Thursday Lineup Card: A Safe Start Outside Safeco

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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Tuesday's Starters

Indians (Derek Lowe – R) at Tigers (Casey Crosby – L), 1:05
Dodgers (Aaron Harang – R) at Phillies (Cole Hamels – L), 1:05
Mets (R.A. Dickey – R) at Nationals (Chien-Ming Wang – R), 1:05
Cubs (Matt Garza – R) at Brewers (Randy Wolf – L), 2:10
Giants (Matt Cain – R) at Padres (Jason Marquis – R), 3:35
Rangers (Yu Darvish – R) at Athletics (Brandon McCarthy – R), 3:35
Rays (David Price – L) at Yankees (CC Sabathia – L), 7:05
Braves (Mike Minor – L) at Marlins (Mark Buehrle – L), 7:10
Orioles (Brian Matusz – L) at Red Sox (Clay Buchholz – R), 7:10
Pirates (Kevin Correia – R) at Reds (Mike Leake – R), 7:10
Cardinals (Lance Lynn – R) at Astros (J.A. Happ – L), 8:05
Blue Jays (Henderson Alvarez – R) at White Sox (Jake Peavy – R), 8:10

Day Game After Night Game:

CLE/DET, LAD/PHI, NYM/WAS, CHC/MIL, TEX/OAK

Injuries

Day-to-Day

AL
Kosuke Fukudome, OF, CWS – (Back spasms) May end up being placed on the DL.
Paul Konerko, 1B, CWS – (Wrist) Targeting Thursday for his return.
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, TOR – (Hand) Missed Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
Joe Mauer, C, MIN – (Thumb) Out of the lineup for the third straight game Wednesday.
Gerald Laird, C, DET – (Hamstring) Not in Wednesday's starting lineup against the Indians.

NL
Santiago Casilla, RHP, SF – (Leg) Only available to pitch in an emergency situation.
Jordan Schafer, OF, HOU – (Illness) Out of the lineup for the second straight day Wednesday.
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, MIL – (Quad) Was out of the lineup Wednesday night.
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI – (Finger) Not in Wednesday's lineup against the Dodgers.
Drew Stubbs, OF, CIN – (Ribs) Not in Wednesday's lineup against the Pirates.
Will Venable, OF, SD – (Oblique) Not in Wednesday's lineup against the Giants.
Jose Tabata, OF, PIT – (Leg) Not in Wednesday's lineup against the Reds.

Disabled List

AL
Austin Jackson, OF, DET – (Abdomen) Will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.
John Danks, LHP, CWS – (Shoulder) Threw well in a bullpen session Wednesday.
Matt Lindstrom, RHP, BAL – (Finger) Has improved his throwing distance on flat ground to 120 feet.
Mariano Rivera, RHP, NYY – (Knee) Will undergo ACL surgery June 12.
Salvador Perez, C, KC – (Knee) will begin a rehab stint with Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Evan Longoria, 3B, TAM – (Hamstring) Says he will begin rehab stint shortly and could return by the middle of June.
Brian Roberts, 2B, BAL – (Concussion) Started Wednesday on a rehab stint at Triple-A Norfolk.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP, BOS – (Neck) Will be activated from the DL on Saturday.
Doug Fister, RHP, DET – (Strained left side) Manager Jim Leyland says Fister's health is improving, but there is still no timetable for his return.
Andy Dirks, OF, DET – (Achilles) Expected to return from the 15-Day DL when he is eligible to do so on June 15.

NL
Scott Rolen, 3B, CIN – (Shoulder) Took batting practice before Wednesday's game.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF – (Hand) Could be activated as soon as Tuesday, according to manager Bruce Bochy.
Juan Uribe, 3B, LAD – (Wrist) Expects to be activated from the DL on Monday.
Roy Halladay, RHP, PHI – (Shoulder) A second opinion on Halladay's injured shoulder confirmed the initial diagnosis.
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI – (Achilles) Went 2-4 with two singles and two walks at DH in a simulated spring training game Wednesday.
Chase Utley, 2B, PHI – (Knee) Went 2-5 with a double, a home run and a walk in a simulated spring training game Wednesday.
Ruben Tejada, SS, NYM – (Quadriceps) Expected to be removed from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo after pulling himself from Tuesday's game.
Stephen Drew, SS, ARI – (Ankle) Planning on taking a day off Friday after beginning his rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
Chris Leroux, RHP, PIT – (Chest) Began rehab assignment Wednesday.

Transactions

Activated from DL
Jason Bay, OF, NYM
Pedro Beato, RHP, NYM
Jim Thome, 1B, PHI
Johnny Damon, DH, CLE – Activated

Optioned to Triple-A
Brandon Allen, 1B, TAM (designated for assignment)
Josh Satin, 2B, NYM (designated for assignment)
Pete Orr, 2B, PHI
Mike Costanzo, 3B, CIN
Chris Schwinden, RHP, CLE
Luke Carlin, C, CLE
Zach Britton, LHP, BAL
Kila Ka'aihue, 1B, OAK (designated for assignment)
Omir Santos, C, DET (designated for assignment)

Called Up
Kristopher Negron, SS, CIN
Manuel Corpas, RHP, CHC
Brandon Moss, OF, OAK
Evan Scribner, RHP, OAK
Jose Ortego, RHP, DET
Bryan Holaday, C, DET
A.J. Polloack, OF, ARI

Placed on the DL
Blake Parker, RHP, CHC – Placed on the 60-Day DL with a right elbow stress reaction.
Stuart Pomeranz, RHP, BAL – Transferred to the 60-Day DL
Andrew Carnigan, RHP, OAK – Placed on the 15-Day DL with a sprained right elbow.
Alex Avila, C, DET – Placed on the 15-Day DL with a right hamstring strain.
Chris Young, RHP, NYM – Placed on paternity leave
Lyle Overbay, 1B, ARI – Placed on paternity leave

Signed
Jamie Moyer, LHP, BAL

Closer Watch

Orioles – Jim Johnson blew his first save in 18 opportunities Tuesday night against the Red Sox when he gave up a two-run, game-tying blast to Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the ninth inning. Johnson's job is not at all in jeopardy and he actually did end up earning the win after the Orioles scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning.

Mets – Frank Francisco blew his third save of the season Tuesday against the Nationals. Although Francisco did not allow a run in 1.2 innings, his ERA is still 5.40 and he is only 14 of 17 in save opportunities this season.

Astros – Myers allowed a run in the Cardinals' four-run ninth inning in Tuesday's eventual 9-8 Astros' win. Myers helped make it interesting, but his ERA is still a more than respectable 2.25 ERA and the WHIP is at 0.90. He is 14 for 15 in his save opportunities.

Recommended Pickup

Michael Saunders, OF, Mariners: Saunders is a brawny, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds outfielder roaming centerfield in Safeco. Coming off a year in which he hit .149/.207/.217 and struck out 56 times in 161 at bats, he has surprisingly come on strong in 2012. Saunders has been especially hot of late. He is a scorching 15-31 (.484) over his past seven games with an .839 slugging percentage. That span includes four three-hit games and five RBI.

Saunders seems to be just one of those players that gets killed by his cavernous home field. Wish Safeco eating him up (.519 OPS at home), owners might be best off playing him when the Mariners are on the road. That's when Saunders all of a sudden turns into a .301/.358/.551 hitter. Meanwhile, even though he has struggled against lefties in the past, he has posted an .889 OPS against left-handed pitching in 57 plate appearances this season.

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C: Carlos Santana ($6,283)
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