Thursday Lineup Card: Closer, Here! Get Your Cubs Closer, Here!

Thursday Lineup Card: Closer, Here! Get Your Cubs Closer, Here!

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Projected Starters - A look at Thursday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Nationals (Max Scherzer – R) at Marlins (Dan Haren – R), 12:10
Padres (Andrew Cashner – R) at Mets (Jon Niese – L), 12:10
Braves (Shelby Miller – R) at Phillies (Aaron Harang – R), 7:05
Tigers (Alfredo Simon – R) at Orioles (Miguel Gonzalez – R), 7:05
Royals (Danny Duffy – L) at Blue Jays (Marco Estrada – R), 7:07
White Sox (Chris Sale – L) at Red Sox (Steven Wright – R), 7:10
Pirates (Jeff Locke – L) at Reds (David Holmberg – L), 7:10
Rockies (Chris Rusin – L) at Cardinals (Carlos Martinez – R), 7:15
Yankees (Michael Pineda – R) at Rangers (Yovani Gallardo – R), 8:05
Mariners (J.A. Happ – L) at Twins (Phil Hughes – R), 8:10
Cubs (Jake Arrieta – R) at Brewers (Jimmy Nelson – R), 8:10
Angels (Matt Shoemaker – R) at Astros (Scott Kazmir – L), 8:10
Indians (Carlos Carrasco – R) at Athletics (Chris Bassitt – R), 10:05

Day Game After Night Game: WAS/MIA, SD/NYM

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Robinson Cano, 2B, SEA (Abdomen) – Will sit a few games after suffering a Grade 1 abdominal strain.
Justin Turner, 3B, LAD (Leg) – Expected to miss a few more games.
Clayton Kershaw, SP, LAD (Hip/Glute) – Kershaw's start was bumped to Friday after initially expected to start Thursday.
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, TOR (Finger) – Was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY (Foot) – Did not play on Wednesday after being hit by a pitch Tuesday.
Mike Trout, OF, LAA (Wrist) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Devon Travis, 2B, TOR (Shoulder) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Gregory Polanco, OF, PIT (Knee) – Left Wednesday's game due to discomfort.
Ivan Nova, SP, NYY (Arm) – Expected to make his next scheduled start on Sunday.
Ryan Raburn, OF, CLE (Illness) – Raburn has missed games due to gastritis.

Players on the DL

Miguel Montero, C, CHC (Thumb) – Will be re-examined by a hand specialist on Thursday.
Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS (Oblique) – Will likely need two starts before being activated from the DL.
Manny Banuelos, SP, ATL (Elbow) – MRI revealed a bone spur.
Mookie Betts, OF, BOS (Concussion) – Was placed on the 7-day DL.
Emilio Bonifacio, 2B, CHW (Oblique) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Aaron Harang, SP, PHI (Foot) – Will be activated from the DL to start Thursday.
Tommy LaStella, 2B, CHC (Oblique) – Will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Tennessee.
Byron Buxton, OF, MIN (Thumb) – Expected to take batting practice on Thursday.
Randall Delgado, RP, ARI (Ankle) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Neil Ramirez, RP, CHC (Abdominal) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK (Shoulder) – Not expected to return from the DL until late August.
Charlie Furbush, RP, SEA (Biceps) – Threw 10 pitches off a mound on Tuesday.
Christian Bergman, RP, COL (Shoulder) – Started a rehab assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS (Hamstring) – Received an injection of platelet-rich plasma on Monday.

Transactions - Players who 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)

Emilio Bonifacio, 2B, CHW
Neil Ramirez, RP, CHC
Randall Delgado, RP, ARI
Mookie Betts, OF, BOS

Paternity List

Trevor Plouffe, 3B, MIN

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

Efren Navarro, OF, LAA
Wandy Rodriguez, SP, TEX
Chris Capuano, SP, NYY
Jemile Weeks, 2B, BOS
Mike Baxter, OF, CHC
David Carpenter, RP, ATL
Felix Doubront, SP, TOR
Sammy Stolis, RP, WAS
Daniel Robertson, OF, LAA
Dallas Beeler, SP, CHC
Jayson Aquino, RP, CLE
Cristhian Adames, SS, COL
Phil Klein, RP, TEX

Called Up

Bobby Wilson, C, TB
Ben Rowen, RP, CHC
Caleb Cotham, RP, NYY
Yoervis Medina, RP, CHC
Tyler Holt, OF, CLE
Addison Reed, RP, ARI
Jon Edwards, RP, TEX
Leury Garcia, 2B, CHW
Jackie Bradley, Jr., OF, BOS
Jorge Polanco, SS, MIN
Alex Claudio, RP, TEX
Mike Foltynewicz, SP, ATL

Traded

Jayson Aquino, RP, CLE – from Pittsburgh Pirates for cash

Closer Watch

Chicago Cubs – Figuring out the Cubs' closer situation is maddening. Hector Rondon, who hasn't pulled in a save since the Nixon era (okay, since June 20), snagged his 13th save of the year pitching a solid ninth inning to shut down the Rockies on Wednesday. Rondon, who is still in line for save opportunities down the stretch, did allow one walk but he was able to close the doors and hold the victory for starter Jon Lester. If you're scrounging for saves, check to see if someone dumped Rondon.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – July 30, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
D. Gordon2BMIA vs WAS
12:10PM
M. Scherzer15621201.400.400.6671.067
M. Prado3BMIA vs WAS
12:10PM
M. Scherzer10610000.600.600.7001.300
C. BarmesSSSD @ NYM
12:10PM
J. Niese16621403.375.375.6251.000
J. UptonOFSD @ NYM
12:10PM
J. Niese23910233.391.462.435.896
D. Uggla2BWAS @ MIA
12:10PM
D. Haren12311325.250.357.500.857
J. WerthOFWAS @ MIA
12:10PM
D. Haren13521101.385.385.6921.077
C. Johnson3BATL @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang12431502.333.385.8331.218
Y. CespedesOFDET @ BAL
7:05PM
M. Gonzalez11500213.455.500.455.955
R. DavisOFDET @ BAL
7:05PM
M. Gonzalez12433601.333.3851.0831.468
A. GoseOFDET @ BAL
7:05PM
M. Gonzalez18631303.333.333.6671.000
R. Howard1BPHI vs ATL
7:05PM
S. Miller14543625.357.4381.0711.509
M. ByrdOFCIN vs PIT
7:10PM
J. Locke12432514.333.357.9171.274
T. Frazier3BCIN vs PIT
7:10PM
J. Locke20932331.450.522.8001.322
B. HamiltonOFCIN vs PIT
7:10PM
J. Locke13610002.462.462.5381.000
J. Votto1BCIN vs PIT
7:10PM
J. Locke17620240.353.455.471.925
C. Headley3BNYY @ TEX
8:05PM
Y. Gallardo22811256.364.481.500.981
G. Jones1BNYY @ TEX
8:05PM
Y. Gallardo26821394.308.472.462.934
C. CoghlanOFCHC @ MIL
8:10PM
J. Nelson12431102.333.333.7501.083
A. Rizzo1BCHC @ MIL
8:10PM
J. Nelson10221202.200.200.700.900
J. SolerOFCHC @ MIL
8:10PM
J. Nelson12541304.417.417.9171.333
E. AybarSSLAA @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir11720300.636.636.8181.455
D. DeJesusOFLAA @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir21820313.381.409.476.885
C. GomezOFMIL vs CHC
8:10PM
J. Arrieta10311220.300.417.6001.017
A. Lind1BMIL vs CHC
8:10PM
J. Arrieta13421353.308.500.6151.115
S. SmithOFSEA @ MIN
8:10PM
P. Hughes14510024.357.438.429.866
B. Butler1BOAK vs CLE
10:05PM
C. Carrasco22822425.364.417.6361.053
Hot Pitcher Matchups – July 30, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Aaron HarangPHI vs ATL
7:05PM
96206211719.208.275.324.599
Shelby MillerATL @ PHI
7:05PM
9219839922.207.275.373.647
Yovani GallardoTEX vs NYY
8:05PM
1643673132638.220.324.309.633
Jimmy NelsonMIL vs CHC
8:10PM
63161147119.254.266.567.833
Cold Batter Matchups – July 30, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
M. Upton Jr.OFSD @ NYM
12:10PM
J. Niese12200025.167.286.167.452
F. Freeman1BATL @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang17200115.118.167.118.284
N. MarkakisOFATL @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang11200111.182.250.182.432
A. PierzynskiCATL @ PHI
7:05PM
A. Harang16310112.188.235.250.485
C. Asche3BPHI vs ATL
7:05PM
S. Miller10000012.000.091.000.091
C. RuizCPHI vs ATL
7:05PM
S. Miller15320221.200.294.333.627
M. Napoli1BBOS vs CWS
7:10PM
C. Sale11100015.091.167.091.258
D. OrtizDHBOS vs CWS
7:10PM
C. Sale10200002.200.200.200.400
J. BruceOFCIN vs PIT
7:10PM
J. Locke21420603.190.182.286.468
S. DrewSSNYY @ TEX
8:05PM
Y. Gallardo16200028.125.222.125.347
B. McCannCNYY @ TEX
8:05PM
Y. Gallardo20420244.200.333.300.633
C. YoungOFNYY @ TEX
8:05PM
Y. Gallardo18200015.111.158.111.269
S. CastroSSCHC @ MIL
8:10PM
J. Nelson10210012.200.273.300.573
D. MurphyOFLAA @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Kazmir14200013.143.200.143.343
K. DavisOFMIL vs CHC
8:10PM
J. Arrieta11220102.182.182.364.545
J. LucroyCMIL vs CHC
8:10PM
J. Arrieta12200000.167.167.167.333
N. CruzOFSEA @ MIN
8:10PM
P. Hughes21442304.190.227.571.799
Cold Pitcher Matchups – July 30, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Max ScherzerWAS @ MIA
12:10PM
6924836113.348.357.557.914
Andrew CashnerSD @ NYM
12:10PM
6220717316.323.354.494.848
Jon NieseNYM vs SD
12:10PM
9230739617.326.380.458.838
Miguel GonzalezBAL vs DET
7:05PM
872810519811.322.377.536.912
Jeff LockePIT @ CIN
7:10PM
11135114171113.315.369.491.860
Scott KazmirHOU vs LAA
8:10PM
85276091012.318.389.384.773
Recommended Pickup

Aaron Hicks, OF, Minnesota Twins – Hicks is 10-for-16 over his last five games and if you're scouring the dregs of the waiver wire for hitting help, dude can do the job. Hicks also has eight RBI over the same amount of games played, while scoring six runs in the process. This level of play won't last forever, so Hicks is more of a short-term solution.

Other Recent Recommendations:Arodys Vizcaino, David Aardsma, Rusney Castillo, Ryan Zimmerman, Mike Leake, Michael Conforto and Jose Iglesias

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Marco Estrada, TOR ($5,900)
C: Jonathan Lucroy, MIL ($3,300)
1B: Victor Martinez, DET ($3,500)
2B: Kolten Wong, STL ($4,100)
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, TOR ($3,900)
3B: Maikel Franco, PHI ($3,800)
OF: Jorge Soler, CHC ($3,700)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dave Hunter plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: TheRolyPolyBoy, DraftKings: TheRolyPolyBoy.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dave Hunter
Dave is a former RotoWire contributor. He, a long-time veteran of fantasy sports, began his career in 2004 at TalentedMrRoto.com. After a recent seven-year stint at ESPN.com managing the fantasy Q&A platform "The Answer Guys," Dave's writings have appeared on ESPN.com, SI.com, MLB.com, and other sites. Dave will try to keep his priorities straight by not ignoring his wife, two kids and menagerie of animals.
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