Pitching matchup: RHP Robert Gilliam (1-2, 5.82) vs. RHP Craig Heyer (1-1, 1.69)

In the standings: Thunder are 7-7, and 3 games back of both Reading and New Britain in the North. Harrisburg is 10-5, and lead Akron by 0.5 games in the South.

Lineups:

Thunder
Abe Almonte - RF
Ronnier Mustelier - LF
Melky Mesa - CF
Cody Johnson - DH
Luke Murton - 1B
Kevin Mahoney - 2B
Addison Maruszak - 3B
Jeff Farnham - C
Walter Ibarra - SS
Craig Heyer - RHP

Harrisburg
Eury Perez - CF
Jeff Kobernus - 2B
Jesus Valdez - LF
Tim Pahuta - 1B
Destin Hood - DH
Chris Rahl - RF
Sandy Leon - C
Stephen King - 3B
Chris McConnell - SS
Robert Gilliam - RHP

Pregame notes: No word yet as to whether Zoilo Almonte will be placed on the disabled list, but it's a pretty safe bet that he won't be in the lineup today. ... Outfielder Melky Mesa is tied for the organization lead in both home runs (4) and RBIs (11). ... Outfielder Abe Almonte and infielder Walter Ibarra were out early working on push-bunting drills. ... Defensive coordinator Torre Tyson is on the field right now, and I assume pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras is still lurking somewhere around the ballpark. ... Harrisburg's Jeff Kobernus leads the Eastern League with 24 hits.

Update - 5:59: Phew. Spoke to Melky Mesa, Christian Garcia, Tony Franklin and Nardi Contreras during pregame. That's a lot of transcribing to do. Garcia's happy to be back and healthy again, Mesa's sticking to the work he's always done, Contreras won't be seeing Charleston or Tampa in person this year, and Franklin has never seen anything like the rash of injuries his team is currently dealing with.

Oh yeah, and there's this Pettitte fellow. The Associated Press is reporting that Pettitte, who threw 5 innings against Pirates minor leaguers today, will likely make his next start here. That would occur on April 25, a 7:05 contest against Erie.

Neither Franklin nor Contreras would come anywhere near confirming it, but the AP is usually pretty darn credible (see Paterno, Joe).

Zoilo Almonte is indeed on the shelf. Yadil Mujica is here to replace him. That's seven Thunder players on the disabled list, which is absolutely astounding.