to return around mid-September
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY - (Calf) Could resume hitting on Monday
Lance Berkman, 1B, NYY - (Ankle) Will begin a rehab assignment on Monday, should return by the weekend
Aaron Harang, SP, CIN - (Back) Will be activated and start on Tuesday against the Brewers
Jason Motte, RP, STL - (Shoulder) Expected to be activated on Monday
Brad Penny, SP, STL - (Back) Still experiencing pain, which is preventing him from resuming throwing
Jeff Suppan, SP, STL - (Groin) Will be activated and start on Wednesday against the Astros
Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX - (Groin) Went 0-for-3 in a rehab game on Saturday. On track to return on Friday

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)
Mike Leake, SP, CIN
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR
Kanekoa Texeira, RP, KC

Activated from DL
Robinson Tejeda, RP, KC

Called Up
Mike Minor, ATL
Mike McCoy, TOR

Sent Down
Craig Kimbrel, RP, ATL

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

Baltimore - Koji Uehara picked up the final out on Sunday to record his fourth save in as many chances. Expect him to continue getting the ball when the Orioles find themselves in save situations.

Florida - Leo Nunez served up the game-tying and game-winning home runs with a two-run lead in Sunday's loss to the Braves. He has given up 10 earned runs in 9.2 innings this month, including six ER in his last four outings. Meanwhile, setup man Clay Hensley has allowed just two earned runs in 12 innings this month. Those numbers indicate there could be a temporary change in the ninth-inning role sometime in the near future.

Milwaukee - Trevor Hoffman recorded the final two outs on Sunday to pick up career save 599. The Brewers will give Hoffman a shot to get number 600 before the season is over, but John Axford remains the primary closer for the Brewers.

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

Shin-Soo Choo v. Mark Buehrle - 8-for-20 (.400), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.478 OBP)
Mark Ellis v. Dustin Moseley - 5-for-13 (.385), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.429 OBP)
Jack Cust v. Dustin Moseley - 6-for-10 (.600), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.667 OBP)
Hanley Ramirez v. Jason Marquis - 6-for-12 (.500), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.538 OBP) *check status
Luis Castillo v. Jair Jurrjens - 5-for-16 (.313), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.389 OBP)
Aramis Ramirez v. Paul Maholm - 10-for-29 (.345), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.367 OBP)
Geovany Soto v. Paul Maholm - 6-for-15 (.400), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.471 OBP)
Ryan Doumit v. Carlos Zambrano - 8-for-17 (.471), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4:3 BB:K (.571 OBP)
Carlos Lee v. Jake Westbrook - 13-for-32 (.406), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.441 OBP)
Michael Young v. Kyle Davies - 4-for-12 (.333) 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5:2 BB:K (.529 OBP)
Stephen Drew v. Wade LeBlanc - 5-for-10 (.500), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.500 OBP) *career cycle and 2.000 OPS
Casey Blake v. Roy Halladay - 5-for-14 (.357), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3:4 BB:K (.471 OBP)
Ichiro Suzuki v. Ervin Santana - 19-for-55 (.345), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 5:2 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Josh Wilson v. Ervin Santana - 7-for-15 (.467), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.467 OBP)
Cody Ross v. Jorge De La Rosa - 5-for-13 (.385), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.467 OBP)
Freddy Sanchez v. Jorge De La Rosa - 6-for-14 (.429), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.429 OBP)
Troy Tulowitzki v. Jonathan Sanchez - 7-for-17 (.412), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2:0 BB:K (.474 OBP) *career cycle

Jair Jurrjens v. Mets - In nine career starts against the Mets, Jurrjens is 6-2 with a 2.62 ERA. Current Mets have managed only a meager .177 batting average against Jurrjens, and David Wright is the only Met to homer off of him (once). Jurrjens was touched for seven earned runs in his last start, but look for him to get things back on the right track on Monday.

Jorge De La Rosa v. Giants - De La Rosa has not given up more than three runs in any of his last seven starts, and that streak should continue on Monday. De La Rosa is a perfect 6-0 against the Giants in 10 appearances, seven starts, during his career, and no one on the current roster other than Freddy Sanchez (above) has given him much trouble. Get De La Rosa in your lineup on Monday.

Cold

Travis Hafner v. Mark Buehrle - 12-for-58 (.207), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5:15 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Asdrubal Cabrera v. Mark Buehrle - 4-for-23 (.174), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:0 BB:K (.240 OBP)
Matt LaPorta v. Mark Buehrle - 3-for-13 (.231), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.286 OBP)
Chad Tracy v. Jason Marquis - 3-for-19 (.158), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 5:1 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Angel Pagan v. Jair Jurrjens - 1-for-17 (.059), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:4 BB:K (.200 OBP)
Jose Reyes v. Jair Jurrjens - 3-for-14 (.214), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3:2 BB:K (.353 OBP)
Carlos Beltran v. Jair Jurrjens - 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:0 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Jeff Francoeur v. Jair Jurrjens - 1-for-14 (.071), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.071 OBP)
B.J. Upton v. Brett Cecil - 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:5 BB:K (.286 OBP)
Jason Bartlett v. Brett Cecil - 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K (.167 OBP)
Geoff Blum v. Jake Westbrook - 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.167 OBP)
Justin Upton v. Wade LeBlanc - 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.167 OBP)
Jay Gibbons v. Roy Halladay - 9-for-39 (.231), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0:6 BB:K (.231 OBP)
Jose Lopez v. Ervin Santana - 11-for-48 (.229), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1:9 BB:K (.260 OBP)
Franklin Gutierrez v. Ervin Santana - 4-for-23 (.174), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3:8 BB:K (.296 OBP)
Chone Figgins v. Ervin Santana - 1-for-10 (.100), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.100 OBP)
Aaron Rowand v. Jorge De La Rosa - 3-for-21 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:7 BB:K (.143 OBP)
Pablo Sandoval v. Jorge De La Rosa - 3-for-15 (.200), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.200 OBP)

The Space Between

Carlos Pena v. Brett Cecil - 3-for-11 (.273), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Alfonso Soriano v. Paul Maholm - 7-for-27 (.259), 4 HR, 6 RBI, 3:3 BB:K (.323 OBP)

Paul Maholm v. Cubs - Maholm has an ugly 5.70 ERA in 12 career starts against Chicago and is allowing current Cubs to bat .296 against him, yet he has managed a 7-1 record against them in his career, including a 3-0 mark this season. Those in need of wins or innings should go with Maholm on Monday, but be aware that it could come at the cost of your ERA.

Recommended Pickup

Brandon Lyon, RP, HOU - Since taking over as the Astros' primary closer on August 17 in place of the injured the injured Matt Lindstrom, Lyon has gone 5-for-5 in save opportunities. Lyon has recorded eight saves this month, and has not been scored upon in 19 of his previous 20 outings. With saves at a premium this time of the year, it's surprising that Lyon remains unowned in roughly 30 percent of ESPN leagues and a much-too-high 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Lindstrom suffered a setback on Saturday and is shut down indefinitely, so Lyon could theoretically serve as the closer for the rest of the year. The Astros are playing much better of late, so Lyon should see ample save opportunities over the season's final weeks. Pick him up before it's too late.

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