Thursday Lineup Card: Down The Stretch They Go!

Thursday Lineup Card: Down The Stretch They Go!

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Cubs (Kyle Hendricks – R) at Pirates (Charlie Morton – R), 12:35
Athletics (Sean Nolin – L) at White Sox (Jose Quintana – L), 2:10
Marlins (Jarred Cosart – R) at Nationals (Tanner Roark – R), 7:05
Orioles (Chris Tillman – R) at Rays (Matt Moore – L), 7:10
Royals (Yordano Ventura – R) at Indians (Corey Kluber – R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Marco Estrada – R) at Braves (Matt Wisler – R), 7:10
Astros (Lance McCullers – R) at Rangers (Colby Lewis – R), 8:05
Cardinals (John Lackey – R) at Brewers (Jimmy Nelson – R), 8:10
Angels (Hector Santiago – L) at Twins (Tommy Milone – L), 8:10

Day Game After Night Game: CHC/PIT and OAK/CHW

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Justin Upton, OF, SD (Illness) – Did not start Wednesday.
Jimmy Rollins, SS, LAD (Finger) – The pain resurfaced and is temporarily shut down.
Dixon Machado, SS, DET (Hamstring) – Did not start Wednesday.
Brayan Pena, C, CIN (Hamstring) – Did not start Wednesday.
Nick Castellanos, 3B, DET (Groin) – Was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.
Scott Van Slyke, OF, LAD (Hand) – Did not start Wednesday.
Brandon Crawford, SS, SF (Calf) – Did not start Wednesday.
Billy Hamilton, OF, CIN (Shoulder) – Did not start Wednesday.
Carl Crawford, OF, LAD (Hamstring) – Did not start Wednesday.
Derek Norris, C, SD (Hand) – Did not start Wednesday.
Trayce Thompson, OF, CHW (Elbow) – Was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.
Billy Burns, OF, OAK (Hamstring) – Did not start Wednesday.
Jason Motte, RP, CHC (Hamstring) – Was not available to pitch Wednesday.
Danny Valencia, 3B, OAK (Shoulder) - Did not start Wednesday.
Jed Lowrie, SS, HOU (Foot) - Did not start Wednesday.
Stephen Vogt, C, OAK (Groin) - Did not start Wednesday.
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI (Knee) – Expects to return this season.
Carlos Torres, RP, NYM (Calf) – Expected to return to action in a few days.
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (Back) – Was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.
Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, MIA (Hamstring) - Did not start Wednesday.

Out

Joe Kelly, SP, BOS (Shoulder) – Has been officially shut down for the season.
Luke Gregerson, RP, HOU (Personal) – Left Wednesday to be with his wife for the birth of their child.

Players on the DL

Joe Panik, 2B, SF (Back) – Placed on the 60-day DL and will miss the rest of the season.
Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI (Wrist) – Will take batting practice on Friday.
Jason Motte, RP, CHC (Shoulder) – Has started throwing on flat ground.
Josh Johnson, SP, SD (Elbow) – Will undergo his third Tommy John surgery.
Jesse Chavez, SP, OAK (Ribs) – Placed on the 60-day DL and will miss the rest of the season.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, BOS (Shoulder) – Not expected to get game action at first base.

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

Activated from the DL

Daniel Norris, SP, DET

Placed on the DL

Jesse Chavez, SP, OAK – placed on the 60-day DL.
Joe Panik, 2B, SF - placed on the 60-day DL.

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

Daniel Carbonell, OF, SF
Scott Copeland, RP, TOR

Called-Up

Mac Williamson, OF, SF
Trevor Brown, C, SF
Barry Zito, RP, OAK
Cody Martin, RP, OAK
Scott Carroll, RP, CHW

Closer Watch

As of this writing, there is no current closer action to report from Wednesday's games.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – September 17, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
S. CastroSSCHC @ PIT
12:35PM
C. Morton271243903.444.444.8151.259
C. CoghlanOFCHC @ PIT
12:35PM
C. Morton10421423.400.500.9001.400
C. McGehee3BMIA @ WAS
7:05PM
T. Roark10420101.400.400.6001.000
A. JonesOFBAL @ TB
7:10PM
M. Moore211132714.524.565.8571.422
M. WietersCBAL @ TB
7:10PM
M. Moore14832335.571.6471.0711.718
C. Santana1BCLE vs KC
7:10PM
Y. Ventura15522440.333.474.7331.207
E. Hosmer1BKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber3710831237.270.325.649.974
M. Moustakas3BKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber351661438.457.500.6861.186
E. Longoria3BTB vs BAL
7:10PM
C. Tillman4616106957.348.412.8261.238
J. LowrieSSHOU @ TEX
8:05PM
C. Lewis23811212.348.375.478.853
L. Valbuena3BHOU @ TEX
8:05PM
C. Lewis13322213.231.286.692.978
C. CowgillOFLAA @ MIN
8:10PM
T. Milone13621302.462.462.7691.231
A. Pujols1BLAA @ MIN
8:10PM
T. Milone22970010.409.435.7271.162
K. DavisOFMIL vs STL
8:10PM
J. Lackey12322404.250.250.7501.000
A. Lind1BMIL vs STL
8:10PM
J. Lackey371660702.432.432.5951.027
J. SeguraSSMIL vs STL
8:10PM
J. Lackey13800003.615.615.6151.231
B. Dozier2BMIN vs LAA
8:10PM
H. Santiago11420100.364.364.545.909
M. Carpenter3BSTL @ MIL
8:10PM
J. Nelson11411521.364.462.6361.098
Hot Pitcher Matchups – September 17, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Jose QuintanaCWS vs OAK
2:10PM
6710114617.149.217.193.411
Colby LewisTEX vs HOU
8:05PM
1594213714533.264.287.447.734
Cold Batter Matchups – September 17, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
D. FowlerOFCHC @ PIT
12:35PM
C. Morton10200030.200.385.200.585
M. MonteroCCHC @ PIT
12:35PM
C. Morton11200027.182.308.182.490
B. Butler1BOAK @ CWS
2:10PM
J. Quintana275001611.185.333.185.519
D. Valencia3BOAK @ CWS
2:10PM
J. Quintana14200203.143.133.143.276
A. HechavarriaSSMIA @ WAS
7:05PM
T. Roark15310000.200.200.267.467
C. YelichOFMIA @ WAS
7:05PM
T. Roark10200024.200.333.200.533
C. Davis1BBAL @ TB
7:10PM
M. Moore15310033.200.333.267.600
Y. GomesCCLE vs KC
7:10PM
Y. Ventura13100014.077.143.077.220
L. CainOFKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber26510205.192.192.231.423
J. DysonOFKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber30700115.233.258.233.491
A. EscobarSSKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber377100014.189.189.216.405
A. GordonOFKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber326326213.188.297.406.704
K. Morales1BKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber16310112.188.235.250.485
S. PerezCKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber21420227.190.250.286.536
A. RiosOFKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber17400304.235.235.235.471
B. Zobrist2BKC @ CLE
7:10PM
C. Kluber11100002.091.091.091.182
K. KiermaierOFTB vs BAL
7:10PM
C. Tillman14200014.143.200.143.343
J. Loney1BTB vs BAL
7:10PM
C. Tillman32521551.156.270.281.552
H. CongerCHOU @ TEX
8:05PM
C. Lewis21510103.238.238.333.571
E. GattisCHOU @ TEX
8:05PM
C. Lewis12310004.250.250.333.583
R. BraunOFMIL vs STL
8:10PM
J. Lackey16410004.250.250.313.563
T. HunterOFMIN vs LAA
8:10PM
H. Santiago10200020.200.333.200.533
Cold Pitcher Matchups – September 17, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Charlie MortonPIT vs CHC
12:35PM
792684151116.329.420.531.951
Matt MooreTB vs BAL
7:10PM
11440146201022.351.412.5921.004
Tommy MiloneMIN vs LAA
8:10PM
13142152101120.321.377.459.835
John LackeySTL @ MIL
8:10PM
1003611315114.360.366.525.891
Jimmy NelsonMIL vs STL
8:10PM
80287221517.350.381.492.873
Hector SantiagoLAA @ MIN
8:10PM
64241049104.375.459.6551.114
Recommended Pickup

Kelby Tomlinson, 2B, San Francisco – I like Tomlinson mainly as a middle infield fill-in, helping with batting average, runs scored and stolen bases. Tomlinson is hitting .300, with 14 runs, four stolen bases and 15 RBI since taking over for Joe Panik. Panik's season just ended as he was just placed on the 60-day DL, so expect Tomlinson to get full-time at-bats down the last stretch of the season. Sometimes all we need is a live body in our middle infield slot, right?

Other Recent Recommendations: Nolan Reimold, Corey Seager, Steven Souza, Colby Rasmus, Marcus Stroman and Vidal Nuno

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Marco Estrada, TOR ($7,900)
C: Russell Martin, TOR ($3,600)
1B: Albert Pujols, LAA ($3,900)
2B: Neil Walker, PIT ($3,600)
SS: Francisco Lindor, CLE ($4,000)
3B: Trevor Plouffe, MIN ($4,100)
OF: Adam Jones, BAL ($3,900)

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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