Saturday Lineup Card: Cuckoo for Ciriaco

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Saturday's Starters

Rockies (Alex White – R) at Cubs (Brooks Raley – L), 1:05
Astros (Fernando Abad – L) at Mets (R.A. Dickey – R), 1:10
Athletics (Brandon McCarthy – R) at Rays (Jeremy Hellickson – R), 1:10
Braves (Mike Minor – L) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 4:05
Twins (Brian Duensing – L) at Rangers (Ryan Dempster – R), 4:05
Cardinals (Jaime Garcia – L) at Reds (Mike Leake – R), 4:05
Angels (Dan Haren – R) at Tigers (Drew Smyly – L), 7:05
Brewers (Shaun Marcum – R) at Pirates (Jeff Karstens – R), 7:05
Yankees (Hiroki Kuroda – R) at Indians (Justin Masterson – R), 7:05
Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow – R) at Orioles (Steve Johnson – R), 7:05
Nationals (Gio Gonzalez – L) at Phillies (Roy Halladay – R), 7:05
Royals (Jeremy Guthrie – R) at Red Sox (Josh Beckett – R), 7:10
Mariners (Blake Beavan – R) at White Sox (Jose Quintana – L), 7:10
Padres (Clayton Richard – L) at Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy – R), 8:10
Marlins (Josh Johnson – R) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw – L), 9:10

Day Game After A Night Game: HOU/NYM, OAK/TB, ATL/SF, MIN/TEX, STL/CIN

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, DET (Ankle) – Returned to lineup as designated hitter Friday.
Yu Darvish, SP, TEX (Quadriceps) – Expected to throw bullpen session Saturday.
Ian Desmond, SS, WAS (Knee) – Scratched from Friday's lineup but available for pinch-hitting duties.
Yunel Escobar, SS, TOR (Personal) – Expected to return Saturday following birth of child.
Doug Fister, SP, DET (Groin) – Expected to avoid DL stint and make next start Aug. 31.
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL (Ankle) – Sat out Friday, but possibly available to pinch hit Saturday.
Mike Morse, OF, WAS (Hand) – Removed from the Friday's game after being struck in the right hand with a pitch.
Buster Posey, C, SF (Hamstring) – Returned to lineup Friday.
Albert Pujols, 1B, LAA (Hamstring) – Out of lineup Friday but hopes to play Saturday.
Jean Segura, SS, MIL (Leg) – Returned to lineup Friday.
Dale Thayer, RP, SD (Personal) – Placed on paternity list Friday.
Justin Upton, OF, AZ (Hamstring) – Remained out of the lineup Friday; return Saturday questionable.
Michael Young, 3B, TEX (Personal) – Placed on the paternity list Friday.

Disabled List
Carl Crawford, OF, BOS (Elbow) – Facing a seven to nine month recovery period after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Alejandro De Aza, OF, CWS (Oblique) – Expected to take part in a few minor league rehab games before returning to White Sox.
Freddy Galvis, 2B, PHI (Back fracture) – No longer wearing back brace and beginning to field ground balls.
A.J. Griffin, SP, OAK (Shoulder) – Will likely need one more rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento before returning.
Brandon Inge, 3B, OAK (Shoulder) – Was scheduled to play five innings at third base for Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.
Carlos Ruiz, C, PHI (Foot) – Took batting practice for second consecutive day Thursday.
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL (Groin) – Was scheduled to play five innings at shortstop in first rehab game at Double-A Tulsa on Friday.
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN (Knee) – Started hitting again this week.

Transactions

Recalled
Alex Castellanos, OF, LAD
Jeff Clement, 1B, PIT
Brandon Dickson, RP, STL
Luis Hernandez, RP, TEX
Matt LaPorta, 1B, CLE
Steve Lerud, C, PHI
Brian Matusz, P, BAL
Jim Miller, RP, OAK
Josh Spence, RP, SD
Kyle Waldrop, RP, MIN

Sent Down (to Triple-A unless otherwise noted)
Chad Beck, RP, TOR
Barret Browning, RP, STL
Matt Carson, OF, MIN
Rubby De La Rosa, RP, LAD
Frank Herrmann, RP, CLE
Tommy Hunter, SP, BAL (optioned to Double-A Bowie)
Daniel McCutchen, RP, PIT
Collin McHugh, SP, NYM
Yamaico Navarro, 3B, PIT
Tyson Ross, SP, OAK

Activated from the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Jose Bautista, OF, TOR
Ryan Flaherty, 3B, BAL
Jeremy Hefner, SP, NYM (paternity list)
Shaun Marcum, SP, MIL
Jordy Mercer, SS, PIT (paternity list)
David Ortiz, DH, BOS
CC Sabathia, SP, NYY

Placed on DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Brian Schneider, C, PHI

Designated For Assignment
J.C. Romero, RP, BAL

Claimed Off Waivers
Hisanori Takahashi, RP, PIT

Traded
Jesse Chavez, RP, from TOR to OAK

Signed
Edgar Gonzalez, SP, HOU

Closer Watch

Chicago (NL) – Carlos Marmol once again proved dependable in the ninth inning Friday afternoon, giving up just one hit en route to his 16th save. Marmol is a perfect 14-for-14 in save opportunities since reclaiming the closer's role in June, and is on the verge of seeing his ERA below 4.00 for the first time all season.

Recommended Pickup

Pedro Ciriaco, 3B, BOS – The Red Sox appear inclined to pack it in this season with the expected trade of Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto to the Dodgers, allowing a myriad of new faces to find regular places in the lineup. With Punto expected to be shipped out and Will Middlebrooks out for the season, Ciriaco should vie for the majority of at-bats at third base. In all likelihood, Ciriaco would have been in the lineup on most nights anyway, as he has batted .344 with eight stolen bases in 125 at-bats this season, including a 4-for-6 night in Thursday's 14-13 loss to the Angels. To the delight of the Boston denizens, Ciriaco has been especially scalding hot against the Yankees, batting 15-for-32 with nine runs scored, seven RBI and four stolen bases. While it might seem that some Red Sox players have little to play for as the season winds down, Ciriaco isn't among them, as he has a real chance at being a valuable contributor for next year's squad if he can end the 2012 campaign on a positive note.
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Other recent recommendations:Tyler Skaggs, Wilin Rosario, Brett Anderson, Tyler Colvin and Hisashi Iwakuma

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C: Matt Wieters, BAL ($5,290)
1B: Adam Dunn, CWS ($9,072)
2B: Ian Kinsler, TEX ($9,458)
3B: David Wright, NYM ($7,614)
SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE ($5,371)
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