Thursday Lineup Card: Coke Is Fizzling

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Angels (Joe Blanton - R) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo - R), 12:35 PM
Cubs (Travis Wood - L) at Pirates (James McDonald - R), 12:35 PM
Tigers (Rick Porcello - R) at Twins (Mike Pelfrey - R), 1:10 PM
Padres (Eric Stults - L) at Mets (Dillon Gee - R), 1:10 PM
Royals (Jeremy Guthrie - R) at White Sox (Gavin Floyd - R), 2:10 PM
Orioles (Miguel Gonzalez - R) at Rays (Roberto Hernandez - R), 3:10 PM
Mariners (Brandon Maurer - R) at Athletics (A.J. Griffin - R), 3:35 PM
Marlins (Wade LeBlanc - L) at Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann - R), 4:05 PM
Red Sox (Ryan Dempster - R) at Yankees (Andy Pettitte - L), 7:05 PM
Indians (Brett Myers - R) at Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle - L), 7:07 PM
Phillies (Cliff Lee - L) at Braves (Kris Medlen - R), 7:10 PM

Day game after a night game: LAA, CIN, CHC, PIT, SD, NYM, BAL, TB, SEA, OAK, MIA, WAS

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

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)

Brandon Belt, 1B, SF - (Illness) Missed his second consecutive contest Wednesday
Casey Kotchman, 1B, MIA - (Hamstring) Removed from Wednesday's game due to a strained hamstring
Jason Kubel, OF, ARI - (Knee) Held out of Tuesday's lineup due to lingering knee issues
Adam Wainwright, P, STL - (Arm) Enduring large bruise on upper right throwing arm

Players on the DL

Frank Francisco, P, NYM - (Elbow) Threw one inning in a simulated game Tuesday
David Freese, 3B, STL - (Back) Will begin rehab assignment Thursday
Matt Garza, P, CHC - (Arm) Expected to throw off a mound this weekend
Didi Gregorius, SS, ARI - (Elbow) Will pinch hit and DH upon starting rehab assignment Thursday
Jeff Karstens, P, PIT - (Shoulder) Expected to throw off flat ground by the weekend
Ted Lilly, P, LAD - (Shoulder) Tossed a bullpen session Tuesday and will now make a rehab start Friday
Francisco Liriano, P, PIT - (Arm) Threw 20 pitches off a mound Tuesday
Ryan Ludwick, OF, CIN - (Shoulder) Landed on 15-day DL on Wednesday following surgery and will be out many months
Shaun Marcum, P, NYM - (Neck) Will have sore neck examined by team doctors, which could cancel out Sunday's start
Charlie Morton, P, PIT - (Elbow) Slated for a 35-pitch simulated game Wednesday
Brett Pill, 1B, SF - (Knee) Will start rehab assignment Thursday

Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, or released. You name it. We'll cover it here.

Placed on the DL (15-day DL, unless otherwise noted)

Frank Herrmann, P, CLE (to 60-day DL)

Called Up

Derrick Robinson, OF, CIN

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)

David Freese, 3B, STL
Will Harris, P, OAK
Phil Hughes, P, NYY
Brandon Inge, 3B, PIT
Evan Reed, P, DET
Cody Ross, OF, ARI (to High-A)
Robert Whitenack, P, CLE (to Double-A)

Claimed Off Waivers

Will Harris, P, OAK (from COL)
Evan Reed, P, DET (from MIA)
Robert Whitenack, P, CLE (from CHC)

Designated For Assignment

Josh Stinson, P, OAK

Signed

Donnie Murphy, 3B, CHC

Closer Watch

Detroit - The closer-by-committee approach in Detroit has both passed and failed during the first two games of the season. Holding a 2-1 lead Wednesday heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Joaquin Benoit, who blanked Minnesota in the eighth, yielded a leadoff walk. Phil Coke, just one day removed from a two-up, two-down save on Opening Day, then entered the game, notching one out before back-to-back hits drove in the winning runs for the Twins. Now that both Coke and Benoit have earned cracks in late-inning situations, it remains to be seen if Octavio Dotel will enter the mix as well in the coming days and weeks.

Toronto - Casey Janssen is holding down the closer job with Toronto, despite his workload being limited in the early going this season due to his surgically-repaired right shoulder. In situations in which he is unable to pitch, Sergio Santos and Steve Delabar are the top options in the Blue Jays' bullpen to earn spot save opportunities. Wednesday's game entered extra innings, at which point Casey Janssen pitched a clean tenth before handing the ball off to Santos. Santos proceeded to allow a leadoff homer, though, which acted as the winning run. While Janssen's save chances may continue to be limited, manager John Gibbons may trust Santos a little less next time out, with Delabar potentially profiting.

John Buck, C, NYM - Buck is off to a sizzling start, recording two hits in each of the first two games this season, including his first home run as a Met on Wednesday. As the team's primary catcher, he'll get the nod behind the plate most outings, with backup Anthony Recker receiving the rare start. At some point this season, the Mets are sure to promote Travis D'Arnaud from Triple-A Las Vegas, but to start the 2013 campaign, Buck should garner enough plate appearances to produce reliable numbers, despite being locked into the seventh spot in the order.

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Draft Street Lineup
C: Carlos Santana, CLE ($6,818)
1B: Chris Davis, BAL ($7,356)
2B: Gordon Beckham, CWS ($6,177)
3B: Kyle Seager, SEA ($6,505)
SS: Jose Reyes, TOR ($8,923)
OF: Torii Hunter, DET ($8,439)
OF: Giancarlo Stanton, MIA ($8,301)
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UT: Starlin Castro, CHC ($6,968)
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SP: Jordan Zimmermann, WAS ($12,655)
P: Addison Reed, CWS ($1,736)

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