This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters - A look at Thursday's matchups:
Blue Jays (Shaun Marcum – R) at Indians (Justin Masterson – R), 12:05 ET
Mariners (Ryan Rowland-Smith – L) at Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 1:05 ET
Reds (Travis Wood – L) at Cubs (Carlos Silva – R), 2:20 ET
Phillies (Cole Hamels – L) at Pirates (Daniel McCutchen – R), 7:05 ET
Mets (Johan Santana – L) at Nationals (Livan Hernandez – R), 7:05 ET
Athletics (Trevor Cahill – R) at Orioles (Jake Arrieta – R), 7:05 ET
Rays (Jeff Niemann – R) at Twins (Carl Pavano – R), 8:10 ET
Brewers (Randy Wolf – L) at Cardinals (Blake Hawksworth – R), 8:15 ET
Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L) at Rockies (Aaron Cook – R), 8:40 ET
Rangers (C.J. Wilson – L) at Angels (Jered Weaver – R), 10:05 ET
Astros (Brian Moehler – R) at Padres (Jon Garland – R), 10:05 ET
Day Game After Night Game: TOR, CLE, SEA, NYY
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)
Jose Reyes, SS, NYM (back) – Scratched Wednesday with a stiff back
Manny Ramirez, OF, LAD (hamstring) – Will have an MRI Thursday
B.J. Upton, OF, TAM (quad) – Scratched Wednesday, but available to pinch-hit
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET (oblique, illness) – Scratched Monday due to illness, in the lineup Tuesday and Wednesday
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS (neck) – Scratched Wednesday with a stiff neck
Will Venable, OF, SDG (back) – Scratched Wednesday with soreness
Kevin Slowey, SP, MIN (ankle) – Left Wednesday's start after being hit in the ankle
Dallas Braden, SP, OAK (forearm) – May miss Saturday start
Neil Walker, 3B, PIT (concussion) – Will hit the DL this weekend if unable to return to baseball activities
Nick Hundley, C, SDG (head) – Took one off the head Wednesday and left the game
Ryan Church, OF, PIT (knee) – Not in Wednesday's lineup; pinch-hit the past two days
Bobby Crosby, SS, PIT (head) – Questionable for Wednesday; probable for Thursday
Players on the DL
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI (thumb) – Will see a hand specialist Thursday
Kyle Blanks, OF, SDG (elbow) – Surgery a possibility
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI (elbow) – Will see Mets team doc David Altchek Thursday for a second opinion
Mike Gonzalez, RP, BAL (shoulder) – Won't return until July 8 at the earliest
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, CLE (arm) – Took grounders and made throws; still can't swing a bat
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS (ribs) – Still no timetable; August looks optimistic
Rich Harden, SP, TEX (lower body) – Expected to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, then maybe rehab assignment
Joel Zumaya, RP, DET (elbow) – Hopes to return for spring training
J.A. Happ, SP, PHI (forearm) – Will make another rehab start; may be ticketed for the minors afterward
Ryan Sweeney, OF, OAK (knee) – May have a cortisone shot right before the All-Star break
Luke Hochevar, SP, KAN (elbow) – Hopes to return before All-Star break
Jason Bulger, RP, LAA (shoulder) – Experienced discomfort after weekend bullpen session
Ryan Madson, RP, PHI (toe) – Good rehab outing Tuesday; on track for return around All-Star break
Jeremy Hermida, OF, BOS (ribs) – Swinging in the cage
Jed Lowrie, SS, BOS (illness) – Will start rehab Saturday
Doug Davis, SP, MIL (chest) – Could return for next week's Giants series
Zach Duke, SP, PIT (elbow) – Will throw off a mound Friday
Chris Young, SP, SDG (shoulder) – Still no timetable for him to throw off a mound
Gil Meche, SP, KAN (shoulder) – Felt no pain after Tuesday bullpen
Marcus Thames, OF, NYY (hamstring) – Beginning rehab assignment Wednesday
Maicer Izturis, SS, LAA (forearm) – Began strengthening exercises Tuesday, but still weeks away
Ryan Perry, RP, DET (biceps) – Expected to return this weekend
Felix Pie, OF, BAL (shoulder) – Won't return this weekend
Jim Johnson, RP, BAL (elbow) – Shut down for 3-5 days
Alfredo Aceves, RP, NYY (back) – Scheduled for a 35-pitch bullpen Wednesday; still at least a week away
Charlie Morton, SP, PIT (shoulder) – Pitched poorly Tuesday in Triple-A; return date pushed back
Matt Stairs, OF, SDG (knee) – Close to returning
Carlos Monasterios, SP, LAD (finger) – Bad rehab outing Monday; as a Rule 5, may have to be offered back to the Phillies if they don't keep him up
Jeff Fulchino, RP, HOU (elbow) – Placed on the DL
Transactions - Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Activated from the DL
Jair Jurrjens, SP, ATL
Gabe Kapler, OF, TAM
Sent Down
Hank Blalock, 3B, TAM (designated for assignment)
Cristhian Martinez, RP, ATL
Carlos Rosa, RP, ARI
Called Up
Barry Enright, RP, ARI
Casey Daigle, RP, HOU
Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left).
Arizona – Aaron Heilman allowed two hits Wednesday, but kept the Cardinals off the board in the ninth for his third save. He's been shaky, but so has everyone else in the D-Backs' pen. Juan Gutierrez gave up a run, but Chad Qualls turned in his first clean inning since June 5.
Colorado – Huston Street recorded his first save of the year with a clean ninth against San Diego with two strikeouts. Sorry, Manny Corpas owners.
Chicago White Sox – J.J. Putz allowed a hit and a walk over his 1.1 innings, but picked up his second save in the absence of Bobby Jenks (personal).
Philadelphia – Brad Lidge surrendered a three-run homer to Joey Votto in the ninth for his second blown save. J.C. Romero picked up his third save after the Phillies put up three in the tenth. Lidge has given up runs in three of his last five outings, calling his job into question again. Jose Contreras looms.
Key Matchups - Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included). *Check Status
Hot
Ichiro Suzuki v. CC Sabathia – 19-for-48 (.396), 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2:7 BB:K, .420 OBP
Milton Bradley v. CC Sabathia – 4-for-11 (.364), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .417 OBP
Orlando Cabrera v. Carlos Silva – 14-for-36 (.389), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .378 OBP
Scott Rolen v. Carlos Silva – 4-for-11 (.364), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .364 OBP
Cristian Guzman v. Johan Santana – 9-for-19 (.474), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .500 OBP
Josh Willingham v. Johan Santana – 5-for-13 (.385), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .467 OBP
David Wright v. Livan Hernandez – 12-for-36 (.333), 4 HR, 10 RBI, 3:3 BB:K, .400 OBP
Henry Blanco v. Livan Hernandez – 9-for-24 (.375), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .423 OBP
Fernando Tatis v. Livan Hernandez – 9-for-23 (.391), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1:4 BB:K, .440 OBP
Jeff Francoeur v. Livan Hernandez – 7-for-16 (.438), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4:0 BB:K, .524 OBP
B.J. Upton v. Carl Pavano – 5-for-11 (.455), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .455 OBP
Carl Crawford v. Carl Pavano – 8-for-22 (.364), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .348 OBP
Brendan Ryan v. Randy Wolf – 6-for-10 (.600), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .667 OBP
Pat Burrell v. Aaron Cook – 12-for-19 (.632), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .667 OBP
Juan Rivera v. C.J. Wilson – 5-for-11 (.455), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .500 OBP
Howie Kendrick v. C.J. Wilson – 4-for-10 (.400), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .455 OBP
Elvis Andrus v. Jered Weaver – 5-for-12 (.417), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .417 OBP
Adrian Gonzalez v. Brian Moehler – 5-for-12 (.417), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .462 OBP
Jered Weaver v. Rangers – Their .265 average against Weaver isn't bad, but is composed mostly of singles, as evidenced by a meager .381 SLG against him. The Rangers also haven't gotten on base too much, with a .307 OBP, thanks to Weaver's impressive 28:9 K:BB ratio against his division rivals.
Cold
Mark Teixeira v. Ryan Rowland-Smith – 2-for-11 (.182), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .250 OBP
Jack Wilson v. CC Sabathia – 2-for-15 (.133), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:1 BB:K, .278 OBP
Jose Lopez v. CC Sabathia – 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .176 OBP
Ivan Rodriguez v. Johan Santana – 9-for-40 (.225), 1 HR, 5 RBi, 2:10 BB:K, .262 OBP
Adam Kennedy v. Johan Santana – 4-for-19 (.211), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:4 BB:K, .273 OBP
Yadier Molina v. Randy Wolf – 3-for-16 (.188), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .188 OBP
Ryan Ludwick v. Randy Wolf – 3-for-15 (.200), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:5 BB:K, .350 OBP
Erick Aybar v. C.J. Wilson – 1-for-11 (.091), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .091 OBP
Nelson Cruz v. Jered Weaver – 4-for-21 (.190), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:7 BB:K, .292 OBP
David Murphy v. Jered Weaver – 1-for-15 (.067), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:7 BB:K, .118 OBP
Carlos Lee v. Jon Garland -- 1-for-14 (.071), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .071 OBP
Lance Berkman v. Jon Garland -- 3-for-16 (.188), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:4 BB:K, .278 OBP
Livan Hernandez v. Mets – Hernandez has held the Mets to just two runs over his 13.1 innings against them this year, but that's not well supported by the peripherals, like a 3:6 K:BB ratio. The Mets weren't hitting well when they saw Livan before, but guys like David Wright are swinging the bats better now, so expect some equalizing. Even with his success against them this year, the Mets have a combined .308/.363/.536 line against him.
Recommended Pickup
Pat Burrell, OF, Giants – Burrell was a total failure in his time with the Rays, but his return to the National League has come with stunning results -- a .338 average with five homers in his 22 games with the Giants. He's got absolutely sick numbers against Thursday's opposing starter, Aaron Cook, too, so now seems like a good time to pick up Pat the Bat and ride him while he's hot.
Other Recent Recommendations:Justin Smoak, Jamie Moyer, Matt LaPorta, Corey Patterson
