Friday Lineup Card: Papi's Coming Home

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Friday's Starters
Rockies (Drew Pomeranz – L) at Cubs (Jeff Samardzija – R), 2:20
Blue Jays (Carlos Villanueva – R) at Orioles (Zach Britton – L), 7:05
Brewers (Mike Fiers – R) at Pirates (Wandy Rodriguez – L), 7:05
Yankees (CC Sabathia – L) at Indians (Corey Kluber – R), 7:05
Nationals (Edwin Jackson – R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R), 7:05
Angels (Zack Greinke – R) at Tigers (Rick Porcello – R), 7:05
Astros (Jordan Lyles – R) at Mets (Jon Niese – L), 7:10
Royals (Bruce Chen – L) at Red Sox (Jon Lester – L), 7:10
Astros (Lance Lynn – R) at Reds (Mat Latos – R), 7:10
Athletics (Jarrod Parker – R) at Rays (Matt Moore – L), 7:10
Twins (Sam Deduno – R) at Rangers (Matt Harrison – L), 8:05
Mariners (Jason Vargas – L) at White Sox (Jake Peavy – R), 8:10
Padres (Eric Stults – L) at Diamondbacks (Pat Corbin – L), 9:40
Marlins (Nate Eovaldi – R) at Dodgers (Chad Billingsley – R), 10:10
Braves (Ben Sheets – R) at Giants (Ryan Vogelsong – R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: None

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, DET (ankle) – Left with soreness Thursday, but believes he'll play Friday
Albert Pujols, 1B, LAA (calf) – MRI showed no structural damage, so he'll be back in there soon
Buster Posey, C, SF (hamstring) – Out again Thursday, but available to pinch-hit; back Friday
Aroldis Chapman, RP, CIN (leg) – Had ice on it Wednesday after being hit by a broken bat; he'll be fine
Matt Wieters, C, BAL (shoulder) – Left game after taking a foul tip Wednesday
Doug Fister, SP, DET (groin) – Will miss his start Saturday
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL (ankle) – Out Thursday and still on crutches
Josh Rutledge, SS, COL (quad) – Expected back in Friday after successful pinch-hitting appearances
Denard Span, OF, MIN (shoulder) – Back in Thursday
David Cooper, 1B, TOR (neck) – Out Thursday after leaving Wednesday's game

Disabled List
David Ortiz, DH, BOS (Achilles) – To be activated Friday
Brandon Morrow, SP, TOR (oblique) – Will be limited to 85 pitches in first start back Saturday
Josh Willingham, OF, MIN (neck) – Scratched with stiffness Thursday
Mike Napoli, C, TEX (quad) – Not expected back 'til Sept. 1
Carlos Ruiz, C, PHI (foot) – Took BP Wednesday and hopes to start running next week
Johan Santana, SP, NYM (back) – Won't throw until mid-January
Carl Crawford, OF, BOS (elbow) – Successful TJ surgery Thursday
Jeff Niemann, SP, TB (leg) – Final rehab start scheduled for Saturday
J.P. Arencibia, C, TOR (hand) – Rehab starts Sunday; slated to return in early September
Felix Doubront, SP, BOS (knee) – Will start Sunday
Adam Lind, 1B, TOR (back) – Could be back next week
Ivan Nova, SP, NYY (shoulder) – Has inflammation in rotator cuff; still hope for a return this year
Ryan Raburn, 2B, DET (thumb) – Three hits and a jack in rehab game Wednesday; likely back in Sept.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, BOS (neck) – Will start Monday – maybe for Red Sox, maybe in minors
Wilson Betemit, 3B, BAL (wrist) – Will swing a bat Thursday; return time uncertain
Andrelton Simmons, SS, ATL (finger) – Expected to play in rehab games first week of September
Jason Hammel, SP, BAL (knee) – Has two more simulated games; could go on rehab end of next week
Willie Bloomquist, SS, AZ (back) – Could be back in on Friday
Brad Penny, RP, SF (shoulder) – Was scheduled to throw one inning on rehab assignment Thursday
Nate Schierholtz, OF, PHI (toe) – Took BP and ran Wednesday; getting close
Blake Hawksworth, RP, LAD (shoulder) – Had surgery; could miss all of next year
Jerry Hairston, Jr., 3B, LAD (hip) – Having surgery; out for the year

Transactions

Placed on DL
Justin Christian, OF, SF (wrist)
Jason Marquis, SP, SD (hand)
Ivan Nova, SP, NYY (shoulder)

Activated from DL
Al Alburquerque, RP, DET

Optioned to Triple-A
Al Alburquerque, RP, DET
Dan Jennings, RP, MIA
A.J. Pollock, OF, AZ
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN
Michael Schwimer, RP, PHI

Called Up
Tyson Ross, SP, OAK
J.J. Hoover, RP, CIN
Brad Boxberger, RP, SD
Francisco Peguero, OF, SF

Closer Watch

Rockies – Matt Belisle got a save Thursday against the Mets, with Rafael Betancourt having pitched three out of four days, including the night before. Betancourt's converted 13 of his last 14 saves, so no worries here. This was just an issue of rest for the 37-year-old closer.

Mets – There haven't been many save chances lately, and owning either Frank Francisco (still the closer) or Bobby Parnell (probably never going to be the closer) has become a real drag. I know and share your pain. Jon Rauch is the best pitcher in the Mets' pen, so he'll probably get some more save chances over the remainder of the season.

Padres – Tom Layne got his first career save Wednesday, a departure from Dale Thayer in that role for the first time since Huston Street went on the DL. Layne didn't have good numbers in the minors at all, but he's stunningly struck out eight batters and given up just a hit and a walk in his first 4.1 MLB innings. This is a situation to monitor.

Recommended Pickup
Tyler Skaggs, SP, AZ – Skaggs pitched effectively into the seventh inning despite struggling with his control Wednesday in his MLB debut, and with Joe Saunders having been placed on waivers and likely ticketed out of town, Skaggs could very well remain in the Arizona rotation for the rest of the year. The No. 23 name on RotoWire's Top Prospects list is an impact arm and a great target in keeper leagues.

Other Recent Recommendations: Wilin Rosario, Brett Anderson, Tyler Colvin, Hisashi Iwakuma, Sam Deduno

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DraftStreet Lineup
C: Carlos Santana, CLE ($5,753)
1B: Paul Konerko, CWS ($7,233)
2B: Danny Espinosa, WAS ($6,622)
3B: Hanley Ramirez, LAD ($9,944)
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE ($5,085)
OF: Nelson Cruz, TEX ($8,300)
OF: Justin Ruggiano, MIA ($7,169)
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS ($5,547)
UT: Ryan Howard, PHI ($6,297)
UT: Dayan Viciedo, CWS ($6,140)
SP: Patrick Corbin, AZ ($12,843)
SP: Jon Niese, NYM ($14,372)
RP: Ernesto Frieri, LAA ($1,971)
P: Kenley Jansen, LAD ($2,708)

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