Wednesday Lineup Card: Long Live King Albert

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Rays (Wade Davis – R) at Twins (Francisco Liriano – L), 1:10
Royals (Bruce Chen – L) at White Sox (Edwin Jackson – R), 2:10
Diamondbacks (Josh Collmenter – R) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo – R), 2:10
Tigers (Brad Penny – R) at Angels (Tyler Chatwood - R), 3:35
Mariners (Jason Vargas – L) at Athletics (Guillermo Moscoso - R), 3:35
Yankees (Phil Hughes – R) at Indians (Justin Masterson – R), 7:05
Cubs (Randy Wells – R) at Nationals (Tom Gorzelanny – L), 7:05
Astros (Bud Norris – R) at Pirates (Charlie Morton – R), 7:05
Blue Jays (Ricky Romero – L) at Red Sox (Tim Wakefield – R), 7:10
Rockies (Aaron Cook – R) at Braves (Jair Jurrjens – R), 7:10
Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R) at Marlins (Anibal Sanchez – R), 7:10
Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie – R) at Rangers (Alexi Ogando – R), 8:05
Reds (Bronson Arroyo – R) at Cardinals (Jake Westbrook – R) 8:15
Mets (Jon Niese - L) at Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 10:10
Padres (Dustin Moseley – R) at Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L), 10:15

Day game after a night game: TB, MIN, KC, CWS, AZ, MIL, DET, LAA, SEA, OAK

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)
Mariano Rivera, P, NYY – (Triceps) Played catch Tuesday; expected to receive another day off.
Kevin Youkilis, 1B, BOS – (Head) Out of Tuesday's lineup; expects to return Wednesday.
Miguel Olivo, C, SEA – (Hamstring) Returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing five games.
Eduardo Nunez, SS, NYY – (Hamstring) Was available off the bench Tuesday.
Yunel Escobar, SS, TOR – (Hand) Was in Tuesday's original starting lineup but was later scratched; remains day-to-day for now.
Alex Gordon, OF, KC – (Knee) Returned to the lineup Tuesday.
Albert Pujols, 1B, STL – (Wrist) Activated from the DL Tuesday but did not start.
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL – (Calf) Did not start Tuesday's game.
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL – (Leg) Did not start Tuesday's game.
Jhoulys Chacin, P, COL – (Forearm) On track to make Tuesday's scheduled start.
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS – (Abdomen) Returned to the lineup Tuesday.
Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL – (Knee) Returned to the lineup Tuesday.
Josh Harrison, 3B, PIT – (Head) Did not start Tuesday's game.
Mike Morse, OF, WAS – (Elbow) Did not start Tuesday's game.
R.A. Dickey, P, NYM – (Upper Leg) Hopeful to start Friday, but status unsure.
Jose Reyes, SS, NYM – (Hamstring) Did not run as planned Tuesday, so unlikely to play Wednesday.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL – (Wrist) Out until Thursday at the earliest.
Shane Victorino, OF, PHI – (Thumb) Headed to a hand specialist; will rejoin team Wednesday.
Cody Ross, OF, SF – (Hamstring) MRI revealed minor strain.
Emmanuel Burriss, SS, SF – (Knee) Did not start Tuesday after being hit by a pitch in Monday's game.
Jon Lester, P, BOS – Left Tuesday's start with a strained left lat muscle.
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, CLE – Left Tuesday's game with an apparent ankle injury.
Jeff Baker, 2B, CHC – Left Tuesday's game with back spasms.

Players on the DL
Josh Willingham, OF, OAK – (Achilles) Could return by All-Star break.
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN – (Neck) Reported increased range of motion in his wrist; hopes to return in mid-August.
Matt LaPorta, 1B, CLE – (Ankle) Took batting practice, ran the bases Monday, could be activated after Tuesday's game.
Rafael Soriano, P, NYY – (Elbow) Bullpen session scheduled for Wednesday.
Eric Chavez, 3B, NYY – (Foot) Suffered setback in recovery from separate abdominal injury.
Denard Span, OF, MIN – (Concussion) Making progress, but will still likely need a rehab assignment.
John Danks, P, CWS – (Oblique) Will make two rehab starts before returning to the rotation.
Luke Scott, OF, BAL – (Shoulder) Will undergo further tests Friday to determine extent of injury.
Ryan Madson, P, PHI – (Hand) Threw bullpen session Tuesday; set for another Thursday before potentially beginning a rehab assignment.
Joe Blanton, P, PHI – (Elbow) Threw a bullpen session Monday, his first mound work since May 19.
Brad Lidge, P, PHI – (Shoulder) Threw a scoreless inning at Low-A in first rehab appearance.
Martin Prado, OF, ATL – (Calf) Will begin rehab assignment Wednesday.
Steve Pearce, 1B, PIT – (Calf) Has yet to resume baseball activities.
Ross Ohlendorf, P, PIT – (Shoulder) Threw 45 pitches in simulated game Monday.
Ryan Doumit, C, PIT – (Ankle) Has resumed light baseball activities.
Jose Tabata, OF, PIT – (Quad) Should return to the team before the All-Star break.
Aaron Harang, P, SD – (Foot) Hopes to extend to around 90 pitches in next rehab start Saturday.

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)
Clayton Richard, P, SD
Marcos Mateo, P, CHC
Luke Scott, OF, BAL
Brian Tallet, P, STL
Fernando Abad, P, HOU

Activated from DL
Albert Pujols, 1B, STL
Luke Gregerson, P, SD

Called Up
Fernando Rodriguez, P, HOU
Ramon Ortiz, P, CHC
Chris Carpenter, P, CHC
Ross Detwiler, P, WAS
Mitch Atkins, P, BAL
John Mayberry, OF, PHI
Ian Stewart, 3B, COL

Sent Down
Casey Coleman, P, CHC
Vance Worley, P, PHI
Cole Garner, OF, COL
Chaz Roe, P, SEA

Designated For Assignment
Collin Balester, P, WAS

Traded
Mike Cameron, OF – from BOS to FLA

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

Chicago (AL) – Sergio Santos allowed a game-tying home run to Royals mega-prospect Eric Homser to lead off the top of the ninth inning Monday, but he managed to get out of the inning without any further damage. That allowed him to pick up the win, because...

KC – Aaron Crow, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning Monday, stayed on for the ninth against the White Sox. After a single, a bunt, a wild pitch, a strikeout, a walk, and a defensive indifference, the Sox had runners on second and third with two outs. Crow then proceeded to balk in the winning run, saddling him with a tough loss and earning the win for the aforementioned Santos.

Milwaukee – John Axford was summoned in the eighth inning of a tie game Monday after Kameron Loe allowed four straight hits to tie the game. Axford got out of the eighth, but he couldn't hold it together in the ninth and allowed two runs. Don't be surprised if this is the first and last time manager Ron Roenicke calls on Axford for multiple innings.

Recommended Pickup

Joe Nathan, P, MIN - Trouble in Minnesota, where the other shoe may be dropping for Matt Capps. Capps was pulled for Glen Perkins in a save situation against Milwaukee on Sunday after he looked to be on the cusp of blowing yet another save and adding to his total of six. Meanwhile, Nathan has pitched four strong innings since returning from the DL, striking out four batters and allowing just one runner to reach base. Naturally, that runner scored on a home run, but Nathan appears to have the stuff back that eluded him at the beginning of the season. The closer's job could be his again soon.

Other recent recommendations:Charlie Furbush, Phil Hughes, Bartolo Colon, David Hernandez, Alex Presley

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Draft Street Lineup

C - Jonathan Lucroy, MIL ($5,378)
1B - Ryan Howard, PHI ($6,623)
2B - Howie Kendrick, LAA ($6,290)
3B - Alex Rodriguez, NYY ($7,424)
SS - Stephen Drew, AZ ($5,935)
OF - Jose Bautista, TOR ($11,164)
OF - Jay Bruce, CIN ($5,223)
OF - Corey Hart, MIL ($4,781)
UTIL - Mike Morse, WAS ($5,692)
UTIL - Jim Thome, MIN ($6,701)
SP - Jason Vargas, SEA ($12,402)
SP - Madison Bumgarner, SF ($10,741)
RP - Craig Kimbrel, ATL ($3,542)
P - Phil Hughes, NYY ($7,089)

Total: $$98,985

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