This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
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Projected Starters - A look at Friday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Cardinals (Joe Kelly - R) at Cubs (Carlos Villanueva - R), 4:05 PM
White Sox (John Danks - L) at Phillies (Jonathan Pettibone - R), 7:05 PM
Mets (Jeremy Hefner - R) at Pirates (Charlie Morton - R), 7:05 PM
Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle - L) at Orioles (Chris Tillman - R), 7:05 PM
Royals (Bruce Chen - L) at Indians (Corey Kluber - R), 7:05 PM
Twins (Scott Diamond - L) at Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 7:05 PM
Rangers (Justin Grimm - R) at Tigers (Doug Fister - R), 7:08 PM
Astros (Jarred Cosart - R) at Rays (David Price - L), 7:10 PM
Nationals (Stephen Strasburg - R) at Marlins (Nathan Eovaldi - R), 7:10 PM
Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R) at Braves (Kris Medlen - R), 7:30 PM
Brewers (Tom Gorzelanny - L) at Diamondbacks (Patrick Corbin - L), 9:40 PM
Red Sox (John Lackey - R) at Athletics (Jarrod Parker - R), 10:05 PM
Angels (Jerome Williams - R) at Mariners (Joe Saunders - L), 10:10 PM
Rockies (Juan Nicasio - R) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L), 10:10 PM
Giants (Chad Gaudin - R) at Padres (Sean O'Sullivan - R), 10:10 PM
Day Game After Night Game: STL, CHC
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL - (Personal) Placed on the bereavement list Thursday.
Derek Jeter, SS, NYY - (Quadriceps) Returned Thursday but left in the eighth inning with tightness in his right quad.
Jason Heyward, OF, ATL - (Hamstring) Will be re-evaluated Friday after leaving Thursday's game with what has been deemed a strain.
Ronny Cedeno, SS, HOU - (Toe) Not expected to miss much more time after X-rays came back negative.
Wade Davis, P, KC - (Personal) Placed on the paternity list Thursday.
Brett Gardner, OF, NYY - (Leg) Held out of the starting lineup Thursday, but came into the game for a pinch-hit appearance.
Travis Hafner, DH, NYY - (Foot) Sat Thursday with a contusion.
Nick Franklin, SS, SEA - (Knee) Held out of the starting lineup Thursday.
Alexei Ramirez, SS, CHW - (Leg) Exited Thursday's game with cramping in his right leg.
Chris Dickerson, OF, BAL - (Shoulder) Felt considerably better and was expected to be available Thursday against the Rangers.
Endy Chavez, OF, SEA - (Groin) Left Thursday's game in the fourth inning with tightness.
Players on the DL
Erik Kratz, C, PHI - (Knee) Will probably return to the Phillies after the All-Star break.
Roy Halladay, P, PHI - (Shoulder) Long tossing from 90 feet and could soon advance to throwing from 120 feet.
Michael Stutes, P, PHI - (Biceps) Still a couple of weeks away from throwing off a mound.
Ryan Hanigan, C, CIN - (Wrist) Landed on the 15-day DL on Thursday.
Sean Marshall, P, CIN - (Shoulder) Threw a 42-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and said, "It felt great."
Jenrry Mejia, P, NYM - (Forearm) Set to make a rehab appearance with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday.
Evan Gattis, C, ATL - (Oblique) Expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.
Scott Baker, P, CHC - (Elbow) Headed for Low-A Kane County to begin his rehab.
David DeJesus, OF, CHC - (Shoulder) Expected to join rookie-level Mesa during the All-Star break to begin playing rehab games.
Ryan Vogelsong, P, SF - (Hand) Threw a bullpen session prior to Thursday's game.
Yonder Alonso, 1B, SD - (Hand) Likely to join the Padres on Friday.
Mike Morse, OF, SEA - (Quadriceps) Still not ready to embark on a rehab assignment.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY - (Hip) Set to meet with MLB investigators Friday about his alleged involvement with Biogenesis.
Alexi Ogando, P, TEX - (Shoulder) Made his second rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Round Rock.
Jeff Baker, OF, TEX - (Thumb) Could be ready to rejoin the Rangers shortly after the All-Star break.
Brandon Gomes, P, TB - (Back) Successfully completed a 28-pitch bullpen session Thursday.
Paul Konerko, 1B, CHW - (Back) Expected to swing a bat Sunday to get a better read on how he is progressing.
Brett Lawrie, 3B, TOR - (Ankle) Expected back this weekend and may immediately move to second base on a full-time basis.
Melky Cabrera, OF, TOR - (Knee) Set to begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Buffalo.
Yu Darvish, P, TEX - (Shoulder) Tests on his trapezius muscle came back normal and he will not require an MRI.
Craig Gentry, OF, TEX - (Hand) To begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Frisco.
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)
Ryan Hanigan, C, CIN (retroactive to 7/10)
Wade Davis, P, KC (paternity list)
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (bereavement list)
Caleb Thielbar, P, MIN (bereavement list)
Activated from the DL
Derek Jeter, SS, NYY
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL
Called Up
Corky Miller, C, CIN
Michael Bowden, P, CHC
Michael Tonkin, P, MIN
Eury De La Rosa, P, ARI
Donnie Joseph, P, KC
Carlos Martinez, P, STL
Caleb Gindl, OF, MIL
Wilmer Font, P, TEX
Erasmo Ramirez, P, SEA
Danny Salazar, P, CLE
Jean Machi, P, SF
Joe Ortiz, P, TEX
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Travis Ishikawa, 1B, NYY (designated for assignment)
Carter Capps, P, SEA
Tyler Skaggs, P, ARI
Corey Dickerson, OF, COL
Mike Kickham, P, SF
Brooks Raley, P, CHC
Preston Guilmet, P, CLE
Jimmy Paredes, OF, HOU
Michael Blazek, P, STL
Josh Lindblom, P, TEX
Signed
Aaron Laffey, P, MIL (minor league contract)
Closer Watch
Cleveland - Chris Perez gave up back-to-back two-out hits and put the potential game-tying run on base with a walk in the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, but he was able to get Rajai Davis to fly out to end the ballgame. While the 28-year-old right-hander did give up a run to snap his streak of seven consecutive scoreless appearances, Perez has looked good since returning from the DL in late June and his hold on the ninth-inning job appears firm. Perez has, however, pitched five of the past six days, and if the Indians decide he needs a breather, Vinnie Pestano could get the call to handle a save situation should one present itself Friday.
Boston - With a perfect ninth inning against the Mariners on Thursday, Koji Uehara earned his seventh save of the season. In the past 15 days, Uehara has racked up six saves, two wins, and an incredible 13:1 K:BB, all while allowing just one run over 9.1 innings. He does have two blown saves on his ledger during that span as well, but if you look at Uehara's body of work since taking over the closer's role, you see a dominant end-gamer who should continue to hold significant value the rest of the way.
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
| Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Holliday - OF | STL @ CHC 7/12 4:05 PM | Carlos Villanueva | 3-10 | .300 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | .900 | .417 | 1.317 | |||||||
| Michael Brantley - OF | CLE vs KC 7/12 7:05 PM | Bruce Chen | 8-12 | .667 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .750 | .615 | 1.365 | |||||||
| Asdrubal Cabrera - SS | CLE vs KC 7/12 7:05 PM | Bruce Chen | 8-24 | .333 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | .542 | .333 | .875 | |||||||
| Jason Giambi - 1B | CLE vs KC 7/12 7:05 PM | Bruce Chen | 6-16 | .375 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1.125 | .476 | 1.601 | |||||||
| Nick Swisher - OF | CLE vs KC 7/12 7:05 PM | Bruce Chen | 4-11 | .364 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | .364 | .533 | .897 | |||||||
| Delmon Young - OF | PHI vs CWS 7/12 7:05 PM | John Danks | 16-43 | .372 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 4 | .651 | .404 | 1.055 | |||||||
| Adrian Beltre - 3B | TEX @ DET 7/12 7:08 PM | Doug Fister | 6-14 | .429 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .429 | .400 | .829 | |||||||
| Nelson Cruz - OF | TEX @ DET 7/12 7:08 PM | Doug Fister | 7-16 | .438 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .750 | .500 | 1.250 | |||||||
| David Murphy - OF | TEX @ DET 7/12 7:08 PM | Doug Fister | 8-18 | .444 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1.111 | .444 | 1.556 | |||||||
| Giancarlo Stanton - OF | MIA vs WAS 7/12 7:10 PM | Stephen Strasburg | 5-13 | .385 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 | .846 | .429 | 1.275 | |||||||
| Chris Johnson - 3B | ATL vs CIN 7/12 7:30 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 4-10 | .400 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .700 | .455 | 1.155 | |||||||
| Brian McCann - C | ATL vs CIN 7/12 7:30 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 9-18 | .500 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1.167 | .625 | 1.792 | |||||||
| Dan Uggla - 2B | ATL vs CIN 7/12 7:30 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 6-18 | .333 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | .722 | .429 | 1.151 | |||||||
| Martin Prado - 3B | ARI vs MIL 7/12 9:40 PM | Tom Gorzelanny | 4-12 | .333 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .667 | .429 | 1.095 | |||||||
| John Jaso - C | OAK vs BOS 7/12 10:05 PM | John Lackey | 5-12 | .417 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .667 | .462 | 1.128 | |||||||
| Dexter Fowler - OF | COL @ LAD 7/12 10:10 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 12-30 | .400 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | .533 | .471 | 1.004 | |||||||
| Josh Hamilton - OF | LAA @ SEA 7/12 10:10 PM | Joe Saunders | 4-10 | .400 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | .900 | .417 | 1.317 | |||||||
| Andre Ethier - OF | LAD vs COL 7/12 10:10 PM | Juan Nicasio | 7-11 | .636 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | .692 | 1.692 | |||||||
| Michael Saunders - OF | SEA vs LAA 7/12 10:10 PM | Jerome Williams | 4-10 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .400 | .400 | .800 | |||||||
| Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
| Jerome Williams | LAA @ SEA 7/12 10:10 PM | Mariners Batters | 17-83 | .205 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 21 | .281 | .247 | .528 | |||||||
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yadier Molina - C | STL @ CHC 7/12 4:05 PM | Carlos Villanueva | 3-18 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .167 | .211 | .377 | |||||||
| Ryan Doumit - C | MIN @ NYY 7/12 7:05 PM | Hiroki Kuroda | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .167 | .231 | .397 | |||||||
| Daniel Murphy - 2B | NYM @ PIT 7/12 7:05 PM | Charlie Morton | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .200 | .400 | |||||||
| Michael Young - 3B | PHI vs CWS 7/12 7:05 PM | John Danks | 6-25 | .240 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | .320 | .269 | .589 | |||||||
| Adam Lind - 1B | TOR @ BAL 7/12 7:05 PM | Chris Tillman | 3-14 | .214 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .214 | .214 | .429 | |||||||
| Elvis Andrus - SS | TEX @ DET 7/12 7:08 PM | Doug Fister | 4-22 | .182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .182 | .250 | .432 | |||||||
| Mitch Moreland - 1B | TEX @ DET 7/12 7:08 PM | Doug Fister | 1-11 | .091 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .091 | .091 | .182 | |||||||
| A.J. Pierzynski - C | TEX @ DET 7/12 7:08 PM | Doug Fister | 2-19 | .105 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .263 | .105 | .368 | |||||||
| Reed Johnson - OF | ATL vs CIN 7/12 7:30 PM | Bronson Arroyo | 3-16 | .188 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .188 | .235 | .423 | |||||||
| Coco Crisp - OF | OAK vs BOS 7/12 10:05 PM | John Lackey | 5-30 | .167 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | .367 | .242 | .609 | |||||||
| Jonathan Herrera - SS | COL @ LAD 7/12 10:10 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .250 | .231 | .481 | |||||||
| Brendan Ryan - SS | SEA vs LAA 7/12 10:10 PM | Jerome Williams | 0-13 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .000 | .133 | .133 | |||||||
| Kyle Seager - 3B | SEA vs LAA 7/12 10:10 PM | Jerome Williams | 3-15 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .267 | .200 | .467 | |||||||
| Justin Smoak - 1B | SEA vs LAA 7/12 10:10 PM | Jerome Williams | 1-12 | .083 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .333 | .083 | .417 | |||||||
| Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
| Bruce Chen | KC @ Cle 7/12 7:05 PM | Indians Batters | 40-113 | .354 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 15 | 13 | .596 | .430 | 1.026 | |||||||
| Stephen Strasburg | WAS @ Mia 7/12 7:10 PM | Marlins Batters | 23-67 | .343 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 16 | .558 | .405 | .964 | |||||||
| Bronson Arroyo | CIN @ Atl 7/12 7:30 PM | Braves Batters | 35-117 | .299 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 11 | 21 | .632 | .367 | .999 | |||||||
Recommended Pickup
Danny Salazar, P, CLE - In his major league debut Thursday, Salazar held the Blue Jays to one run on just two hits and one walk, while striking out seven over six innings of work. He allowed only one baserunner through the first five innings, and while the 23-year-old did surrender the lead in the top of the sixth, the Tribe quickly rallied in the bottom of the frame and the bullpen did its job to send Salazar home a winner. The right-hander's strikeout rate in the minors has jumped by a whopping four per nine innings from a season ago (from 7.8 to 11.8), and he showed Thursday that he can continue to miss bats at the highest level. As long as Salazar keeps pitching well, he should remain in the rotation spot recently vacated by Carlos Carrasco, and could be a nice addition for those fantasy owners looking for an extra starter to get over the proverbial hump.
Other Recent RecommendationsRicky Nolasco, Wade Miley, Grant Green and Rajai Davis
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DraftStreet Value Picks
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