Saturday Lineup Card: When The Going Gets Ruf

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Saturday's Starters

Yankees (Andy Pettitte – L) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero – L), 1:07
Angels (Ervin Santana – R) at Rangers (Derek Holland – L), 4:05
Tigers (Justin Verlander – R) at Twins (P.J. Walters – R), 4:05
Mariners (Jason Vargas – L) at Athletics (Dan Straily – R), 4:05
Rays (Matt Moore – L) at White Sox (Chris Sale – L), 4:05
Red Sox (Felix Doubront – L) at Orioles (Steve Johnson – R), 7:05
Reds (Mike Leake – R) at Pirates (Kyle McPherson – R), 7:05
Royals (Jake Odorizzi – R) at Indians (Jeanmar Gomez – R), 7:05
Astros (Dallas Keuchel – L) at Brewers (Marco Estrada – R), 7:10
Mets (Chris Young – R) at Braves (Mike Minor – L), 7:10
Phillies (Roy Halladay – R) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco – R), 7:10
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann – R) at Cardinals (Kyle Lohse – R), 7:15
Cubs (Justin Germano – R) at Diamondbacks (Trevor Cahill – R), 8:10
Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L) at Padres (Eric Stults – L), 8:35
Rockies (Tyler Chatwood – R) at Dodgers (Joe Blanton – R), 9:10

Day Game After A Night Game: NYY/TOR, LAA/TEX, DET/MIN, SEA/OAK, TB/CHW

Injuries

Day-To-Day
Mike Adams, RP, TEX (back) – Out indefinitely after aggravating right trapezius muscle.
Michael Bourn, OF, ATL (thumb) – Remained out of lineup Friday.
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE (groin) – Remained out of lineup Friday.
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, CLE (back) – Not in the lineup Friday.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK (eye) – Returned to the lineup Friday.
Sam Deduno, SP, MIN (eye) – Likely out for remainder of season.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS (shoulder) – Scheduled to return to lineup Saturday.
Alcides Escobar, SS, KC (shoulder) – Hopes to play Friday against the Indians.
Lew Ford, OF, BAL (groin) – Was available if needed Friday.
Logan Forsythe, 2B, SD (knee) – Still expected to play before season ends.
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL (wrist) – MRI came back negative and was used as a defensive replacement Thursday.
Frank Francisco, RP, NYM (elbow) – Has not thrown in five days and unlikely to return this season.
David Freese, 3B, STL (ankle) – Ran sprints in outfield and merited consideration for pinch-hitting duty Friday.
Sam Fuld, OF, TB (hamstring) – Returned to the lineup Friday.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, SEA (neck) – Said he only has a stiff neck rather than headaches after crashing into outfield wall Thursday.
Jason Hammel, SP, BAL (knee) – Threw bullpen session Friday and could throw a simulated game Monday or Tuesday.
Eric Hosmer, 1B, KC (shoulder) – Held out of lineup Friday but hopes to return before end of season.
Chris Iannetta, C, LAA (leg) – Back in the lineup Friday after being removed with leg cramps Thursday.
Ryan Ludwick, OF, CIN (groin) – Expected back in the lineup Sunday.
Brian McCann, C, ATL (knee) – Kept out of the lineup for the second straight day Friday.
Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT (knee) – Returned to the starting lineup Friday.
Jose Molina, C, TB (quadriceps) – Team plans to ease him back into action by initially having him available for short stints late in games.
Wily Peralta, SP, MIL (biceps) – Underwent an MRI and was cleared by doctors Friday.
Albert Pujols, 1B, LAA (leg) – Dealing with leg issues but likely won't miss any games, though he may receive more starts at DH rather than first base. Started at first base Friday.
Max Scherzer, SP, DET (shoulder) – Not likely to make his next start but could return for playoffs.
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA (oblique) – Returned to the lineup Friday.
Mark Teixeira, 1B, NYY (calf) – Likely to return for final series of the season against the Red Sox.
Neil Walker, 2B, PIT (back) – Has been shut down for the rest of the season.
Josh Willingham, OF, MIN (shoulder) – Not in the lineup Friday and could miss the team's final six games.

Disabled List
Chad Billingsley, SP, LAD (elbow) – Will "ramp up" his throwing to see if he can avoid Tommy John surgery.
Matt Garza, SP, CHC (elbow) – Has yet to resume throwing but has "no doubt" he'll be ready for the beginning of spring training.

Transactions

Traded
Stefan Jarrin, from LAD to PHI as player to be named later from a July 31 trade.

Closer Watch

New York (N.L.) – The team announced Bobby Parnell would serve as the closer for the remainder of the season with Frank Francisco (elbow) unlikely to pitch again in 2012. Though the Mets face a tough three-game series with the Braves over the weekend, they'll end the season with another three-game set against the wilting Marlins, likely giving Parnell a chance to mine some saves before the season closes. Parnell was successful in his first opportunity Thursday, getting the final two outs in a win over the Pirates to notch the save. Jon Rauch will likely serve as the top set-up man to Parnell the rest of the way.

Tampa Bay – While there's no danger of the sublime Fernando Rodney (can't believe that adjective applies to him) losing his job, Rodney does remain in a dogfight with the Orioles' Jim Johnson for the major league saves lead. Johnson (48 saves) currently holds a two-save lead over Rodney, but Rodney outpaces him – and just about everybody, for that matter – in ERA (0.62 to Johnson's 2.60), WHIP (0.77 to 1.05), opponent batting average (.165 to .228) and strikeouts (72 to 40). In any event, the overall dependability of both relievers has been a major reason why their respective clubs remain in playoff contention.

Recommended Pickup

Darin Ruf, OF, PHI – The 26-year-old Ruf submitted a breakthrough campaign at Double-A Reading this season, slugging 38 homers and driving in 104 while batting .317. Those achievements earned him a September call-up, though it appeared from the outset that Ruf would only receive pinch-hitting opportunities and the occasional start. That script has changed of late, as Ruf found himself in the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game Friday. In his brief trial as a Phillies regular, he's had little difficulty adjusting to big-league pitching, as he's gone 5-for-11 with a double, a home run and four RBI over the past three games. That performance should keep Ruf in the lineup for the rest of the season as he tries to stake his claim to a starting gig with the Phillies heading into spring training.

Other recent recommendations:Drew Smyly, Chris Tillman, Brett Gardner, Jorge De La Rosa, and Jake Odorizzi

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DraftStreet Lineup
C: Welington Castillo, CHC ($5,589)
1B: Mitch Moreland, TEX (5,342)
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U: Josh Reddick, OAK ($6,269)
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