The Lineup Card: Venable Becoming Valuable

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 (Jaime Garcia - L) at Cubs (Randy Wells - R), 2:20
Indians (Josh Tomlin - R) at Tigers (Max Scherzer - R), 7:05
Reds (Homer Bailey - R) at Pirates (Kevin Correia - R), 7:05
Phillies (Roy Oswalt - R) at Nationals (Livan Hernandez - R), 7:05
Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) at Rays (Wade Davis - R), 7:10
Brewers (Shaun Marcum - R) at Mets (Mike Pelfrey - R), 7:10
Diamondbacks (Daniel Hudson - R) at Braves (Derek Lowe - R), 7:35
Giants (Ryan Vogelsong - R) at Astros (Wandy Rodriguez - L), 8:05
Yankees (Phil Hughes - R) at Twins (Kevin Slowey - R), 8:10
Red Sox (Andrew Miller - L) at Royals (Jeff Francis - L), 8:10
Rangers (Matt Harrison - L) at White Sox (Jake Peavy - R), 8:10
Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda - R) at Rockies (Jason Hammel - R), 8:40
Blue Jays (Brett Cecil - L) at Athletics (Rich Harden - R), 10:05
Orioles (Jo-Jo Reyes - L) at Angels (Dan Haren - R), 10:05
Marlins (Chris Volstad - R) at Padres (Wade LeBlanc - L), 10:05
 
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)

Jonathan Sanchez, SP, SF (ankle) - Still in line to start Sunday
Carlos Ruiz, C, PHI (groin) - Out again Thursday, but expected back over the weekend
Shane Victorino, OF, PHI (suspension) - Back on Saturday
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI (hand) - Out Thursday, but seems mostly precautionary
Jeff Keppinger, 2B, SF (wrist) - Still out Thursday
Bronson Arroyo, SP, CIN (Achilles) - Still sore, but starting Thursday
Brian Wilson, RP, SF (elbow) - Out 2-3 days with inflammation
Edgar Renteria, SS, CIN (groin) - Out again Thursday
Matt Tolbert, 2B, MIN (wrist) - Available off the bench Thursday
Michael Cuddyer, OF, MIN (neck) - Has hernia; hoping to avoid DL
Conor Jackson, OF, OAK (neck) - Could be available for Thursday's lineup, but may lose PT even healthy
Freddy Garcia, SP, NYY (finger) - Could go Saturday or Sunday; check back
Jason Kubel, OF, MIN (personal) - Unavailable Thursday
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL (soreness) - Pulled Wednesday due to general fatigue; probably sitting Thursday
Jeremy Guthrie, SP, BAL (shoulder) - Will be held out until Tuesday or Wednesday
Miguel Olivo, C, SEA (soreness) - Sat Wednesday after taking a ball to the jaw, but probably back Friday
 
Players on the DL

Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS (elbow) - Another rehab start Monday; still expected back in September
Randy Choate, RP, FLA (elbow) - Placed on DL with inflammation
Dustin McGowan, SP, TOR (shoulder) - Four scoreless in second rehab start, just as in first
Brian Tallet, RP, TOR (chest) - Starting rehab assignment Thursday
Bobby Jenks, RP, BOS (back) - Throwing side sessions
Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL (shoulder) - Will at the least miss next turn in rotation, Tuesday
Matt Lindstrom, RP, COL (arm) - Progressing well, but no timetable
Huston Street, RP, COL (triceps) - Progressing toward Aug. 27 return
Joe Blanton, SP, PHI (elbow) - Could throw a bullpen next week
Dee Gordon, SS, LAD (shoulder) - On track to return when eligible, Aug. 25
Sergio Romo, RP, SF (elbow) - No damage; could return when eligible Aug. 25
Jose Reyes, SS, NYM (hamstring) - Will test hammy Friday; could be back Tuesday
Juan Uribe, 2B, LAD (hip) - Got an injection, but out indefinitely
Trystan Magnuson, RP, OAK (shoulder) - Placed on DL retroactive to Aug. 16
Denard Span, OF, MIN (concussion) - Back on the DL
John Jaso, C, TB (oblique) - Will be activated from DL on Friday
Kevin Youkilis, 1B, BOS (back) - Placed on DL, probably to rest him for the stretch
Andres Blanco, SS, TEX (back) - Could resume swinging this weekend
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY (knee) - Will rejoin team Thursday, but may not play 'til weekend
 
Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.

Called Up
Luke Hughes, 3B, MIN
Ryan Lavarnway, C, BOS
Chris Hatcher, RP, FLA

Sent Down
Robinson Chirinos, C, TB

Placed on DL
Randy Choate, RP, FLA
Denard Span, OF, MIN
Kevin Youkilis, 1B, BOS
 
Traded
Tim Wood, RP, TEX (from PIT)

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out our Closer Grid with the link to the left). 

Kansas City - It's just another day, another adventure for Joakim Soria, who barely squeaked by the Yankees, allowing a run on two hits and two walks for his 22nd save. Soria's surrendered multiple hits in three consecutive appearances and five times in his last eight games. In fact, in the months of July and August put together, he's appeared in 18 games and allowed at least one hit in 15 of them. Greg Holland, who probably should be the closer at this point, pitched a perfect eighth.
 
Oakland - Andrew Bailey almost blew one, but David DeJesus nailed Blake Davis at the plate for the final out Wednesday and Bailey got his 15th save. He was still charged with a run on three hits, but his job is in no jeopardy.
 
San Francisco - With Brian Wilson out a couple games and Sergio Romo on the DL, it's hard to say who's going to pick up the slack - probably some combo of Jeremy Affeldt and Ramon Ramirez.

Other recent recommendations: Mike Carp, Brandon Belt, Ben Revere, Brandon Allen, Rafael Betancourt
 
DraftStreet Lineup

C - Joe Mauer, MIN ($5,255)
1B - Joey Votto, CIN ($8,274)
2B - Chase Utley, PHI ($6,977)
3B - David Wright, NYM ($6,923)
SS - Elvis Andrus, TEX ($7,176)
OF - Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS ($8,701)
OF - Laynce Nix, WAS ($4,806)
OF - Andre Ethier, LAD ($4,743)
UT - Mike Stanton, FLA ($6,429)
UT - Kyle Blanks, SD ($4,476)
SP - Daniel Hudson, AZ ($10,623)
SP - Shaun Marcum, MIL ($10,521)
RP - Jordan Walden, LAA ($2,006)
P - Wandy Rodriguez, HOU ($11,626)

Total: $99,536

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