Thursday Lineup Card: The Will to Win

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Angels (C.J. Wilson - L) at Yankees (Phil Hughes - R), 1:05
Pirates (A.J. Burnett - R) at Cardinals (Lance Lynn - R), 1:45
Astros (Erik Bedard - L) at Athletics (Sonny Gray - R), 3:35
Giants (Ryan Vogelsong - R) at Nationals (Dan Haren - R), 4:05
Red Sox (Jake Peavy - R) at Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle - L), 7:07
Royals (Jeremy Guthrie - R) at Tigers (Anibal Sanchez - R), 7:08
Mariners (Joe Saunders - L) at Rays (Alex Cobb - R), 7:10
White Sox (Andre Rienzo - R) at Twins (Mike Pelfrey - R), 8:10
Reds (Tony Cingrani - L) at Brewers (Kyle Lohse - R), 8:10
Mets (Zack Wheeler - R) at Padres (Tyson Ross - R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: LAA, NYY, PIT, STL, HOU, OAK, SF, WAS

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Erick Aybar, SS, LAA (Calf) - Not in the lineup but available Wednesday at the Yankees, after leaving Tuesday's game due to a cramp in his left calf.
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, CIN (Hand) - Enduring a hand injury but was available off the bench Wednesday.
Coco Crisp, OF, OAK (Wrist) - Received a cortisone shot Tuesday but has now missed three consecutive games as of Wednesday.
Andre Ethier, OF, LAD (Calf) - Held out for a second game in a row Wednesday due to a tight calf.
Wilmer Flores, 3B, NYM (Ankle) - Missed his second consecutive outing Wednesday due to a twisted ankle.
Gio Gonzalez, P, WAS (Back) - Reported that he's feeling fine, after tweaking his back during Tuesday's rain-shortened nod.
Taylor Jordan, P, WAS (Back) - Felt "something" in his back during a recent dentist appointment, which may affect his start Friday in Milwaukee.
John Lannan, P, PHI (Knee) - Left Wednesday's start in Atlanta due to a left knee injury after just 1.1 innings.
Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC (Calf) - Wore a walking boot Wednesday in order to alleviate pressure on his left calf but is unlikely to return until the weekend.
Derek Norris, C, OAK (Back) - May return to the lineup Thursday for the first time since Saturday's game, which he left due to a sore back.
Alexi Ogando, P, TEX (Shoulder) - Had a CT scan performed on his right shoulder Wednesday, after complaining of discomfort in the region.
Tyler Pastornicky, SS, ATL (Knee) - Exited Wednesday's game due to a sprained left knee, which will be examined by the team Thursday.
Wilson Ramos, C, WAS (Hamstring) - His current ailment is affecting a different region of his hamstring than the injury that held him out of commission for seven weeks earlier this season; he's expected to miss just 1-to-2 games.
Chris Stewart, C, NYY (Hand) - Did not play Tuesday due to a sore left hand.
Jose Tabata, OF, PIT (Illness) - Out of the lineup Wednesday due to the flu but was listed as a bench player prior to the outing.

Players on the DL
Brett Anderson, P, OAK (Foot) - Will tosss two relief innings in a rehab appearance Saturday.
Rafael Betancourt, P, COL (Abdomen) - May be eased into the pitching staff in low-leverage situations rather make appearances in the ninth inning upon his activation from the DL, which is expected to occur Friday.
Wilson Betemit, 3B, BAL (Knee) - Transferred his rehab assignment Wednesday to Double-A Bowie.
Peter Bourjos, OF, LAA (Wrist) - Expected to be activated from the DL on Friday.
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS (Shoulder) - Simulated three innings in the bullpen Wednesday, racking up 50 pitches, while mixing in his entire arsenal of pitches.
Tyler Chatwood, P, COL (Elbow) - Scheduled to play catch Saturday, a mere 10 days after landing on the DL.
Chris Coghlan, OF, MIA (Back) - Started his rehab assignment Wednesday at High-A Jupiter, where he will garner reps at third base.
Jeurys Familia, P, NYM (Forearm) - Slated to throw off a mound Friday, as he continues his recovery from surgery to clean out his elbow on July 5.
Neftali Feliz, P, TEX (Elbow) - Will throw a bullpen session Thursday.
Frank Francisco, P, NYM (Elbow) - Threw off a mound for the first time since receiving anti-inflammatory injections in his right elbow.
Yovani Gallardo, P, MIL (Hamstring) - Tossed a successful bullpen session Tuesday and may return to the rotation as soon as next week.
Jason Hammel, P, BAL (Foot) - Expected to resume throwing Friday, after receiving a cortisone injection last week.
Derek Jeter, SS, NYY (Calf) - Took batting practice and ran lightly Tuesday, after which he will move his rehab to the Yankees' minor league facility in Tampa; however, his return date remains up in the air.
Josh Johnson, P, TOR (Forearm) - Had an MRI performed, but the results of the evaluation are unknown.
Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAA (Knee) - Hopes that he'll be activated from the DL when he's first eligible on August 21.
Corey Kluber, P, CLE (Finger) - Threw from 60 feet Tuesday and will progress to a distance of 90-100 feet before removing the tape currently on his finger.
Sean Marshall, P, CIN (Shoulder) - Unlikely to take the mound again this season.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD (Knee) - Has not appeared in a rehab outing at Triple-A Tucson since August 6.
Yadier Molina, C, STL (Knee) - Performed most activities in the field Tuesday and intends to return to the lineup Thursday against the Pirates.
Matt Moore, P, TB (Elbow) - Will not in fact start Saturday against the Blue Jays but be evaluated after throwing Sunday.
Ross Ohlendorf, P, WAS (Shoulder) - Scheduled to make a rehab start Friday at High-A Potomac.
Bobby Parnell, P, NYM (Neck) - Making steady progress following an epidural injection on August 5 for the herniated disc in his neck.
Felipe Paulino, P, KC (Elbow) - Completed 3.1 innings Monday in his second rehab start at Triple-A Omaha, in which he allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks to go with two strikeouts.
David Ross, C, BOS (Concussion) - May be activated in time for next Monday's outing at San Francisco.
Matt Thornton, P, BOS (Oblique) - Played catch off flat ground Tuesday without exhibiting any pain in his left oblique.

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)
Jeremy Hefner, P, NYM
Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR
Miguel Tejada, SS, KC (Transferred to 60-day DL)

Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Tony Campana, OF, ARI
Marwin Gonzalez, SS, HOU
Munenori Kawasaki, SS, TOR
Kevin Pillar, OF, TOR
Andrew Romine, SS, LAA

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Steven Ames, P, MIA
Travis Blackley, P, TEX (Outrighted)
Jorge De Leon, P, HOU
Nick Maronde, P, LAA
Tyler Skaggs, P, ARI

Traded
Travis Blackley, P, TEX (From HOU)
Emilio Bonifacio, OF, KC (From TOR)

Signed
Leandro Linares, P, CLE

Released
Delmon Young
, OF
Closer Watch

Houston - Following deals to send out former ninth-inning options Jose Veras and Wesley Wright, the Astros seem poised to cycle through closers in order to see if any darts stick, what with the future the ultimate end game for the organization. The most recent casualty realized his fate Wednesday, when Jorge De Leon was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City after just a pair of appearances in the final frame, both eventual losses. In his most extensive outing last Friday, he surrendered two runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out one in 1.1 innings, output that was ultimately deemed demotion-worthy. Since De Leon's last game Sunday, Houston has sent out Chia-Jen Lo on back-to-back days, with overall splendid results, at least for now. After capturing his first career save Tuesday, Lo has yet to allow a run with a 5:3 K:BB ratio across six outings (6.1 innings), which should allow him to serve as the team's fireman for the foreseeable future.

Will Venable, OF, SD - Venable has found his way into the Padres' lineup most days in 2013, but with fellow outfielders Cameron Maybin (knee) and Kyle Blanks (Achilles) sidelined with no activation date in sight, the 30-year-old has rarely missed a start since the break. In 77 second-half at-bats, Venable has slashed a supreme .364/.410/.662 -- entering Wednesday's contest in Colorado -- which he has upheld in the month of August by securing three home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, and four stolen bases. Continued starts in right and center field are to be expected until further notice for the dynamo that suddenly represents Venable.

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