The Lineup Card: Late-Season Injury Woes

Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups:

Cardinals (Chris Carpenter - R) at Cubs (Casey Coleman - R), 1:05
Braves (Derek Lowe - R) at Nationals (Yunesky Maya - R), 1:05
Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie - R) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero - L), 1:07
Rangers (Derek Holland - L) at Athletics (Gio Gonzalez - L), 4:05
Red Sox (Jon Lester - L) at Yankees (Ivan Nova - R), 4:10
Reds (Travis Wood - L) at Padres (Jon Garland - R), 4:10
Royals (Zack Greinke - R) at Indians (Jeanmar Gomez - R), 7:05
Twins (Carl Pavano - R) at Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman - R), 7:05
Mets (Dillon Gee - R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick - R), 7:05
Astros (Bud Norris) at Pirates (Zach Duke), 7:05
Marlins (Chris Volstad) at Brewers (Chris Narveson), 7:10
Mariners (Doug Fister) at Rays (Matt Garza), 7:10
Giants (Barry Zito - R) at Rockies (Jason Hammel - R), 8:10
Dodgers (John Ely - R) at Diamondbacks (Dan Hudson - R), 8:10
White Sox (John Danks - L) at Angels (Scott Kazmir - L), 9:05

Day game after a night game: ATL, WAS, BAL, TOR, TEX, OAK, BOS, NYY, CIN, SD

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Jose Tabata, OF, PIT - (Knee) Left Friday's game, not expected to miss much time
Melvin Mora, 3B, COL - (Illness) - Left Friday's game early
Takashi Saito, P, ATL - (Shoulder) No discomfort when throwing Friday, hopes to return in regular season
James McDonald, P, PIT - (Finger) Left Friday's game early, but could start again this year
Andres Torres, OF, SF - (Abdomen) Could to the lineup soon
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN - (Illness) Missed his third straight game Friday
Jair Jurrjens, P, ATL - (Knee) Friday bullpen session cut short, won't make next start
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI - (Hamstring) Expected to return Sunday
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA - (Elbow) Marlins won't rush him back, could potentially be done batting for the rest of the year
Marlon Byrd, OF, CHN - (Face) Left Friday's game after being struck in the face by a foul ball
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS - (Rib) Not in Friday's lineup
Michael Bourn, OF, HOU - (Oblique) Remained out of the lineup Friday, could return Saturday
Jeff Baker, 2B, CHC - (Illness) Not in Friday's lineup
Emilio Bonifacio, 3B, FLA - (Hamstring) Expected to play Saturday
Justin Upton, OF, AZ - (Shoulder) Could miss rest of season
Chris Perez, P, CLE - (Personal) Could miss several games
Mike Lowell, 3B, BOS - (Face) Left Friday's game early
Alexi Casilla, 2B, MIN - (Illness) Left Friday's game
Francisco Liriano, P, MIN - (Illness) Left Friday's game
Alberto Callaspo, 2B, ANA - (Foot) Hasn't played since Monday
Rajai Davis, OF, OAK - (Personal) Didn't start Friday
Jim Thome, DH, MIN - (Back) Didn't start Friday
Joe Mauer, C, MIN - (Knee) Won't play this weekend
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB - (Quad) Likely out this weekend
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE - (Hamstring) Missed second straight game Friday
David Robertson, P, NYY - (Back) Hopes to pitch Saturday

Players on the DL
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN - (Concussion) Unlikely to return this season or in playoffs
Yadier Molina, C, STL - (Knee) Likely done for the season

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

Called Up
Steven Hill, C, STL
Andrew Romine, SS, LAA

Activated from DL
Kanekoa Texeira, P, KC

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left)

None today

Key Matchups - Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included) *Check status

Hot
Marlon Byrd* v. Chris Carpenter - 8-for-22 (.364), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.391 OBP)
Alfonso Soriano v. Chris Carpenter - 13-for-41 (.317), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2:9 BB:K (.349 OBP)
Aramis Ramirez v. Chris Carpenter - 18-for-57 (.316), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2:8 BB:K (.339 OBP)
Mike Morse v. Derek Lowe - 2-for-10 (.200), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.273 OBP)
Kevin Mench v. Derek Lowe - 4-for-12 (.333), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Alberto Gonzalez v. Derek Lowe - 5-for-11 (.455), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Ian Desmond v. Derek Lowe - 5-for-11 (.455), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2:4 BB:K (.538 OBP)
Nyjer Morgan v. Derek Lowe - 14-for-25 (.560), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:0 BB:K (.560 OBP)
Adam Kennedy v. Derek Lowe - 13-for-38 (.342), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:5 BB:K (.405 OBP)
Edwin Encarnacion v. Jeremy Guthrie - 5-for-14 (.357), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.412 OBP)
Jose Bautista v. Jeremy Guthrie - 6-for-18 (.333), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Vernon Wells v. Jeremy Guthrie - 10-for-32 (.313), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.353 OBP)
Brian Roberts v. Ricky Romero - 5-for-10 (.500), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:1 BB:K (.643 OBP)
Ty Wigginton v. Ricky Romero - 5-for-14 (.357), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Adam Jones v. Ricky Romero - 7-for-20 (.350), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.350 OBP)
Alex Rodriguez v. Jon Lester - 6-for-24 (.250), 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.308 OBP)
Derek Jeter v. Jon Lester - 11-for-33 (.333), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:9 BB:K (.371 OBP)
Brandon Phillips v. Jon Garland - 7-for-17 (.412), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.444 OBP)
Orlando Cabrera v. Jon Garland - 13-for-37 (.351), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.342 OBP)
Asdrubal Cabrera v. Zack Greinke - 13-for-28 (.464), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 5:1 BB:K (.545 OBP)
Travis Hafner v. Zack Greinke - 15-for-41 (.366), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:14 BB:K (.409 OBP)
Johnny Damon v. Carl Pavano - 7-for-19 (.368), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.381 OBP)
Delmon Young v. Jeremy Bonderman - 6-for-14 (.429), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.467 OBP)
Jim Thome* v. Jeremy Bonderman - 8-for-26 (.308), 4 HR, 8 RBI, 4:8 BB:K (.400 OBP)
Michael Cuddyer v. Jeremy Bonderman - 11-for-34 (.324), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:8 BB:K (.361 OBP)
Carlos Beltran v. Kyle Kendrick - 4-for-13 (.308), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 BB:K (.357 OBP)
Jose Reyes v. Kyle Kendrick - 8-for-20 (.400), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 BB:K (.455 OBP)
Hunter Pence v. Zach Duke - 4-for-11 (.364), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:0 BB:K (.417 OBP)
Franklin Gutierrez v. Matt Garza - 6-for-13 (.462), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.500 OBP)
Jose Lopez v. Matt Garza - 5-for-15 (.333), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K (.333 OBP)
Carlos Gonzalez v. Barry Zito - 6-for-16 (.375), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.412 OBP)
Aubrey Huff v. Jason Hammel - 4-for-12 (.333), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2:3 BB:K (.429 OBP)
Bobby Abreu v. John Danks - 4-for-10 (.400), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 8:2 BB:K (.667 OBP)
Alexei Ramirez v. Scott Kazmir - 5-for-14 (.357), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.438 OBP)
Paul Konerko v. Scott Kazmir - 11-for-23 (.478 OBP), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3:4 BB:K (.538 OBP)

Gio Gonzalez v. Rangers - .229/.300/.349, 3 HR, 11:19 BB:K (121 plate appearances)
Barry Zito v. Rockies - .202/.294/.304, 6 HR, 33:59 BB:K (307 plate appearances)

Cold
Kosuke Fukudome v. Chris Carpenter - 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:1 BB:K (.222 OBP)
Willie Harris v. Derek Lowe - 7-for-32 (.219), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.242 OBP)
Adam Dunn v. Derek Lowe - 6-for-34 (.176), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:9 BB:K (.222 OBP)
Aaron Hill v. Jeremy Guthrie - 6-for-30 (.200), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:4 BB:K (.242 OBP)
Matt Wieters v. Ricky Romero - 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:5 BB:K (.214 OBP)
Cesar Izturis v. Ricky Romero - 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K (.214 OBP)
Michael Young v. Gio Gonzalez - 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:0 BB:K (.313 OBP)
Vladimir Guerrero v. Gio Gonzalez - 4-for-19 (.211), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:5 BB:K (.211 OBP)
Jorge Posada v. Jon Lester - 4-for-21 (.190), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:6 BB:K (.261 OBP)
Jayson Nix v. Zack Greinke - 2-for-17 (.118), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:7 BB:K (.118 OBP)
Shin-Soo Choo v. Zack Greinke - 7-for-30 (.233), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3:10 BB:K (.294 OBP)
Gerald Laird v. Carl Pavano - 4-for-18 (.222), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:0 BB:K (.222 OBP)
Orlando Hudson v. Jeremy Bonderman - 4-for-17 (.235), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.278 OBP)
Nick Punto v. Jeremy Bonderman - 5-for-22 (.227), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:5 BB:K (.292 OBP)
Angel Pagan v. Kyle Kendrick - 3-for-15 (.200), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 BB:K (.250 OBP)
Miguel Olivo v. Barry Zito - 3-for-17 (.176), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:7 BB:K (.286 OBP)
Todd Helton v. Barry Zito - 5-for-22 (.227), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 9:7 BB:K (.452 OBP)
Troy Tulowitzki v. Barry Zito - 5-for-36 (.139), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:8 BB:K (.135 OBP)
Melvin Mora v. Barry Zito - 8-for-37 (.216), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2:6 BB:K (.256 OBP)
Pablo Sandoval v. Jason Hammel - 3-for-15 (.200), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:2 BB:K (.294 OBP)
Juan Rivera v. John Danks - 4-for-19 (.211), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.250 OBP)
Erick Aybar v. John Danks - 3-for-20 (.150), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K (.143 OBP)
Mark Kotsay v. Scott Kazmir - 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:3 BB:K (.167 OBP)
Andruw Jones v. Scott Kazmir - 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:4 BB:K (.167 OBP)
Alexis Rios v. Scott Kazmir - 7-for-38 (.184), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:10 BB:K (.225 OBP)
Manny Ramirez v. Scott Kazmir - 7-for-45 (.156), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5:14 BB:K (.269 OBP)

Recommended Pickup

Travis Wood, P, CIN - If you're searching for streaming options down the stretch, consider Wood on Saturday against the Padres. He has allowed three or fewer runs in five straight starts, posting a 26:7 K:BB ratio during that span. The rookie will be pitching in spacious Petco Park and is available in nearly 80 percent of ESPN leagues.

Other recent recommendations:James McDonald, Evan Meek, Danny Valencia, Andy Pettitte, Nate McLouth