Tuesday Lineup Card: Thor Leaves Avengers, Joins Mets

Tuesday Lineup Card: Thor Leaves Avengers, Joins Mets

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R) at Indians (Carlos Carrasco – R), 6:10
Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle – L) at Orioles (Chris Tillman – R), 7:05
Pirates (A.J. Burnett – R) at Phillies (Sean O'Sullivan – R), 7:05
Twins (Kyle Gibson – R) at Tigers (Alfredo Simon – R), 7:08
Braves (Mike Foltynewicz – R) at Reds (Anthony DeSclafani – R), 7:10
Yankees (Nathan Eovaldi – R) at Rays (Chris Archer – R), 7:10
Royals (Edinson Volquez – R) at Rangers (Nick Martinez – R), 8:05
Mets (Noah Syndergaard – R) at Cubs Jake Arrieta – R), 8:05
White Sox (Chris Sale – L) at Brewers (Mike Fiers – R), 8:10
Giants (Chris Heston – R) at Astros (Collin McHugh – R), 8:10
Nationals (Stephen Strasburg – R) at Diamondbacks (Rubby De La Rosa – R), 9:40
Rockies (Kyle Kendrick – R) at Angels (C.J. Wilson – L), 10:05
Red Sox (Justin Masterson – R) at Athletics (Drew Pomeranz – L), 10:05
Padres (Ian Kennedy – R) at Mariners (James Paxton – L), 10:10
Marlins (Dan Haren – R) at Dodgers (Mike Bolsinger – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day

Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS (shoulder) – Starting Tuesday on extra day's rest
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN (hip) – Out again Monday
Matt Carpenter, 3B, STL (undisclosed) – Rejoining team Tuesday, but it's unsure if he'll play
Luke Gregerson, RP, HOU (personal) – Could return as soon as Tuesday
Jason Grilli, RP, ATL (back) – Got one more day of rest Monday; should be back Tuesday
Zack Cozart, SS, CIN (wrist) – Scratched from Monday's lineup
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, MIL (back) – Out for third straight game Monday
Danny Valencia, 3B, TOR (ankle) – Pinch hit Sunday
Jon Jay, OF, STL (wrist) – Game-time call Tuesday
Ike Davis, 1B, OAK (quad) – Departed Monday's game with strain
Ryan Flaherty, 2B, BAL (groin) – Left Monday's game; having MRI on Tuesday
Antonio Bastardo, RP, PIT (personal) – On paternity leave
Buddy Carlyle, RP, NYM (back/hamstring) – Removed Monday; to be reevaluated Tuesday

Players on the DL

Masahiro Tanaka, SP, NYY (forearm) – Throwing a bullpen Tuesday
Jose Reyes, SS, TOR (ribs) – Could start rehab assignment soon
David Wright, 3B, NYM (back/hamstring) – Baseball activities pushed back to Tuesday
Kenley Jansen, RP, LAD (foot) – Expects to be activated Saturday
Matt Wieters, C, BAL (elbow) – Catching eight inning in extended spring game Tuesday
Jake McGee, RP, TB (elbow) – Threw another scoreless inning in Triple-A on Monday
Travis d'Arnaud, C, NYM (hand) – Cleared for baseball activities besides hitting
Archie Bradley, SP, ARI (face) – Returning and starting Saturday
Sean Doolittle, RP, OAK (shoulder) – Ready to start rehab assignment
Ben Zobrist, 2B, OAK (knee) – Taking batting practice Tuesday
Rafael Montero, SP, NYM (shoulder) – Still feeling discomfort in rotator cuff
Mitch Moreland, 1B, TEX (elbow) – One more Triple-A game Tuesday, then activation
Neil Ramirez, RP, CHC (shoulder) – Threw a bullpen Monday
Bobby Parnell, RP, NYM (elbow) – Struggled in return to rehab action Monday
Vic Black, RP, NYM (shoulder) – Threw a bullpen Monday; another coming Thursday
Ivan Nova, SP, NYY (elbow) – Will throw three innings in extended spring Tuesday
Chris Capuano, SP, NYY (quad) – Planning to throw 90 pitches in Triple-A game Tuesday
Sean O'Sullivan, SP, PHI (knee) – Coming off the DL and starting Tuesday
LaTroy Hawkins, RP, COL (biceps) – Threw off a mound Sunday

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

Called Up

Vidal Nuno, RP, ARI
Tommy Field, 2B, TEX
Pedro Villarreal, RP, CIN
Bobby LaFromboise, RP, PIT

Sent Down (to Triple-A unless otherwise noted)

Rougned Odor, 2B, TEX
Evan Marshall, RP, ARI
Orlando Calixte, SS, KC
Chris Bassitt, RP, OAK
Reid Brignac, SS, MIA (outrighted)

Activated from the DL (15-day, unless otherwise noted)

Shane Victorino, OF, BOS

Designated For Assignment

Luis Jimenez, 3B, BOS

Released

Kevin Gregg, RP, CIN

Closer Watch

Athletics -- Sean Doolittle is starting on a rehab assignment, and although it should be a fairly long one after his extended absence, this means his return is fairly imminent. It's uncertain how willing the A's will be to turn the closer role right back over to Doolittle, but this has to be weighing heavily on Tyler Clippard owners. Clippard's ratios have been solid this year (2.08 ERA, 1.00 WHIP as I write this during the A's-Sox game), but he's been short of his usual dominant self – that 10:6 K:BB leaves something to be desired.

Dodgers -- Kenley Jansen is expected to return Saturday, but he supposedly won't have the closer role straight off. I can't imagine it'll be long, though – as soon as Jansen proves that he's back at full strength, the Dodgers will surely return him to the ninth inning. But in the meantime, Yimi Garcia should and Chris Hatcher will battle it out for save chances. Garcia got the call in the ninth Monday, but he blew it, giving up a two-run homer to Christian Yelich and then loading the bases before being yanked. Struggles have been few and far between for Garcia this year, though, so one bad game won't knock him out of the running.

Braves -- Jim Johnson collected his second save of the year with a scoreless ninth Monday; Jason Grilli (back) was originally supposed to be available, but got an extra day of rest as a precaution. It's likely that Grilli will be back in the closer role for Atlanta's next save chance.

Pirates -- Mark Melancon got his eighth save Monday against the Phillies, but not without incident, as he allowed Odubel Herrera's first MLB home run and then another hit before finishing things off. Melancon continues to not quite look right, so fantasy owners should continue keeping Tony Watson's name in mind.

Key Matchups

Hot Batter Matchups – May 12, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
C. Davis1BBAL vs TOR
7:05PM
M. Buehrle25822435.320.414.560.974
A. JonesOFBAL vs TOR
7:05PM
M. Buehrle371662733.432.475.7031.178
D. YoungOFBAL vs TOR
7:05PM
M. Buehrle562274934.393.424.6611.084
R. Howard1BPHI vs PIT
7:05PM
A. Burnett17433307.235.235.7651.000
G. SizemoreOFPHI vs PIT
7:05PM
A. Burnett17651154.353.500.7651.265
J. BautistaOFTOR @ BAL
7:05PM
C. Tillman308425410.267.343.533.876
J. Donaldson3BTOR @ BAL
7:05PM
C. Tillman13531411.385.429.7691.198
M. Cabrera1BDET vs MIN
7:08PM
K. Gibson12521422.417.500.7501.250
I. Kinsler2BDET vs MIN
7:08PM
K. Gibson15611331.400.500.6001.100
J. MartinezOFDET vs MIN
7:08PM
K. Gibson14621413.429.467.7141.181
J. EllsburyOFNYY @ TB
7:10PM
C. Archer151021332.667.722.9331.656
B. GardnerOFNYY @ TB
7:10PM
C. Archer15540116.333.412.7331.145
C. GrandersonOFNYM @ CHC
8:05PM
J. Arrieta25953812.360.370.8401.210
P. Goldschmidt1BARI vs WAS
9:40PM
S. Strasburg12520200.417.417.5831.000
A. Pujols1BLAA vs COL
10:05PM
K. Kendrick12521411.417.462.7501.212
C. CrispOFOAK vs BOS
10:05PM
J. Masterson11422530.364.500.9091.409
A. EthierOFLAD vs MIA
10:10PM
D. Haren5021729110.420.442.6401.082
S. SmithOFSEA vs SD
10:10PM
I. Kennedy20651325.300.391.6501.041
Hot Pitcher Matchups – May 12, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
There are no pitchers who qualify as "hot" today.
Cold Batter Matchups – May 12, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Matchup Stats
Batter
Pos
Game
Pitcher
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
J. HardySSBAL vs TOR
7:05PM
M. Buehrle30431603.133.133.300.433
S. PearceOFBAL vs TOR
7:05PM
M. Buehrle11220102.182.182.364.545
J. FrancoeurOFPHI vs PIT
7:05PM
A. Burnett12200212.167.267.167.433
J. Smoak1BTOR @ BAL
7:05PM
C. Tillman10200042.200.429.200.629
N. Castellanos3BDET vs MIN
7:08PM
K. Gibson13100114.077.143.077.220
A. Beltre3BTEX vs KC
8:05PM
E. Volquez11210210.182.231.273.503
A. Hill2BARI vs WAS
9:40PM
S. Strasburg15321205.200.200.467.667
J. Morneau1BCOL @ LAA
10:05PM
C. Wilson17211232.118.250.294.544
B. Lawrie3BOAK vs BOS
10:05PM
J. Masterson11200112.182.250.182.432
E. Sogard2BOAK vs BOS
10:05PM
J. Masterson11210121.182.308.273.580
Y. GrandalCLAD vs MIA
10:10PM
D. Haren10100013.100.182.100.282
J. Uribe3BLAD vs MIA
10:10PM
D. Haren14211101.143.200.357.557
R. Weeks2BSEA vs SD
10:10PM
I. Kennedy18321114.167.211.389.599
Cold Pitcher Matchups – May 12, 2015
Matchup Info
Career Stats Allowed To Batters On Opposing Team
Pitcher
Game
AB
H
XBH
HR
RBI
BB
K
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Chris TillmanBAL vs TOR
7:05PM
13438166231726.284.362.488.850
Mark BuehrleTOR @ BAL
7:05PM
203702510321220.345.383.569.952
A.J. BurnettPIT @ PHI
7:05PM
832711614723.325.397.6161.013
Kyle GibsonMIN @ DET
7:08PM
913073171214.330.408.473.881

Recommended Pickup
Noah Syndergaard, SP, NYM – The time has come. The young man they call Thor has been promoted and will make his MLB debut Tuesday against the Cubs. Considered one of the game's top few pitching prospects entering this season, Syndergaard has been appropriately dominant in his second go-round with Triple-A Las Vegas, posting a 1.82 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 34:8 K:BB over 29.2 innings. He's a tall, powerfully built fireballer who approaches 100 on the radar gun, reminiscent of prime-years Justin Verlander – but bigger (and to be fair, missing a slider from his repertoire). Just as a bonus, the kid can hit, too – the 22-year-old Texan has helped his own cause with a .763 career OPS in the minors. He's only got a rotation spot as long as Dillon Gee (groin) is on the DL, but if Syndergaard looks strong early on, it's hard to believe the Mets will send him back to Triple-A just to put an average pitcher like Gee back in the rotation.

Other Recent Recommendations:Torii Hunter, Addison Russell, Billy Burns, Kyle Blanks, Logan Morrison

DraftKings Value Picks

SP: Collin McHugh, HOU ($7,400)
C: Salvador Perez, KC ($4,000)
1B: Stephen Vogt, OAK ($3,900)
2B: Robinson Cano, SEA ($4,000)
3B: Nolan Arenado, COL ($3,900)
SS: Starlin Castro, CHC ($3,700)
OF: Coco Crisp, OAK ($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
Managing hockey editor, talent wrangler, football columnist, FSWA's 2015 fantasy hockey writer of the year. Twitter: @akfiorentino
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