Thursday Lineup Card: Stick With Ricky

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey - R) at Indians (Danny Salazar - R), 12:05
Twins (Mike Pelfrey - R) at Rays (Matt Moore - L), 12:10
Royals (Ervin Santana - R) at Yankees (Andy Pettitte - L), 1:05
White Sox (Chris Sale - L) at Tigers (Anibal Sanchez - R), 1:08
Red Sox (Ryan Dempster - R) at Mariners (Erasmo Ramirez - R), 3:40
Rangers (Yu Darvish - R) at Orioles (Miguel Gonzalez - R), 7:05
Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann - R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick - R), 7:05
Reds (Mat Latos - R) at Braves (Tim Hudson - R), 7:10
Cardinals (Jake Westbrook - R) at Cubs (Edwin Jackson - R), 8:05
Brewers (Yovani Gallardo - R) at Diamondbacks (Wade Miley - L), 9:40
Rockies (Drew Pomeranz - L) at Dodgers (Chris Capuano - L), 10:10
Giants (Madison Bumgarner - L) at Padres (Jason Marquis - R), 10:10

Day Game After Night Game: TOR, CLE, MIN, TB, KC, NYY, CHW, DET, BOS, SEA

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Norichika Aoki, OF, MIL (Elbow) - Expected to be back in the lineup Thursday in Arizona.
Brian Bogusevic, OF, CHC (Hamstring) - Ran the bases Wednesday and hopes to return to the lineup Thursday versus the Cardinals.
Ronny Cedeno, SS, HOU (Toe) - Held out of the lineup Wednesday due to a contusion on one of his left toes.
Chris Dickerson, OF, BAL (Shoulder) - Scratched from the lineup Wednesday due to a strained shoulder suffered during batting practice.
Matt Harvey, P, NYM (Finger) - Skipping his scheduled start Saturday at Pittsburgh in order to be active for next Tuesday's All-Star Game.
Chris Heisey, OF, CIN (Elbow) - Out of the lineup Wednesday following a hit by pitch Tuesday.
George Kontos, P, SF (Suspension) - His appeal of a three-game suspension has been denied, and he will miss three outings of an upcoming four-game set in San Diego.
Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN (Back) - Felt worse Tuesday than he did Monday but was in the lineup anyway Wednesday.
Bud Norris, P, HOU (Ankle) - Tweaked his ankle during Tuesday's start but remained in the game after a tape job.
Salvador Perez, C, KD (Lower Leg) - Missed Wednesday's game due to continued tightness in his lower right leg.
Skip Schumaker, 2B, LAD (Suspension) - His appeal regarding a two-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the Diamondbacks has been denied; he sat out Wednesday and will do so again Thursday.
Caleb Thielbar, P, MIN (Personal) - Will be placed on the bereavement list Thursday due to a death in his family.

Players on the DL
Scott Atchison, P, NYM (Hamstring) - Expected to be activated from the disabled list in the Mets' first outing after the All-Star break.
Scott Baker, P, CHC (Elbow) - Will toss a bullpen session Thursday, after which a rehab assignment could begin in earnest.
Brandon Beachy, P, ATL (Elbow) - Completed three innings Tuesday at Triple-A Gwinnett, marking his first rehab outing since suffering a setback in mid-June.
Josh Beckett, P, LAD (Finger) - Underwent surgery Wednesday to provide relief for a nerve impingement in his shoulder and now faces a 3-to-5 month recovery.
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS (Back) - After throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, he may start up a rehab assignment Sunday and must complete two rehab starts before rejoining the rotation.
Trevor Cahill, P, ARI (Hip) - Will likely miss his first turn in the rotation after the break.
Santiago Casilla, P, SF (Knee) - Slated to travel to San Diego for the upcoming four-game series and may be activated from the DL as early as Thursday.
Chris Carpenter, P, STL (Shoulder) - Will embark upon a rehab assignment Monday at Double-A Springfield.
Jesse Crain, P, CWS (Shoulder) - Played catch from 40-to-50 feet Tuesday.
Lucas Duda, OF, NYM (Oblique) - Has started baseball activities but has not yet swung a bat.
Dexter Fowler, OF, COL (Hand) - Scheduled for an evaluation Thursday, when he is expected to be activated from the DL.
Frank Francisco, P, NYM (Elbow) - Remains out indefinitely, as doctors are unable to determine what exactly is ailing his elbow.
Christian Garcia, P, WAS (Forearm) - Injured his hamstring during his rehab assignment, which has shut him down for the foreseeable future.
Evan Gattis, C, ATL (Oblique) - Took batting practice Wednesday for the first time since June 17.
Craig Gentry, OF, TEX (Hand) - Took batting practice with the team Tuesday and could soon embark upon a rehab assignment.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, SEA (Hamstring) - Resumed hitting during live batting practice Wednesday.
Jedd Gyorko, 2B, SD (Groin) - Started a rehab assignment Wednesday at High-A Lake Elsinore.
Tommy Hanson, P, LAA (Forearm) - Tossed a 35-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, after which he did not report any issues.
Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI (Knee) - Underwent successful surgery on his left knee Wednesday and will be sidelined for the next 6-to-8 weeks.
Matt Kemp, OF, LAD (Shoulder) - Had an MRI on Tuesday, which confirmed the initial diagnosis of irritation in his AC joint.
Brett Lawrie, 3B, TOR (Ankle) - May play second base following his activation from the DL, which could occur sometime this weekend.
Colby Lewis, P, TEX (Forearm) - Will throw batting practice Saturday, and if he emerges unscathed, he could begin a rehab assignment.
Ted Lilly, P, LAD (Neck) - Told the team that he's willing to pitch out of the bullpen.
Cristhian Martinez, P, ATL (Shoulder) - Had surgery performed on his shoulder Tuesday and will require 7-to-8 months to recover fully.
Zach McAllister, P, CLE (Finger) - Slated to make his first rehab outing Saturday at Double-A Akron.
Brandon Morrow, P, TOR (Forearm) - Tossed a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday but has no set timetable for a return to the rotation.
Steve Pearce, OF, BAL (Wrist) - One of his wrist remains sore, but a rehab assignment will commence in the near future.
Jake Peavy, P, CWS (Ribs) - May require just one or two rehab starts, the first of which arrives Sunday at Double-A Birmingham, before he's cleared to join the rotation.
David Phelps, P, NYY (Forearm) - Will begin a throwing program Monday at the team's minor league complex in Tampa Bay.
Stephen Pryor, P, SEA (Oblique) - Threw a simulated game Wednesday and may be back with the big club shortly after the break.
David Ross, C, BOS (Concussion) - Had a follow-up exam Tuesday and displayed much improvement through his recovery from two concussions earlier this season.
Hector Sanchez, C, SF (Shoulder) - Will start his rehab at the Giants' spring training facility and hopes to return to the big club in the next few days.
Jordan Schafer, OF, ATL (Ankle) - Participated in batting practice Wednesday and is on pace for a return after the break.
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL (Ribs) - Scheduled to be activated from the disabled list Thursday.
Justin Turner, 2B, NYM (Ribs) - Has been hitting off a tee and via soft toss, progressing beyond playing catch and fielding groundballs.
Jason Vargas, P, LAA (Arm) - Cleared to resume throwing Wednesday and is expected to return to the rotation by the end of July.
Alex Wilson, P, BOS (Thumb) - Underwent an MRI on his right thumb, which revealed no concerns with ligaments or tendons.
DeWayne Wise, OF, CWS (Oblique) - May come off the disabled list soon, but it is unclear if he'll be available to the White Sox before or after the break.

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)
Yu Darvish, P, TEX
Hector Sanchez, C, SF

Activated from the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Wei-Yin Chen, P, BAL

Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Pedro Beato, P, BOS
Sonny Gray, P, OAK (Contract selected)
Josh Stinson, P, BAL
Steven Wright, P, BOS

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Alfredo Aceves, P, BOS
Zach Britton, P, BAL
Kevin Gausman, P, BAL
Johnny Hellweg, P, MIL (to Low-A Wisconsin)
Dan Straily, P, OAK
Allen Webster, P, BOS

Signed
Jason Bergmann, P, KC
Drew Carpenter, P, LAA
Jesus Lopez, SS, OAK
Eric Niesen, P, BOS

Closer Watch

Boston - Koji Uehara bounced back nicely from his third blown save of the season Saturday, tossing a perfect ninth inning Tuesday at Seattle to secure the victory for the Red Sox. While he did not notch a strikeout, he was the sole pitcher to avoid yielding a hit on a night in which the Mariners racked up a whopping 13, including two home runs by Kendrys Morales. The slugger came to the plate late against Uehara, who proceeded to induce a measly groundout en route to his fifth consecutive scoreless frame. In his last 15 outings, Uehara has now given up just one run with a 19:2 K:BB ratio across 14 innings, ensuring his status as one of the stingiest closers in the game, despite earning the gig only recently in the latter half of June.

St. Louis - In that same period, Edward Mujica endured a rough stretch that leached into July, as he surrendered runs in four of six appearances. No matter, he succeeded on 3-of-4 save opportunities during the span, alleviating the stress on a suddenly-rising ERA. However, his last four appearances have been smooth sailing for the first-time fireman, as he has racked up one win, three saves, and a 3:0 K:BB ratio in 3.1 perfect innings. With his wobbles presumably behind him, Mujica's status as closer on a Cardinals team that holds MLB's top record will keep him among the league leaders in saves for the entirety of the season, barring injury or a complete meltdown.

Ricky Nolasco, P, LAD - The proof is in the pudding, so to say, following Nolasco's first career start in a uniform outside of the Marlins' organization. After he was dealt to the Dodgers as a part of Miami's continued fire sale this past weekend, he took the hill Tuesday, surrendering just one run on four hits and no walks, while posting five strikeouts in seven frames. Meanwhile, in his preceding seven nods, he experienced some troubles yet still managed to record a 4.15 ERA, 1.338 WHIP, and 34:11 K:BB ratio in 43.1 innings. Even if the stretch marks his most volatile of 2013, a fresh start with a much-improved Dodgers offense at his disposal should aid in maintaining a stat line that includes 11 quality starts in 19 appearances this year.

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