American League notebook -- Monday, June 18, 2012
Baltimore: Chris Davis had never played in the outfield in his five-year career before he started in right field each of the past four games. In interleague games at NL parks with no designated hitter available, the Orioles have used Wilson Betemit at third base, Mark Reynolds at first base and Davis in right. ... RH reliever Matt Lindstrom (torn ligament in right middle finger) began a rehab assignment by throwing a scoreless inning for the Orioles' affiliate in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He's expected to make one more GCL appearance before moving up to a higher-level affiliate.
Boston: OF Cody Ross might be activated from the disabled list before tonight's game against the Marlins. Ross has missed the past month with a fracture in his left foot. ... LF Carl Crawford said that his strained elbow ligament "still has its issues," but after another pregame throwing session Sunday from about 150 feet, he emerged optimistic that he soon would be ready to begin a rehab assignment. "I'm definitely feeling good about my chances of getting back on the field," Crawford said.
Chicago: LHP Jose Quintana, called up as a fill-in for the rotation, won't lose his job anytime soon. After pitching eight shutout innings Sunday at Dodger Stadium, Quintana is 2-1 with a 1.53 ERA in seven games (six starts). "He's pitched well against some really good teams, so it's not a fluke," manager Robin Ventura said. ... With RHP Zach Stewart making a spot start Monday, the full rotation is receiving more rest than normal. "Never hurts getting a couple of extra days, I guess," LHP Chris Sale said.
Cleveland: C Carlos Santana hit sixth in the batting order, the first time he'd been placed below No. 5 this season. He entered the game batting .154 (6-for-39) in 11 games since coming off the seven-day concussion disabled list. "He's been scuffling a little, so we wanted to take a little pressure off him," manager Manny Acta said. ... Jason Kipnis, with team-leading totals of 11 homers and 17 steals through Sunday, has a chance to become the second second baseman in Indians history to have 20 of each. Roberto Alomar did it so in 1999 and 2001.
Detroit: RHP Doug Fister will get an extra day's rest prior to his next start, which has been bumped back a day to Friday at Pittsburgh. Fister made his first start since May 28 on Saturday, pitching six shutout innings vs. Colorado. He'd been out due to a left side strain. ... C Gerald Laird has been a changed hitter since rejoining the Tigers following a one-year hiatus to win a World Series with St. Louis. A .241 career hitting entering the year, he's hitting .296 this season. "He's not swinging at the high fastball anymore. He's not trying for home runs," manager Jim Leyland said.
Kansas City: LH reliever Tommy Hottovy and RH reliever Louis Coleman were recalled from Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Neb.) to bolster a depleted bullpen. Manager Ned Yost used eight pitchers in a 15-inning victory Sunday at St. Louis. Right-hander Roman Colon was the only reliever not used, and he pitched three innings Saturday. ... 2B Chris Getz was placed on the disabled list with a lateral strain in his lower left leg. He had been back just five days after a DL stint caused by a bruised left ribcage. ... RH reliever Nate Adcock (0-3, 3.21 ERA in nine games, two starts) was optioned to Omaha.
Los Angeles: C Bobby Wilson was activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list and got the start against the Giants. C Hank Conger was optioned back to Class AAA Salt Lake (Salt Lake City) after going 3-for-13 (.231) with one RBI in five games with the Angels. ... IF Andrew Romine was recalled from Salt Lake, where he was hitting .281 with 17 stolen bases in 56 games. RH reliever David Pauley, 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in five appearances, was designated for assignment.
Minnesota: C Joe Mauer is questionable for Tuesday's game at Pittsburgh after taking a knee to the thigh Sunday in a home-plate collision with Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks. Mauer had entered Sunday's game nursing a sore hamstring, but he joked after the collision, "I really didn't feel the hamstring too bad." ... RH reliever Jeff Manship remains a candidate to start Saturday at Cincinnati, but only if the Twins don't need him for long relief in the meantime. Manship's longest outing this season was three innings Wednesday against the Phillies.
New York: RF Nick Swisher was out of the lineup for the second consecutive day with what manager Joe Girardi said was a bone bruise on his left leg. Swisher, who injured himself in Saturday's game against the Nationals, took batting practice and said he was improved but not fully healed. ... OF Brett Gardner (strained right elbow) said before the game that he could return around the All-Star break. Girardi said he liked having his players set goals for a return, but that the club would be sure not to rush Gardner back.
Oakland: RHP Bartolo Colon left his Sunday start in the third inning with a right side muscle strain after making a wild throw to first base on a bunt. He might wind up on the disabled list. ... RHP Brandon McCarthy skipped his last start to keep his problematic right shoulder healthy, but he is scheduled to start Tuesday's series opener against the Dodgers. McCarthy is 5-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his past six starts.
Seattle: Asked if he were ready to move RH reliever Brandon League back to his old closer job over RH reliever Tom Wilhelmsen, manager Eric Wedge said, "I don't think we can right now." Wilhelmsen had not allowed a run in seven June appearances (9 2/3 innings) through Sunday, going 2-0 with four saves in that span. ... LH reliever Lucas Luetge had made 25 scoreless appearances covering 16 2/3 innings through the weekend. Since 1918, the only major league pitcher to start his career with more scoreless appearances was Oakland's Brad Ziegler, who had a 29-game streak in 2008.
Tampa Bay: LHP David Price joked last week about batting against Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg and his 100 mph fastball this week. "Give me the heater, please," Price said. As it turns out, Price will be matched up Tuesday with RHP Chien-Ming Wang. "It was no letdown, that's for sure," Price said, smiling. ... The Rays are expected to call up a position player before Tuesday's series opener in Washington. RH reliever Brandon Gomes was optioned to Class AAA Durham (N.C.) after Sunday's game, with manager Joe Maddon saying the team needed another hitter for two upcoming series in NL parks.
Texas: RH reliever Neftali Feliz (sprained right elbow ligament) traveled with the Rangers to San Diego and is expected to begin a throwing program this week. Feliz is not eligible to return from the 60-day disabled list until July 18. ... RHP Roy Oswalt inched closer to a return to the majors by throwing six innings and 100 pitches Sunday for Class AAA Round Rock (Texas). It was the longest of Oswalt's four minor league starts since he signed with the Rangers. He is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA, and it's possible he could join the major league rotation Friday for a start against Colorado.
Toronto: RHP Kyle Drabek got a second opinion on his right elbow from orthopedist James Andrews, and the original diagnosis was confirmed: Drabek needs Tommy John surgery. He had the same elbow operation in 2007. Drabek finishes the season 4-7 with a 4.67 ERA in 13 starts. ... OF Ben Francisco moved his rehab assignment from high-A to Class AA last weekend, and he went 2-for-12 (.167) in his first three games for (Manchester) New Hampshire. Francisco has been out since May 21 due to a left hamstring strain.
