Saturday Lineup Card: Now or Nova

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Projected Starters - A look at Saturday's matchups (all times Eastern)

Reds (Johnny Cueto - R) at Cubs (Carlos Zambrano - R), 1:05
Yankees (CC Sabathia - L) at Red Sox (John Lackey - R), 4:10
Phillies (Cole Hamels - L) at Giants (Matt Cain - R), 4:10
Brewers (Chris Narveson - L) at Astros (Brett Myers - R), 7:05
Padres (Cory Luebke - L) at Pirates (Paul Maholm - L), 7:05
Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow - R) at Orioles (Chris Tillman - R), 7:05
Braves (Tommy Hanson - R) at Mets (Jonathon Niese - L), 7:10
White Sox (Jake Peavy - R) at Twins (Carl Pavano - R), 7:10
Tigers (Justin Verlander - R) at Royals (Danny Duffy - L), 7:10
A's (Brandon McCarthy - R) at Rays (Alex Cobb - R), 7:10
Cardinals (Chris Carpenter - R) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco - R), 7:10
Indians (Fausto Carmona - R) at Rangers (C.J. Wilson - L), 8:05
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L) at Diamondbacks (Joe Saunders - L), 8:10
Nationals (Livan Hernandez - R) at Rockies (Jhoulys Chacin - R), 8:10
Mariners (Blake Beavan - R) at Angels (Tyler Chatwood - R), 9:05

Day game after a night game: NYY, BOS, PHI, SF

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns

Day-to-Day
Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL - (Quad) Expected to return Saturday but rest Sunday
Derrek Lee, 1B, PIT - (Hand) Was not in Friday's starting lineup
Bud Norris, SP, HOU - (Finger) Will make next scheduled start
Michael Brantley, OF, CLE - (Wrist) Remained out the lineup Friday
David Freese, 3B, STL - (Concussion) Was not in Friday's starting lineup; not expected to be out long
David DeJesus, OF, OAK - (Thumb) Returned to the lineup Friday
Cliff Pennington, SS, OAK - (Illness) Returned to the lineup Friday
Chris Heisey, OF, CIN - Did not start Friday after suffering oblique injury during batting practice Wednesday

Players on the DL
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA - (Shoulder) Expected to return to the lineup Saturday
Adrian Beltre, 3B, TEX - (Hamstring) Will need to run the bases two straight days before being cleared for rehab assignment
Brian Roberts, 2B, BAL - (Concussion) Has resumed baseball activities
Ryan Madson, RP, PHI - (Personal) Expected to return from paternity leave Saturday
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM - (Ankle) Mets have yet to decide whether or not he will need surgery
Jed Lowrie, SS, BOS - (Shoulder) Will likely be activated Monday
Jorge De La Rosa, SP, COL - (Elbow) Ahead of schedule in recovery from Tommy John surgery
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS - (Shoulder) Has not resumed swinging
Jose Tabata, OF, PIT - (Quad) Will begin a rehab assignment Saturday
Alex Presley, OF, PIT - (Thumb) Hopes to take batting practice Saturday
Evan Meek, RP, PIT - (Shoulder) Not expected to return until September
Joe Blanton, SP, PHI - (Elbow) Will visit Dr. James Andrews on Monday for final decision on surgery
Nate McLouth, OF, ATL - (Abdomen) Underwent sports hernia surgery Thursday and will miss six weeks
Jordan Schafer, OF, HOU - (Finger) Expected to begin rehab assignment in two weeks
Zack Cozart, SS, CIN - (Elbow) Took batting practice Friday for the first time since landing on DL
Alexi Casilla, 2B, MIN - (Hamstring) Should be able to return August 13
Craig Gentry, OF, TEX - (Neck) Will begin rehab assignment Friday
Alex White, SP, COL - (Finger) Pitched one inning in a rehab start Thursday
Bobby Jenks, RP, BOS - (Back) Will throw a bullpen session Sunday
Jason Castro, C, HOU - (Knee) Continues making progress and could still play a few games this season

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 Villanueva, SP, TOR
Omar Infante, 2B, FLA
Zach Britton, SP, BAL
Scott Cousins, OF, FLA - transferred to 60-day DL
Jack Hannahan, 3B, CLE - paternity leave

Activated from the DL
Cesar Izturis, SS, BAL

Called Up
Brett Lawrie, 3B, TOR
Trayvon Robinson, OF, SEA
J.B. Shuck, OF, HOU
Joe Thurston, 2B, FLA
Luis Perez, RP, TOR
Shelley Duncan, OF, CLE
Johnny Giavotella, 2B, KC

Sent Down
Travis Snider, OF, TOR
Mitch Talbot, P, CLE
Yamaico Navarro, 3B, KC

Designated For Assignment
Luis Durango, OF, HOU

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (also check out our Closer Grid)

Chicago (NL) - Carlos Marmol tossed a clean inning Thursday to pick up his fourth save in five days. In those four outings, Marmol allowed just one hit while posting a 6:0 K:BB ratio. After a shaky month of July, he appears to have turned things around early in August.

St. Louis - Fernando Salas pitched a perfect 1.1 innings in Thursday's victory over the Marlins to pick up his first save since July 26.

Texas - Neftali Feliz picked up his 22nd save of the season in Thursday's victory over the Tigers. Despite picking up lights-out relievers Mike Adams and Koji Uehara at the trade deadline, Feliz remains the closer in Arlington.

Ivan Nova, SP, NYY - Nova is doing his best to prove he deserves a spot in the Yankees' rotation. After posting an 8-4 record and a respectable 4.12 ERA in 17 appearances, including 16 starts, with the big club through the season's first three months, Nova was sent to Triple-A to open a spot in the rotation for Phil Hughes. However, after posting an 18:2 K:BB ratio in 16.0 innings - and quickly overcoming an ankle injury - the Yankees brought him back to the majors. Nova has continued his dominance since being recalled, winning both of his starts while allowing just three earned runs and posting a brilliant 16:1 K:BB ratio over 14.2 innings. Nova isn't going anywhere if he keeps pitching like that, and considering the offense he has backing him, if his spot in the rotation becomes secure, he is worth a look on your fantasy team.

Other recent recommendations:Brett Lawrie, Jesus Guzman, Marlon Byrd, Jason Bourgeois, Dee Gordon

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Draft Street Lineup

C - A.J. Pierzynski, CWS ($5,444)
1B - Prince Fielder, MIL ($9,498)
2B - Ian Kinsler, TEX ($5,737)
3B - Casey McGehee, MIL ($5,907)
SS - Jimmy Rollins, PHI ($7,849)
OF - Carlos Beltran, NYM ($7,807)
OF - Andrew McCutchen, PIT ($7,334)
OF - Corey Hart, MIL ($6,258)
UTIL - Albert Pujols, STL ($9,158)
UTIL - Dan Uggla, ATL ($7,559)
SP - Chris Narveson, MIL ($9,126)
SP - Jake Peavy, CWS ($9,190)
RP - Mariano Rivera, NYY ($2,316)
P - Tyler Chatwood, LAA ($6,022)

Total: $99,205)

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