Friday Lineup Card: Yesterday Was Thursday

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)

Nationals (Livan Hernandez - R) at Phillies (Cole Hamels - L), 7:05
Tigers (Brad Penny - R) at Orioles (Alfredo Simon - R), 7:05
Twins (Carl Pavano - R) at Indians (Justin Masterson - R), 7:05
Rays (David Price - L) at Yankees (C.C. Sabathia - L), 7:05
Angels (Ervin Santana - R) at Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow - R), 7:07
Giants (Matt Cain - R) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco - R), 7:10
Padres (Mat Latos - R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R), 7:10
Cubs (Carlos Zambrano - R) at Braves (Mike Minor - L), 7:35
Pirates (Paul Maholm - L) at Brewers (Zack Greinke - R), 8:10
Royals (Bruce Chen - L) at White Sox (Zach Stewart - R), 8:10
Rockies (Aaron Cook - R) at Cardinals (Kyle Lohse - R), 8:15
Mets (Dillon Gee - R) at Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy - R), 9:40
Rangers (C.J. Wilson - L) at Athletics (Brandon McCarthy - R), 10:05
Red Sox (John Lackey - R) at Mariners (Blake Beavan - R), 10:10
Astros (Bud Norris - R) at Dodgers (Nathan Eovaldi - R), 10:10

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)

Matt Holliday, OF, STL (back) - Out again Thursday
Michael Morse, OF, WAS (arm) - Left Thursday after being hit by a pitch
Carlos Beltran, OF, SF (hand) - Possible Saturday/Sunday return
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN (neck) - Will be activated Friday
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN (elbow) - Said he's out for the next five games
Mitchell Boggs, RP, STL (back) - Despite injury, could be top set-up man for a while
Huston Street, RP, COL (triceps) - Unavailable Thursday
Vance Worley, SP, PHI (thigh) - Struggled Wednesday after being hit with a line drive in his last outing
Miguel Cairo, 3B, CIN (oblique) - Still out seemingly indefinitely
Laynce Nix, OF, WAS (Achilles) - Started Thursday despite limping off Wednesday
Angel Pagan, OF, NYM (back) - Out Thursday
Orlando Hudson, 2B, SD (groin) - Out for second straight game Thursday
J.J. Putz, RP, AZ (general soreness) - Held out Wednesday, but pronounced good to go for Thursday
Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL (forearm) - Missed Wednesday, but seems likely back Friday
Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL (shoulder) - No structural damage, just tendinitis; seems likely for Tuesday start
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE (wrist) - Sitting Thursday as a precaution
Brennan Boesch, OF, DET (thumb) - Out Thursday
Jason Repko, OF, MIN (shoulder) - Likely headed to DL when Morneau is back Friday
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK (calf) - Out Thursday
Jack Wilson, SS, SEA (general soreness) - Scratched Wednesday
 
Players on the DL

Eduardo Sanchez, RP, STL (shoulder) - May start rehab assignment soon, return in September
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA (shoulder) - Placed on DL retroactive to Aug. 3
Dee Gordon, SS, LAD (shoulder) - Placed on DL with contusion
Kevin Hart, RP, PIT (shoulder) - Had surgery; see you in the spring
Chris Narveson, SP, MIL (thumb) - Cut himself with scissors and placed on DL
Matt Lindstrom, RP, COL (arm) - Placed on DL with nerve issue
Lance Lynn, RP, STL (oblique) - Placed on DL
Zach Cozart, SS, CIN (elbow) - Season-ending surgery on tap
Jair Jurrjens, SP, ATL (knee) - On track for Aug. 17 return
Juan Nicasio, SP, COL (neck) - Out of the hospital and resting at home; expected to recover fully in time
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY (knee) - Could be back early next week
Michael Wuertz, RP, OAK (thumb) - Will try to play catch Monday
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, CLE (thumb) - Heading out to rehab and could be back early next week
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS (shoulder) - Taking swings; rehab assignment could start soon
Carlos Villanueva, RP, TOR (elbow) - Expected to throw again by end of week
Dustin McGowan, SP, TOR (shoulder) - Went four good innings in rehab Wednesday
Jake Arrieta, SP, BAL (elbow) - Having bone spur removed surgically Friday; still out for year
Zach Britton, SP, BAL (shoulder) - Threw long toss Wednesday; rehab assignment soon
 
Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.

Sent Down
Brad Hand, SP, FLA
Joe Thurston, 2B, FLA (outrighted)
Trevor Plouffe, SS, MIN
Manny Pina, C, KC
Darren O'Day, RP, TEX

Called Up
Chris Volstad, SP, FLA
Jose Ceda, RP, FLA
 
Activated
Craig Gentry, OF, TEX

Placed on DL
Dee Gordon, SS, LAD
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA
Lance Lynn, RP, STL
Chris Narveson, SP, MIL

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (also check out our Closer Grid)

San Diego - Heath Bell tightened things up Thursday, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth against the Mets for his 32nd save. Nice for Bell, who'd struggled twice in the series against his old team, allowing seven baserunners in just 1.1 innings.

Cubs - Carlos Marmol barely scratched out No. 26 on Thursday, allowing a couple hits, a couple walks and a run. We'll forgive the struggles in this one, though, as he had a 0.00 ERA and 0.17 WHIP (that's one walk, no hits) in six August innings coming in.

Toronto - Jesse Litsch got his first career save Wednesday, one of the long-relief variety, going 2.2 innings and allowing a run. I wouldn't make too much of it, as Jon Rauch has been bothered by a bit of a knee, but should be back soon.

Kansas City - Joakim Soria imploded Wednesday (with some help from a Johnny Giavotella fielding error), allowing three runs (two earned) and recording just two outs before the Rays walked off on him. Aaron Crow started the inning and gave up hits to both batters he faced and two of the other three Royals relievers who appeared gave up a run, so despite Soria picking up blown save No. 7, it really doesn't look like anyone is in a big hurry to take his job away.

Minnesota - Joe Nathan picked up his first save of August on Wednesday, firing a 1-2-3 ninth against the Red Sox. He'd surrendered runs in his last two outings, both non-save situations for the win-starved Twins.

Arizona - With J.J. Putz unavailable due to general soreness, David Hernandez picked up his 10th save with a clean ninth on Wednesday. Putz's absence should be a short one.

Recommended Pickup

J.D. Martinez, OF, HOU - You may have noticed, if you're in the habit of reading my Friday lineup cards quite regularly, that I love me some prospects, and Martinez is one of my absolute favorites. A killer this year in Double-A (.338, 13 homers, 72 RBI iin 88 games), he's done nothing but hit since finding his way to the show, including homering four times in his last seven games. He's Hunter Pence's replacement in right field for the 'Stros, and you can think of him as Hunter Pence Lite - not speedy like Pence, but he should hit for average and provide some nice pop, including a load of doubles.

Other recent recommendations:Robinson Chirinos, Kyle Blanks, Garrett Jones, Jose Altuve, Dexter Fowler

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C - A.J. Pierzynski $4,941
1B - Miguel Cabrera $7,723
2B - Aaron Hill $5,660
3B - Evan Longoria $6,800
SS - Yunel Escobar $6,507
OF - Corey Hart $7,455
OF - Carlos Gonzalez $8,683
OF - Adam Jones $6,807
UT - Denard Span $4,136
UT - Nick Swisher $5,734
SP - C.J. Wilson $10,781
SP - Cole Hamels $16,449
RP - Javy Guerra $2,095
P - Nathan Eovaldi $6,111

Total: $99,882

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