Friday Lineup Card: Maybe Maybin?

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):

Astros (Bud Norris - R) at Cubs (Carlos Zambrano - R), 2:20
Angels (Ervin Santana - R) at Orioles (Alfredo Simon - R), 7:05
Cardinals (Chris Carpenter - R) at Pirates (Paul Maholm - L), 7:05
Athletics (Trevor Cahill - R) at Yankees (Phil Hughes - R), 7:05
Padres (Cory Luebke - L) at Phillies (Cole Hamels - L), 7:05
White Sox (Gavin Floyd - R) at Indians (Carlos Carrasco - R), 7:05
Mets (Mike Pelfrey - R) at Marlins (Chris Volstad - R), 7:10
Mariners (Felix Hernandez - R) at Red Sox (John Lackey - R), 7:10
Braves (Jair Jurrjens - R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R), 7:10
Blue Jays (Jo-Jo Reyes - L) at Rangers (Colby Lewis - R), 8:05
Tigers (Max Scherzer - R) at Twins (Brian Duensing - L), 8:10
Rays (Wade Davis - R) at Royals (Luke Hochevar - R), 8:10
Rockies (Aaron Cook - R) at Diamondbacks (Dan Hudson - R), 9:40
Nationals (John Lannan - L) at Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 10:10
Brewers (Shaun Marcum - R) 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)

AL
Jason Kubel, OF, MIN (foot) - Expected to be activated Friday
Jemile Weeks, 2B, OAK (finger) - Available for emergency situations Wednesday, but didn't play

NL
Orlando Hudson, 2B, SD (undisclosed) - Carted off field Thursday after wall collision
Jason Bay, OF, NYM (hamstring) - Expected back Friday
David Wright, 3B, NYM (back) - Will come off DL and play Friday
Kyle Lohse, SP, STL (finger) - Headed back to St. Louis to see a doctor
Jordan Schafer, OF, ATL (finger) - Can't swing a bat, but appeared as defensive replacement Thursday
Dan Uggla, 2B, ATL (calf) - Out Thursday
Chase Headley, 3B, SD (calf) - Out for the fifth straight game Thursday, but expected back Friday
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF (quad) - Expected back Friday
Nick Punto, SS, STL (elbow) - In the lineup Thursday

Players on the DL

AL
Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE (knee) - Had sports hernia surgery Thursday
Fernando Rodney, RP, LAA (back) - Threw a scoreless inning in second rehab game
Peter Bourjos, OF, LAA (hamstring) - Increased intensity of workouts Wednesday
Tony Pena, RP, CHW (elbow) - Left rehab appearance with discomfort
Ramon Castro, C, CHW (hand) - Will need 8-12 weeks of rehab, so likely out for the year
Eric Chavez, 3B, NYY (foot) - Had four hits in second rehab game
Andres Blanco, SS, TEX (back) - Will have rehab assignment pushed back to next weekend
Jon lester, SP, BOS (shoulder) - Threw bullpen Wednesday and likely for Monday return
Kendrys Morales, 1B, LAA (ankle) - Shifted to 60-day DL
Erik Bedard, SP, SEA (knee) - Unlikely to return to rotation during upcoming road trip
Adam Dunn, 1B, CHW (knee) - Out for the second straight day Wednesday

NL
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL (shoulder) - Placed on DL and will miss a lot of time after breaking collarbone
Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL (knee) - Unlikely to begin rehab on Friday
Evan Meek, RP, PIT (shoulder) - Transferred to 60-day DL
Matt Daley, RP, COL (shoulder) - Doing strengthening exercise and long tossing
Stephen Drew, SS, AZ (ankle) - Out for the year
Jose Contreras, RP, PHI (elbow) - Played catch for second straight day Wednesday
Brad Lidge, RP, PHI (shoulder) - Likely back Friday, but will assume a setup role
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI (back) - Had an epidural Thursday
Jared Burton, RP, CIN (shoulder) - Threw first rehab outing in rookie ball Tuesday; gave up three runs in an inning
J.J. Putz, RP, AZ (elbow) - Pitching in rehab game Friday and hopes for Tuesday return

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

Called Up
Wilson Betemit, 3B, DET (activated post-trade)
Josh Lueke, RP, SEA
Brett Carroll, OF, MIL
Cody Ransom, 1B, AZ

Sent Down
Wesley Wright, RP, HOU
Brandon Inge, 3B, DET (DFA)
Kyle Seager, 3B, SEA
Pedro Ciriaco, 3B, PIT
Josh Harrison, 3B, PIT
Luis Valbuena, SS, CLE

Placed on DL
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL
Stephen Drew, SS, AZ

Activated from DL
Matt Downs, 2B, HOU (paternity leave)

Released
Chad Gaudin, RP, WAS

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

Philadelphia - Brad Lidge is coming back, but he likely won't replace the near-perfect Antonio Bastardo.

Minnesota - Joe Nathan gave up a solo homer in the ninth Wednesday, but he had a three-run lead, so he nailed down his third straight save and appears to be comfortably ensconced in the closer's role once more.

Milwaukee - Francisco Rodriguez got the call in the eighth Wednesday, allowing two runs for a "blown save." John Axford collected save No. 26 after the Brew Crew stormed back to retake the lead in the tenth.

Key Matchups

Cameron Maybin, OF, SD - What has poor Maybin done to be so scorned by fantasy owners? Sure, he plays in Petco. Sure, he's never lived up to the hype. That doesn't mean he's not a useful fantasy player. Over the last 30 days, only Brett Gardner and Emilio Bonifacio have stolen more bases than Maybin's 10. Better still, he's done it while hitting .319 and scoring 18 runs. Maybin has always had top-tier speed, and with the Padres having to do what they can to scratch out runs, you have to imagine the still-young outfielder (he's just 24, even though it seems like he's been around forever) is going to keep on getting the green light nearly every time he gets to first base.

Other recent recommendations: Travis Snider, Jose Altuve, Joe Nathan, Mark Ellis

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Draft Street Lineup

C - Wilson Ramos, WAS ($5,230)
1B - Albert Pujols, STL ($8,980)
2B - Dustin Ackley, SEA ($5,855)
3B - Mark Reynolds, BAL ($4,498)
SS - Jhonny Peralta, DET ($6,493)
OF - Matt Kemp, LAD ($7,912)
OF - Jose Bautista, TOR ($9,827)
OF - Alex Gordon, KC ($6,086)
UT - B.J. Upton, TB ($4,536)
UT - Ichiro Suzuki, SEA ($4,888)
SP - Max Scherzer, DET ($11,865)
SP - Daniel Hudson, ARI ($11,156)
RP - David Hernandez, ARI ($2,108)
P - Cory Luebke, SD ($10,326)

Total: $99,760

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