This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.
Sponsoredby DraftStreetProjected Starters - A look at Thursday's matchups (all times Eastern)
Rockies (Tyler Chatwood - R) at Mets (Dillon Gee - R), 12:10
Marlins (Jose Fernandez - R) at Pirates (Gerrit Cole - R), 12:35
Cubs (Jeff Samardzija - R) at Phillies (Ethan Martin - R), 1:05
Brewers (Donovan Hand - R) at Giants (Tim Lincecum - R), 3:45
Tigers (Max Scherzer - R) at Indians (Zack McAllister - R), 7:05
Red Sox (Jon Lester - L) at Royals (Bruce Chen - L), 8:10
Dodgers (Hyun-Jin Ryu - L) at Cardinals (Jake Westbrook - R), 8:15
Day Game After Night Game: COL, NYM, MIA, PIT, CHC, PHI, MIL, SF
Injuries
Day-to-Day
J.P. Arencibia, C, TOR (Knee) - Was a late scratch for Wednesday's game at Seattle due to a sore knee.
Alberto Callaspo, 3B, OAK (Forearm) - Expected to be OK for Friday's game at Toronto, after suffering a left forearm contusion Wednesday as he was thrown out at the plate.
Tyler Chatwood, P, COL (Hamstring) - Felt pain during Wednesday's side session, which places his Thursday start at the Mets in jeopardy.
Ryan Doumit, C, MIN (Illness) - Removed from Wednesday's game at Kansas City after feeling nauseous.
Tom Gorzelanny, P, MIL (Elbow) - Missed his scheduled start Wednesday due to discomfort in his elbow.
John Lackey, P, BOS (Ankle) - Enduring a swollen ankle sustained in his last start but is expected to take the hill Sunday in Kansas City.
Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAA (Knee) - Sidelined for a second consecutive game Wednesday due to a sprained left knee.
Jenrry Mejia, P, NYM (Elbow) - Consciously held down his velocity during Tuesday's start versus the Rockies.
Corky Miller, C, CIN (Quadriceps) - Removed from Wednesday's outing due to a bruised right quad.
Shelby Miller, P, STL (Elbow) - Removed from Wednesday's start against the Dodgers, after he was hit by a line drive on the elbow; his official diagnosis is a right elbow contusion.
Dioner Navarro, C, CHC (Ankle) - X-rays were returned negative on his right ankle Wednesday, after he left the game on a cart following a collision with Chase Utley.
Thomas Neal, OF, CHC (Shoulder) - Diagnosed with a dislocated right shoulder Wednesday following a throw from left field to second base.
Carlos Quentin, OF, SD (Knee) - May land on the DL in the near future due to a sore right knee.
Hanley Ramirez, SS, LAD (Shoulder) - Sat out for a third game in a row Wednesday due to a jammed shoulder but may be able to pinch hit in the Dodgers' weekend series against the Rays.
Jonathan Villar, SS, HOU (Thumb) - Had an MRI performed on his sprained left thumb Wednesday, but manager Bo Porter believes that he'll be OK.
Players on the DL
Brett Anderson, P, OAK (Foot) - Threw a two-inning, 31-pitch simulated game Tuesday, which he will repeat Saturday.
Scott Baker, P, CHC (Elbow) - Pulled off his rehab assignment Wednesday at High-A Daytona, as three recent scheduled starts were rained out.
Lance Berkman, 1B, TEX (Hip) - Partook in batting practice before Tuesday's game.
Robert Coello, P, LAA (Shoulder) - Expected to miss the remainder of the season due to right shoulder inflammation.
Neftali Feliz, P, TEX (Elbow) - Scheduled to throw an inning during a rehab outing Thursday at Triple-A Round Rock.
Gavin Floyd, P, CWS (Elbow) - May be able to play catch in 2-to-3 weeks, as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery performed in May.
Roy Halladay, P, PHI (Shoulder) - Reporting to the Phillies' spring training facility Thursday in Florida.
Jason Hammel, P, BAL (Arm) - Experienced lingering pain in his right arm when he attempted to throw Tuesday but intends to throw again Friday.
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI (Knee) - Has not been cleared to hit to date, as he rehabs from knee surgery.
Omar Infante, 2B, DET (Ankle) - Scratched from Wednesday's rehab game at Triple-A Toledo after experiencing soreness in his ankle.
Matt Kemp, OF, LAD (Ankle) - Participated in batting practice on the field Wednesday but has yet to test his ankle by running.
Corey Kluber, P, CLE (Finger) - Will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks due to a sprained right middle finger.
Cory Luebke, P, SD (Elbow) - Tossed his first bullpen session Tuesday since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2012.
Darin Mastroianni, OF, MIN (Ankle) - Left a rehab game Wednesday due to a hyperextended right knee
Matt Moore, P, TB (Elbow) - Felt fine after playing catch from 90 feet Wednesday and may throw off a mound as early as Sunday, if he avoids setbacks.
Franklin Morales, P, BOS (Shoulder) - Scratched from Tuesday's rehab start at Triple-A Pawtucket due to a personal concern.
Jon Niese, P, NYM (Shoulder) - In line to start Sunday at Arizona, marking his first outing since June 20.
Ross Ohlendorf, P, WAS (Shoulder) - Felt good after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday, which could allow him to begin a rehab assignment this weekend.
Angel Pagan, OF, SF (Hamstring) - May be able to return to the lineup by the end of August from the damaged tendon in his left hamstring.
Bobby Parnell, P, NYM (Neck) - Season-ending surgery may be on the docket, if his neck fails to improve following next week's epidural injection.
Wandy Rodriguez, P, PIT (Forearm) - Threw off a mound Wednesday and has a bullpen session scheduled for Saturday.
Josh Tomlin, P, CLE (Elbow) - Tossed two innings in a rehab start Wednesday, marking the first multi-inning outing of his assignment.
Tim Wood, P, MIN (Shoulder) - Will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on August 22, thus bringing his season to a close.
Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.
Placed on the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL
Matt Thornton, P, CWS
Activated from the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Jonathan Broxton, P, CIN
Marco Estrada, P, MIL
Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Pedro Beato, P, BOS
Jorge De Leon, P, HOU
Danny Duffy, P, KC
Jeff Francis, P, COL
Danny Salazar, P, CLE
Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
John Baker, C, LAD
Jose Cisnero, P, HOU
Lucas Duda, OF, NYM
Scooter Gennett, 2B, MIL
Matt Langwell, P, CLE
Yusmeiro Petit, P, SF
Will Smith, P, KC
Pedro Villarreal, P, CIN
Signed
Andy Marte, 3B, LAA
Released
Duane Below, P, MIA
Michael Schwimer, P, TOR
Closer Watch
Houston - The Astros are playing with fire in any tight contest over the final two months of the 2013 campaign due to last week's trade of Jose Veras to the Tigers. One domino has already fallen, as Jose Cisnero was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. One night previous, he yielded three runs on two hits and a walk, acting as insurance runs in the barner burner that was Tuesday's 15-10 defeat to the Red Sox. Moreover, in one of his three appearances following the aforementioned deal, he suffered his second blown save of the year last Friday, a game in which Houston's bullpen itself notched two blowups. Consequently, the team will continue to experiment and likely entrust rare save opportunities to Wesley Wright.
KEY MATCHUPS: HOT | |||||||||||||||||||
Hot Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rickie Weeks - 2B | MIL @ SF 8/8 3:45 PM | Tim Lincecum | 5-19 | .263 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | .632 | .440 | 1.072 | |||||||
Michael Brantley - OF | CLE vs DET 8/8 7:05 PM | Max Scherzer | 7-23 | .304 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .696 | .333 | 1.029 | |||||||
Dustin Pedroia - 2B | BOS @ KC 8/8 8:10 PM | Bruce Chen | 5-10 | .500 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | .455 | 1.455 | |||||||
Hanley Ramirez - SS | LAD @ STL 8/8 8:15 PM | Jake Westbrook | 4-13 | .308 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .538 | .400 | .938 | |||||||
Hot Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Max Scherzer | DET @ CLE 8/8 7:05 PM | Indians Batters | 27-121 | .223 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 32 | .336 | .304 | .640 |
KEY MATCHUPS: COLD | |||||||||||||||||||
Cold Batter Matchups | At-Bats | AVG | HR | XBH | RBI | BB | K | SLG | OBP | OPS | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jason Kipnis - 2B | CLE vs DET 8/8 7:05 PM | Max Scherzer | 2-10 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | .200 | .333 | .533 | |||||||
Carlos Santana - C | CLE vs DET 8/8 7:05 PM | Max Scherzer | 2-20 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | .100 | .250 | .350 | |||||||
Mike Napoli - C | BOS @ KC 8/8 8:10 PM | Bruce Chen | 1-11 | .091 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .364 | .091 | .455 | |||||||
Alex Gordon - OF | KC vs BOS 8/8 8:10 PM | Jon Lester | 2-15 | .133 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | .200 | .188 | .388 | |||||||
Mark Ellis - 2B | LAD @ STL 8/8 8:15 PM | Jake Westbrook | 5-27 | .185 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .222 | .214 | .437 | |||||||
Juan Uribe - 3B | LAD @ STL 8/8 8:15 PM | Jake Westbrook | 6-33 | .182 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | .364 | .206 | .570 | |||||||
Cold Pitcher Matchups | At-Bats | Opp AVG | HR Allow | XBH Allow | RBI Allow | BB | K | Opp SLG | Opp OBP | Opp OPS | |||||||||
Bruce Chen | KC vs Bos 8/8 8:10 PM | Red Sox Batters | 22-88 | .250 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 27 | .511 | .286 | .797 | |||||||
Stephen Drew, SS, BOS - After sitting out three weeks due to tightness in his right hamstring, the going was tough for Drew upon his activation from the DL on July 20. In his initial five outings, he tallied just one hit in 15 at-bats, yet there were glimpses of the immediate future, due to modest counting stats -- one RBI, two runs scored, and one stolen base -- during that stretch. The intervening 11 games have including five multi-hit offerings, during which he's posted a .395 average (15-for-38), three long balls, nine RBI, eight runs scored, and a 9:13 BB:K ratio entering Wednesday's contest. Due to the departure of Jose Iglesias leading into the trade deadline last week, Drew is now without his primary competition for playing time and will most definitely cover shortstop everyday for the foreseeable future. However, keep in mind that Drew has accumulated just 247 games played across the past three seasons as a result of a managerie of maladies.
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C - Carlos Ruiz, PHI ($5,076)
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