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):
Giants (Madison Bumgarner - L) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R), 2:20
Mariners (Doug Fister - R) at Indians (Fausto Carmona - R), 7:05
Royals (Luke Hochevar - R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander - R), 7:05
Marlins (Chris Volstad - R) at Nationals (Tom Gorzelanny - L), 7:05
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz - R) at Yankees (Bartolo Colon - R), 7:05
Cardinals (Kyle Lohse - R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R), 7:10
Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie - R) at Rays (Jeremy Hellickson - R), 7:10
Phillies (Cole Hamels - L) at Braves (Brandon Beachy - R), 7:35
Mets (Dillon Gee - R) at Astros (Bud Norris - R), 8:05
Angels (Jered Weaver - R) at Rangers (Alexi Ogando - R), 8:05
Pirates (James McDonald - R) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - R), 8:10
Blue Jays (Ricky Romero - L) at Twins (Carl Pavano - R), 8:10
Padres (Dustin Moseley - R) at Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa - L), 8:40
White Sox (Phil Humber - R) at Athletics (Brandon McCarthy - R), 10:05
Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders - L) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L), 10:10
Day Game After a Night Game: None
Injuries - A brief look at players that have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns.
Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
NL
Neil Walker, 2B, PIT (illness) - In the lineup Thursday
Jason Michaels, OF, HOU (shoulder) - Will return from DL Friday
Jason Hammel, SP, COL (calf) - Receiving treatment after taking a line drive Tuesday
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL (knee) - Has bruise, day-to-day
Ryan Theriot, SS, STL (oblique) - Out of Thursday's lineup
Joe Blanton, SP, PHI (elbow) - Not 100%, but on track to start Saturday
Brian Schneider, C, PHI (hamstring) - Placed on 15-day DL
Logan Morrison, OF, FLA (foot) - Activation scheduled for Friday
Javier Vazquez, SP, FLA (personal) - Will be back for Sunday start
AL
Delmon Young, OF, MIN (oblique) - Expected back Friday
Robinson Cano, 2B, NYY (head) - In the lineup Thursday, but not official as of this writing
Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE (knee) - Out Thursday with knee bruise (not the bad one)
Mark Teahen, 3B, CHW (oblique) - Said injury is minor; reevaluation coming Friday
Gavin Floyd, SP, CHW (foot) - Threw pain-free bullpen Wednesday and seems good to go for Saturday start
Rafael Soriano, RP, NYY (elbow) - Expected to be good to go this weekend
Adam Lind, 1B, TOR (back) - Likely won't go on DL
Players on the DL
NL
Kevin Hart, RP, PIT (shoulder) - Threw BP Thursday
Aaron Cook, SP, COL (shoulder) - Will make first rehab appearance Saturday
Johan Santana, SP, NYM (shoulder) - Threw off mound for first time since surgery
Ty Wigginton, 3B, COL (oblique) - Appeared in Triple-A rehab game Thursday
Chris Young, SP, NYM (shoulder) - Will have surgery; out for the year
Bobby Parnell, RP, NYM (finger) - Pitched in Triple-A for second straight day Thursday
Esmil Rogers, SP, COL (back) - Has mild strain of right lat muscle
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM (ankle) - Placed on DL with ankle sprain and bone bruise
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI (knee) - First A-ball rehab appearance Thursday
Carlos Ruiz, C, PHI (back) - Also in A-ball for rehab game Thursday, may be activated Friday
Andrew Cashner, SP, CHC (shoulder) - Pitching in extended ST next week
Randy Wells, SP, CHC (forearm) - Pitching extended ST game Thursday and could go on rehab assignment next week
Geovany Soto, C, CHC (groin) - Team is optimistic that DL stint will be minimum time
Santiago Casilla, RP, SF (elbow) - Likely to make rehab start in Single-A over the weekend
Barry Zito, SP, SF (foot) - Threw off mound Wednesday for first time since injury
Hong-Chih Kuo, RP, LAD (anxiety disorder) - Placed on DL
Jeff Keppinger, 2B, HOU (foot) - Starting rehab assignment Thursday
Casey Blake, 3B, LAD (elbow) - Fielded grounders Wednesday; still weeks away
AL
Kendrys Morales, 1B, LAA (ankle) - Needs surgery; out for the year again
Mitch Talbot, SP, CLE (elbow) - Will make two rehab starts before returning
Francisco Rodriguez Murillo, RP, LAA (shoulder) - Placed on DL
Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Called Up
Fernando Martinez, OF, NYM
Amaury Sanit, RP, NYY
Sent Down
Steve Cishek, RP, FLA
Bryan Petersen, OF, FLA
Nelson Figueroa, SP, HOU (outrighted)
Josh Rupe, RP, BAL (outrighted)
Joe Inglett, 2B, HOU (outrighted)
Ramiro Pena, SS, NYY
Jess Todd, RP, NYY (DFA)
Placed on DL
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM
Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left).
Minnesota - Matt Capps blew the save and took the loss Wednesday against Detroit; meanwhile, Joe Nathan's got three straight scoreless outings (including Wednesday), and Ron Gardenhire is likely to return Nathan to the role as soon as he considers him ready. When that will be is anybody's guess.
Kansas City - Louis Coleman recorded his first career save in extra innings Wednesday after Joakim Soria blew it against the Yankees. Soria has had his struggles, but he's definitely still the guy unless things get a lot worse.
Chicago White Sox - Matt Thornton finally got a save, working a clean 10th inning, but Sergio Santos had worked a scoreless eighth and ninth, got the win, and still hasn't given up a run this year.
Key Matchups
Hot
Miguel Tejada v. Ryan Dempster - 8-for-23 (.348), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:0 BB:K, .882 OPS
Freddy Sanchez v. Ryan Dempster - 8-for-19 (.421), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, 1.108 OPS
Jack Cust v. Fausto Carmona - 6-for-13 (.462), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5:5 B:K, 1.611 OPS
Miguel Cabrera v. Luke Hochevar - 10-for-20 (.500), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, 1.374 OPS
Alex Avila v. Luke Hochevar - 5-for-12 (.417), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, 1.128 OPS
Billy Butler v. Justin Verlander - 13-for-32 (.406), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, 1.143 OPS
Omar Infante v. Tom Gorzelanny - 4-for-10 (.400), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .955 OPS
Ian Desmond v. Chris Volstad - 11-for-18 (.611), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, 1.656 OPS
Ivan Rodriguez v. Chris Volstad - 5-for-15 (.333), 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .646 OPS
Adam LaRoche v. Chris Volstad - 4-for-10 (.400), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .900 OPS
Alex Rodriguez v. Clay Buchholz - 6-for-16 (.375), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, 1.007 OPS
Robinson Cano v. Clay Buchholz - 9-for-17 (.529), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, 1.235 OPS
Mark Teixeira v. Clay Buchholz - 4-for-12 (.333), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, 1.218 OPS
Derek Jeter v. Clay Buchholz - 5-for-14 (.357), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .828 OPS
Lance Berkman v. Bronson Arroyo - 14-for-48 (.292), 5 HR, 14 RBI, 8:3 BB:K, 1.011 OPS
Colby Rasmus v. Bronson Arroyo - 6-for-22 (.273), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4:2 BB:K, 1.112 OPS (all six hits for extra bases)
John Jay v. Bronson Arroyo - 4-for-10 (.400), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, 1.200 OPS
Edgar Renteria v. Kyle Lohse - 5-for-12 (.417), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .833 OPS
B.J. Upton v. Jeremy Guthrie - 11-for-36 (.306), 2 HR, 12 RBI, 5:10 BB:K, .937 OPS
Ben Zobrist v. Jeremy Guthrie - 8-for-23 (.348), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .897 OPS
Reid Brignac v. Jeremy Guthrie - 5-for-16 (.313), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .978 OPS
Casey Kotchman v. Jeremy Guthrie - 8-for-17 (.471), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, 1.294 OPS
Chipper Jones v. Cole Hamels - 9-for-30 (.300), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6:5 BB:K, 1.050 OPS
Mitch Moreland v. Jered Weaver - 4-for-11 (.364), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, 1.417 OPS
Andrew McCutchen v. Yovani Gallardo -4-for-12 (.333), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .885 OPS
Adam Lind v. Carl Pavano - 7-for-20 (.350), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, 1.009 OPS
Corey Patterson v. Carl Pavano - 10-for-17 (.588), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, 1.588 OPS
Juan Rivera v. Carl Pavano - 7-for-17 (.412), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, 1.000 OPS
Edwin Encarnacion v. Carl Pavano - 6-for-12 (.500), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, 1.712 OPS (career cycle)
Denard Span v. Ricky Romero - 7-for-14 (.500), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, 1.143 OPS
James Loney v. Joe Saunders - 6-for-15 (.400), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:0 BB:K, 1.104 OPS
Andre Ethier v. Joe Saunders - 5-for-10 (.500), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, 1.300 OPS
Bartolo Colon v. Red Sox - Before we get into the staggering numbers these Red Sox hitters have against Colon, it's worth noting that most of them came against a different, non-elderly Colon. That said, we're talking about a combined line of .171/.225/.282 over 184 plate appearances, with 11 walks and 61 strikeouts. That said, we all know the Sox can hit, and Colon has almost no track record against Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie. So it's not a lock. But wow, look at those numbers. Colon went 4.1 innings in relief against Boston earlier this year, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, striking out five and walking one.
Jered Weaver v. Rangers - Weaver's been killing everyone this year, but he's killed these Rangers hitters nearly as badly in his career. They're hitting a combined .226 off him with a .595 OPS, and he's struck 'em out 48 times while walking just 10. The only downside here is that the start comes in Texas, but he's already started at Arlington this year, and all he did was throw a complete-game six-hitter, allowing one run and striking out eight.
Cold
Aubrey Huff v. Ryan Dempster - 3-for-20 (.150), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .427 OPS
Aaron Rowand v. Ryan Dempster - 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:5 BB:K, .277 OPS
Chone Figgins v. Fausto Carmona - 1-for-13 (.077), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6:1 BB:K, .445 OPS
Brandon Inge v. Luke Hochevar - 3-for-14 (.214), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .571 OPS
Melky Cabrera v. Justin Verlander - 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .404 OPS
Wes Helms v. Tom Gorzelanny - 0-for-8 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:5 BB:K, .111 OPS
Jayson Werth v. Chris Volstad - 2-for-24 (.083), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:7 BB:K, .199 OPS
Curtis Granderson v. Clay Buchholz - 0-for-8 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4:4 BB:K, .333 OPS
David Ortiz v. Bartolo Colon - 5-for-41 (.122), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4:15 BB:K, .346 OPS
Mike Cameron v. Bartolo Colon - 3-for-34 (.088), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4:11 BB:K, .361 OPS
Carl Crawford v. Bartolo Colon - 6-for-31 (.194), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:8 BB:K, .477 OPS
Johnny Damon v. Jeremy Guthrie - 8-for-43 (.186), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5:5 BB:K, .591 OPS (career cycle, for what it's worth)
Evan Longoria v. Jeremy Guthrie - 6-for-26 (.231), 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .684 OPS
Dan Uggla v. Cole Hamels - 6-for-43 (.140), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4:13 BB:K, .457 OPS
Jason Heyward v. Cole Hamels - 2-for-10 (.200), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .473 OPS
Michael Young v. Jered Weaver - 16-for-64 (.250), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2:9 BB:K, .648 OPS
Ian Kinsler v. Jered Weaver - 10-for-48 (.208), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4:7 BB:K, .644 OPS
Adrian Beltre v. Jered Weaver - 8-for-46 (.174), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:9 BB:K, .443 OPS
David Murphy v. Jered Weaver - 5-for-28 (.179), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:8 BB:K, .414 OPS
Julio Borbon v. Jered Weaver - 3-for-15 (.200), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .400 OPS
Chris Davis v. Jered Weaver - 3-for-16 (.188), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .438 OPS
Jose Bautista v. Carl Pavano - 2-for-13 (.154), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .651 OPS
Michael Cuddyer v. Ricky Romero - 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:6 BB:K, .333 OPS
Chase Headley v. Jorge De La Rosa - 6-for-25 (.240), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:9 BB:K, .480 OPS
Ryan Ludwick v. Jorge De La Rosa - 2-for-15 (.133), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1:6 BB:K .721 OPS
Alex Rios v. Brandon McCarthy - 1-for-10 (.100), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .450 OPS
Chris Young v. Clayton Kershaw - 2-for-14 (.143), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:0 BB:K, .343 OPS
Stephen Drew v. Clayton Kershaw - 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .322 OPS
Clay Buchholz v. Yankees - It's never easy to pitch at Yankee Stadium, and it's harder still when the Yankees hitters have a combined average of .317 and OBP of nearly .400 against you. Buchholz 14:13 K:BB against these guys isn't inspiring either. He's been on the right track over his last couple starts, but you should still stay away from him unless you have no choice.
Bronson Arroyo v. Cardinals - Everyone knows the Cardinals' offense can be dangerous, few better than Arroyo, who has held them to just a .275 average, but thanks to a brutal 27:31 K:BB and 12 homers in 251 at-bats, an .850 OPS. It's worth noting that 21 of those 31 walks and eight of those 12 homers were given up to Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman; unfortunately for Arroyo, those guys will be right there in the middle of the lineup.
Carl Pavano v. Blue Jays - These Toronto hitters have absolutely raked against Pavano, to the tune of a ridiculous .366/.392/.670 line over 121 plate appearances. That's an OPS of 1.061. The only Jay who has had more than 10 at-bats against Pavano and hasn't crushed him is new-minted superstar Jose Bautista, and who really expects that trend to continue?
Recommended Pickup
Mark Trumbo, 1B, LAA - With Kendrys Morales ruled out for the year, Trumbo's value rises significantly, as he's expected to be the Angels' starting first baseman for the duration of the season. He's been modestly useful so far, hitting at a .263 pace with six homers and a couple stolen bags, but there's a lot of potential here. Last year in Triple-A, Trumbo hit .299 with 36 homers, 122 RBI and 103 runs scored.
Other recent recommendations: Eric Hosmer, Vance Worley, Mike Fontenot, Erick Aybar, Julio Borbon
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C - Victor Martinez, DET ($7,249)
1B - Albert Pujols, STL ($6,813)
2B - Scott Sizemore, DET ($4,109)
3B - Casey McGehee, MIL ($4,098)
SS - Ian Desmond, WAS ($5,156)
OF - Colby Rasmus, STL ($6,902)
OF - Matt Kemp, LAD ($6,632)
OF - Andre Ethier, LAD ($5,140)
UTIL - Miguel Cabrera, DET ($8,602)
UTIL - Justin Smoak, SEA ($5,757)
SP - Jered Weaver, LAA ($15,168)
SP - Yovani Gallardo, MIL ($11,118)
RP - Sergio Santos, CHW ($1,974)
P - Phil Humber, CHW ($10,863)
Total: $99,581
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