Thursday Lineup Card: Hang Tight With Cishek

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

Royals (Jason Vargas – L) at Twins (Tommy Milone – L), 1:10
Brewers (Mike Fiers – R) at Cardinals (John Lackey – R), 1:45
Phillies (Cole Hamels – L) at Nationals (Doug Fister – R), 7:05
Rays (Chris Archer – R) at Blue Jays (Aaron Sanchez – R), 7:07
Marlins (Jarred Cosart – R) at Mets (Dillon Gee – R), 7:10
Diamondbacks (Archie Bradley – R) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: KC/MIN, MIL/STL

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Casey McGehee, 3B, SF (Knee) – Missed his fourth straight game on Wednesday.
Yasiel Puig, OF, LAD (Hamstring) – Expected to be ready to go on Friday.
Joel Peralta, RP, LAD (Neck) – Suffering from a stiff neck and his status is uncertain for now.
Ben Zobrist, 2B, OAK (Heel) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY (Wrist) – May undergo an MRI on Thursday.
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN (Hip) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Kole Calhoun, OF, LAA (Calf) – Missed Wednesday's game and likely won't start until Friday.
Carlos Carrasco, SP, CLE (Jaw) – Dealing with soreness on both sides of his jaw.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, BOS (Foot) – Missed Wednesday's game although the injury is not considered serious.
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE (Back) – Missed Wednesday's game.
Christian Yelich, OF, MIA (Back) – Did not start on Wednesday.

Players on the DL

Ricky Nolasco, SP, MIN (Elbow) – Played long toss on Wednesday with no setbacks.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, LAD (Shoulder) – Not expected to return for another month.
Kenley Jansen, RP, LAD (Foot) – Expected to throw off the mound on Saturday.
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK (Shoulder) – Tossed the ball from 120 feet on Tuesday, but his timetable for return is unclear.
Ian Kennedy, SP, SD (Hamstring) – May pitch in a minor league game on Monday after a bullpen session on Wednesday.
Tommy LaStella, 2B, CHC (Oblique) – Expected to come off the DL next week.
Joe Nathan, RP, DET (Elbow) – After being activated from the DL, will be slotted back into the closer's role.
David Wright, 3B, NYM (Hamstring) – Expected to miss three weeks.
Jimmy Paredes, OF, BAL (Back) – May go on a rehab assignment next week.
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL (Shoulder) – Took live batting practice on Wednesday and will likely start a rehab assignment Friday.
Matt Wieters, C, BAL (Elbow) – Participated in a simulated game on Wednesday, and is progressing well.
Justin Verlander, SP, DET (Triceps) – Likely ruled out for Tuesday's start, with one more simulated game on tap.
Chris Stewart, C, PIT (Hamstring) – Expected to come off the DL on Friday after no setbacks.
Charlie Morton, SP, PIT (Hip) – Will throw a few innings on Saturday in an extended spring game.
Lisalverto Bonilla, RP, TEX (Elbow) – Tommy John surgery went as expected.
Kyuji Fujikawa, RP, TEX (Groin) – Will continue his rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
Jake Petricka, RP, CHW (Arm) – Expected to join the White Sox next week.
Chad Billingsley, SP, PHI (Elbow) – Threw five innings on Wednesday in a rehab start.
Tyler Skaggs, SP, LAA (Elbow) – Was transferred to the 60-day DL.
Garrett Richards, SP, LAA (Knee) – Could start on Sunday.
Denard Span, OF, WAS (Abdomen) – Scheduled to play a nine-inning rehab game on Thursday.
Tanner Scheppers, RP, TEX (Ankle) – Will be activated from the DL on Friday.
Jorge De La Rosa, SP, COL (Groin) – Threw his second rehab start on Tuesday.
Craig Stammen, RP, WAS (Forearm) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Ivan Nova, SP, NYY (Elbow) – Threw a live batting session on Tuesday.
Jose Pirela, SS, NYY (Concussion) – Took batting practice on Tuesday.

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)

Craig Stammen, RP, WAS (Forearm)
Tyler Skaggs, SP, LAA (Elbow) –To the 60-day DL.
David Wright, 3B, NYM (Hamstring)

Called Up

Adam Wilk, RP, LAA
Taylor Jordan, RP, WAS
Yasmany Tomas, OF, ARI
Carlos Frias, RP, LAD
Pedro Villarreal, RP, CIN
Branden Pinder, RP, NYY
Jose Dominguez, RP, TB
Eric Campbell, 3B, NYM
Anthony Ranaudo, SP, TEX

Claimed

Ryan Dennick, RP, LAD – (from Cincinnati Reds)

Sent Down

David Huff, RP, LAD
Joel De La Cruz, RP, NYY
Kirby Yates, RP, TB
Phil Klein, RP, TEX
Shaun Marcum, SP, CLE
Kyle Davies, SP, NYY

Paternity List

David Phelps, RP, MIA – Will be activated on Thursday.

Closer Watch

Marlins – Although it wasn't a save chance for incumbent closer Steve Cishek, he managed to lower his early season 19.29 ERA by tossing a hitless ninth inning on Wednesday afternoon. We'll take it, right? Sure we will. Expect Cishek to build some consistency moving forward, the no-run-allowing-kind-of-consistency, which makes us fantasy owners very happy. Cishek has good stuff, as we all know, and was just working through some early chinks in the armor.

Indians – Cody Allen locked down his second save of the season for Trevor Bauer, who picked up his second win of the season. Allen lowered his ERA to 13.50 and will be a mid-range closing option for the 2015 season. So, in other words, Allen is someone to acquire, assuming you're not into paying heavily for saves.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – April 16, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
E. Hosmer	1B	KC @ MIN 1:10PM	T. Milone	11	4	1	1	2	2	0	.364	.462	.636	1.098
J. Mauer	1B	MIN vs KC 1:10PM	J. Vargas	27	11	1	0	6	2	2	.407	.448	.444	.893
E. Nunez	SS	MIN vs KC 1:10PM	J. Vargas	15	5	2	0	3	0	1	.333	.333	.533	.867
A. Lind	1B	MIL @ STL 1:45PM	J. Lackey	28	15	6	0	6	0	2	.536	.536	.750	1.286
G. Sizemore	OF	PHI @ WAS 7:05PM	D. Fister	12	4	2	1	3	2	2	.333	.429	.667	1.095
D. Uggla	2B	WAS vs PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	62	9	5	3	6	7	22	.145	.239	.323	.562
R. Zimmerman	3B	WAS vs PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	78	20	6	3	6	7	17	.256	.318	.410	.728
E. Encarnacion	1B	TOR vs TB 7:07PM	C. Archer	21	4	3	3	6	1	3	.190	.227	.619	.846
J. Reyes	SS	TOR vs TB 7:07PM	C. Archer	20	9	1	0	2	3	3	.450	.522	.550	1.072
M. Ozuna	OF	MIA @ NYM 7:10PM	D. Gee	10	5	0	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
A. Hill	2B	ARI @ SF 10:15PM	M. Bumgarner	28	7	5	2	6	2	8	.250	.300	.571	.871
E. Inciarte	OF	ARI @ SF 10:15PM	M. Bumgarner	12	5	0	0	0	0	1	.417	.462	.417	.878
J. Pacheco	C	ARI @ SF 10:15PM	M. Bumgarner	27	10	4	1	6	1	3	.370	.393	.593	.985
A. Pollock	OF	ARI @ SF 10:15PM	M. Bumgarner	28	8	5	1	3	1	5	.286	.310	.571	.882

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 16, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Tommy Milone	MIN vs KC 1:10PM	99	22	10	2	11	7	14	.222	.278	.390	.668
Mike Fiers	MIL @ STL 1:45PM	61	11	3	1	2	4	13	.180	.231	.246	.477
Cole Hamels	PHI @ WAS 7:05PM	348	67	25	10	27	30	91	.193	.259	.323	.582

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Batter Matchups – April 16, 2015

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Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
L. Cain	OF	KC @ MIN 1:10PM	T. Milone	12	2	0	0	0	0	2	.167	.167	.167	.333
K. Morales	1B	KC @ MIN 1:10PM	T. Milone	12	1	1	1	3	0	3	.083	.083	.333	.417
B. Dozier	2B	MIN vs KC 1:10PM	J. Vargas	14	3	0	0	0	1	2	.214	.267	.214	.481
T. Plouffe	3B	MIN vs KC 1:10PM	J. Vargas	25	4	3	1	3	1	3	.160	.192	.360	.552
K. Suzuki	C	MIN vs KC 1:10PM	J. Vargas	32	6	0	0	1	3	5	.188	.257	.188	.445
M. Carpenter	3B	STL vs MIL 1:45PM	M. Fiers	11	1	0	0	0	0	2	.091	.091	.091	.182
Y. Molina	C	STL vs MIL 1:45PM	M. Fiers	14	2	1	0	0	0	3	.143	.143	.214	.357
R. Howard	1B	PHI @ WAS 7:05PM	D. Fister	12	2	1	0	0	0	1	.167	.167	.250	.417
C. Utley	2B	PHI @ WAS 7:05PM	D. Fister	14	3	0	0	1	0	4	.214	.267	.214	.481
Y. Escobar	SS	WAS vs PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	22	3	1	0	0	6	3	.136	.321	.182	.503
D. Espinosa	2B	WAS vs PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	21	3	1	0	0	2	8	.143	.217	.190	.408
R. Johnson	OF	WAS vs PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	15	2	1	0	3	0	4	.133	.133	.200	.333
W. Ramos	C	WAS vs PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	20	4	1	1	2	1	4	.200	.238	.350	.588
J. Werth	OF	WAS vs PHI 7:05PM	C. Hamels	34	5	2	2	7	2	10	.147	.189	.324	.513
J. Bautista	OF	TOR vs TB 7:07PM	C. Archer	21	2	0	0	1	2	3	.095	.200	.095	.295
M. Morse	OF	MIA @ NYM 7:10PM	D. Gee	10	2	1	0	1	0	2	.200	.273	.300	.573
M. Prado	3B	MIA @ NYM 7:10PM	D. Gee	25	5	2	0	0	0	1	.200	.231	.280	.511
P. Goldschmidt	1B	ARI @ SF 10:15PM	M. Bumgarner	28	5	3	1	3	5	7	.179	.294	.357	.651
C. Owings	SS	ARI @ SF 10:15PM	M. Bumgarner	10	2	0	0	0	0	2	.200	.200	.200	.400
M. Trumbo	OF	ARI @ SF 10:15PM	M. Bumgarner	11	2	1	0	1	0	4	.182	.182	.364	.545

Matchup Info				Career Matchup Stats
Batter	Pos	Game	Pitcher	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 16, 2015

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Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
John Lackey	STL vs MIL 1:45PM	82	32	9	1	14	2	12	.390	.405	.516	.921

Matchup Info		Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher	Game	AB	H	XBH	HR	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS

Kendrys Morales, 1B, KC – Morales is likely one of the most-added players in leagues considering his hot start, so you may have missed the opportunity to snag him. He hasn't been the most favorable player in recent history regarding his injury past, although I do love his numbers to this point: .414, 2 HR, 9 R and 5 RBI. The numbers alone are a perfect lead-in to a free agent grab, with the idea that his power is still there and a bounceback season is in order.

Other Recent Recommendations:Alex Guerrero, Mark Canha, Kevin Kiermaier, Stephen Vogt, Miguel Castro, Jake Lamb

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Archie Bradley, ARI ($6,400)
C: J.T. Realmuto, MIA ($3,400)
1B: Mark Trumbo, ARI ($3,600)
2B: Devon Travis, TOR ($3,200)
SS: Tim Beckham, TB ($3,100)
3B: Jake Lamb, ARI ($3,500)
OF: Yasmany Tomas, OF ($4,100)