Thursday Lineup Card: With One Pitch, Heyward's Season in Jeopardy

This article is part of our The Lineup Card series.

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

Diamondbacks (Trevor Cahill - R) at Reds (Mat Latos - R), 12:35
Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw - L) at Marlins (Henderson Alvarez - R), 12:40
Blue Jays (J.A. Happ - L) at Yankees (Andy Pettitte - L), 1:05
Twins (Andrew Albers - L) at Tigers (Justin Verlander - R), 1:08
Nationals (Stephen Strasburg - R) at Cubs (Travis Wood - L), 2:20
Rockies (Chad Bettis - R) at Phillies (Kyle Kendrick - R), 7:05
White Sox (Jose Quintana - L) at Royals (James Shields - R), 8:10
Braves (Paul Maholm - L) at Cardinals (Joe Kelly - R), 8:15
Steelers (Jeff Locke - L) at Giants (Matt Cain - R), 10:15

Day Game After Night Game: ARI, CIN, LAD, MIA, TOR, NYY, MIN, DET, WAS, CHC

Injuries

Day-to-Day
Oswaldo Arcia, OF, MIN (Wrist) - Scheduled to hit in the batting cage Thursday, but if discomfort in his left wrist persists, he may land on the disabled list.
Ian Desmond, SS, WAS (Back) - Scratched from the lineup Wednesday, after his back locked up during batting practice.
Samuel Deduno, P, MIN (Shoulder) - Experienced no discomfort while throwing Wednesday and was thus cleared to start Friday at Cleveland.
Carlos Gomez, OF, MIL (Knee) - Missed his sixth game in a row Wednesday due to a sprained knee.
Jason Heyward, OF, ATL (Head) - Expected to sit out 4-to-6 weeks with a fractured jaw, which will be repaired via surgery Thursday in Atlanta.
Maicer Izturis, 3B, TOR (Ankle) - Sidelined Wednesday due to a left ankle sprain suffered Tuesday, which may result in a DL stint.
Jeff Keppinger, 3B, CHW (Back) - Absent from the lineup Wednesday for a second straight game due to a stiff lower back.
Starling Marte, OF, PIT (Finger) - Remained out of the lineup Wednesday for a third consecutive outing with an injured ring finger.
Mike Napoli, C, BOS (Foot) - Out of the lineup for a fifth consecutive game Wednesday due to a bout with plantar fasciitis.
Jayson Nix, 3B, NYY (Hand) - Diagnosed with a fracture in his left hand following Wednesday's outing.
Derek Norris, C, OAK (Toe) - His left big toe has a fracture, but he may stay on the 25-man roster nonetheless.
David Ortiz, DH, BOS (Back) - Left Wednesday's outing due to lower back tightness.
Brayan Pena, C, DET (Toe) - Kept out of the lineup Wednesday, after sustaining a sore big toe Tuesday.
Josh Reddick, OF, OAK (Wrist) - Sustained a sprained right wrist in Wednesday's game, after which an MRI was performed on the region.
Hector Sanchez, C, SF (Forearm) - Feels fine and has nary a bruise, after taking a fastball to his arm Tuesday.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF (Back) - Expected to return to the lineup Thursday, as an MRI on his back revealed no structural issues.
Seth Smith, OF, OAK (Eye) - Sat out both Tuesday and Wednesday due to an eye concern.
Jose Tabata, OF, PIT (Knee) - Enduring tendinitis in his left knee, which kept him out of the lineup Wednesday.
Mike Trout, OF, LAA (Hamstring) - Questionable to play Friday, after missing his third outing in a row Wednesday due to hamstring tightness.
Justin Upton, OF, ATL (Back) - Held out of a third consecutive game Wednesday due to a left upper back strain.
Rob Wooten, P, MIL (Personal) - Slated to rejoin the team Friday in Cincinnati, after landing on the paternity list Wednesday.

Players on the DL
Wilson Betemit, 3B, BAL (Knee) - Transferring his rehab assignment Thursday to Triple-A Norfolk.
Clay Buchholz, P, BOS (Shoulder) - May make a rehab start as early as Sunday at short-season Lowell.
Lorenzo Cain, OF, KC (Oblique) - His oblique injury is feeling better, but he does not expect to be activated from the disabled list when first eligible Saturday.
Johnny Cueto, P, CIN (Back) - Felt no lingering issues Wednesday while playing catch from 60-75 feet.
Frank Francisco, P, NYM (Elbow) - Tossed an inning Wednesday in a rehab outing with the Gulf Coast League Mets.
Jason Grilli, P, PIT (Forearm) - Threw off a slope Tuesday, with a bullpen session on the docket either Thursday or Friday.
Roy Halladay, P, PHI (Shoulder) - Joining Double-A Reading on Sunday for his next rehab start.
Jeremy Hefner, P, NYM (Elbow) - Receiving a second opinion Monday on the partial tear of the MCL and bone spurs in his right elbow.
Jeremy Horst, P, PHI (Elbow) - Visited a doctor Tuesday and may start a throwing program in the near future.
John Jaso, C, OAK (Concussion) - Able to hit off a tee Wednesday, marking his first baseball activity in weeks.
Derek Jeter, SS, NYY (Calf) - Logging five innings at shortstop Thursday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Matt Kemp, OF, LAD (Ankle) - Making decent turns on his left ankle sprain, but a return in September is the "best-case scenario."
Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAA (Knee) - Doubtful to be activated from the 15-day disabled list this coming weekend.
Corey Kluber, P, CLE (Finger) - Resuming throwing program Friday, after playing catch from 90 feet with protective tape on his finger Wednesday.
Cameron Maybin, OF, SD (Knee) - Will be held out of any baseball activities for the next two weeks.
Matt Moore, P, TB (Elbow) - Tossed another successful bullpen session Wednesday for a second day in a row, which consisted of 69 pitches.
Angel Pagan, 3B, SF (Hamstring) - In line to transfer his rehab assignment to Triple-A Fresno on Friday.
Bobby Parnell, P, NYM (Neck) - Has yet to be cleared for baseball activities, while surgery remains an option for the herniated disc in his neck.
Felipe Paulino, P, KC (Elbow) - Gave up two runs on two hits and four walks, while posting six strikeouts in 3.2 innings, during his third rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Omaha.
Jonathan Pettibone, P, PHI (Arm) - Suffered a setback during his recovery from a tight right arm.
Joe Savery, P, PHI (Elbow) - Slated to begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week.
Michael Stutes, P, PHI (Biceps) - Started throwing bullpen sessions recently, as he recovers from biceps tendinitis.
Nick Tepesch, P, TEX (Elbow) - Set to throw live batting practice Saturday, which could spur a rehab assignment.
Luis Valbuena, 3B, CHC (Oblique) - Took grounders prior to Wednesday's outing and is expected to start a rehab assignment soon.

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

Activated from the DL
Ross Ohlendorf, P, WAS

Placed on the DL (15-day DL unless otherwise noted)
Jose Bautista, OF, TOR
Robert Coello, P, LAA (Transferred to 60-day DL)
Joe Mauer, C, MIN (7-day DL)
Wandy Rodriguez, P, PIT (Transferred to 60-day DL)
Rob Wooten, P, MIL (Paternity list)

Called Up (from Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Jose Alvarez, P, DET
Billy Buckner, P, LAA (Contract selected)
Chris Colabello, OF, MIN
Donovan Hand, P, MIL
Felix Pie, OF, PIT (Contract selected)
Moises Sierra, OF, TOR

Sent Down (to Triple-A, unless otherwise noted)
Preston Claiborne, P, NYY
Phil Coke, P, DET
Collin Cowgill, OF, LAA
Ian Krol, P, WAS
Michael Martinez, OF, PHI
Ryan Reid, P, PIT
Thad Weber, P, TOR

Signed
Roger Bernadina, OF, PHI
Brendan Harris, SS, TEX

Assigned
Daryl Thompson, P, NYM (To Triple-A Las Vegas)

Closer Watch

Colorado - In three appearances since his return to the role of closer in Colorado, Rafael Betancourt has been utilized in a pair of high-leverage situations, with mixed results. While his first two outings back in the fold were crisp, including his first successful save since July 14 on Tuesday, Wednesday's game included numerous bumps in the road en route to a blown save, just his second of the year. Entering the bottom of the ninth inning and the Rockies holding a 3-2 advantage, a leadoff double and a groundout off the 38-year-old righty suddenly placed the tying run at third base, with a subsequent double knotting the game up. After an intentional walk, a single drove home the winning run, as he suffered his first strife following a month-long stay on the disabled list due to an emergency appendectomy. Despite the underwhelming frame, manager Walt Weiss intends to stick with Betancourt as his primary fireman for the foreseeable future.

Jedd Gyorko, 2B, SD - One of the favorites for National League Rookie of the Year after the first two months of the season, Gyorko headed to the disabled list on June 10 with a mere tight groin. As he drew closer to activation, a setback occurred, thus extending his rehab assignment to the brink of the All-Star break. By finishing July with a dreadful .100/.118/.100 line, he was suddenly off the radar in most league formats. However, slowly but surely, he has emerged in a 13-game stretch entering Wednesday's action, during which he hit a confident .286 (14-for-49) with five long balls, nine RBI, and six runs scored, thereby flashing back to April and May. Despite positional scarcity, Gyorko is readily available in many free-agent pools, but the "No Vacancy" sign will soon be flashing next to his name across the land.

Other Recent Recommendations:Khris Davis, Dillon Gee, Brandon Belt, Travis d'Arnaud

$300 Weekly Draftstreet Freerolls

Draftstreet will be running weekly freerolls for Rotowire fans throughout the entire MLB season. This free contest will be Pick 'em style drafting. The way Pick 'Em leagues work is you have eight tiers of players and each tier will have players to choose from. All you have to do is select one player from each tier. There's absolutely nothing to lose and it takes five minutes to build a team.

CLICK HERE to sign up now!

Oh, and don't forget to take advantage of DraftStreet's 30% deposit bonus (up to $150). Simply enter the code ROTOWIRE in the Promo Code box when making your first deposit.

CLICK HERE to sign up for free and join the $300 Freeroll on DraftStreet.com.

DraftStreet Lineup

SP - Andy Pettitte, NYY ($8,855)
C - Russell Martin, PIT ($5,327)
1B - Garrett Jones, PIT ($5,911)
2B - Darwin Barney, CHC ($4,717)
SS - Didi Gregorius, ARI ($4,997)
3B - Mike Moustakas, KC ($4,455)
OF - Avisail Garcia, CWS ($5,997)

Register for a free account at DraftStreet.com and start playing daily fantasy sports games today!