Thursday Lineup Card: September Callup Version

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):

Pirates (Brian Burres - L) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster - R), 2:20
White Sox (John Danks - R) at Tigers (Justin Verlander - R), 7:05
Mets (R.A. Dickey - R) at Nationals (Ross Detwiler - R), 7:05
Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow - R) at Yankees (Ivan Nova - R), 7:05
Phillies (Roy Oswalt - R) at Marlins (Brad Hand - L), 7:10
Rangers (Derek Holland - L) at Red Sox (Andrew Miller - L), 7:10
Orioles (Zach Britton - L) at Rays (David Price - L), 7:10
Dodgers (Chad Billingsley - R) at Braves (Brandon Beachy - R), 7:35
Brewers (Zack Greinke - R) at Astros (Lucas Harrell - R), 8:05
Indians (Justin Masterson - R) at Royals (Bruce Chen - L), 8:10
Reds (Johnny Cueto - R) at Cardinals (Chris Carpenter - R), 8:15
Mariners (Jason Vargas - L) at Athletics (Guillermo Moscoso - R), 10:05
Rockies (Kevin Millwood - R) at Padres (Aaron Harang - R), 10:05
Twins (Carl Pavano - R) at Angels (Jered Weaver - R), 10:05
Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders - L) at Giants (Matt Cain - R), 10:15

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)

Jair Jurrjens, SP, ATL (knee) - Will have Sunday start skipped
Chris Heisey, OF, CIN (oblique) - Activated before Thursday's game
Ryan Spilborghs, OF, COL (foot) - Rejoining the team Friday
Jose Tabata, OF, PIT (wrist) - Played Wednesday, but looked to be in pain
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL (wrist) - Got Wednesday off due to soreness
Jhoulys Chacin, SP, COL (illness) - Getting skipped Saturday
Jason Hammel, SP, COL (personal) - On paternity leave
Cody Ross, OF, SF (hand) - X-rays negative; back Friday
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX (hamstring) - Back in the lineup and off the DL Thursday
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY (thumb) - Out Thursday
Matt Wieters, C, BAL (quad) - Back in Thursday; doubled and homered
Russell Martin, C, NYY (thumb) - Back in Thursday's lineup
Felipe Paulino, SP, KC (back) - Won't miss extended time
Kevin Youkilis, 3B, BOS (back) - On track for Friday return; homered in rehab Wednesday
Casey Janssen, RP, TOR (back) - Out the next few days
Tommy Hunter, SP, BAL (illness) - Hospitalized after last start; unlikely for upcoming road trip

Players on the DL

Casey Blake, 3B, LAD (neck) - Having season-ending surgery
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA (shoulder) - No structural damage, but surgery still possible
Scott Rolen, 3B, CIN (shoulder) - May not return from DL this weekend
Ryan Ludwick, OF, PIT (back) - Has been feeling fine; should return Sept. 7, when eligible
Jack Wilson, SS, ATL (heel) - Traded to Braves and expected to be activated Saturday
Joe Blanton, SP, PHI (elbow) - Starting rehab assignment Friday
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, CLE (abdomen) - Nightmare season continues with another DL trip
Carlos Quentin, OF, CHW (shoulder) - Said he probably won't return Monday
Nelson Cruz, OF, TEX (hamstring) - Would like to return in two weeks
Bobby Jenks, RP, BOS (back) - Transferred to 60-day DL
Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE (knee) - Started rehab Wednesday; will be re-evaluated over weekend
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS (shoulder, finger) - Hurt finger on rehab assignment, slowing return
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE (wrist) - Successful surgery Wednesday; should be back for ST
Josh Johnson, SP, FLA (shoulder) - Will try to throw off mound soon, but still out for year

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

Called Up

Brandon Guyer, OF, TB
Logan Schafer, OF, MIL
Merkin Valdez, RP, TEX
Scott Proctor, RP, NYY
Esteban German, 2B, TEX
Luis Marte, RP, DET
Brian Burres, SP, PIT
Josh Satin, 2B, NYM
Josh Stinson, RP, NYM
Jesus Montero, C, NYY
Rick VandenHurk, RP, BAL
Efren Navarro, 1B, LAA
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN
Kyle Hudson, OF, BAL
Dana Eveland, SP, LAD
Horacio Ramirez, RP, LAA
J.C. Boscan, C, ATL
Corey Kluber, RP, CLE
Jesse Chavez, RP, KC
Nick Hagadone, SP, CLE
Chris Dickerson, OF, NYY
Raul Valdes, RP, NYY
Sam Demel, RP, AZ
Russell Mitchell, 3B, LAD
Jason Jaramillo, C, PIT
Chris Valaika, 3B, CIN
Jeremy Horst, RP, CIN
Jared Burton, RP, CIN
Martin Maldonado, C, MIL
Andrew Romine, 3B, LAA
Carlos Fisher, RP, CIN
Lance Pendleton, RP, NYY
Anthony Varvaro, RP, ATL
Juan Francisco, 3B, CIN
Sandy Rosario, RP, FLA
Felix Doubront, RP, BOS
Ryan Cook, RP, AZ
Jeremy Moore, OF, LAA
Brandon Laird, 3B, NYY
Will Rhymes, 2B, DET
Matt Maloney, RP, CIN
Brandon Dickson, RP, STL
Jacob Turner, SP, DET
Andy Dirks, OF, DET

Sent Down

Fred Lewis, OF, CIN (Outrighted)
Pat Neshek, RP, SD (DFA)

Placed on DL
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, CLE

Activated from DL
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX
Dee Gordon, SS, LAD
Chris Heisey, OF, CIN
Doug Slaten, RP, WAS
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL
Justin Ruggiano, OF, TB
Alberto Castillo, RP, AZ
Jon Rauch, RP, TOR
Andres Blanco, SS, TEX
Carlos Guillen, 2B, DET
Geoff Blum, 1B, AZ

Waiver Claims
Pedro Strop, RP, BAL (from TEX)
Jeff Fulchino, RP, SD (from HOU)

Traded
Daniel Herrera, RP, NYM (from MIL, completing Francisco Rodriguez trade)

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

Blue Jays - Jon Rauch is back from the DL, which may mean that Frank Francisco's closing days are numbered. Again. It was Francisco who pitched a scoreless ninth Thursday, though, for his 12th save; Rauch fired a scoreless eighth with a strikeout in his return. Meanwhile, dark horse Casey Janssen is hurting. It all adds up to Francisco closing until his next implosion.

Mets - Bobby Parnell converted for the third time Wednesday, and despite claims of a platoon with him and Jason Isringhausen, Izzy hasn't seen the ninth inning since Parnell's first save.

Key Matchups

Recommended Pickup

Jesus Montero, C, NYY - In truth, I don't like Montero as much as Devin Mesoraco, but Montero has a clearer path to playing time (mostly at DH), and so he's the man who emerges from this enormous list of call-ups. Although he's been somewhat disappointing at Triple-A this year, he's lit on fire lately, raising his season average to .288 with 18 homers and an OPS of .815. Montero could see plenty of action at DH and also occasionally spell Russell Martin behind the plate, and he's going to be hitting in a great park and great lineup, which certainly helps allay any concerns that he might not be ready.

Other recent recommendations: Nick Evans, Tom Milone, Brad Lincoln, J.D. Martinez, Steve Cishek

DraftStreet Lineup

C - Carlos Santana, CLE ($4,883)
1B - Lucas Duda, NYM ($6,412)
2B - Dustin Ackley, SEA ($6,353)
3B - Alberto Callaspo, LAA ($5,585)
SS - Jhonny Peralta, DET ($5,994)
OF - Carlos Beltran, SF ($6,909)
OF - Eric Thames, TOR ($6,673)
OF - Peter Bourjos, LAA ($5,359)
UT - Mark Trumbo, LAA ($6,408)
UT - Angel Pagan, NYM ($6,749)
SP - Brandon Beachy, ATL ($14,690)
SP - Roy Oswalt, PHI ($9,129)
RP - Mariano Rivera, NYY ($2,457)
P - Johnny Cueto, CIN ($11,913)

Total: $99,514
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