Friday Lineup Card: The Future is Here

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):

Mets (Dillon Gee - R) at Pirates (Charlie Morton - R), 7:05
Cubs (Carlos Zambrano - R) at Phillies (Roy Halladay - R), 7:05
Mariners (Erik Bedard - L) at Tigers (Brad Penny - R), 7:05
Rays (Jeremy Hellickson - R) at Orioles (Jake Arrieta - R), 7:05
Indians (Fausto Carmona - R) at Yankees (Ivan Nova - R), 7:05
Red Sox (Clay Buchholz - R) at Blue Jays (Jo-Jo Reyes - L), 7:07
Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders - L) at Marlins (Anibal Sanchez - R), 7:10
Braves (Tim Hudson - R) at Astros (Aneury Rodriguez - R), 8:05
Cardinals (Kyle Lohse - R) at Brewers (Chris Narveson - L), 8:10
Rangers (C.J. Wilson - L) at Twins (Brian Duensing - L), 8:10
Athletics (Graham Godfrey - R) at White Sox (Edwin Jackson - R), 8:10
Dodgers (Chad Billingsley - R) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin - R), 8:40
Nationals (Jason Marquis - R) at Padres (Mat Latos - R), 10:05
Royals (Jeff Francis - L) at Angels (Ervin Santana - R), 10:05
Reds (Travis Wood - L) at Giants (Ryan Vogelsong - 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)

NL
Martin Prado, 2B, ATL (knee) - Out 'til Saturday or Sunday
Allen Craig, 2B/OF, STL (knee) - Definitely out Thursday
Dustin Moseley, SP, SD (shoulder) - Non-pitching shoulder popped out and back in; probably will be okay, but will have MRI
Wandy Rodriguez, SP, HOU (elbow) - Expected back to start Monday
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF (wrist) - Planning Tuesday return

AL
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN (wrist) - No structural damage
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS (knee) - Has a bruised kneecap; will play through it
Russell Martin, C, NYY (back) - Out Thursday; dealing with tightness
Denard Span, OF, MIN (illness) - Out again Thursday
Yunel Escobar, SS, TOR (quad) - Expected back Friday
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, BOS (illness) - Seems unserious, but not in Thursday lineup
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB (illness) - Feeling better and expected back Friday
Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX (personal) - Expected back Friday
Derrek Lee, 1B, BAL (personal) - Placed on bereavement list

Players on the DL

NL
Luke Gregerson, RP, SD (undisclosed) - Probably feeling pretty hurt about being DLed for no reason so the Pads could call up Anthony Rizzo
Chris Snyder, C, PIT (back) - Having surgery and could be out for the year
Tom Gorzelanny, SP, WAS (elbow) - Will have first rehab game Monday
Takashi Saito, RP, MIL (oblique) - Starting rehab assignment Sunday
Orlando Hudson, 2B, SD (groin) - A week away from rehab assignment
Alfonso Soriano, OF, CHC (quad) - Rehab assignment scheduled to start Sunday; hope is for Wednesday activation
Barry Zito, SP, SF (foot) - Another rehab start on tap Saturday - expected back at end of month
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD (knee) - Rehab stint starting Thursday
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT (quad) - Had a setback and not playing even in extended ST
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA (back) - Hit from a tee and played catch Wednesday; optimistic for min-time return still
Doug Slaten, RP, WAS (elbow) - Injury is nerve-related; plan is to rest

AL
Joe Mauer, C, MIN (legs) - Catching for the second straight game Thursday in A ball and could be back Tuesday
Franklin Morales, RP, BOS (forearm) - Rehab assignment commencing Thursday
Joba Chamberlain, RP, NYY (elbow) - Tommied his John (a medical term), so he'll have Tommy John
Travis Hafner, DH, CLE (oblique) - Will take BP Friday
Brad Thomas, RP, DET (elbow) - Will throw a bullpen Thursday
Jake Peavy, SP, CHW (groin) - Will need a rehab assignment before activation
Darnell McDonald, OF, BOS (quad) - Doing well on his rehab assignment, but no word on when he'll return
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, 2B, MIN (leg) - Went 1-for-3 in rehab game Wednesday
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET (ankle) - Expected to remain on rehab assignment through weekend
Brett Anderson, SP, OAK (elbow) - Scheduled for a Dr. Andrews visit - could be Tommy John on tap
Bobby Jenks, RP, BOS (back) - Placed on DL
Rich Hill, RP, BOS (elbow) - Had Tommy John Thursday
Jesse Litsch, SP, TOR (shoulder) - Had a good first bullpen since DL Wednesday
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, BOS (elbow) - Having Tommy John Friday
Jim Thome, DH, MIN (quad/back) - Apparently quad pain is because of back pain injury?
Joe Nathan, RP, MIN (elbow) - Had a good bullpen Thursday

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

Called Up
Wyatt Toregas, C, PIT
Anthony Rizzo, 1B, SD
Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC
Will Venable, OF, SD
Evan Scribner, RP, SD
Trent Oeltjen, OF, LAD

Sent Down
Eric Patterson, OF, SD (DFA)
Aaron Cunningham, OF, SD
Jerry Sands, OF, LAD
Jose Valdez, RP, HOU

Placed on DL
Chris Snyder, C, PIT
Luke Gregerson, RP, SD

Activated from DL
Brandon Lyon, RP, HOU

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

Kansas City - Joakim Soria has been returned to the closer's role after a few days out of it, during which interim "closer" Aaron Crow didn't get a save opportunity, and he got his first shot Thursday afternoon against Toronto. It could have gone better, as he loaded the bases on a couple singles and a walk, but he did work out of it (and actually recorded a strikeout!) for his eighth save. Crow, meanwhile, had a bit of a wild eighth, walking two and throwing a wild pitch.

Toronto - On Wednesday, it was the Jays getting the better of the Royals, and Casey Janssen picking up his first save of the year with an inning of work in which he allowed a run on two hits. He only got the opportunity because Jon Rauch is hurting a little.

Houston - Mark Melancon recorded his sixth save Wednesday, but Brandon Lyon is back. He won't regain the closer's role immediately, but it is - sadly - a possibility.

Atlanta - Craig Kimbrel collected his fifth blown save Wednesday, allowing a pair of runs in the ninth, but his offense picked him up in the top of the tenth and the Braves pieced together the bottom of the inning with three pitchers. Scott Linebrink struck out the only batter he faced for the save. You have to wonder if Jonny Venters and his 0.48 ERA are going to get a shot eventually, as Kimbrel's WHIP has risen to 1.29, the verge of not-so-good territory. He's been walking too many, but of course has great strikeout numbers.

Minnesota - Matt Capps blew his fifth, but like Kimbrel, he collected the win thanks to some offensive support. Phil Dumatrait got his first save in the bottom of the tenth, but he's no threat.

Key Matchups

Anthony Rizzo, 1B, SD - Now, let me be clear: I'm not as sold on Rizzo's path to stardom as some. He's going to have to deal with not only adjusting to the big leagues, but doing so in Petco Park, arguably the hardest stadium in the big leagues to homer in. (Technically it's the 24th-hardestthis year, but who's counting?) The Pacific Coast League, where Rizzo was playing, is also known to favor hitters. So that's the disclaimer. The thing is, Rizzo was hitting .365 with 16 homers, five steals and an OPS north of 1.100 in Triple-A Tucson, so if you have some need at CI or UTIL, or you play in a keeper league, he's worth an extended look. The Rizzo era starts Thursday night against Washington - mere minutes away as I write this.

Other recent recommendations: Brennan Boesch, Charlie Morton, Dee Gordon, Freddie Freeman, Adam Kennedy

Draft Street Competition

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Be sure to come back to RotoWire's Daily Lineup Card every day for all the analysis you need to dominate the competition and take home cash on DraftStreet.

Draft Street Lineup

C - Matt Wieters, BAL ($5,221)
1B - Mark Trumbo, LAA ($6,453)
2B - Kelly Johnson, ARI ($7,747)
3B - Alex Rodriguez, NYY ($7,811)
SS - Erick Aybar, LAA ($5,783)
OF - Nick Swisher, NYY ($6,260)
OF - Colby Rasmus, STL ($6,111)
OF - Matt Joyce, TB ($7,899)
UTIL - Billy Butler, KC ($6,453)
UTIL - Mike Stanton, FLA ($6,086)
SP - Mat Latos, SD ($12,287)
SP - Tim Hudson, ATL ($8,785)
RP - Jordan Walden, LAA ($2,218)
P - Dillon Gee, NYM ($11,223)

Total: $99,980

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