American League notebook -- Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Baltimore: RH reliever Matt Lindstrom (torn ligament in right middle finger) was activated spending after more than six weeks on the disabled list. His return gives the Orioles a 13-man pitching staff, as IF/OF Steve Tolleson was optioned to Class AAA Norfolk (Va.). Tolleson hit .220 with two homers and six RBI in 17 games with Baltimore. ... LHP Brian Matusz allowed one run in the first four innings Tuesday, then a total of four in the fifth and sixth innings, mirroring his season. He has a 3.68 ERA through the first four innings, and a 7.12 ERA from the fourth inning on.
Boston: RHP Clay Buchholz returned to the clubhouse after a bout of esophagitis that led to gastrointestinal bleeding. Buchholz spent five days at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he received three or four pints of blood along with IVs and other medications. He was released Tuesday night. There is no timetable for his return to action. ... DH David Ortiz hit his 399th career homer, moving him past Dale Murphy and into a tie with Andres Galarraga and Al Kaline for 49th all-time. Over his past 15 games, Ortiz is batting .347 (17-for-49) with four doubles, eight homers, 16 RBI and 17 runs.
Chicago: With 121 strikeouts through 75 games, DH Adam Dunn is on pace to shatter the single-season record of 223 set by Mark Reynolds in 2009. "I don't worry about those strikeouts when he's doing what he was doing a couple of weeks ago," manager Robin Ventura said. Dunn busted out of an 0-for-22 slump Wednesday by going 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI. ... 1B Paul Konerko, in a 1-for-20 slump, got the day off. "Every year there are a couple times during the year where you have a couple weeks where there is not much going on," Konerko said.
Cleveland: The Indians claimed UT Vinny Rottino off outright waivers from the Mets. Rottino, 32, hit .182 with two homers and five RBI in 18 games for the Mets. ... RHP Chris Schwinden, who was 1-2 with a 5.87 ERA in three starts for Class AAA Columbus (Ohio), was designated for assignment to make room for Rottino on the 40-man roster. Schwinden, 25, had made three appearances (two starts) for the Mets earlier this season, going 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA. He was subsequently claimed off waivers by Toronto and then Cleveland.
Detroit: RH reliever Joaquin Benoit, who hadn't allowed an earned run in his past 13 innings entering play Wednesday, got a vote from his manager to be a member of the AL All-Star team. "I think he's as good a setup guy as there is in the game," Jim Leyland said. ... If invited, 1B Prince Fielder would participate in the Home Run Derby. He isn't worried about the contest hurting his swing. "I've done it three times, and my swing has been all right," said Fielder, who won the contest in 2009.
Kansas City: LH reliever Francisley Bueno, who allowed one run in two innings over two appearances for the Royals, was optioned to Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Neb.). The move cleared a spot for the promotion of Wednesday's starter, LHP Everett Teaford, who held the Rays to two runs over five innings. ... CF Jason Bourgeois, who had been optioned to Omaha in late April, was recalled and went 1-for-2 with a walk. He batted .205 with a .262 on-base percentage in 40 Class AAA games. C Humberto Quintero, who hit .232 with one homer and 19 RBI in 43 games, was designated for assignment.
Los Angeles: RHP Jerome Williams threw approximately 50 pitches in a three-inning simulated game Tuesday afternoon and had none of the breathing difficulties that landed him on the disabled list last week. Williams is eligible to be activated July 4, and he could go on a rehab assignment before then. ... LHP C.J. Wilson has a 1.77 ERA when throwing to C John Hester, and a 2.85 ERA when throwing to other catchers. "I like to think I have a part in that, but I think that's more to do with C.J.," Hester said.
Minnesota: After allowing three runs in one inning during the loss to the White Sox, RH reliever Jeff Manship was optioned to Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.). He had a 10.97 ERA in eight appearances for the Twins. Minnesota recalled RH reliever Kyle Waldrop from Rochester, where he had no decisions, two saves and a 1.26 ERA in nine games. He opened the season on the disabled list with a strained elbow. ... LH reliever Paul Bargas, a farmhand who never got to play in the organization, died of brain cancer, the Twins announced. He was 23. Bargas was acquired in the December 2010 trade that sent C Jose Morales to the Rockies, but he fell ill soon after.
New York: LHP Andy Pettitte's lower left fibula was fractured when it was hit by a Casey Kotchman liner. The break will take at least six weeks to heal, meaning Pettitte (3-3, 3.22 ERA) is unlikely to pitch for the Yankees again for at least two months. ... LHP CC Sabathia went on the disabled list with a Grade 1 strain of his left adductor muscle near his groin. Sabathia was hurt in his Sunday start, but he didn't tell the Yankees about it until Tuesday after he threw his bullpen session and continued to experience discomfort. He is expected to be able to return right after the All-Star break. ... RHP Adam Warren, 5-5 with a 3.86 ERA for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Moosic, Pa.), will be called up Thursday. He will start Friday against the White Sox. ... LH reliever Clay Rapada has held left-handed hitters to a .148 average (8-for-54) this year. However, he allowed a hit Wednesday to Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis, snapping a streak of 19 consecutive lefty hitters he had retired.
Oakland: Kurt Suzuki, who is sharing time with rookie C Derek Norris, will keep catching LHP Tommy Milone and RHP Jarrod Parker. "We won't exclusively do it, but for the time being, if there are two guys you look at Suzuki to catch the most, it'll be those two guys," manager Bob Melvin said. ... LHP Travis Blackley pitched seven innings of two-run ball Tuesday at Seattle. He said he could have pitched the eighth inning if not for lower back stiffness, which he said isn't serious enough to keep him out of his next start.
Seattle: RHP Kevin Millwood gave up a solo homer to Oakland's Coco Crisp on the first pitch of the game, then didn't allow another baserunner. However, on the pitch he threw to Kurt Suzuki for the second out of the third inning, he felt recurrence of pain in his right groin and had to be replaced. ... LH reliever Charlie Furbush is riding a 20 1/3-inning scoreless streak that includes 15 scoreless appearances. He's allowed three hits and three walks while striking out 29 since he last allowed a run.
Tampa Bay: DH Hideki Matsui is hitting .162 (12-for-74) for the Rays, and his playing time could be cut with the pending return of DH Luke Scott (back) from the disabled list. "I'm not worried about him," manager Joe Maddon said of Matsui. "He's going to hit his stride." ... With RHP Jeremy Hellickson (shoulder) due to return from the DL on Saturday, RHP Chris Archer is likely headed back to the minors. Archer lost both of his major league starts, but he posted a 3.09 ERA.
Texas: RHP Yu Darvish is starting to look like the kind of pitcher who gives the opponent a chance early, but if the other team doesn't seize it, it is in for a long night. In his past three games, all wins, he's allowed four runs over the first two innings (six total innings) and four runs there after (17 total innings). ... GM Jon Daniels, on having five key pitchers go on the disabled list in the past five weeks: "It's a test. We tried to build as much depth as we could for the season, and that continued with promotions and signing Roy (Oswalt). At this point, we're real glad we have those guys."
Toronto: RHP Brandon Morrow, who strained a left side muscle in the first inning of his June 11 start, began playing catch this week. He is scheduled to throw every other day at the team's complex in Dunedin, Fla., but no date has been set for his return. ... RH reliever Sergio Santos remains bothered by the shoulder inflammation that put him on the disabled list April 21. His return date remains indefinite as he works out in Dunedin. "It has been frustrating for him, because as he has increased the intensity, got back to the mound, he had (a) setback," manager John Farrell said.
