American League notebook -- Sunday, July 8, 2012
Baltimore: RF Nick Markakis (left wrist surgery) homered twice Saturday in his rehab debut with Class AA Bowie (Md.). Markakis said he'd like to return Friday, but he's still working to retain the full range in his wrist. ... IF Steve Tolleson was recalled from Class AAA Norfolk (Va.) after spending the minimum 10 days in the minors. RHP Jake Arrieta, 3-9 with a 6.13 ERA in 18 starts, was optioned to Norfolk. He was 1-7 with a 7.71 ERA in his past 12 starts.
Boston: OF Carl Crawford (strained left elbow) was scheduled to play Saturday for Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.). Instead, his rehab assignment was interrupted by a mild groin strain sustained Thursday while with Class AA Portland (Maine). He won't play for at least five days, allowing the clock to be restarted on his 20-day rehab assignment, which was set to expire Thursday. ... RHP Clay Buchholz (gastrointestinal bleeding) made a rehab start Saturday for Pawtucket, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He's expected to start for Boston on Saturday at Tampa Bay.
Chicago: Manager Robin Ventura has not decided on a starter for the second-half opener Friday in Kansas City, but RHP Jake Peavy is penciled in for Saturday and LHP Chris Sale for Sunday. RHP Gavin Floyd and rookie LHP Jose Quintana are being considered for Friday. ... RHP Philip Humber, who has been on the disabled list with a right elbow flexor since June 22, said he would make a third rehab start Wednesday, this time for Class AA Birmingham (Hoover, Ala.). Humber could be back in the major league rotation July 16.
Cleveland: LH reliever Nick Hagadone has been placed on the disqualified list with a "self-inflicted" injury. He hurt his pitching hand after his outing Friday night, when he gave up two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Hagadone, who has a 10.20 ERA in his last 18 appearances, was to be examined Monday by Dr. Thomas Graham, a hand specialist. Hagadone was replaced by LH reliever Scott Barnes, who was called up from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio). ... RHP Ubaldo Jimenez matched his season high with eight strikeouts in a 7-3 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday. Jimenez is 3-3 with a 2.93 ERA since June 1.
Detroit: OF Andy Dirks, sidelined since May 31 due to right Achilles tendinitis, got out of his walking boot Friday and was cleared for light baseball activity. He was set to travel to Lakeland, Fla., for work toward a rehab assignment. Manager Jim Leyland said Dirks may return by Aug. 1, but it isn't likely. ... RH reliever Jose Ortega was optioned to Class AAA Toledo (Ohio), and the Tigers plan to bring back IF Danny Worth when play resumes following the All-Star break. Ortega got in one game during his latest big-league stint, allowing one run in 2 1/3 innings vs. the Twins on July 3.
Kansas City: C Salvador Perez had his career-best 11-game hitting streak snapped Saturday when he went 0-for-4 at Detroit, but he homered Sunday. Perez hit .425 with three homers and three doubles during the streak. ... C Adam Moore, 28, was claimed off waivers from Seattle and was optioned to Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Neb.). ... LHP Bruce Chen, RHP Luke Hochevar and RHP Luis Mendoza are the Royals' probable starters against the White Sox after the All-Star break. Hochevar's availability depends on how his sprained ankle responds to a Thursday workout.
Los Angeles: RHP Jered Weaver (10-1, 1.96 ERA) threw eight shutout innings against the Orioles on Saturday. Weaver and Sandy Koufax (1963-64) are the only pitchers since 1950 to reach the All-Star break with 10 or more wins and a sub-2.00 ERA in consecutive seasons. Weaver was 11-4 with a 1.86 ERA at the break last year. ... RH reliever Eric Hurley was optioned to Class AAA Salt Lake (Salt Lake City) after a two-day stint in which he didn't get into a game. LHP Brad Mills was called up, and he threw five shutout innings against Baltimore for the win in his major league season debut.
Minnesota: RH closer Matt Capps is scheduled to throw an inning for high-A Fort Myers (Fla.) on Monday and Wednesday. He has been out since June 24 due to right shoulder inflammation. ... LHP Francisco Liriano will start the Twins' first game after the All-Star break Friday. Since returning May 30 from an exile to the bullpen, Liriano is 3-2 with a 2.74 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings.
New York: LF/DH Andruw Jones had his best day of the season Saturday, hitting three home runs while making a pair of spectacular plays in left field during the Yankees' doubleheader split against the Red Sox. Jones had a productive second half in 2011 after struggling during the first half. "Last year it took me awhile, just like now," Jones said. "This year, hopefully it will be the same thing." ... C Russell Martin snapped his career-worst 0-for-30 streak with a second-inning double Saturday in Game 2.
Oakland: OF Collin Cowgill (left ankle sprain) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with high-A Stockton (Calif.) on Monday. However, Cowgill might not have a roster spot when he is ready to come off the disabled list because the A's have five outfielders and platoons at first base, DH, shortstop and catcher, making for a full bench. ... LHP Brett Anderson (Tommy John surgery in July 2011) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Sunday and is scheduled to throw a two-inning simulated game Wednesday in Arizona. After a rehab assignment, Anderson could be back in Oakland's rotation in the second week of August.
Seattle: C/DH Jesus Montero didn't make a start in the weekend series in Oakland after sustaining a mild concussion Wednesday when a foul ball caught him in the mask. Montero did take batting practice Sunday. ... CF Franklin Gutierrez isn't likely to start the second half of the season on the active roster. Out since being hit behind the right ear by a pickoff throw on June 28, Gutierrez probably will play a few games on a rehab assignment first.
Tampa Bay: RHP Jeremy Hellickson will pitch the second-half opener against Boston on Friday, followed by All-Star LHP David Price, RHP James Shields, RHP Alex Cobb and LHP Matt Moore. Manager Joe Maddon said he wanted to give Price and Shields some extra rest, as well as split up Hellickson and Cobb, who have similar styles. ... LF Desmond Jennings was dropped from the leadoff spot to seventh in the order for the second time in the last two weeks, and Maddon said he may keep him there for a while. Since coming off the disabled list June 5 after recovering from a left knee sprain, Jennings has hit .198 in 31 games.
Texas: Manager Ron Washington opted to move struggling DH/1B Michael Young down to sixth from the No. 5 spot. OF Nelson Cruz moved from sixth to fifth. The move paid dividends in the first game Saturday as Cruz drove in two runs with two doubles, including the game-winner in the 10th inning. ... The Rangers have set their second-half rotation: LHP Derek Holland will start the opener at Seattle and will be followed by RHP Yu Darvish and LHP Matt Harrison. The Rangers plan for RHP Roy Oswalt and RHP Colby Lewis, the latter currently on the disabled list, to start the two-game series at Oakland.
Toronto: 3B Brett Lawrie (lower back tightness) came out of Saturday's game in the sixth inning. Although he felt he could return Sunday, he didn't play. ... RHP Chris Jakubauskas signed with the Blue Jays and was assigned to Class AA (Manchester) New Hampshire. He had gone 2-3 with a 4.18 ERA in 18 games (seven starts) for Arizona's Class AAA Reno affiliate earlier this season. Jakubauskas, 33, has pitched in the majors for Seattle, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
