Thursday Lineup Card: Time to Pick Up Charlie Blackmon?

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie - R) v. Blue Jays (Zach Stewart - R) 12:37
Indians (Mitch Talbot - R) v. Tigers (Max Scherzer - R) 1:05
Marlins (Javier Vazquez - R) v. Phillies (Cliff Lee - L) 1:05
Rangers (C.J. Wilson - L) v. Yankees (Brian Gordon - R) 1:05
White Sox (Mark Buehrle - L) v. Twins (Nick Blackburn - R) 1:10
Pirates (James McDonald - R) v. Astros (Jordan Lyles - R) 2:05
Brewers (Zack Greinke - R) v. Cubs (Matt Garza - R) 2:20
Royals (Jeff Francis - L) v. A's (Gio Gonzalez - L) 3:35
Cardinals (Kyle Lohse - R) v. Nationals (John Lannan - L) 7:05
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz - R) v. Rays (David Price - L) 7:10
Mets (R.A. Dickey - R) v. Braves (Mike Minor - L) 7:10
Giants (Ryan Vogelsong - R) v. Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy - R) 9:40

Day After Night: CLE/DET, TEX/NYY, BAL/TOR, CHW/MIN, PIT/HOU, MIL/CHC, KC/OAK

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)

Maicer Izturis, 3B, ANA (foot) - soreness is keeping him out of lineup
Alberto Callaspo, 3B, ANA (hamstring) - may be headed to DL, according to LA Times
Russell Martin, C, NY-A (back) - sat out Wednesday and likely ready by weekend
Matt Harrison, P, TEX (arm) - threw two bullpens and should be ready to start Saturday
Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL (oblique) - available to pinch-hit Wednesday; may start on Thursday
Edward Mujica, P, FLO (wrist) - left Wednesday's game after collision at first base
Casey Blake, 3B, LA-N, (neck) - may play Friday
Justin Turner, 2B, NY-N (thumb) - likely returning Thursday
Cole Hamels, P, PHI (back) - likely to make next start Sunday
Josh Harrison, 3B, PIT (oblique) - played catch Tuesday; should be ready to play by weekend
Brad Hawpe, OF, SD (elbow) - may need a couple of days off; in a battle for playing time, too
Orlando Hudson, 2B, SD (groin) - began rehab assignment Wednesday
Eduardo Sanchez, P, STL (shoulder) - will be unavailable for a few days
Rick Ankiel, OF, WAS (ribs) - will not be available for a day or two
Ian Desmond, SS, WAS (upper leg) - feeling better after a couple of days off; in Wednesday's lineup.

Players on the DL

Scott Kazmir, SP, ANA (back) - Fifth rehab start a flop as he gives up six earned runs in 1.2 innings
Bobby Jenks, RP, BOS (back) - threw from 90 feet on flat ground on Tuesday
Tony Pena, P, CHI-A (elbow) - scheduled for Triple-A rehab appearance at Charlotte on Thursday
Travis Hafner, DH, CHI-A (oblique) - began rehab at Double-A on Tuesday
Bruce Chen, SP, KC (back) - will make rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Omaha
Kyle Davies, SP, KC (shoulder) - will pitch for Double-A Northwestern Arkansas on Saturday
Joe Nathan, RP, MIN (elbow) - in Fort Myers to continue his rehab
Joe Mauer, C, MIN (leg) - headed to Minnesota on Thursday for Friday activation
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, 2B, MIN (leg) - took batting practice Wednesday but did not start after activation
Glen Perkins, SP, MIN (oblique) - should be activated from the DL Friday
Pedro Feliciano, P, NY-A (shoulder) - played catch on Tuesday and will head to rehab stint soon
Tyson Ross, P, OAK (oblique) - will throw next bullpen Friday
Brandon McCarthy, P, OAK (shoulder) - completed second bullpen session Tuesday; simulated game next
Tommy Hunter, P, TEX (groin) - allowed six hits and two runs in 3.2 IP at Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday
Darren O'Day, RP, TEX (hip) - threw live batting practice on Tuesday; targeting June 26 to return to Rangers
Brandon Webb, P, TEX (shoulder) - allowed one hit over three scoreless innings at Double-A Frisco on Tuesday
Jesse Litsch, SP, TOR (shoulder) - threw two scoreless innings in simulated game Monday
Martin Prado, 2B, ATL (calf) - likely to miss the rest of June due to staph infection
Nate McLouth, OF, ATL (oblique) - may return from DL in one week
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL (abdomen) - will stay in Triple-A to work on swing after he gets healthy
Esmil Rogers, P, COL (ribs) - left Tuesday's game with intercostal rib strain
Clay Hensley, P, FLA (shoulder) - played catch on Tuesday; aiming for return to Marlins by early July
Jonathan Broxton, RP, LA (elbow) - threw simulated game on Tuesday; may return by end of June
Hong-Chih Kup, P, LA-N (illness) - will pitch in Triple-A on Wednesday
Takashi Saito, P, MIL (oblique) - will pitch at Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday and Friday
David Wright, 3B, NY-N (stress fracture, lower back) - will be re-examined on June 24
Joe Blanton, SP, PHI (elbow) - won't return to team before All-Star break
Brian Schneider, C, PHI (hamstring) - to begin rehab assignment next week
Brad Lidge, RP, PHI (shoulder) - played catch on Wednesday; hopeful return around All-Star break
Joe Biemel, P, PIT (elbow) - threw from mound on Tuesday; first time since going on DL
Evan Meek, P, PIT (shoulder) - return not likely before late July
David Freese, 3B, STL (hand) - will face live pitching Wednesday
Matt Holliday, OF, STL (quadriceps) - aiming for return Thursday
Adam Laroche, 1B, WAS (shoulder) - will undergo season-ending surgery on Thursday

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

Sent Down
Elih Villanueva, P, FLA (after being called up for Wednesday start)
Osvaldo Martinez, SS, FLA
Matt Young, LF, ATL
Yunesky Maya, P, WASH

Called Up
George Kottaras, C, MIL
Collin Balester, P, WAS
Jason Berken, P, BAL

Activated
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF
Alfonso Soriano, OF, CHC
Reed Johnson, OF, CHC
Wade LeBlanc, P, SD
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS
Darnell McDonald, OF, BOS
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA

Placed on DL
Josh Johnson, SP, FLA (shoulder - moved from 15 day to 60 day DL)
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN (left wrist strain)
Derek Jeter, SS, NYY (strained right calf)
Darwin Barney, 2B, CHC (knee)
Alfredo Simon, P, BAL (hamstring)
Eric Chavez, 3B, NY-A (foot)
Scott Cousins, OF, FLA (back)

Closer Watch

NY Mets - Francisco Rodriguez seems to have righted himself as he has posted three straight impressive outings after a tumultuous two-week period that saw his ERA inflate as he surrendered runs in four of five outings. In the past week, he gave up only one hit and didn't walk a batter, while fanning six hitters over 3.1 innings. For the year he is 1-2, 2.91 ERA, having converted 19-of-20 save opportunities.

Kansas City - Joakim Soria has regained his effectiveness and seems to have overcome his early-season struggles. It looks like Soria is back to his usual standard during six appearances in June. In that time, he has collected a win and three saves, while working eight innings and limiting opponents to two total hits, while striking out six batters, walking two and holding the opposition scoreless.

Oakland - Oakland has brought Andrew Bailey back into the ninth-inning role after injuries robbed him of a much earlier start to the 2011 season. He was afforded the time to have an extended spring training because of some early success by another experienced closer in Brian Fuentes. Though the veteran lefty did have a nice run, he has faltered badly and given way to Bailey, who had two spotless outings before blowing his first save opportunity. To their credit, the A's got Bailey back up on the horse and he has looked more comfortable in his last two outings, where he did earn his first save and has recorded two more scoreless outings.

Recommended Pickup

Charlie Blackmon, OF, COL - Though he was only called up a little more than a week ago, Blackmon has already made a positive impression. In his first eight games, he has 12 hits in 35 at-bats (for a .343 BA) and has also shown blazing speed on the basepaths including five stolen bases. It's easy to see why Rockies management sees him as their future leadoff hitter. These major league totals are only based on a small sample size, but they mirror the progress he has made in the minors over the past three years. At 24, he is seemingly well-prepared to make his mark in the big leagues. These early returns suggest that his future is now and that Dexter Fowler won't be taking back the starting job anytime soon.

Other recent recommendations:Scott Baker, Lucas Duda, Jemile Weeks, J.J. Hardy and Mike Moustakas.

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C - A.J. Pierzynski $5,257
1B - Ryan Howard $7,373
2B - Robinson Cano $7,353
3B - Placido Polanco $7,193
SS - Asdrubal Cabrera $7,765
OF - Shin-Soo Choo $4,197
OF - Raul Ibanez $5,515
OF - Delmon Young $4,757
UT - Alex Rios $4,160
UT - Jose Bautista $10,301
SP - Ian Kennedy $13,167
SP - Max Scherzer $10,981
RP - Mark Melancon $1,715
P - Gio Gonzalez $9,565

Total: $99,299

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