Thursday Lineup Card: Rays Closing Situation Muddled

Thursday Lineup Card: Rays Closing Situation Muddled

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Phillies (David Buchanan – R) at Cardinals (Tim Cooney – L), 1:45
Angels (Garrett Richards – R) at Athletics (Jesse Chavez – R), 3:35
Reds (Mike Leake – R) at Braves (Shelby Miller – R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Daniel Norris – L) at Indians (T.J. House – L), 7:10
Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R) at Mets (Jacob deGrom – R), 7:10
White Sox (Chris Sale – L) at Twins (Trevor May – R), 8:10
Tigers (Alfredo Simon – R) at Royals (Danny Duffy – L), 8:10
Mariners (James Paxton – L) at Astros (Scott Feldman – R), 8:10

Day Game After Night Game: PHI/STL, LAA/OAK

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Casey Fien, RP, MIN (Shoulder) – Appears headed to the DL.
Alcides Escobar, SS, KC (Head) – Was diagnosed with a left cheek contusion.
Mat Latos, SP, MIA (Hamstring) – Removed from Wednesday's game.
Phil Hughes, SP, MIN (Hip) – Expected to throw regularly scheduled bullpen session this week.
Yunel Escobar, SS, WAS (Hand) – Expected to return to action on Thursday.
Jordan Schafer, OF, MIN (Knee) – Sprained his MCL on Wednesday.
Max Scherzer, SP, WAS (Thumb) – Will make his next start on Friday.
Kyle Seager, 3B, SEA (Thumb) – Missed Wednesday's game due to discomfort.
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN (Hip) – Will not catch for another 7-10 days.
Desmond Jennings, OF, TB (Knee) – Did not start on Wednesday and not play until next week.

Players on the DL

Hunter Pence, OF, SF (Forearm) – Will likely take batting practice in a couple of days.
Jarrod Parker, SP, OAK (Elbow) – Expected to need multiple outings at the AAA level before joining Oakland.
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK (Shoulder) – Threw off the mound on Tuesday.
Brandon McCarthy, SP, LAD (Elbow) – Will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Thursday.
Archie Bradley, SP, ARI (Face) – Expected to return from the DL after missing the minimum 15 days.
Anthony Rendon, 2B, WAS (Knee) – Hit from the batting cage and was able to throw the ball on Wednesday.
Tommy LaStella, 2B, CHC (Oblique) – Has yet to swing a bat.
Shawn Kelley, RP, SD (Calf) – Will begin a rehab assignment on Friday.
Justin Grimm, RP, CHC (Forearm) – Threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and is close to appearing in a game.
Vic Black, RP, NYM (Shoulder) – Threw the ball on Wednesday, although he is still progressing slowly.
David Wright, 3B, NYM (Hamstring) – Took live batting practice on Wednesday and also ran in a straight line.
Tsuyoshi Wada, SP, CHC (Groin) – Threw a bullpen session on Wednesday.
Jonathan Schoop, 2B, BAL (Knee) – Had his knee drained on Wednesday.
Reed Johnson, OF, WAS (Calf) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Wesley Wright, RP, BAL (Shoulder) – Will likely begin throwing next week.
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL (Shoulder) – Took some dry swings and did some tee work on Wednesday.
Scooter Gennett, 2B, MIN (Hand) – Will begin a rehab assignment on Friday.
Ryan Flaherty, 2B, BAL (Groin) – Took batting practice on Wednesday.
Patrick Corbin, SP, ARI (Elbow) – Threw a 30-pitch simulated game on Tuesday.
Kirby Yates, RP, TB (Chest) – Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Manny Parra, RP, CIN (Neck) - Was placed on the 15-day DL.
Homer Bailey, SP, CIN (Elbow) – Transferred to the 60-day DL.

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)

Kirby Yates, RP, TB
Homer Bailey, SP, CIN - transferred to the 60-day DL.
Manny Parra, RP, CIN
Reed Johnson, OF, WAS
Mitch Moreland, 1B, TEX
Archie Bradley, SP, ARI

Activated from the Bereavement List

Matt Shoemaker, SP, LAA

Called Up

Kyle Blanks, 1B, TEX
Ryan Webb, RP, CLE
Mike Lorenzen, SP, CIN
Dalier Hinojosa, RP, BOS
Gregorio Petit, SS, NYY
Sammy Solis, RP, WAS
Jack Leathersich, RP, NYM
Michael Taylor, OF, WAS
Tommy Layne, RP, BOS
Enrique Burgos, RP, ARI

Sent Down

Alex Hassan, OF, TEX
Anthony Varvaro, RP, BOS
Jerry Sands, OF, CLE
Cam Bedrosian, RP, LAA
A.J. Cole, SP, WAS
Jackie Bradley, Jr., OF, BOS
Rafael Montero, RP, NYM

Closer Watch

Tampa Bay Rays – Ernesto Frieri picked up his second save of the season on Wednesday night, as the game went 13 innings. Expect Jake McGee to have to earn the closer's role back for the Rays with how well Brad Boxberger has been pitching, although the chances are decent McGee will resume the role from last season. Of course, the bullpen-by-committee approach may be best for the Rays, with all three of McGee, Boxberger and Frieri in the mix for saves. It's certainly not a clear-cut situation.

Detroit Tigers – There was some doubt that Joakim Soria could handle the job for the Tigers, but that's all by the wayside now as he locked down his American League-leading 9th save of the season on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins. Soria has only allowed two runs in 10.2 IP this season, while keeping his base-on-balls to a minimum with only two on the year.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – April 30, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
A. Pujols1BLAA @ OAK
3:35PM
J. Chavez16711420.438.500.6251.125
M. TroutOFLAA @ OAK
3:35PM
J. Chavez13432525.308.375.8461.221
J. ReddickOFOAK vs LAA
3:35PM
G. Richards12500030.417.533.417.950
C. Johnson3BATL vs CIN
7:10PM
M. Leake19532312.263.333.632.965
K. Johnson3BATL vs CIN
7:10PM
M. Leake13521211.385.429.6921.121
A. SimmonsSSATL vs CIN
7:10PM
M. Leake10510001.500.500.6001.100
D. MesoracoCCIN @ ATL
7:10PM
S. Miller10321201.300.300.7001.000
B. Phillips2BCIN @ ATL
7:10PM
S. Miller17621105.353.353.588.941
M. Cabrera1BDET @ KC
8:10PM
D. Duffy18530465.278.440.444.884
K. SuzukiCMIN vs CWS
8:10PM
C. Sale12410321.333.467.417.883
Hot Pitcher Matchups – April 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
Stephen StrasburgWAS @ NYM
7:10PM
7616326822.211.288.307.594
Shelby MillerATL vs CIN
7:10PM
952194111025.221.291.409.699
Danny DuffyKC vs DET
8:10PM
791672101218.203.315.342.657
Chris SaleCWS @ MIN
8:10PM
1634014314645.245.283.374.658
Cold Batter Matchups – April 30, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
D. Freese3BLAA @ OAK
3:35PM
J. Chavez11110324.091.286.182.468
F. Freeman1BATL vs CIN
7:10PM
M. Leake13111223.077.200.308.508
J. BruceOFCIN @ ATL
7:10PM
S. Miller10110133.100.286.200.486
M. ByrdOFCIN @ ATL
7:10PM
S. Miller10210015.200.273.300.573
Z. CozartSSCIN @ ATL
7:10PM
S. Miller11100003.091.091.091.182
R. TejadaSSNYM vs WAS
7:10PM
S. Strasburg13200004.154.154.154.308
V. Martinez1BDET @ KC
8:10PM
D. Duffy15310221.200.294.267.561
J. Mauer1BMIN vs CWS
8:10PM
C. Sale24610217.250.280.292.572
E. NunezSSMIN vs CWS
8:10PM
C. Sale12220002.167.167.333.500
D. SantanaSSMIN vs CWS
8:10PM
C. Sale11210103.182.182.273.455
W. BloomquistSSSEA @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Feldman12110101.083.077.167.244
N. CruzOFSEA @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Feldman10200002.200.273.200.473
A. JacksonOFSEA @ HOU
8:10PM
S. Feldman12210015.167.231.333.564
Cold Pitcher Matchups – April 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
Garrett RichardsLAA @ OAK
3:35PM
601920489.317.397.339.737
Recommended Pickup

Luis Valbuena, 2B/3B, Houston Astros – Valbuena (.225/.291/.479) doesn't hit for average, although he's been highly productive to this point with his at-bats against right-handed pitching. The power pace is a bit fluky to this point, but Valbuena is certainly capable of giving you 15-plus homers by season's end – just expect the pace to slow. If you need an infielder in a deeper-league set up, Valbuena is an intriguing option especially if the Astros keep playing him against right-handers.

Other Recent Recommendations:Jake Marisnick, Rafael Montero, Jimmy Paredes, Mark Teixeira, Marcus Semien and Tony Watson.

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Danny Duffy, KC ($6,500)
C: A.J. Pierzynski, ATL ($3,500)
1B: Joe Mauer, MIN ($3,800)
2B: Dan Uggla, WAS ($3,000)
SS: Danny Santana, MIN ($3,400)
3B: Mike Moustakas, KC ($3,800)
OF: Colby Rasmus, HOU ($4,000)

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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