Friday Lineup Card: Saved By The Bell

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Cubs (Jeff Samardzija - R) at Nationals (Ross Detwiler - L), 7:05 PM
Indians (Corey Kluber - R) at Tigers (Max Scherzer - R), 7:08 PM
Padres (Edinson Volquez - R) at Rays (Alex Cobb - R), 7:10 PM
Pirates (Wandy Rodriguez - L) at Mets (Shaun Marcum - R), 7:10 PM
Blue Jays (Ramon Ortiz - R) at Red Sox (Jon Lester - L), 7:10 PM
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - R) at Reds (Tony Cingrani - L), 7:10 PM
Orioles (Jason Hammel - R) at Twins (Mike Pelfrey - R), 8:10 PM
Yankees (Phil Hughes - R) at Royals (Wade Davis - R), 8:10 PM
Angels (Tommy Hanson - R) at White Sox (Dylan Axelrod - R), 8:10 PM
Rangers (Alexi Ogando - R) at Astros (Dallas Keuchel - L), 8:10 PM
Rockies (Jon Garland - R) at Cardinals (Shelby Miller - R), 8:15 PM
Phillies (Tyler Cloyd - R) at Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy - R), 9:40 PM
Marlins (Jose Fernandez - R) at Dodgers (Matt Magill - R), 10:10 PM
Athletics (Dan Straily - R) at Mariners (Hisashi Iwakuma - R), 10:10 PM
Braves (Tim Hudson - R) at Giants (Matt Cain - R), 10:15 PM

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, LAD - (Neck) Manager Don Mattingly wasn't optimistic Gonzalez would be ready to play Friday.
Angel Pagan, OF, SF - (Groin) Returned to the lineup Thursday, and while he still feels pain while batting left-handed, the injury is not affecting him on the base paths.
Jayson Werth, OF, WAS - (Hamstring) Expected to return to the lineup Saturday against the Cubs.
Santiago Casilla, P, SF - (Knee) May miss the next few games with a cyst in his right knee.
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, DET - (Back) Appeared to hurt his back on a ground ball Wednesday, but stayed in the game and was able to play Thursday.
Brandon Morrow, P, TOR - (Back) Expected to have his next start pushed back to Sunday.
Eduardo Nunez, SS, NYY - (Ribs) Played catch but didn't swing Wednesday, and said he "feels much better. . . but it's still tight."

Players on the DL
Roy Halladay, P, PHI - (Shoulder) Expects to have arthroscopic surgery next week to remove a bone spur, repair a partial tear in the rotator cuff and some fraying in the labrum.
Christian Garcia, P, WAS - (Forearm) Has begun throwing off a mound and could begin pitching in minor league games by the end of the month.
Luis Ayala, P, ATL - (Personal) Pitched a perfect inning in a rehab game with Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Chris Narveson, P, MIL - (Finger) Will throw a bullpen session off flat ground Friday.
J.J. Putz, P, ARI - (Elbow) Has a sprained UCL and will be shut down for the next two weeks.
Jenrry Mejia, P, NYM - (Forearm) Expected to pitch Saturday at High-A St. Lucie.
A.J. Pierzynski, C, TEX - (Oblique) Hit the 15-day DL with a strained right abdominal muscle.
Franklin Morales, P, BOS - (Chest) Threw two scoreless innings in rehab start for Double-A Portland on Wednesday.
Brett Anderson, P, OAK - (Ankle) Will head out on a rehab assignment Sunday.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY - (Hip) Ran, threw and spent 15 minutes hitting off a tee Wednesday.
Ivan Nova, P, NYY - (Triceps) Yankees unsure whether he'll be ready to return for Monday's game after the right-hander walked four over four innings in an extended spring training game Wednesday.
Joel Hanrahan, P, BOS - (Forearm) Transferred to the 60-day DL on Thursday.
Josh Fields, P, HOU - (Forearm) Will begin a rehab assignment Friday.
Josh Johnson, P, TOR - (Triceps) Played catch Thursday.
Andrew Bailey, P, BOS - (Biceps) Played catch Thursday but suggested he won't be ready to come off the DL when first eligible May 14.
Miguel Gonzalez, P, BAL - (Thumb) Will make a minor league rehab start either Tuesday or Wednesday at Double-A Bowie.
J.A. Happ, P, TOR - (Head) Expected to miss four-to-six weeks.
Tim Wood, P, MIN - (Shoulder) Rehab assignment has been rescinded due to soreness.
Brandon Beachy, P, ATL - (Elbow) Tossed a bullpen session Thursday and could head out on a rehab assignment next week.
Jonny Venters, P, ATL - (Elbow) Was not able to finish his bullpen session Thursday.
Zack Greinke, P, LAD - (Collarbone) Could return to the Dodgers' rotation next Wednesday.
Jason Heyward, OF, ATL - (Appendectomy) Could return for next week's series against the Diamondbacks.

Transactions

Placed on the DL
A.J. Pierzynski, C, TEX (retroactive to May 6)
Miguel Gonzalez, P, BAL (retroactive to May 4)
Joel Hanrahan, P, BOS (transferred to 60-day DL)

Activated from the DL
Michael Bourn, OF, CLE

Called Up
Mickey Storey, P, TOR
Ramon Ortiz, P, TOR
Jose De La Torre, P, BOS
Alex Burnett, P, BAL

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Edgar Gonzalez, P, TOR (designated for assignment)
Allen Webster, P, BOS
Ricky Romero, P, TOR
Scott Barnes, P, CLE

Traded
Brandon Wood, 3B, BAL (from KC)

Closer Watch

Washington - A two-out single by Miguel Cabrera in the ninth inning of Thursday's game brought the winning run to the plate for Detroit, but Rafael Soriano got Prince Fielder to fly out to end the ballgame. The save was Soriano's 12th of the season, which puts him one behind Jason Grilli for the National League lead. The right-hander has been dominant of late, with zero earned runs allowed and just two walks in his last 12 appearances, and while his strikeouts are down a bit, Soriano's fully entrenched as closer.

New York Yankees - Mariano Rivera hit Jordan Pacheco with a pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 3-1 game Thursday, but he got Josh Rutledge to ground out to end the game, making Rivera a perfect 13-for-13 in save chances so far this season. It's amazing what Rivera is doing at age 43, as he's tied for the major-league lead in saves while sporting a 1.88 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.

Arizona - J.J. Putz has been diagnosed with a UCL sprain and will be shut down for two weeks, which leaves Heath Bell as the next man up for saves chances in Arizona. Bell's struggles in Miami last year, along with his 4.40 ERA and 1.40 WHIP so far this season, may scare some owners off, but the 35-year-old looked good closing out wins Tuesday and Wednesday. Plus, he's recorded 20 strikeouts already in just 14.1 innings on the year while walking three.

Heath Bell, P, ARI - After recording 40-plus saves in three straight seasons from 2009-2011, Bell struggled mightily with the Marlins in 2012, with eight blown saves and a career-high 36 earned runs allowed in 73 appearances. However, as mentioned in the Closer Watch, Bell has cut down on his free passes so far this year and is fanning batters at a nice clip. His experience closing, along with his early success in the closer role for the Diamondbacks, will likely ensure the right-hander a decent leash to hold onto the job while J.J. Putz (elbow) is on the mend, but if Bell does falter, David Hernandez could get a shot.

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