The Lineup Card: Stabilizing Santos

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Mariners (Michael Pineda - R) v. Nationals (Jason Marquis - R) 1:05
A's (Graham Godfrey - R) v. Mets (Chris Capuano - L) 1:10
Twins (Brian Duensing - L) v. Giants (Tim Lincecum - R) 3:45
Diamondbacks (Daniel Hudson - R) v. Royals (Felipe Paulino - R) 8:10
Phillies (Roy Oswalt - R) v. Cardinals (Chris Carpenter - R) 8:15

Day game after a night game: SEA, WAS, OAK, NYY, MIN, SF

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Jake Arrieta, SP, BAL (hamstring) - next start pushed back to Wednesday against the Cardinals
Josh Beckett, SP, BOS (illness) - scheduled to make his next start Saturday against the Pirates
Brad Penny, SP, DET (knee) - tweaked his knee during Monday start against the Dodgers
Josh Willingham, OF, OAK (achilles) - will be held out until at least Thursday
Brandon League, RP, SEA (leg) - contusion below right calf during Tuesday's game
J.P. Howell, RP. TB (foot) - left foot soreness
Hunter Pence, OF, HOU (elbow) - likely out until Friday after feeling more soreness on Tuesday
J.R. Towles, C, HOU (leg) - expected to be out until at least Friday
Shaun Marcum, P, MIL (hip) - was removed from Wednesday's game as a precaution after 3 IP (54 pitches)
Laynce Nix, OF, WAS (achilles) - has been experiencing tightness for a couple of months

Players on the DL
Cesar Izturis, SS, BAL (elbow inflammation) - could return after All-Star break
Alfredo Simon, RP, BAL (hamstring) - expected to begin extending spring training throwing program soon
Franklin Morales, P, BOS (forearm) - pitched a scoreless inning in fourth rehab appearance on Sunday
Bobby Jenks, RP, BOS (back) - scheduled to throw a second side session on Thursday
Marco Scutaro, SS, BOS (illness) - latest Boston player to come down sick
Josh Beckett, SP, BOS (illness) - flu may make him miss Saturday start
Brandon Inge, 3B, DET (illness) - hit two homers for Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday
Kyle Davies, SP, KC (shoulder) - expects to make one more Triple-A start before rejoining KC rotation
Joe Nathan, RP, MIN (elbow) - pitched an inning at Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday
Rafael Soriano, RP, NY-A (elbow) - played catch at Yankees' complex in Tampa
Eric Chavez, 3B, NY-A (foot) - took batting practice and fielded ground balls on Monday
Phil Hughes, SP, NY-A (shoulder) - will make at least two more minor league starts before returning to NY
Darren O'Day, RP, TEX (hip) - may return to Texas lineup after a couple more rehab outings later this week
Mike Napoli, C, TEX (oblique) - needs a few days after receiving a cortisone shot on Monday
Brandon Webb, P, TEX (shoulder) - retired only two batters, while allowing six hits during Sunday rehab
Casey Janssen, RP, TOR (forearm) - will begin throwing program on Thursday
Homer Bailey, P, CIN (shoulder) - on track to make start on Sunday at Baltimore
Chris Coghlan, OF, FLO (knee) - to visit Dr. James Andrews for examination
Rafael Furcal, SS, LAD (oblique) - may begin minor league rehab as soon as next week
Jon Garland, P, LAD (shoulder) - a couple of days away from starting throwing program
David Wright, 3B, NY-N (back) - will have CT scan on Thursday
Brad Lidge, RP, PHI (shoulder) - won't be back until after All-Star break
Barry Zito, SP, SF (foot) - tossed a complete game shutout for Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday
Brandon Belt, 1B, SF (wrist) - will likely start rehab assignment next week
Allen Craig, OF, STL (knee) - just started walking on it again; a couple of weeks away from possible return
Cole Kimball, P, WAS (shoulder) - will be shut down for two weeks; may not return before late July

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

Called Up
Lance Lynn, P, STL
Buddy Carlyle, P, NYY

Sent Down
Lucas Harrell, P, CHI-A
Mike Minor, P, ATL
Daric Barton, 1B, OAK
Travis Wood, P, CIN
Chad Reineke, P, CIN
Jeremy Accardo, P, BAL

Placed on DL
Jeff Marquez, P, NYY
Kris Medlen, P, ATL - transferred to 60-day DL

Activated from DL
Brandon Beachy, SP, ATL
Mark Ellis, 2B, OAK
Sam LeCure, P, CIN

Claimed off Waivers
Dustin Richardson, P, ATL

Released
Miguel Batista, RP, STL

Closer Watch

Seattle - The Mariners were cruising to victory on Tuesday night when the bullpen imploded in Washington. Not only did closer Brandon League and set up guy David Pauley conspire to cough up five runs in the fateful ninth, but League also left the game after being struck on the calf by a line-drive by ex-Mariner Mike Morse.  League is expected to miss a couple of days and Pauley failed in this rare save opportunity that he was presented. He can rightfully point to a rushed warmup due to League's injury and may get another chance.

Oakland - With Andrew Bailey unavailable on Tuesday, because he had been in a string of games recently, the A's had to look elsewhere in closing out Tuesday's win over the Mets. Brian Fuentes came into the affair in a non-save situation and faltered (again) and had to give way to Grant Balfour, who put out the fire to earn his second save of the year. His solid 1.1 innings of work (only giving up a walk, while striking out two batters) may position him as 'Plan B' for the A's ahead of the struggling Fuentes.

Chicago (AL) - After starting the year in impressive fashion, White Sox closer Sergio Santos faltered as bit with three consecutive bad outings in early June. He was shut down for a week and has responded with two strong appearances to seemingly get back up to snuff. He struck out five batters in only 2.1 innings of work, surrendering one hit, to give a strong signal that he has put his June swoon behind him.

San Diego - The Padres showed off the depth and quality of their bullpen on Tuesday night in one of baseball's most daunting theatres, Fenway Park. Chad Qualls (though he gave up a hit to even the score), Mike Adams and Heath Bell combined to hold the Red Sox scoreless with 3.1 innings of solid work. Bell nailed down the win for his 19th save of the year by retiring the heart of the Boston offense with a double play ground ball and a strike out. All three Padre relievers left the game with ERAs well under 3.00.

Recommended Pickup -

Jeff Keppinger, 2B, HOU - Despite the fact that he's currently on a nine game hitting streak and has the batting average up to a lofty .326, he is owned in less than 10% of fantasy leagues. He is a career .284 batter, having played parts of the last eight years in the majors. He is making a determined bid for regular playing time, which he enjoyed for the first time in his career last season. His recent efforts should draw plenty of attention from fantasy owners who are looking for help in the middle infield positions

Other recent recommendations: Mike Adams, Alcides Escobar, Andrew Miller, Brandon Beachy, Jonathon Niese

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Draft Street Lineup

C - Miguel Olivo, SEA ($5,120)
1B - Ryan Howard, PHI ($8,063)
2B - Dustin Ackley, SEA ($5,867)
3B - Ryan Zimmerman, WAS ($7,103)
SS - Stephen Drew, AZ ($6,016)
OF - Justin Upton, AZ ($9,025)
OF - Lance Berkman, STL ($8,977)
OF - Alex Gordon, KC ($7,621)
UTIL - Placido Polanco, PHI ($5,371)
UTIL - Eric Hosmer, KC ($5,272)
SP - Tim Lincecum, SF ($13,616)
SP - Roy Oswalt, PHI ($8,408)
RP - Brian Wilson, SF ($2,655)
P - Felipe Paulino, KC ($6,653)

Total: $99,947

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