Thursday Lineup Card: Byrd Delivers in Debut

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Athletics (Bartolo Colon - R) at Tigers (Max Scherzer - R), 1:08
Angels (Jason Vargas - L) at Rays (Jake Odorizzi - R), 1:10
Royals (Bruce Chen - L) at Twins (Samuel Deduno - R), 1:10
Phillies (Ethan Martin - R) at Mets (Carlos Torres - R), 1:10
Marlins (Tom Koehler - R) at Nationals (Gio Gonzalez - L), 7:05
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - R) at Pirates (Gerrit Cole - R), 7:05
Indians (Ubaldo Jimenez - R) at Braves (Kris Medlen - R), 7:10
Orioles (Chris Tillman - R) at Red Sox (Jon Lester - L), 7:10
Mariners (Erasmo Ramirez - R) at Astros (Jordan Lyles - R), 8:10

Day Game After Night Game: OAK, DET, LAA, TB, KC, MIN, PHI, NYM

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Oswaldo Arcia, OF, MIN (Wrist) - Kept out of the lineup for the seventh time in eight games due to a sore left wrist but will join the team on its upcoming six-game road trip that begins Friday.
Cody Asche, 3B, PHI (Hamstring) - Left Wednesday's outing with an apparent hamstring concern.
Domonic Brown, OF, PHI (Achilles) - Missed his fourth game in a row Wednesday due to a sore Achilles.
Robinson Cano, 2B, NYY (Hand) - Out of the lineup Wednesday, after he was hit by a pitch on the hand Tuesday.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS (Foot) - Removed from Wednesday's contest, after fouling a ball off his foot.
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL (Knee) - Not in Wednesday's lineup for a second consecutive outing due to a bruised knee.
Chase Headley, 3B, SD (Back) - Held out of the lineup Wednesday due to the back stiffness that he sustained during Tuesday's defeat.
Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC (Illness) - Unlikely to play Thursday, which would mark his third game a row on the pine as a result of strep throat.
Chris Nelson, 3B, LAA (Hamstring) - Diagnosed with a strained right hamstring Wednesday, which will result in a stint on the disabled list.
Eduardo Nunez, SS, NYY (Lower Leg) - Scratched from the lineup Wednesday, after aggravating the right foot injury he suffered Tuesday; will undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine if a DL stint is required.

Players on the DL
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS (Shoulder) - Scheduled for rehab appearances both Friday and next Wednesday, September 4, at Triple-A Pawtucket.
Tyler Chatwood, P, COL (Elbow) - Expected to start Sunday, marking his first appearance since July 31.
Jesse Crain, P, TB (Shoulder) - Presumably treading water in his attempted recovery from a right shoulder strain.
Octavio Dotel, P, DET (Elbow) - Suffered a bruise after getting hit on the thigh by a groundball during a rehab game Tuesday at Triple-A Toledo.
Neftali Feliz, P, TEX (Elbow) - Pitched 2-to-3 innings during a rehab outing Wednesday at Triple-A Round Rock.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL (Finger) - Completed batting practice Tuesday, despite some lingering pain in his right middle finger.
Jason Grilli, P, PIT (Forearm) - Tossed a simulated game Wednesday, with a potential rehab assignment to commence Saturday.
Jeremy Hefner, P, NYM (Elbow) - Had successful Tommy John surgery performed on the torn UCL in his right elbow Wednesday.
Josh Johnson, P, TOR (Forearm) - Shut down for the remainder of the season due to a strained right forearm but will avoid surgery.
Matt Kemp, OF, LAD (Ankle) - Ran the bases once again Wednesday and will start a rehab outing Thursday at High-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Jenrry Mejia, P, NYM (Elbow) - Endured surgery Wednesday to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.
Matt Moore, P, TB (Elbow) - Slated to make a rehab start Thursday at Triple-A Durham and remains on track for activation from the DL when first eligible on September 3.
Brett Myers, P, CLE (Elbow) - Notched two strikeouts in a scoreless frame during a rehab game Monday at Double-A Akron.
Carlos Quentin, OF, SD (Knee) - Ruled out for the rest of the season and will eventually undergo surgery to relieve chronic right knee pain.
Alexi Ogando, P, TEX (Shoulder) - Long tossed from 120 feet Tuesday and will likely throw off a mound this weekend.
Wandy Rodriguez, P, PIT (Forearm) - May begin a rehab assignment in the near future following a fruitful meeting with Dr. James Andrews.
Nick Tepesch, P, TEX (Elbow) - Threw two-plus innings during a rehab start Tuesday at Double-A Frisco.
Andres Torres, OF, SF (Heel) - Underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his left heel Wednesday and will be sidelined for the next six months.
Luis Valbuena, 3B, CHC (Oblique) - Started a rehab assignment with the Cubs' rookie league team Tuesday, when he went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Jake Westbrook, P, STL (Back) - In line for a return to the rotation in early September, after throwing a successful bullpen session Tuesday.
Mike Zunino, C, SEA (Hand) - Embarked upon a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Tacoma, going 1-for-2 with a triple and a free pass.

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

Activated from the DL
Brett Anderson, P, OAK (From 60-day DL)
Willie Bloomquist, 2B, ARI
Luke Hochevar, P, KC (From Paternity List)
Dan Uggla, 2B, ATL

Placed on the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Cord Phelps, 2B, CLE (Placed on 60-day DL)
Ryan Raburn, 2B, CLE

Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Michael Blazek, P, STL
Matt Carson, OF, CLE
Danny Duffy, P, KC
Robbie Erlin, P, SD
Kevin Gausman, P, BAL

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Brad Boxberger, P, SD
Wei-Yin Chen, P, BAL (To GCL Orioles)
Louis Coleman, P, KC (To High-A Wilmington)
Todd Cunningham, OF, ATL
Wade Davis, P, KC (To High-A Wilmington)
David Holmberg, P, ARI (To Double-A Mobile)
Jeff Locke, P, PIT (To Double-A Altoona)
Carlos Martinez, P, STL
Tommy Milone, P, OAK
Pat Neshek, P, OAK (Outrighted)
Tony Sanchez, C, PIT (To Double-A Altoona)
Joe Savery, P, PHI

Released
Tim Wood, P, MIN

Activated
John Buck, C, PIT
Marlon Byrd, OF, PIT

Closer Watch

Arizona - A trio of primary closers wavered Tuesday, with the Diamondbacks' own Brad Ziegler allowing the Padres to knot up what was a 9-7 advantage entering the top of the ninth inning on three hits and two walks. While the combustible Heath Bell shut down the side in the next frame during the 10-inning walkoff win, Ziegler hasn't exactly been crisp in his last three appearances, surrendering four runs on nine hits and six walks, while posting three strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Granted, the failed save marked just Ziegler's second in nine attempts since he was handed the job, while owning seven victories with a 2.52 ERA on the year, but further collapses could result in a change of roles for the 33-year-old right-hander.

Seattle - Of all things, a balk befell Danny Farquhar in the top half of the tenth, with runners on first and third. The call seemed sketchy, especially with two outs, but the closer indeed flinched slightly, which the home plate umpire observed and correctly communicated. Fortunately for Farquhar, his place in the bullpen is quite secure with nine saves in 10 opportunities as well as two losses, such as Tuesday's against the Rangers, since landing the gig to begin August. A plus K/9IP of 14.59 in 11.1 innings this month approaches Craig Kimbrel-esque levels and appears sustainable due to the righty's mark of 13.8 in 2013.

Tampa Bay - After an up-and-down first two-and-a-half months of the season, Fernando Rodney has settled into a groove, securing 17 of 20 saves with a 3-2 record. Each of the three foiled late-inning outings during that stretch have unfolded in August, with the most recent transpiring Tuesday, when he yielded a one-out, two-run double off the bat of Angels shortstop Erick Aybar. Nevertheless, Rodney, the flamethrower, rebounded Wednesday by notching his 31st save via a groundout and two strikeouts, sustaining an 11.75 K/9IP mark for the 2013 campaign in the proccess.

Matt Dominguez, 3B, HOU - What began is a frustrating month at the plate for the third baseman has suddenly turned fruitful. Through the first 14 games, or August 15, Dominguez had reached base on a mere 10 occasions, with minimal counting stats (two RBI and two runs scored) to show for his effort. His fortunes experienced a 180 on August 16, when he blasted a solo shot during a 3-for-5 performance, from which he has yet to look back. In the subsequent 11 outings entering play Wednesday, he was crushing the ball to the tune of a .381 average (16-for-42), five homers, two doubles, 10 RBI, 12 runs, and a 5:6 BB:K ratio, ultimately leaving his slash line for the month at a bountiful .311/.468/.779. The run has left him batting in the middle of the order for the rebuilding Astros in front of a similarly scorching Chris Carter, who has added three long balls of his own during the aforementioned span.

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