This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
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Thursday's Starters
Red Sox (Jon Lester - L) at Tigers (Justin Verlander - R), 1:05
Braves (Tommy Hanson - R) at Mets (Johan Santana - L), 1:10
Phillies (Roy Halladay - R) at Pirates (Erik Bedard - L), 1:35
Nationals (Stephen Strasburg - R) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R), 2:20
Blue Jays (Ricky Romero - L) at Indians (Justin Masterson - R), 3:05
Marlins (Mark Buehrle - L) at Reds (Johnny Cueto - R), 4:10
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L) at Padres (Edinson Volquez - R), 7:05
Day After Night Game: MIA
Injuries
Day-to-Day
Josh Beckett - (Thumb) Declared himself ready to make Saturday's scheduled start.
Jed Lowrie - (Thumb) Status TBD by Astros on Friday. Could miss six games.
Bryan LaHair - (Back) Questionable for Thursday's opener against Washington.
Andres Torres - (Calf) Expected to be in the lineup Thursday.
Tim Stauffer - (Triceps) Padres targeting return for April 10 series against Arizona.
Nelson Cruz - (Elbow) X-rays were negative after HBP on Tuesday.
Disabled List
Ted Lilly - (Neck) Expected to return April 14.
B.J. Upton - (General) Eligible to return from the DL April 9, took batting practice.
Kyle Farnsworth - (Elbow) MRI revealed a strain, could return in 1-2 weeks.
Transactions (just the key ones, Wednesday was roster cut-down day)
Placed on DL (does not included obvious ones i.e. Howard, Utley, Soria)
B.J. Upton
Michael Pineda
Drew Storen
Tsuyoshi Wada
Charlie Morton
Charlie Blackmon
Chien-Ming Wang
Rick Ankiel
Jerome Williams
David Huff
Takashi Saito
Daric Barton
Optioned to Triple-A
Todd Frazier
Julio Borbon
Tyson Ross
Charlie Furbush
Carlos Peguero
Francisco Cervelli
Nathan Eovaldi
John Lannan
Tim Federowicz
Henry Sosa (outrighted)
Sean O'Sullivan (outrighted)
Released
Claimed off Waivers
Luis Valbuena (TOR --> CHC)
Traded
Chris Stewart (SF --> NYY)
George Kontos (NYY --> SF)
Closer Watch
BOS -- Alfredo Aceves was named the Red Sox's closer Wednesday, despite the experience of Mark Melancon. Given the instability in the back of the Boston rotation, it's no guarantee that the Red Sox won't end up shifting him back to a starting role at some point later this season.
TAM -- The Rays haven't named a replacement for Kyle Farnsworth, but his absence may only last a couple of weeks. Joel Peralta is the best bet to take his place, although the Rays could use a committee that includes J.P. Howell or Jake McGee as well.
CIN -- Sean Marshall was officially named the closer by Reds manager Dusty Baker earlier this week. It's his job to lose while Ryan Madson is out for the year with a torn UCL.
KAN -- There's no word yet as to what the Royals are planning to do, although the logical first choice based on experience is Jonathan Broxton. Long term, the smart money seems to be on Greg Holland, or possibly even Aaron Crow, as both were very effective in the Royals' bullpen last season.
STL -- Jason Motte converted his first opportunity of the season Wednesday night, striking out Hanley Ramirez and Giancarlo Stanton during a scoreless ninth inning.
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
| Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Ortiz - DH | BOS @ DET 4/5 1:05 PM | Justin Verlander | 3-12 | .250 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | .583 | .400 | .983 | |||||||
| Kevin Youkilis - 3B | BOS @ DET 4/5 1:05 PM | Justin Verlander | 5-14 | .357 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .786 | .357 | 1.143 | |||||||
| Miguel Cabrera - 1B | DET vs BOS 4/5 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 5-10 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .583 | 1.083 | |||||||
| Jhonny Peralta - SS | DET vs BOS 4/5 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 4-17 | .235 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | .588 | .381 | .969 | |||||||
| Michael Bourn - OF | ATL @ NYM 4/5 1:10 PM | Johan Santana | 5-11 | .455 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .455 | .500 | .955 | |||||||
| Matt Diaz - OF | ATL @ NYM 4/5 1:10 PM | Johan Santana | 16-32 | .500 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | .688 | .515 | 1.203 | |||||||
| Brian McCann - C | ATL @ NYM 4/5 1:10 PM | Johan Santana | 8-29 | .276 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | .621 | .300 | .921 | |||||||
| Placido Polanco - 3B | PHI @ PIT 4/5 1:35 PM | Erik Bedard | 4-13 | .308 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .615 | .308 | .923 | |||||||
| Xavier Nady - OF | WAS @ CHC 4/5 2:20 PM | Ryan Dempster | 5-13 | .385 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .846 | .385 | 1.231 | |||||||
| Chad Tracy - 1B | WAS @ CHC 4/5 2:20 PM | Ryan Dempster | 6-10 | .600 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1.200 | .636 | 1.836 | |||||||
| Miguel Cairo - 3B | CIN vs MIA 4/5 4:10 PM | Mark Buehrle | 5-12 | .417 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .417 | .917 | |||||||
| Adam Kennedy - 2B | LAD @ SD 4/5 7:05 PM | Edinson Volquez | 5-12 | .417 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .417 | .462 | .879 | |||||||
| Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
| Johan Santana | NYM vs ATL 4/5 1:10 PM | Braves Batters | 37-139 | .266 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 31 | .405 | .300 | .705 | |||||||
| Tommy Hanson | ATL @ NYM 4/5 1:10 PM | Mets Batters | 15-65 | .231 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 16 | .322 | .285 | .607 | |||||||
| Erik Bedard | PIT vs PHI 4/5 1:35 PM | Phillies Batters | 17-71 | .239 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 18 | .350 | .298 | .648 | |||||||
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Punto - 2B | BOS @ DET 4/5 1:05 PM | Justin Verlander | 4-26 | .154 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | .154 | .241 | .395 | |||||||
| Ryan Sweeney - OF | BOS @ DET 4/5 1:05 PM | Justin Verlander | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .200 | .200 | .400 | |||||||
| Gerald Laird - C | DET vs BOS 4/5 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 2-11 | .182 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .273 | .182 | .455 | |||||||
| Delmon Young - OF | DET vs BOS 4/5 1:05 PM | Jon Lester | 4-23 | .174 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | .174 | .222 | .396 | |||||||
| Martin Prado - OF | ATL @ NYM 4/5 1:10 PM | Johan Santana | 3-20 | .150 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .200 | .150 | .350 | |||||||
| Dan Uggla - 2B | ATL @ NYM 4/5 1:10 PM | Johan Santana | 1-19 | .053 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | .211 | .100 | .311 | |||||||
| Ike Davis - 1B | NYM vs ATL 4/5 1:10 PM | Tommy Hanson | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | .300 | .333 | .633 | |||||||
| David Wright - 3B | NYM vs ATL 4/5 1:10 PM | Tommy Hanson | 1-16 | .063 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | .125 | .059 | .184 | |||||||
| Jimmy Rollins - SS | PHI @ PIT 4/5 1:35 PM | Erik Bedard | 2-11 | .182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .182 | .182 | .364 | |||||||
| Ty Wigginton - 3B | PHI @ PIT 4/5 1:35 PM | Erik Bedard | 7-27 | .259 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | .296 | .286 | .582 | |||||||
| Rod Barajas - C | PIT vs PHI 4/5 1:35 PM | Roy Halladay | 1-12 | .083 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .083 | .416 | |||||||
| Nate McLouth - OF | PIT vs PHI 4/5 1:35 PM | Roy Halladay | 0-10 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |||||||
| Scott Rolen - 3B | CIN vs MIA 4/5 4:10 PM | Mark Buehrle | 2-12 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .167 | .231 | .398 | |||||||
| Chase Headley - 3B | SD vs LAD 4/5 7:05 PM | Clayton Kershaw | 5-23 | .217 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | .261 | .217 | .478 | |||||||
| Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
| Ryan Dempster | CHC vs Was 4/5 2:20 PM | Nationals Batters | 22-75 | .294 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 21 | .517 | .354 | .871 | |||||||
Recommended Pickup
Juan Nicasio, SP, COL -- Most people remember the way Nicasio's season ended when a comebacker fractured one of his vertebrae during a start in early August. He made a full recovery in the offseason and worked without restrictions this spring and carried a 24:7 K:BB in 27.2 innings during Cactus League play. Nicasio has shown excellent control throughout his time as a professional, keeping his BB/9IP below 2.0 at each of his minor league stops during the last three seasons. He can also miss his share of bats, and while he may never deliver a K/9IP north of 10.0, the lack of hype around him reminds some of Brandon Beachy. Nicasio is scheduled to make his first 2012 start Sunday on the road against the Astros, and is worth considering even in shallow (10-12 team mixed) league formats.
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