The Lineup Card: Rocky Mountin High

Projected Starters - A look at Sunday's matchups:

Twins (Kevin Slowey – R) at Indians (Mitch Talbot – R), 1:05 ET
Orioles (Chris Tillman – R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander – R), 1:05 ET
Rays (Jeff Niemann – R) at Blue Jays (Shaun Marcum – R), 1:07 ET
Phillies (Roy Oswalt – R) at Mets (Jonathan Niese – L), 1:10 ET
Pirates (Brian Burres – L) at Reds (Johnny Cueto – R), 1:10 ET
Marlins (Chris Volstad – R) at Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann – R), 1:35 ET
Dodgers (Carlos Monasterios – R) at Astros (Nelson Figueroa – R), 2:05 ET
Royals (Sean O'Sullivan – R) at White Sox (Freddy Garcia – R), 2:05 ET
Cubs (Casey Coleman – R) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo – R), 2:10 ET
Yankees (Dustin Moseley – R) at Rangers (Cliff Lee – L), 3:05 ET
Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy – R) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin – R), 3:10 ET
Mariners (Jason Vargas – L) at Angels (Dan Haren – R), 3:35 ET
Giants (Tim Lincecum – R) at Padres (Mat Latos – R), 4:05 ET
Red Sox (Josh Beckett – R) at Athletics (Dallas Braden – L), 4:05 ET
Cardinals (Kyle Lohse – R) at Braves (Tim Hudson – R), 8:05 ET

Day game after a night game: MIN, CLE, BAL, DET, PIT, CIN, HOU, LAD, KAN, CHW, CHC, MIW, NYY, TEX, ARI, COL, SEA, LAA, BOS, OAK

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)
Jay Bruce, OF, CIN – (Abdomen) Remained out of the lineup Saturday
Orlando Cabrera, SS, CIN – (Oblique) Returned to the lineup Saturday
Tom Gorzelanny, P, CHC – (Finger) Threw bullpen Friday, will throw again Sunday
Domonic Brown, OF, PHI – (Quad) Available to pinch-hit Saturday
Josh Johnson, P, FLA – (Back) Didn't throw Saturday as hoped, still might get shut down
Carlos Beltran, OF, NYM – (Knee) Sat out Saturday and will likely get a lot of rest down the stretch
Trever Miller, P, STL – (Forearm) Out 1-3 weeks
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI – (Hamstring) Out Saturday, not expected to play Sunday
Chris Johnson, 3B, HOU – (Back) Not in Saturday's lineup, shouldn't be out long
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL – (Hand) Out with slight bruise, should return Sunday
Justin Upton, OF, ARI – (Shoulder) Missed 12th straight day Saturday
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, CHC – (Quad) Likely out of lineup until Monday
Vicente Padilla, P, LAD – (Neck) Scratched from Sunday's start; Carlos Monasterios will start
Gerald Laird, C, DET – (Back) Hasn't played since September 2
Jose Valverde, P, DET – (Elbow) Could be available Sunday
Felix Doubront, P, BOS – (Chest) Not expected to rejoin team until Thursday
Jorge Posada, C, NYY – (Concussion) Could return to the lineup Sunday
Armando Galarraga, P, DET – (Elbow) Next start will be skipped
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX – (Ribs) Could miss most of this week
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, OAK – (Back) Won't resume baseball activities until Monday
Freddy Garcia, P, CHW – (Back) Won't start Sunday and may not start again until next weekend
Bobby Jenks, P, CHW – (Forearm) Not available Saturday and may miss a few more days
Brian Fuentes, P, MIN – (Back) Could be available Sunday

Players on the DL
Aaron Cook, P, COL – (Leg) Officially done for the season
Jerry Hairston Jr., SS, SD – (Elbow) Should return sometime this week
Ian Stewart, 3B, COL – (Oblique) Still "a ways away" from returning
Joel Pineiro, P, LAA – (Oblique) Will make rehab start Sunday
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN – (Concussion) Won't travel on current road trip
Andy Pettitte, P, NYY – (Groin) Rehab start Tuesday, hopes to rejoin rotation next Sunday
Joey Devine, P, OAK – (Elbow) Won't pitch again this season

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

Called Up
Chris Davis, 1B, TEX

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

Florida – Clay Hensley tossed 1.1 innings to pick up a save Friday night, his first since being moved into the closer role a week ago. He's still available in a large percentage of leagues and should be gobbled up by any owner seeking saves.

Chicago White Sox – With Bobby Jenks (forearm) unavailable, the Sox used Chris Sale to close Friday's game. Even if Jenks remains sidelined for a few more games, Sale isn't guaranteed to get all the opportunities. Matt Thornton and J.J. Putz are additional possibilities.

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
Carlos Beltran* v. Roy Oswalt – 8-for-20 (.400), 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2:5 BB:K, .435 OBP
Orlando Cabrera v. Brian Burres – 7-for-13 (.538), 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .563 OBP – 5 XB hits
Andrew McCutchen v. Johnny Cueto – 6-for-19 (.316), 3 HR, 3 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .381 OBP
Adam Dunn v. Chris Volstad – 10-for-19 (.526), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 7:3 BB:K, .654 OBP
Ryan Zimmerman v. Chris Volstad – 11-for-18 (.611), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .611 OBP
Derrek Lee v. Kyle Lohse – 9-for-20 (.450), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1:6 BB:K, .476 OBP
Troy Glaus v. Kyle Lohse – 5-for-12 (.417), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .500 OBP
Albert Pujols v. Tim Hudson – 10-for-23 (.435), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .480 OBP
Travis Hafner v. Kevin Slowey – 7-for-19 (.368), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .368 OBP
Adam Lind v. Jeff Niemann – 8-for-20 (.400), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3:2 BB:K, .478 OBP
Sean Rodriguez v. Shaun Marcum – 6-for-10 (.600), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .636 OBP – 5 XB hits
Willie Bloomquist v. Freddy Garcia – 8-for-21 (.381), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .409 OBP
Billy Butler v. Freddy Garcia – 5-for-11 (.455), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3:0 BB:K, .455 OBP
Mike Aviles v. Freddy Garcia – 6-for-9 (.667), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .667 OBP
Ian Kinsler v. Dustin Moseley – 4-for-8 (.500), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .500 OBP
Derek Jeter v. Cliff Lee – 14-for-34 (.412), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 3:3 BB:K, .459 OBP
Mark Teixeira v. Cliff Lee – 10-for-27 (.370), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .433 OBP
Adrian Beltre v. Dallas Braden – 6-for-13 (.462), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .500 OBP
Marco Scutaro v. Dallas Braden – 8-for-14 (.500), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .571 OBP

Cold
Alfonso Soriano v. Yovani Gallardo – 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:6 BB:K, .091 OBP
Adrian Gonzalez v. Tim Lincecum – 7-for-36 (.194), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:16 BB:K, .237 OBP
Omar Infante v. Kyle Lohse – 3-for-19 (.158), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .158 OBP
Felipe Lopez v. Tim Hudson – 5-for-27 (.185), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .241 OBP
Pedro Feliz v. Tim Hudson – 5-for-29 (.172), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2:6 BB:K, .226 OBP
Shin-Soo Choo v. Kevin Slowey – 4-for-21 (.190), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:10 BB:K, .227 OBP
Vernon Wells v. Jeff Niemann – 2-for-20 (.100), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .143 OBP
Carlos Pena v. Shaun Marcum – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:6 BB:K, .214 OBP
Yuniesky Betancourt v. Freddy Garcia – 1-for-14 (.071), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .133 OBP
Marcus Thames v. Cliff Lee – 7-for-33 (.212), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 0:14 BB:K, .212 OBP
Howie Kendrick v. Jason Vargas – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .133 OBP
Jose Lopez v. Dan Haren – 5-for-25 (.200), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:7 BB:K, .200 OBP
Gabe Gross v. Josh Beckett – 1-for-17 (.059), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3:6 BB:K, .200 OBP

Cliff Lee v. Yankees - .297/.340/.510 against the Yankees, including 11 HR allowed in 263 IP.

Chris Volstad v. Nationals - .333/.403/.508 in 120 AB, see Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman in Hot section.

Ian Kennedy v. Rockies – The word is out on how the Rockies hit at home. Kennedy's line against this team is .322/.388/.542 but in just 69 plate appearances. Normally we leave guys out of here without at least 100 plate appearances, but this one is notable because Kennedy has been so good of late but the start is at Coors Field. I have to stream a starter for the playoffs tomorrow and I am torn between his recent surge (QS in 4 of last 5, D'Backs 5-1 in last six starts). The only non-QS in that string came against the Rockies and the game was played in the desert as Kennedy gave up 10 hits in five innings. I'm talking myself out of this streaming option as I type.

Recommended Pickup

Eric Young Jr. – This is a play on speed. Young does not get on base as much as you'd like to see a leadoff man get aboard, but when he does it is off to the races. Young has eight stolen bases in his last 16 games. If you need steals on your team, find it here and take the present .262 average as a gift.

Other recent recommendations:Logan Morrison, Chris Narveson, Danny Espinosa, Ian Kennedy, Yunesky Maya