This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Projected Starters – A look at Thursday's matchups:
Diamondbacks (Barry Enright – R) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 3:45 ET
Cubs (Tom Gorzelanny – L) at Padres (Jon Garland – R), 6:35 ET
Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman – R) at Orioles (Chris Tillman –R), 7:05 ET
Brewers (Chris Narveson – L) at Mets (Dillon Gee – R), 7:10 ET
Astros (Brett Myers – R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R), 7:10 ET
Pirates (Zach Duke – L) at Marlins (Chris Volstad – R), 7:10 ET
Angels (Scott Kazmir – L) at Rangers (Derek Holland – L), 8:05 ET
Blue Jays (Shawn Hill – R) at Twins (Francisco Liriano – L), 8:10 ET
Rays (Matt Garza – R) at Royals (Zack Greinke – R), 8:10 ET
Red Sox (Jon Lester – L) at White Sox (Jon Danks – L), 8:10 ET
Rockies (Jason Hammel – R) at Cardinals (Chris Carpenter – R), 8:15 ET
Athletics (Gio Gonzalez – L) at Mariners (Doug Fister – R), 10:10 ET
Day Game After Night Game: ARI, SFO, CHC, SDP
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)
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX (ribs) – Hoping to return to lineup Friday
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET (ankle) – Will sit
Projected Starters – A look at Thursday's matchups:
Diamondbacks (Barry Enright – R) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 3:45 ET
Cubs (Tom Gorzelanny – L) at Padres (Jon Garland – R), 6:35 ET
Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman – R) at Orioles (Chris Tillman –R), 7:05 ET
Brewers (Chris Narveson – L) at Mets (Dillon Gee – R), 7:10 ET
Astros (Brett Myers – R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R), 7:10 ET
Pirates (Zach Duke – L) at Marlins (Chris Volstad – R), 7:10 ET
Angels (Scott Kazmir – L) at Rangers (Derek Holland – L), 8:05 ET
Blue Jays (Shawn Hill – R) at Twins (Francisco Liriano – L), 8:10 ET
Rays (Matt Garza – R) at Royals (Zack Greinke – R), 8:10 ET
Red Sox (Jon Lester – L) at White Sox (Jon Danks – L), 8:10 ET
Rockies (Jason Hammel – R) at Cardinals (Chris Carpenter – R), 8:15 ET
Athletics (Gio Gonzalez – L) at Mariners (Doug Fister – R), 10:10 ET
Day Game After Night Game: ARI, SFO, CHC, SDP
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)
Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX (ribs) – Hoping to return to lineup Friday
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET (ankle) – Will sit out the rest of the year
Joe Mauer, C, MIN (knee) – Took BP Tuesday and could return Thursday, possibly as DH
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA (elbow) – Off again Wednesday after pinch-running Monday
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (illness) – Back in the lineup Wednesday
Justin Upton, OF, ARI (shoulder) – Tear in shoulder hasn't worsened, but won't play again this year
Mark Reynolds, 3B, ARI (thumb) – Likely to play again before end of season
Alexis Rios, OF, CHW (knee) – Hopes to play before end of year
Carlos Beltran, OF, NYM (knee) – Will have an MRI Wednesday
Brian Roberts, 2B, BAL (illness) – Missed Tuesday's game with illness
Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI (hamstring) – Will play just part of Wednesday's game, but entire games this weekend
Martin Prado, 2B, ATL (oblique) – Needs to rest for two months, so out for playoffs
Jair Jurrjens, SP, ATL (knee) – Felt better after Wednesday bullpen, but still not sure to get another start
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI (elbow) – Returning to Philadelphia for cortisone shot; hopes to play Sunday
Michael Bourn, OF, HOU (oblique) – Won't play again this year
Dan Hudson, SP, ARI (finger) – Done for the year
Freddy Sanchez, 2B, SFO (shoulder) – Expected to return Wednesday after cortisone shot
Jose Lopez, 2B, SEA (finger) – Left Tuesday's game with finger injury
David Murphy, OF, TEX (groin) – Pulled out of Wednesday's game in the second inning
Laynce Nix, OF, CIN (ankle) – Starting Wednesday for first time since 8/23
Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA (back) – Feeling better, but unlikely to play more this year
Will Venable, OF, SDP (back) – Was unavailable for second straight game Tuesday
Jason Giambi, 1B, COL (biceps) – Done for the year
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, BOS (thumb) – Underwent surgery Tuesday
Takashi Saito, RP, ATL (shoulder) – Threw bullpen Wednesday and may make an appearance before end of year
Eric O'Flaherty, RP, ATL (illness) – Has had unexplained dizziness and blurred vision
Scot Shields, RP, LAA (elbow) – Considering retirement at end of year
Mitchell Maier, OF, KAN (knee) – Missed third straight game Tuesday
Andres Blanco, SS, TEX (finger) – Sprained finger in Tuesday's game and was removed
Players on the DL
Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE (knee) – Expected to be healthy for spring training
Carlos Santana, C, CLE (knee) – Also expected to be healthy for spring training
Frank Francisco, RP, TEX (back) – Ruled out of ALDS
Jesus Flores, C, WAS (shoulder) – Played six innings of instructional ball Tuesday and should be back for spring training
Jamie Moyer, SP, PHI (elbow) – Throwing and hopes to pitch next year (for his nursing home's team?)
Hector Ambriz, RP, CLE (elbow) – Tommy John; see ya in 2012
Transactions – Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Called Up
Guillermo Moscoso, RP, TEX
Doug Mathis, RP, TEX
Activated from the Disabled List
Mark Lowe, RP, TEX
Adam Ottavino, RP, STL
Placed on the Disabled List
Guillermo Moscoso, RP, TEX (60-day)
Closer Watch – A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left).
Milwaukee – John Axford gave up a walk-off, two-run double to light-hitting Ruben Tejada on Tuesday, his second straight outing allowing a run after a nine-game stretch in which he allowed none. Impossible to say whether that's actionable, but maybe Trevor Hoffman gets a shot at No. 601.
Seattle – Brandon League collected his sixth save Tuesday with David Aardsma's oblique hurting.
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
Xavier Nady v. Jon Garland – 5-for-13 (.385), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .467 OBP
Adrian Gonzalez v. Tom Gorzelanny – 6-for-13 (.462), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .500 OBP
Carlos Lee v. Bronson Arroyo – 16-for-44 (.364), 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4:9 BB:K, .429 OBP
Hunter Pence v. Bronson Arroyo – 10-for-29 (.345), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:4 BB:K, .406 OBP
Scott Rolen v. Brett Myers – 8-for-19 (.421), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .450 OBP
Dan Uggla v. Zach Duke – 6-for-12 (.500), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .533 OBP
Hideki Matsui v. Derek Holland – 4-for-10 (.400), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .400 OBP
Vladimir Guerrero v. Scott Kazmir – 8-for-16 (.500), 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .529 OBP
Jason Bartlett v. Zack Greinke – 5-for-14 (.357), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:1 BB:K, .500 OBP
Billy Butler v. Matt Garza – 7-for-17 (.412), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .474 OBP
Alex Gordon v. Matt Garza – 4-for-11 (.364), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .500 OBP
Yuniesky Betancourt v. Matt Garza – 5-for-12 (.417), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .417 OBP
Adrian Beltre v. John Danks – 6-for-18 (.333), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .368 OBP
Marco Scutaro v. John Danks – 5-for-10 (.500), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .545 OBP
Mark Teahen v. Jon Lester – 4-for-10 (.400), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:0 BB:K, .500 OBP
Rajai Davis v. Doug Fister – 7-for-19 (.368), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .368 OBP
Doug Fister v. Athletics – Fister has held the A's to a .260/.321/.350 line. Read more at the bottom, as he's today's recommended pickup.
Cold
Alfonso Soriano v. Jon Garland – 5-for-22 (.227), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .227 OBP
Aramis Ramirez v. Jon Garland – 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, 154 OBP
Ryan Ludwick v. Tom Gorzelanny – 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .235 OBP
Geoff Blum v. Bronson Arroyo – 4-for-24 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .231 OBP
Humberto Quintero v. Bronson Arroyo – 1-for-15 (.067), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:7 BB:K, .067 OBP
Brandon Phillips v. Brett Myers – 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:6 BB:K, .176 OBP
Ian Kinsler v. Scott Kazmir – 4-for-28 (.143), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3:2 BB:K, .219 OBP
David Murphy v. Scott Kazmir – 2-for-12 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .167 OBP
Carlos Pena v. Zack Greinke – 3-for-24 (.125), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:13 BB:K, .192 OBP
Carl Crawford v. Zack Greinke – 4-for-19 (.211), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .286 OBP
B.J. Upton v. Zack Greinke – 2-for-13 (.154), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .214 OBP
Evan Longoria v. Zack Greinke – 2-for-13 (.154), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .154 OBP
Kelly Shoppach v. Zack Greinke – 0-for-11 (.000), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:7 BB:K, .083 OBP
Cliff Pennington v. Doug Fister – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .154 OBP
Derek Holland v. Angels – The Angels have beat up Holland pretty good, compiling a .314/.363/.571 line off him that includes seven homers in just 105 at-bats. They knocked him out in the fourth inning just recently, on Sept. 29, and didn't even homer off him that day. Holland is a very risky streaming option.
Recommended Pickup
Doug Fister, SP, Mariners – Fister has two great things going for him in this game: He's at home in Safeco, where his ERA is 3.28, and he faces a horrendous A's offense that has accounted for half of his six wins this year. That's right: Doug Fister, he of the 6-13 record, is 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA in four starts against Oakland this season. Add now or forever hold your peace.
Other recent recommendations:Chris Young, Craig Breslow, Wade Davis, Wilson Betemit, Travis Wood, James McDonald
