Wednesday Lineup Card: Back, Back, Back, Gone

Wednesday Lineup Card: Back, Back, Back, Gone

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

White Sox (Frankie Montas – R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander – R), 1:08
Angels (Nick Tropeano – R) at Astros (Mike Fiers – R), 2:10
Orioles (Chris Tillman – R) at Nationals (Max Scherzer – R), 7:05
Yankees (Ivan Nova – R) at Blue Jays (Marcus Stroman – R), 7:07
Rays (Drew Smyly – L) at Red Sox (Rick Porcello – R), 7:10
Braves (Williams Perez – R) at Mets (Bartolo Colon – R), 7:10
Phillies (David Buchanan – R) at Marlins (Adam Conley – R), 7:10
Brewers (Zach Davies – R) at Cubs (Kyle Hendricks – R), 8:05
Mariners (Roenis Elias – L) at Royals (Yordano Ventura – R), 8:10
Indians (Corey Kluber – R) at Twins (Phil Hughes – R), 8:10
Reds (Brandon Finnegan – L) at Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R), 8:15
Pirates (Charlie Morton – R) at Rockies (Christian Bergman – R), 8:40
Rangers (Colby Lewis – R) at Athletics (Felix Doubront – L), 10:05
Diamondbacks (Chase Anderson – R) at Dodgers (Zack Greinke – R), 10:10
Giants (Jake Peavy – R) at Padres (Andrew Cashner – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: CHW, DET, LAA, HOU

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET (back) – Won't play Wednesday
Adam Jones, OF, BAL (back) – Missed Monday and Tuesday's games
Carlos Gomez, OF, HOU (back) – Out of Tuesday's lineup again
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (back) – Out four straight; probably done for the year
Felix Hernandez, SP, SEA (elbow) – Has "no doubt" he'll make his start Friday
Buster Posey, C, SF (hip/back) – Scratched Tuesday
Nolan Arenado, 3B, COL (head) – Left Tuesday's game
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE (shoulder) – Injured on diving catch attempt Tuesday
Masahiro Tanaka, SP, NYY (hamstring) – Went through normal workouts Monday
Greg Holland, RP, KC (elbow) – Won't be the closer once ready to return
Matt Holliday, OF, STL (undisclosed) – Not in lineup Tuesday after pinch hitting Monday
Justin Turner, 3B, LAD (knee) – Out again Tuesday
Brandon Belt, 1B, SF (concussion) – Not traveling with team; seeing specialist Thursday
Jonathan Lucroy, C, MIL (concussion) – Will only play first base this year upon return
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, PIT (groin) – Left Tuesday's game
Zach Britton, RP, BAL (back) – Sore lat; could be unavailable a few days
Nate Karns, SP, TB (forearm) – Shut down
Trevor May, RP, MIN (back) – Was unavailable Tuesday
Nick Ahmed, SS, ARI (back) – Left Tuesday's game
Danny Espinosa, 2B, WAS (hamstring) – Has small tear; regular season likely over
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI (knee) – Unlikely to return this season
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, BOS (illness) – Will be out a few days
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS (oblique) – Out again Tuesday; won't be shut down
Omar Infante, 2B, KC (oblique) – Out 2-3 weeks with strain
Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, MIA (hamstring) – Out since Sept. 2, but close to return
Jorge De La Rosa, SP, COL (Achilles) – Scratched from Wednesday's start
Chris Bassitt, SP, OAK (shoulder) – Will start Thursday
Josh Phegley, C, OAK (concussion) – Out the rest of the season
Juan Uribe, 3B, NYM (chest) – Wasn't available Tuesday, but will be a short-term absence
Martin Prado, 3B, MIA (wrist) – Out for third straight game Tuesday
Shane Peterson, OF, MIL (knee) – Out the last five games
Juan C. Perez, OF, SF (oblique) – Done for the year
Jim Johnson, RP, LAD (personal) – On paternity leave
Bruce Rondon, RP, DET (coach's decision) – Shut down because of insufficient effort, apparently

Players on the DL

Yasiel Puig, OF, LAD (hamstring) – Doesn't know when or if he'll return this year
Maikel Franco, 3B, PHI (wrist) – Unlikely to return this year after setback
Johnny Giavotella, 2B, LAA (illness) – Could be back this weekend
Jarrod Parker, SP, OAK (elbow) – Coming along gradually in rehab; in the mix next year
Jesse Hahn, SP, OAK (forearm) – Playing catch from 60 feet
Ricky Nolasco, SP, MIN (ankle) – Needs one more side session before activation
Tyler Chatwood, SP, COL (elbow) – Will pitch in fall and winter ball

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

Called Up

Adam Liberatore, RP, LAD
Michael Reed, OF, MIL
Jorge Lopez, SP, MIL
Adrian Houser, RP, MIL
Yhonathan Barrios, RP, MIL
Tyler Wagner, SP, MIL
Yadiel Rivera, SS, MIL
Max Kepler, OF, MIN

Closer Watch

Royals -- With the news that Greg Holland won't be closing once he returns from his elbow injury, Wade Davis is set to close games for the remainder of the season.

Tigers -- Bruce Rondon's been shut down due to an apparently insufficient effort level, which isn't very promising at all for his future. Alex Wilson and Neftali Feliz are your closer candidates.

Orioles -- Darren O'Day recorded the save Tuesday and will continue to close games while Zach Britton's lat injury keeps him out.

Cardinals -- Steve Cishek got his first save in a St. Louis uniform Tuesday, striking out two in a scoreless inning with Trevor Rosenthal unavailable after he'd pitched the last two days. Still, Cishek hasn't exactly been a new man with the Cardinals, so he's no threat to Rosenthal.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – September 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
J. Abreu1BCWS @ DET
1:08PM
J. Verlander16832214.500.529.9381.467
A. EatonOFCWS @ DET
1:08PM
J. Verlander15530114.333.375.600.975
C. Davis1BBAL @ WAS
7:05PM
M. Scherzer20711207.350.350.500.850
A. JonesOFBAL @ WAS
7:05PM
M. Scherzer221153405.500.5001.0001.500
B. GardnerOFNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
M. Stroman10332511.300.3641.0001.364
J. BautistaOFTOR vs NYY
7:07PM
I. Nova19731674.368.538.6321.170
E. Encarnacion1BTOR vs NYY
7:07PM
I. Nova26931723.346.419.538.958
F. Freeman1BATL @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon20930222.450.500.6001.100
A. SimmonsSSATL @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon201130510.550.571.7501.321
N. Swisher1BATL @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon15742212.467.5001.0001.500
D. OrtizDHBOS vs TB
7:10PM
D. Smyly10521202.500.500.9001.400
L. Forsythe2BTB @ BOS
7:10PM
R. Porcello10400020.400.500.400.900
M. BrantleyOFCLE @ MIN
8:10PM
P. Hughes19541222.263.333.579.912
K. VargasDHMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Kluber14421205.286.286.571.857
J. BruceOFCIN @ STL
8:15PM
L. Lynn3114631137.452.486.9031.390
J. Votto1BCIN @ STL
8:15PM
L. Lynn20920075.450.621.5501.171
C. GonzalezOFCOL vs PIT
8:40PM
C. Morton18621423.333.400.556.956
A. Beltre3BTEX @ OAK
10:05PM
F. Doubront11742901.636.6361.3642.000
J. UptonOFSD vs SF
10:10PM
J. Peavy17932612.529.5561.0001.556
B. CrawfordSSSF @ SD
10:10PM
A. Cashner11511220.455.538.7271.266
B. PoseyCSF @ SD
10:10PM
A. Cashner221132530.500.560.8181.378
Hot Pitcher Matchups – September 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
Max ScherzerWAS vs BAL
7:05PM
1303410510334.262.276.412.688
Drew SmylyTB @ BOS
7:10PM
6715625525.224.278.374.651
Kyle HendricksCHC vs MIL
8:05PM
6115003510.246.315.256.571
Phil HughesMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
1293612314426.279.298.424.722
Corey KluberCLE @ MIN
8:10PM
2133917518961.183.224.316.540
Colby LewisTEX @ OAK
10:05PM
1552981101431.187.253.261.514
Zack GreinkeLAD vs ARI
10:10PM
13023822938.177.236.266.502
Cold Batter Matchups – September 23, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
G. Beckham2BCWS @ DET
1:08PM
J. Verlander37811618.216.231.297.528
M. CabreraOFCWS @ DET
1:08PM
J. Verlander26410324.154.207.231.438
T. FlowersCCWS @ DET
1:08PM
J. Verlander21432238.190.292.524.815
J. HardySSBAL @ WAS
7:05PM
M. Scherzer26421315.154.185.308.493
M. Machado3BBAL @ WAS
7:05PM
M. Scherzer11000005.000.000.000.000
B. McCannCNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
M. Stroman10100101.100.182.100.282
J. Peterson2BATL @ NYM
7:10PM
B. Colon10220303.200.182.500.682
D. Pedroia2BBOS vs TB
7:10PM
D. Smyly10200013.200.273.200.473
K. KiermaierOFTB @ BOS
7:10PM
R. Porcello14100111.071.133.071.205
G. SizemoreOFTB @ BOS
7:10PM
R. Porcello21400115.190.227.190.418
S. Gennett2BMIL @ CHC
8:05PM
K. Hendricks12300000.250.250.250.500
J. SeguraSSMIL @ CHC
8:05PM
K. Hendricks10200000.200.200.200.400
L. Chisenhall3BCLE @ MIN
8:10PM
P. Hughes17300202.176.167.176.343
C. Santana1BCLE @ MIN
8:10PM
P. Hughes19310216.158.190.211.401
B. Dozier2BMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Kluber28310019.107.138.143.281
E. EscobarSSMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Kluber18200003.111.158.111.269
A. HicksOFMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Kluber11110112.091.167.182.348
T. HunterOFMIN vs CLE
8:10PM
C. Kluber21310108.143.143.190.333
T. Frazier3BCIN @ STL
8:15PM
L. Lynn315333515.161.297.452.749
D. Descalso2BCOL vs PIT
8:40PM
C. Morton12000043.000.294.000.294
B. Butler1BOAK vs TEX
10:05PM
C. Lewis17321404.176.176.412.588
B. Lawrie3BOAK vs TEX
10:05PM
C. Lewis12100017.083.154.083.237
M. SemienSSOAK vs TEX
10:05PM
C. Lewis10000004.000.000.000.000
E. Sogard2BOAK vs TEX
10:05PM
C. Lewis17300113.176.222.176.399
S. VogtCOAK vs TEX
10:05PM
C. Lewis13100013.077.143.077.220
P. Goldschmidt1BARI @ LAD
10:10PM
Z. Greinke234200312.174.269.261.530
E. InciarteOFARI @ LAD
10:10PM
Z. Greinke11000012.000.083.000.083
C. OwingsSSARI @ LAD
10:10PM
Z. Greinke10000013.000.091.000.091
J. SaltalamacchiaCARI @ LAD
10:10PM
Z. Greinke11220025.182.308.364.671
C. BarmesSSSD vs SF
10:10PM
J. Peavy21500203.238.238.238.476
Cold Pitcher Matchups – September 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
Ivan NovaNYY @ TOR
7:07PM
11331104251615.274.390.437.827
Bartolo ColonNYM vs ATL
7:10PM
1685520316717.327.357.498.854
Lance LynnSTL vs CIN
8:15PM
15046157221638.307.378.519.897
Felix DoubrontOAK vs TEX
10:05PM
702385191017.329.412.6011.014
Andrew CashnerSD vs SF
10:10PM
66284311911.424.493.5951.088

Recommended Pickup
Jorge Lopez, SP, MIL – This is admittedly a speculative play, as we don't know whether Lopez will start for the Brewers down the stretch, but there certainly are holes in that rotation, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the 22-year-old get a start or two after he was called up from Double-A on Tuesday. Lopez has had a very strong year down in Biloxi – in 143.1 innings, he's given up just 105 hits with a 137:52 K:BB, leading to a 2.26 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. The increase in his strikeout rate from last season's disappointment in High-A ball is quite promising, and it's possible that he'll get a chance to make a start in pitcher-friendly San Diego.

Other Recent Recommendations:Tyler Duffey, Starlin Castro, Justin Bour, Cliff Pennington, Tommy Pham

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Andrew Cashner, SD ($6,900)
C: Yasmani Grandal, LAD ($3,400)
1B: Mark Trumbo, SEA ($3,400)
2B: Robinson Cano, SEA ($3,600)
3B: Brett Lawrie, OAK ($3,200)
SS: Ian Desmond, WAS ($3,300)
OF: Michael Conforto, OF, NYM ($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.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Fiorentino
Andrew is a former RotoWire contributor. He was a managing hockey editor, talent wrangler, football columnist, FSWA's 2015 fantasy hockey writer of the year. Twitter: @akfiorentino
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