Thursday Lineup Card: See Span Hit and Run

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Mariners (Joe Saunders - L) at Royals (Jeremy Guthrie - R), 2:10
White Sox (Jose Quintana - L) at Orioles (Miguel Gonzalez - R), 7:05
Red Sox (Jake Peavy - R) at Yankees (Ivan Nova - R), 7:05
Cardinals (Lance Lynn - R) at Reds (Tony Cingrani - L), 7:10
Astros (Brad Peacock - R) at Athletics (Sonny Gray - R), 10:05
Rays (David Price - L) at Angels (Jerome Williams - R), 10:05
Diamondbacks (Trevor Cahill - R) at Giants (Ryan Vogelsong - R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: SEA, KC

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Elvis Andrus, SS, TEX (Back) - Was available off the bench Friday and is slated to be back in the lineup Friday.
Nolan Arenado, 3B, COL (Thumb) - Left Wednesday's game with a thumb contusion.
Peter Bourjos, OF, LAA (Wrist) - Experiencing trouble with his wrist, which held him out of the lineup Wednesday.
Domonic Brown, OF, PHI (Achilles) - Not in the lineup for a third day in a row, and ninth out of his last 11, due to mild tendinitis in his Achilles.
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, DET (Abdomen) - Fit in another day off Wednesday, as he felt "a little sore."
Jason Castro, C, HOU (Knee) - While his health is improving, he'll continue to take a cautious approach with the cyst on the medial side of his right knee.
Tyler Chatwood, P, COL (Thumb) - In line to start Saturday in San Diego following Wednesday's bullpen session.
Allen Craig, 1B, STL (Foot) - Diagnosed with a sprain in his left foot, an injury that will force him back to St. Louis for further evaluation.
Tony Cruz, C, STL (Forearm) - Partook in batting practice Wednesday and will soon be cleared to join the lineup.
Ike Davis, 1B, NYM (Oblique) - Received an injection Wednesday and is not expected to play again this season.
Matt Dominguez, 3B, HOU (Illness) - Missing from the lineup Wednesday for a second consecutive day due to nausea.
Wilmer Flores, 3B, NYM (Ankle) - Out of the lineup Wednesday due to a combination of ankle discomfort, fatigue, and teammate Josh Satin's output.
Chris Getz, 2B, KC (Head) - Endured concussion tests Wednesday, after banging his head and neck in the infield during a diving attempt at a groundball.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL (Finger) - Kept out of the lineup Wednesday, despite his activation from the DL on Tuesday.
Tom Gorzelanny, P, MIL (Shoulder) - Will have further tests performed on his left shoulder Thursday.
Robbie Grossman, OF, HOU (Oblique) - Sidelined Wednesday, after suffering a right oblique strain during an at-bat Tuesday.
Bryce Harper, OF, WAS (Hip) - Hopes to return to the lineup Friday, as he deals with a sore hip.
Felix Hernandez, P, SEA (Back) - On pace to start Sunday against the Rays, after his removal from Monday's start with a cramp in his lower back.
Jose Iglesias, SS, DET (Ankle) - Removed from Wednesday's outing due to bilateral shin splints.
Buster Posey, C, SF (Finger) - Held out of the lineup Wednesday due to a torn fingernail on his right ring finger.
Yasiel Puig, OF, LAD (Knee) - Remained out of the lineup Wednesday due to a mild knee strain, marking his third day in a row on the bench.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, P, LAD (Back) - Scratched from his start Friday in Cincinnati due to mild back stiffness.
Jordan Schafer, OF, ATL (Quadriceps) - Expected to play Friday at Philadelphia, after he was scratched Wednesday with a contusion in his left quad.
Marco Scutaro, 2B, SF (Back) - Missed three of the past four games with a sore back.
Jean Segura, SS, MIL (Illness) - Absent from the lineup Wednesday due to an illness.
Stephen Strasburg, P, WAS (Hamstring) - Will miss his expected start Saturday in Miami as a result of dealing with minor hamstring tightness in his last few outings.
Neil Walker, 2B, PIT (Leg) - Fouled a pitch off the inside of his leg Wednesday but was not removed from the game.

Players on the DL
Yonder Alonso, 1B, SD (Hand) - Hopeful that he'll be activated from the disabled list in approximately two weeks.
Jose Bautista, OF, TOR (Hip) - Ruled out for the season but expected to be 100 percent by spring training 2014.
Matt Cain, P, SF (Forearm) - Expected to start Saturday versus the Diamondbacks.
Tony Cingrani, P, CIN (Back) - Will return from the DL on Thursday in order to start against the Cardinals.
Johnny Cueto, P, CIN (Back) - Tossed a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, after which it was revealed that he changed up his throwing motion.
Jason Hammel, P, BAL (Arm) - Slated for activation from the disabled list Thursday but won't be available to pitch Friday or Saturday.
Reed Johnson, OF, ATL (Achilles) - Recently dealt with lingering discomfort that forced a shutdown of his daily running program.
Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAA (Knee) - Progressing slowly through a hyperextended knee but hopes to return to the big club before season's end.
Starling Marte, OF, PIT (Finger) - Unable to throw from long distances or make a two-handed swing with a bat.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD (Knee) - Undergoing surgery on his right wrist Friday, which will likely end his season.
James McDonald, P, PIT (Shoulder) - Has advanced his rehabilitation to Triple-A Indianapolis but is unlikely to rejoin the Pirates this season.
Chris Nelson, 3B, LAA (Hamstring) - Had an MRI performed Wednesday on his strained hamstring.
Roy Oswalt, P, COL (Hamstring) - Scheduled for activation from the DL on Sunday, when he will start at San Diego.
J.J. Putz, P, ARI (Finger) - Hopes to return to the Diamondbacks by the end of the season, after dislocating his right pinky finger on August 23.
Wandy Rodriguez, P, PIT (Forearm) - Threw his best bullpen session yet Tuesday, as he emerged without feeling any pain.
Ramon Troncoso, P, CHW (Chest) - Completed a successful simulated game Wednesday.
Jake Westbrook, P, STL (Back) - Completed a lengthy bullpen session Tuesday and may come off the disabled list when first eligible Friday.
Joe Wieland, P, SD (Elbow) - Intends to pitch at the Arizona Fall League or in winter ball.

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

Activated from the DL
Lorenzo Cain, OF, KC
Alexi Ogando, P, TEX

Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Marc Krauss, OF, HOU
Chang-Yong Lim, P, CHC (Contract Selected)

Designated for Assignment
Michael Bowden, P, CHC
Cole Gillespie, OF, CHC

Claimed off Waivers
Daniel Bard, P, CHC (From BOS)

Closer Watch

Pittsburgh - The activation of reliever Jason Grilli on Tuesday threw a wrench into the Pirates' hierarchy for saves, with a seeming threat returning to pilfer opportunities away from Mark Melancon. However, two factors allayed those fears: manager Clint Hurdle ensuring that Grilli would not take over the closing gig immediately, and Melancon being handed the first and only save chance since Grilli's activation. Entering a 4-3 game in the ninth inning Tuesday, Melancon gave up a double but surrounded the base knock with two groundouts, before a strikeout completed the frame for his 11th save of the year. Meanwhile, the Brewers manhandled the Pirates on Wednesday, providing an extremely low-leverage situation for Grilli to test out his healing forearm. After surrendering a leadoff single, the righty forced a lineout and struck out two, revealing scant rust in the process. With a handful of similar outings, the closing gig may soon gravitate from Melancon to Grilli once more.

Denard Span, OF, WAS - Following a 1-for-4 evening at the plate Wednesday, Span has in hand a 17-game hitting streak, the longest active mark in the big leagues. He has predictably exhibited little power, pounding out just six extra-base hits among 69 at-bats. Despite the lack of punch, the outfielder has bolstered his slash line by at least 20 points in each batting category, currently residing at a respectable .278/.329/.379 for the season. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the run is the number of counting stats that have accompanied his .406 average: five RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases, with prescient plate presence -- a 5:7 BB:K ratio -- to boot. With such sparse ownership across the majority of fantasy establishments, Span is truly a bargain at this juncture.

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DraftStreet Lineup

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