Pitching matchup: RHP Craig Heyer (2-4, 5.63) vs. LHP Luke French (2-1, 2.31)

In the standings: First-place Trenton leads the Eastern Division by five games over Reading. New Britain is two games back of the R-Phils for the wild card.

NEW BRITAIN
Aaron Hicks - CF
Chris Herrmann - C
Oswaldo Arcia - RF
Chris Colabello - 1B
Josmil Pinto - DH
Deibinson Romero - 3B
Rene Tosoni - LF
Nate Hanson - 2B
James Beresford - SS
Luke French - LHP

TRENTON
Adonis Garcia - CF
J.R. Murphy - C
David Adams - 3B
Zoilo Almonte - DH
Luke Murton - 1B
Addison Maruszak - SS
Kevin Mahoney - 2B
Rob Segedin - LF
Shane Brown - RF
Craig Heyer - RHP

Notes: The Thunder are planning a major announcement for Thursday at 1:30 at Waterfront Park. At the press conference -- which will be attended by Thunder GM Will Smith, Thunder President Joe Finley, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, Yankees COO Lonn Trost and Yankees GM Brian Cashman -- the two clubs will announce their extension of Trenton's Player Development Contract with the Yankees, which currently runs through 2014. 

It's not Alex Rodriguez or Andy Pettitte (again), but the Thunder have received left-hander Pedro Feliciano from High-A Tampa and will keep him through the duration of their final homestand, which runs through Thursday. The Yankees signed Feliciano before the 2011 season, but shoulder troubles have kept him on the sidelines for the duration of his contract. 

Feliciano is a MLB rehab, which means the team will not have to make a move to get him on the roster. To clear space on the Yankees' 40-man roster, however, former Thunder hero and Eastern League MVP and Rookie of the Year Brandon Laird was designated for assignment. 

With the Scranton Roaming Gnomes (note: not actually their name) this year, Laird was .254/.307/.414 with 31 doubles, 15 homers and 77 RBIs. He'll be missed by Scranton as it marches toward the International League playoffs.