American League team-by-team notebook -- Sunday, August 19, 2012

Baltimore: After allowing five first-inning runs Sunday, LHP Wei-Yen Chen settled down and threw five shutout innings. He earned the victory, improving to 12-7 ... C Matt Wieters had Sunday off, with C Taylor Teagarden starting behind the plate. Wieters homered Friday and was 2-for-7 entering Sunday amid a 4-for-23 stretch.

Boston: LF Carl Crawford will reportedly heed the advice of the team's medical staff in treating the torn ligament in his left elbow. The Red Sox scheduled a meeting for today to discuss whether or not Crawford will undergo Tommy John surgery. ... The Boston Herald reported RHP Daniel Bard will be recalled from Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.) when rosters expand in September.

Chicago: CF Alejandro De Aza (strained back) missed his second consecutive game Sunday. The injury was sustained Friday when he slid into second base and felt soreness in his back. ... DH/1B Adam Dunn hit his 400th career homer Saturday with a blast that traveled 428 feet. He became the 50th major-leaguer to reach the 400-homer milestone. Dunn and Paul Konerko -- who reached 400 in April -- are the first two teammates to do so in the same season.

Cleveland: 2B Jason Kipnis led the Indians in home runs for much of the first half of the season. His 11th and most recent home run this season came on June 17. Since then he is hitting .207 (35-for-169). ... RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, who is scheduled to start tonight in Seattle, has made 35 starts for the Indians since being traded to Cleveland a year ago in July. He is 13-16 with a 5.45 ERA during that span.

Detroit: RHP Anibal Sanchez will be starting on eight days rest Wednesday against Toronto, giving him a chance to work out the problems that have led to a 1-3 record and 7.97 ERA since coming from Miami. "I'm the guy who thinks everything happens for a reason," Sanchez said. "And I'm just going to use it as that." ... Detroit faces an Aug. 24 deadline to activate RH reliever Al Alburquerque, keep him on the DL or option him to the minors. He's been on the 60-day disabled list since this spring. He reported tenderness in his surgically repaired right elbow Saturday.

Kansas City: RHP Jeremy Guthrie's 22-inning scoreless inning streak ended in the eighth Sunday when the White Sox scored two unearned runs. Guthrie did not allow a hit until Paul Konerko's infield single with two out in the seventh. He finished the victory with a no-decision. ... 2B Chris Getz underwent season-ending surgery Saturday to place two pins in his left thumb, which he fractured Friday while fouling off a bunt.

Los Angeles: Including Sunday's start, RHP Zack Greinke has given up four runs in each of his past four appearances. It is the longest streak of allowing four or more runs in his career. ... LH reliever Scott Downs (sore shoulder) and RH reliever Jordan Walden (biceps) returned from the DL. To make room, RH reliever Steven Getlz and LH reliever Hisanori Takahashi were option to Class AAA Salt Lake (Salt Lake City).

Minnesota: CF Denard Span (bruised collar bone) missed his sixth consecutive game Sunday, but assistant general manager Rob Antony doesn't plan to put him on the 15-day DL. "You don't want to throw him on the DL and have him out for a guaranteed two weeks if he can be ready in a day or two," Antony said. ... Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder visited with Twins players and coaches on the field and in the clubhouse prior to Saturday's game. He signed baseballs, took photos and exchanged memorabilia with players and declared the Twins his American League team, second to his hometown Chicago Cubs.

New York: LHP CC Sabathia (elbow) had a successful bullpen session on Saturday and is scheduled to throw his next session Tuesday. Sabathia, who was placed on the disabled list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 8, remains on track to rejoin the rotation Friday against Cleveland. ... 1B Mark Teixeira (wrist) was out of the lineup for the third straight game Sunday due to a wrist injury. Teixeira is considered day-to-day, but manager Joe Girardi has not ruled out the possibility of a trip to the disabled list.

Oakland: RHP Bartolo Colon earned his 10th victory Saturday, the most since he won 21 for the Angels in 2005 when he won the AL Cy Young award. Colon, 36, is the third Oakland pitcher to record double-digit victories over the age of 35, joining Don Sutton and Tom Candiotti, both of whom were 40 years old. ... OF Yoenis Cespedes has homered in two of his last four games, and his .377 average since the All-Star break entering Sunday was the majors' second best, trailing only Buster Posey's .439. Cespedes' homer Thursday ended a string of 54 at-bats and 14 games without an extra-base hit.

Seattle: OF Franklin Gutierrez (concussion) played five innings for Class AAA Tacoma (Wash.) on Saturday night, going 0-for-2 in his first rehab game. He was in the Tacoma lineup Sunday as the DH. ... RH reliever Charlie Furbush (strained left triceps) made his first appearance in more than a month when he pitched 2/3 inning Saturday. Furbush has been one of Seattle's most effective pitchers this season with a 2.13 ERA and 47 strikeouts.

Tampa Bay: LH reliever J.P. Howell set the team record for consecutive scoreless innings Friday and extended it to 24 2/3 Saturday, a shining example of how far he has come back from his May 2010 shoulder surgery. "I've come a long way and, man, it's just been cool," Howell said. ... DH Luke Scott (mild oblique strain) is set to come off the DL today or Tuesday. He has been out since June 21.

Texas: DH Michael Young broke a career-long 88-game, 349 at-bat homerless droughts with a three-run home run in the fifth inning Sunday. Young also had five RBI, his most since April 25, 2010. Young is 6-for-17 with a pair of walks since getting a day off Wednesday. ... RH closer Joe Nathan set a Rangers franchise record by converting his 22nd consecutive save opportunity Saturday. Nathan surpassed a mark set by Francisco Cordero in 2004. Nathan's personal best was 27 in a row in 2004.

Toronto: C Yorvit Torrealba will join the team Tuesday after completing his four-game stint with Class AA (Manchester) New Hampshire on Sunday. Torrealba had not played in the majors since July 27 before being released by the Texas Rangers. He will share the catching with C Jeff Mathis while C J.P. Arencibia (fractured hand) is out. ... 2B Adeiny Hechavarria made his first major-league start Sunday in place of left-handed hitting 2B Kelly Johnson against LHP Matt Harrison.