Thursday Lineup Card: McGee, Please!

Thursday Lineup Card: McGee, Please!

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Orioles (Ubaldo Jimenez – R) at Yankees (Masahiro Tanaka – R), 1:05
Mariners (Hisashi Iwakuma – R) at Tigers (David Price – L), 1:08
Twins (Ervin Santana – R) at Angels (Garrett Richards – R), 3:35
Blue Jays (Drew Hutchison – R) at Athletics (Scott Kazmir – L), 3:35
Nationals (Doug Fister – R) at Pirates (Francisco Liriano – L), 7:05
White Sox (Jeff Samardzija – R) at Indians (Trevor Bauer – R), 7:10
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L) at Mets (Bartolo Colon – R), 7:10
Royals (Jeremy Guthrie – R) at Cardinals (John Lackey – R), 7:15
Astros (Lance McCullers – R) at Red Sox (Wade Miley – L), 8:10
Brewers (Mike Fiers – R) at Diamondbacks (Zachary Godley – R), 9:40
Padres (Tyson Ross – R) at Marlins (Tom Koehler – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: BAL/NYY, SEA/DET, MIN/LAA and TOR/OAK

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Drew Hutchison, SP, TOR (Illness) – Hutchison is questionable for Thursday's game due to flu-like symptoms.
Yunel Escobar, SS, WAS (Wrist) – X-Ray's came back negative on Escobar's hand and wrist.
Francisco Cervelli, C, PIT (Wrist) – Did not play on Wednesday.
Brett Anderson, SP, LAD (Achilles) – Expected to play catch on Thursday.
Michael Cuddyer, OF, NYM (Knee) – Expected to need an extended period of rest before returning to action.
Justin Upton, OF, SD (Oblique) – Did not start on Wednesday.
Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI (Elbow) – Did not start on Wednesday.

Players on the DL

Jered Weaver, SP, LAA (Hip) – May start a rehab assignment shortly, although he is still not 100 percent.
Clay Buchholz, SP, BOS (Elbow) – Received a PRP injection from Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday.
Jason Vargas, SP, KC (Elbow) – Requires Tommy John surgery on his torn UCL.
Steve Pearce, OF, BAL (Oblique) – Pearce was placed on the 15-day DL with a strain.
Mason Williams, OF, NYY (Shoulder) – Will continue his rehab at the team's spring training complex.
Gorkys Hernandez, OF, PIT (Shoulder) – Started a rehab assignment.
Brandon Morrow, SP, SD (Shoulder) – Threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and is expected to make a rehab start over the weekend.
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI (Ankle) – Took soft-toss batting practice and fielded ground balls on Wednesday.
Drew Smyly, SP, TB (Shoulder) – Smyly pitched well in a 41-pitch simulated game at High-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
Anthony Rendon, 3B, WAS (Quadriceps) – Expected to miss action through the weekend.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS (Foot) – Expected to miss action through the weekend.
Jayson Werth, OF, WAS (Wrist) – Expected to miss action through the weekend.
Wily Peralta, SP, MIL (Oblique) – Peralta could be activated off the DL during the Arizona series this weekend.
Denard Span, OF, WAS (Back) – Span has no clear timetable to resume baseball activities.
Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS (Oblique) – Expected to throw another bullpen session on Friday before heading out on a rehab assignment.
David Hale, RP, COL (Groin) – Threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday.
Nick Swisher, 1B, CLE (Knee) – Swisher will not be rushed back, with a likely return in early August.

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

Activated from the DL

Tony Cingrani, SP/RP, CIN
Jeremy Affeldt, RP, SF

Placed on the DL (15-day DL, unless otherwise noted)

Jason Vargas, SP, KC
Steve Pearce, OF, BAL

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

Clayton Richard, SP, CHC
Jayson Aquino, RP, PIT
Adam Liberatore, RP, LAD
Will Middlebrooks, 3B, SD
Wilfredo Boscan, RP, PIT
Ty Kelly, 2B, TOR
Josh Osich, RP, SF
Brian Johnson, RP, BOS

Called Up

Pedro Florimon, RP, PIT
Kevin Gausman, SP, BAL
Dallas Beeler, SP, CHC
Joe Kelly, SP, BOS
Ian Thomas, RP, LAD
Abraham Almonte, OF, SD
Yoervis Medina, RP, CHC
Yordano Ventura, SP, KC

Released

Wesley Wright, RP, BAL

Claimed

Ty Kelly, 2B, TOR - from the St. Louis Cardinals

Signed

Angelo Serrano, RP, HOU
Nichel Alcantara, RP, BAL
Eury Rodriguez, RP, TEX

Closer Watch

Tampa Bay Rays – It seems like I've been calling for Jake McGee to take over the Rays closing job for awhile now, although I don't discredit what Brad Boxberger has done this season in McGee's absence. Boxberger (4-6) took the loss against the Phillies on Wednesday, giving up one earned run on two hits in 1.2 innings, as he entered a tied game in the ninth inning. Look for McGee to get more chances to snag saves as the season wears on, so if he's out there for some nutty reason then pick him up stat! McGee has been outstanding since his return from injury, while Boxberger may be wearing down ever so slightly.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen picked up his 17th save of the year, as he allowed one walk and struck out two hitters in Atlanta on Wednesday pitching the ninth inning. Jansen secured a rare triumphant road game by starter Mike Bolsinger.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – July 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
C. BeltranOFNYY vs BAL
1:05PM
U. Jimenez18742330.389.476.8331.310
C. Headley3BNYY vs BAL
1:05PM
U. Jimenez24731245.292.433.500.933
G. Jones1BNYY vs BAL
1:05PM
U. Jimenez11520323.455.538.6361.175
Y. CespedesOFDET vs SEA
1:08PM
H. Iwakuma271194707.407.4071.0371.444
I. Kinsler2BDET vs SEA
1:08PM
H. Iwakuma26943325.346.414.7311.145
N. CruzOFSEA @ DET
1:08PM
D. Price19722423.368.429.6841.113
M. TrumboOFSEA @ DET
1:08PM
D. Price16631305.375.375.6881.063
M. JoyceOFLAA vs MIN
3:35PM
E. Santana18622419.333.368.6671.035
M. BournOFCLE vs CWS
7:10PM
J. Samardzija13620011.462.500.6151.115
J. Abreu1BCWS @ CLE
7:10PM
T. Bauer13610004.462.462.5381.000
A. Gonzalez1BLAD @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon21942305.429.429.8101.238
R. TejadaSSNYM vs LAD
7:10PM
C. Kershaw10500032.500.615.5001.115
J. HeywardOFSTL vs KC
7:15PM
J. Guthrie10411301.400.400.7001.100
J. UptonOFSD vs MIA
10:10PM
T. Koehler16621225.375.444.6881.132
Hot Pitcher Matchups – July 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
David PriceDET vs SEA
1:08PM
1744216423849.241.281.389.671
Scott KazmirOAK vs TOR
3:35PM
78175191019.218.307.312.619
Doug FisterWAS @ PIT
7:05PM
6820202321.294.332.325.657
Clayton KershawLAD @ NYM
7:10PM
7017204714.243.312.277.589
Trevor BauerCLE vs CWS
7:10PM
7616304723.211.282.232.514
Cold Batter Matchups – July 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
B. GardnerOFNYY vs BAL
1:05PM
U. Jimenez16300124.188.316.188.503
B. RyanSSNYY vs BAL
1:05PM
U. Jimenez13200114.154.214.154.368
M. Teixeira1BNYY vs BAL
1:05PM
U. Jimenez24420229.167.231.250.481
C. YoungOFNYY vs BAL
1:05PM
U. Jimenez437303217.163.217.233.450
A. AvilaCDET vs SEA
1:08PM
H. Iwakuma11000013.000.083.000.083
R. DavisOFDET vs SEA
1:08PM
H. Iwakuma11111116.091.167.364.530
A. JacksonOFSEA @ DET
1:08PM
D. Price214201011.190.190.286.476
B. MillerSSSEA @ DET
1:08PM
D. Price10110204.100.100.300.400
K. Seager3BSEA @ DET
1:08PM
D. Price10000012.000.167.000.167
M. ZuninoCSEA @ DET
1:08PM
D. Price10110009.100.100.200.300
J. BautistaOFTOR @ OAK
3:35PM
S. Kazmir15320153.200.400.333.733
C. Colabello1BTOR @ OAK
3:35PM
S. Kazmir10200015.200.273.200.473
J. Smoak1BTOR @ OAK
3:35PM
S. Kazmir14100017.071.133.071.205
Y. EscobarSSWAS @ PIT
7:05PM
F. Liriano10110014.100.182.300.482
M. CabreraOFCWS @ CLE
7:10PM
T. Bauer10000000.000.000.000.000
A. RamirezSSCWS @ CLE
7:10PM
T. Bauer10200104.200.200.200.400
C. CrawfordOFLAD @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon36620319.167.189.222.411
H. Kendrick2BLAD @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon22200104.091.091.091.182
M. CuddyerOFNYM vs LAD
7:10PM
C. Kershaw16400203.250.250.250.500
O. Infante2BKC @ STL
7:15PM
J. Lackey15320126.200.294.333.627
Cold Pitcher Matchups – July 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Hisashi IwakumaSEA @ DET
1:08PM
12038211319733.317.359.7171.076
Jeremy GuthrieKC @ STL
7:15PM
922962988.315.366.438.804
Recommended Pickup

Jake McGee, RP, Tampa Bay Rays – By now you know I've already mentioned McGee in the closer section of Thursday's write-up but he's worth mentioning here again. Since McGee returned from injury on May 17, he's put up bitchin' numbers (1.25 ERA, 30 K in 21.2 IP, while allowing only one home run). McGee has four saves on the year in a limited closer's capacity, but he's been golden as an 8th inning guy. Plus, let's not forget that current closer Brad Boxberger may be wearing down some and McGee will see more closing opportunities down the line. Don't let your other leaguemates get to McGee before you do.

Other Recent Recommendations:Joe Ross, Alex Rios, Aaron Nola, Trevor Plouffe, Kyle Schwarber and C.J. Cron

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Mike Fiers, MIL ($7,700)
C: Salvador Perez, KC ($3,200)
1B: Jon Singleton, HOU ($3,600)
2B: Luis Valbuena, HOU ($3,700)
SS: Jung Ho Kang, PIT ($3,400)
3B: Aramis Ramirez, MIL ($3,300)
OF: Brock Holt, BOS ($3,300)

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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