Thursday Lineup Card: Harvey Is No Imaginary Friend

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

American League
Rays (James Shields – R) at Orioles (Chris Tillman – R), 12:35
Athletics (Tommy Milone – L) at Blue Jays (Aaron Laffey – L), 12:37
Tigers (Justin Verlander – R) at Indians (Zach McAllister – R), 7:05
Royals (Luis Mendoza – R) at Mariners (Jason Vargas – L), 10:10

National League
Dodgers (Chris Capuano – L) at Cardinals (Jake Westbrook – R), 1:45
Pirates (A.J. Burnett – R) at Astros (Dallas Keuchel – L), 8:05
Nationals (Edwin Jackson – R) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo – R), 8:10
Mets (Matt Harvey – R) at Diamondbacks (Wade Miley – L), 9:40

Day Game After a Night Game: TB, BAL, OAK, TOR, LAD, STL

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)

AL
Trevor Plouffe, SS, MIN – (Thumb) Did not start Wednesday.
Albert Pujols, 1B, LAA – (Elbow) X-rays on elbow negative, missed Wednesday's game.
Erick Aybar, SS, LAA – (Toe) Has fracture, missed fourth straight game on Wednesday.
Kevin Youkilis, 3B, CHW – (Ankle) Left Wednesday's game with a sprain.
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX – (Head) Started Wednesday's game after being hit in helmet Tuesday.
Yunel Escobar, SS, TOR – (Back) Scratched Wednesday with tightness.
J.P. Arencibia, C, TOR – (Hand) Broken hand Wednesday, out six weeks.

NL
Adam Kennedy, 2B, LAD – (Groin) Tweaked groin Tuesday, did not start Wednesday.
J.D. Martinez, OF, HOU – (Shoulder) Returned to lineup Wednesday.
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI – (Back) Missed Wednesday's game for third straight day.
Josh Johnson, P, MIA – (Finger) Reportedly on the trading block.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD – (Wrist) Out of Wednesday's lineup.
Alexi Amarista, 2B, SD – (Thumb) Out of Wednesday's lineup.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF – (Hamstring) Will decide Wednesday whether he hits DL.
Lance Berkman, OF, STL – (Knee) Out of Wednesday's lineup.

Players on the DL

AL
Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, CLE – (Arm) Moved to 60-day to create roster spot.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY – (Hand) Fractured hand on Tuesday, out 6-to-8 weeks.
Erasmo Ramirez, P, SEA – (Elbow) Was to make first rehab start Wednesday.
Sergio Santos, P, TOR – (Shoulder) Minor surgery to clean out shoulder, could start rehab in about 10 days.
Andrew Bailey, P, BOS – (Thumb) Threw batting practice Wednesday.
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB – (Hamstring) Was to begin rehab at Triple-A Wednesday after moving to 60-day DL to create roster spot.
Colby Lewis, P, TEX – (Forearm) Will have surgery Friday and miss the rest of the season.
Neftali Feliz, P, TEX – (Elbow) Threw three innings Tuesday, will start again Sunday.
Andy Dirks, OF, DET – (Achilles) Scratched from rehab start Wednesday.
Joba Chamberlain, P, NYY – (Ankle) One rehab appearance to go before joining Yankees.
Brandon Morrow, P, TOR – (Oblique) Will make first rehab start Sunday.

NL
Frank Francisco, P, NYM – (Oblique) Was to begin rehab at Double-A on Wednesday.
Chad Tracy, 1B, WAS – (Groin) Got a day off from rehab.
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL – (Groin) Began hitting drills Tuesday, still hoping to return in August.
Jonathan Lucroy, C, MIL – (Hand) Hitting well in rehab, should not be far from returning.
Chris Nelson, SS, COL – (Irregular Heart Beat) Will begin baseball activities if he gets a clear bill of health from doctor.
Jason Giambi, 1B, COL – (Illness) Unlikely to be traded.
Dee Gordon, SS, LAD – (Thumb) Likely to move to bench spot when he returns.
Jayson Werth, OF, WAS – (Wrist) Played five innings in rehab, could return in about a week.
Mike Baxter, OF, NYM – (Shoulder) Should be back next week.
Johan Santana, P, NYM – (Ankle) Should throw off a mound next week, likely to miss minimum 15 days.
Nick Masset, P, CIN – (Shoulder) Threw batting practice Tuesday.
Jason Castro, C, HOU – (Knee) Progressing well, but at least a week from returning.
Jhoulys Chacin, P, COL – (Chest) One more bullpen session Thursday before beginning rehab.
Jonathan Herrera, SS, COL – (Wrist) Ready to begin rehab.
Aubrey Huff, 1B, SF – (Knee) Could be activated sooner rather than later if Giants place Sandoval on DL.

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

Called Up
Edwar Cabrera, P, COL
Ramiro Pena, SS, COL
Brian Fuentes, P, STL
Xavier Cedeno, P, HOU

Sent Down
Jason Pridie, OF, PHI
Victor Marte, P, ATL
Chuckie Fick, P, STL – designated for assignment
Hideki Matsui, DH, TB – designated for assignment
Aaron Cunningham, OF, CLE – designated for assignment
Shawn Tolleson, P, LAD

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Jason Giambi, 1B, COL
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB – transferred to 60-day DL
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY
Todd Coffey, P, LAD – transferred to 60-day DL

Activated from DL
None

Signed
Henry Urrutia, OF, BAL

Traded
Ryan Roberts, 3B, AZ to TB for minor leaguer
Wandy Rodriguez, P, HOU to PIT for three minor leaguers
Randy Choate, P, and Hanley Ramirez, 3B, from MIA to LAD for Nathan Eovaldi, P, and a minor leaguer

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

Houston – Things are not off to a hot start in the Coco era. Francisco Cordero let the Reds rally in the top of the ninth both Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Keep in mind the Reds obviously had the book on Coco.

Milwaukee – Francisco Rodriguez blew a save for the second time in a row, allowing four runs on Monday and two runs on Wednesday.

Matt Harvey, P, NYM – The Mets called up top prospect Harvey to replace Johan Santana in the rotation as Santana has been placed on the DL. Harvey throws a low-to-mid-90s fastball, a slider and a curveball. The University of North Carolina product has struggled with a changeup, a pitch he just started developing in 2011. There are command issues, too, but he could provide nearly one strikeout per inning.

Other Recent Recommendations:Travis Snider, Casper Wells, Lorenzo Cain, Christian Friedrich, Jeremy Guthrie

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