American League notebook -- Monday, June 11, 2012
Baltimore: The Orioles have won all 24 games they've led after eight innings. RH closer Jim Johnson is 18-for-19 in save chances, and he won the lone game in which he blew a lead. ... IF Steve Tolleson hit a three-run homer Sunday off Phillies LHP Cliff Lee, but it's possible he could be the odd man out when 2B Brian Roberts (concussion) returns from the disabled list Tuesday. Tolleson is hitting .237 with two homers and six RBI in 12 games since his May 9 promotion from Class AAA Norfolk (Va.).
Boston: LH reliever Rich Hill was told by orthopedist James Andrews that he'll be sidelined for a month due to a strained flexor muscle in his left elbow, according to manager Bobby Valentine. Hill had joined the Red Sox in late April, 10 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He went back on the disabled list Sunday. ... OF Cody Ross has resumed running and taking batting practice, and he could begin a brief minor league rehab assignment this week. Ross has been out since May 19 due to a fractured left foot.
Chicago: 3B Brent Morel was scheduled to see a spine specialist in Chicago on Monday, and he was making plans to see another specialist in Los Angeles, where the team goes for interleague play later this week. Morel had to pull himself from his rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte (Fort Mill, S.C.) on Thursday when his sore back acted up. ... Manager Robin Ventura plans to use Adam Dunn in left field over Dayan Viciedo when the team plays interleague road games without the designated hitter. "He just seems like he's on base all the time," Ventura said of Dunn.
Cleveland: SS Asdrubal Cabrera has had a career-high hitting streak hurt his batting average. He has hit in 12 consecutive games, equaling his career high set in 2009, but his average has gone from .300 to .296 during the streak. The reason: He has collected just one hit in 10 of the 12 games, and two hits in the other two games. He is 14-for-49 (.286) during the streak. ... RH closer Chris Perez blew a save on opening day, but since then has converted 20 consecutive save opportunities, the third-longest streak in franchise history. He leads the majors with 20 saves.
Detroit: LHP Casey Crosby will be in the bullpen for a couple of days for use in case of an emergency. The rookie won't start Wednesday when it's his day because the Tigers are choosing to keep their other starters pitching in turn. Manager Jim Leyland wants RHP Justin Verlander to start Thursday on his normal day. Crosby is scheduled to start Friday when Detroit comes home to face Colorado. ... RH reliever Octavio Dotel, out since June 2 with a tender right elbow, hopes to be available to pitch Tuesday at Wrigley Field. "That's what we're shooting for," Leyland said.
Kansas City: 2B Chris Getz, sidelined since May 22 due to a bruised left ribcage, could be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. Through four rehab games with Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Neb.), Getz was hitting .375 after going 0-for-5 Sunday and stranding eight baserunners. .. Since coming off the disabled list May 12 after missing 18 games with a ribcage injury, RH reliever Greg Holland has permitted one run in 12 2/3 innings in 14 appearances for a 0.71 ERA, striking out 16. Opponents are hitting .105 (4-for-38) off him in that span.
Los Angeles: The Angels have reached contract agreements with four of their first five draft picks, including their top pick, RH reliever R.J. Alvarez, a third-round choice from Florida Atlantic. According to MLB.com, Alvarez received a slot-value bonus of $416,300. The Angels did not have a first- or second-round pick. ... Despite not being promoted from the minors until April 27, OF Mike Trout leads the Angels with 33 runs in 39 games. If he keeps scoring at the same pace, he'd finish with 118 runs, which would break the club rookie record of 103 set by Devon White in 1987. The overall record is 124, set by Vladimir Guerrero in 2004.
Minnesota: The Twins and their first-round draft choice, OF Byron Buxton, were close to reaching a contract agreement, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune and MLB.com. The recommended slot bonus for the No. 2 overall pick is $6.2 million. Buxton, 18, hit .513 for Appling County (Ga.) High School this season. ... RHP Jose Berrios, the 32nd overall draft pick, agreed to a $1.55 million signing bonus, according to a St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press report. The deal is pending a physical but is in line with the recommended bonus, according to the newspaper. The Twins plan to use the 18-year-old Puerto Rican as a starter.
New York: RH reliever David Robertson threw a scoreless inning Sunday in his first rehab appearance for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Moosic, Pa.). He is due to pitch for the same team Tuesday, and he could rejoin the Yankees this weekend in Washington, ESPNNewYork.com reported. Robertson has been out since May 12 due to a strained left side muscle. ... LHP Andy Pettitte's left hand was bruised and swollen after he made a barehanded stop in the sixth inning Sunday. Pettitte left at the end of the inning, but he expects to be ready to start Saturday against the Nationals.
Oakland: OF Yoenis Cespedes has reached base in each of his past six plate appearances; the Oakland record is seven, done seven times. However, he has missed the past three games due to a left hamstring strain. The A's are 19-16 with Cespedes in the lineup, 7-19 without him. ... OF Manny Ramirez was hitting .255 (13-for-51) with two doubles, no homers and 10 RBI in 14 games for Class AAA Sacramento (West Sacramento, Calif.) through Sunday. It remains unclear when or if the A's will call up Ramirez.
Seattle: RHP Kevin Millwood's status for his next start should become clear Tuesday. Millwood's spot in the rotation would come up Thursday against the Padres at Safeco Field, but he came out of his Friday start with a mild right groin strain. Because of an off day Monday, the rotation could be juggled to give him a few extra days between starts. ... RHP Felix Hernandez said he was ready to go for his start Tuesday against the Padres. Hernandez experienced back pain after his June 1 outing, and he hasn't started since. He has been able to throw without pain in the bullpen, however.
Tampa Bay: The Rays' series with the Mets will mark a reunion for the managers. Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon and New York's Terry Collins go way back, with Maddon having served as Collins' bench coach in Anaheim from 1997-99. "He's got a great baseball mind, he's a good friend of mine, and I'm really happy he's doing so well," Maddon said. ... Maddon on 22-year-old rookie LHP Matt Moore, who is 3-5 with a 4.59 ERA through 12 starts: "There's definitely room to grow. The finished product is probably two to three years down the road, at least. But for right now, I'll take it."
Texas: RHP Alexi Ogando underwent an MRI on his strained right groin, and a decision could be made Tuesday whether he will go on the disabled list. Ogando was hurt Sunday while making a spot start in place of injured LHP Derek Holland. He was hurt legging out a bunt single in the fourth inning after throwing three perfect innings at San Francisco. ... RHP Roy Oswalt will make his third minor league start Tuesday for Class AA Frisco (Texas) vs. Midland (Texas) instead of with Class AAA Round Rock (Texas) at Albuquerque. Oswalt allowed five runs in six innings over two starts for Round Rock.
Toronto: Class AAA Las Vegas DH Vladimir Guerrero is day-to-day after being hit on the left hand by a pitch during Saturday's game. The 37-year-old veteran was hitting .214 with a .233 on-base percentage, two doubles, no homers and two RBI in seven games for Las Vegas through the weekend. He signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays last month. ... 3B Brett Lawrie ended an 0-for-17 skid when he hit an RBI single in the fifth inning Sunday. Lawrie has batted leadoff each of the past six games, and he's gone 6-for-26 (.231) with a .333 on-base percentage in that span.
