Thursday Lineup Card: Small Slate

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Pirates (Paul Maholm - L) v. Mets (Mike Pelfrey- R) 1:10
Rangers (Matt Harrison - L) v. Indians (Carlos Carrasco - R) 7:05
Twins (Anthony Swarzak - R) v. Royals (Sean O'Sullivan - R) 8:10
Giants (Jonathan Sanchez - L) v. Cardinals (Jaime Garcia - L) 8:15
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann - R) v. Diamondbacks (Zach Duke - L) 9:40
Astros (Bud Norris - R) v. Padres (Tim Stauffer - R) 10:05
Rays (James Shields - R) v. Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) 10:10

Day After Night: PIT/NYM

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)

Matt Holliday, OF, STL - (quadriceps) - DL-bound Thursday, sent for MRI
Kyle McClellan, SP, STL - (hip) - Will be placed on the DL Thursday
Jake Arrieta, SP, BAL - (lower leg) - X-rays negative after recent hit by line drive, expected to make next start
Clay Buchholz, SP, BOS - (back) - Stiff back something he has dealt with all season and will manage
Rich Hill, RP, BOS - (elbow) - Left Wednesday's game with an apparent left elbow injury
Jason Kubel, OF, MIN - (foot) - Rest may make him available on the weekend
Casey Kotchman, 1B, TB - (ankle) - Available for pinch-hitting duties
Matt Harrison, SP, TEX - (finger) - Felt OK after Tuesday bullpen session; should start on Thursday
Edwin Encarnacion 3B, TOR - (toe) - Had toenail removed on Monday
Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL - (groin) - Injured in Tuesday's game; a day or two off should cure what ails him
Ryan Spilborghs, OF, COL - (groin) - Should be ready for game action later this week
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA - (back) - Should be ready for game action by the weekend
Jose Reyes, SS, NYM - (personal) - Expected back for Thursday's game
Aaron Rowand, OF, SF - (hip) - Struck out in pinch-hit at bat on Tuesday
Brandon Belt, 1B, SF - (wrist) - X-rays came back negative; will only sit out a game or two
Alex Cora, SS, WAS - (stomach) - Left Wednesday's game in fourth inning due to stomach issues

Players on the DL

Vernon Wells, OF, ANA - (groin) - Expected to take Triple-A rehab this weekend
Howie Kendrick, 2B, ANA - (hamstring) - May return to lineup on Friday barring any setbacks
Derrek Lee, 1B, BAL - (oblique) - Will start his rehab stint with Double-A Bowie this weekend
John Lackey, SP, BOS - (elbow) - No ill effects from Tuesday' s 5.2-inning rehab start at Triple-A Pawtucket
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, BOS - (elbow) - Will soon disclose findings of second opinion from Dr. Lewis Yocum
Franklin Morales, P, BOS - (forearm) - X-rays show no structural damage
Darnell McDonald, OF, BOS - (quadriceps) - Began rehab at Triple-A Pawtucket
Phil Coke, SP, DET - (ankle) - Scheduled for Triple-A start for Toledo on Friday
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET - (ankle) - May rejoin Tigers after this weekend's rehab assignment
Bruce Chen, SP, KC - (back) - Threw off mound on Tuesday; still over one week away from possible return
Joe Mauer, C, MIN - (leg) - Playing in extended spring training games this week; building shoulder strength
Glen Perkins, P, MIN - (oblique) - On pace to come off DL on Monday
Phil Hughes, SP, NYY - (shoulder) - Threw 50 pitches on Wednesday; scheduled for live batting practice soon
Adam Rosales, 2B, OAK - (foot) - Begins rehab assignment this week at Triple-A Sacramento
Brandon McCarthy, P, OAK - (shoulder) - Played catch on Tuesday; first throwing session while on DL
Rich Harden, SP, OAK - (shoulder) - Threw from mound on Tuesday; will travel on A's upcoming road trip
Jeff Niemann, SP, TB - (back) - Begins rehab assignment at High-A Charlotte on Friday
Tommy Hunter, SP, TEX - (groin) - Reports for extended spring training next week
Julio Borbon, OF, TEX - (hamstring) - Began a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco; expected off DL on June 6
Brandon Webb, SP, TEX - (shoulder) - Pitched 3.1 innings at Double-A Frisco on Monday; gave up 8 H, 2 BB and 5 ER
Adam Lind, 1B, TOR - (back) - Will DH at High-A Dunedin this week and return to Toronto on Saturday
John McDonald, 2B, TOR - (hamstring) - On track to come off DL after 15 days are up
Dustin McGowan, P, TOR - (shoulder) - Reaching 95 mph on radar gun; may be stretched out to be a starter
Kris Medlen, SP, ATL - (elbow) - Threw 90 pitch bullpen session on Tuesday
Matt Garza, SP, CHI-N - (elbow) - Threw 30 pitches in Wednesday bullpen session; return between June 6-8
Marlon Byrd, OF, CHI-N - (face) - Aiming to return in 4-6 weeks
Aroldis Chapman, P, CIN - (shoulder) - May be headed for a couple of rehab appearances
Homer Bailey, P, CIN - (shoulder) - Threw pain-free on Tuesday
Aaron Cook, P, COL - (shoulder) - One more rehab before June 8 starting assignment vs. San Diego
Josh Johnson, SP, FLA - (shoulder) - Will throw bullpen session later this week
Wandy Rodriguez, SP, HOU - (elbow) - Started bullpen sessions this week
Jason Castro, C, HOU - (knee) - Transferred from 15-day to 60-day DL
Jason Bourgeois, OF, HOU - (oblique) - Headed for Triple-A Oklahoma City rehab this weekend
Brandon Lyon, P, HOU - (shoulder) - Will throw simulated game on Thursday in San Diego
Vicente Padilla, P, LAD - (forearm) - Could return from DL on Friday
Juan Uribe, 2B, LAD - (hip) - Will begin minor league rehab on Friday
Marcus Thames, OF, LAD - (quadriceps) - Played six innings at Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday
Takashi Saito, P, MIL - (oblique) - Threw 20 pitches in Tuesday bullpen session
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM - (ankle) - Will be shut down for three weeks
Shane Victorino, OF, PHI - (hamstring) - Has played three rehab games at Double-A Reading without issues
Brian Schneider, C, PHI - (hamstring) - Sidelined to mid-June with Grade 2 hamstring strain
Brad Lidge, P, PHI - (shoulder) - Threw one inning of extended spring training game on Tuesday
Nick Hundley, C, SD - (oblique) - Rejoined club for batting practice Wednesday
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF - (hand) - Will begin rehab Friday

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

Called Up
Matt Young, OF, ATL
Aaron Cunningham, OF, ATL

Sent Down
Mike Minor, P, ATL
Kevin Millwood, SP, BOS
Aaron Shafer, P, ATL
Jake Fox, C, BAL (DFA'd)

Placed on DL
Freddy Sandoval, 3B, ANA, (oblique)
Bobby Cassevah, P, ANA, (shoulder)
Francisco Liriano, SP, MIN (shoulder)
Jeff Baker, 2B, CHI-N, (groin)
Ryan Doumit, C, PIT, (ankle)
Steven Pearce, 1B, PIT (calf)
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD (knee)

Activated from DL
Brian Matusz, SP, BAL

Closer Watch

Chicago Cubs - Carlos Marmol snapped a personal string of nine scoreless relief appearances after he was raked for six earned runs in the ninth inning of Tuesday's game against Houston. Let's just call this an isolated bad day at the office for now.

San Diego - Heath Bell has recorded a save in each of his last five appearances, though he was touched for a first earned run in that stretch in the ninth inning on Tuesday. Having appeared in games on four consecutive days, rest Wednesday wouldn't be a surprise.

New York (AL) - On May 28, Mariano Rivera not only blew a save opportunity (his third in 16 opportunities), but he was also tagged with the loss as Seattle got to him for a run on three hits in one-third of an inning. This may be a noteworthy event because the Yankees will have to lean heavily on their iconic closer as set up man Rafael Soriano will be sidelined for the next six-to-eight weeks with an inflamed ligament in his right elbow.

Seattle - Brandon League has settled back into a groove as the Mariner's closer after blowing up during a string of outings in early May. In his last seven appearances, he has pitched seven innings, earning six saves and allowing a total of three hits and no walks, while striking out four batters. The flame-throwing righty now has 15 saves on the season.

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Be sure to come back to RotoWire's Daily Lineup Card on Friday for all the analysis you need to dominate the competition and take home cash on DraftStreet.

Lineup Coming Soon!