National League notebook -- May 31, 2012
Arizona: RH closer J.J. Putz did not pitch in a save situation Wednesday because of a stiff neck, manager Kirk Gibson said. After receiving treatment, Putz tested the injury with some throws in the bullpen but could not get loose. ... SS Willie Bloomquist was back in the lineup Wednesday after missing Tuesday's game because of leg soreness. Bloomquist has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, raising his average 61 points to .273.
Atlanta: RHP Randall Delgado will be available in the bullpen this weekend. If manager Fredi Gonzalez has to use him, then his scheduled start Tuesday will be skipped. The Braves have another off day on Monday. ... C David Ross' sore groin is healing well, but he still can't run. As a result, C J.C. Boscan will remain on the roster through the weekend series.
Chicago: RH reliever Shawn Camp, a spring training pickup by the Cubs after the Mariners released him, is second on the team in appearances (24) behind LH reliever James Russell (25). Camp is 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA. "Camp's been probably our MVP up to this point," manager Dale Sveum said. ... SS Starlin Castro has hit safely in six straight games and has a .346 average with two homers and seven RBI since he was moved from third to second in the batting order on May 25.
Cincinnati: LH reliever Bill Bray tweeted that he's making good progress in his rehab from groin and back injuries. Bray expects to throw off the mound in a matter of days. ... LH reliever Sean Marshall has not allowed a run since he was taken out of the closer role. He retired the only batter he faced Wednesday.
Colorado: SS Troy Tulowitzki (left groin) was placed on the disabled list, and IF Chris Nelson (left wrist) was activated from the DL. Tulowitzki was injured running out a groundball Wednesday. Trainer Keith Dugger said Tulowitzki was better when he was examined Thursday but was still weak and guarded in his movement. ... Manager Jim Tracy said he expects LHP Josh Outman to be able to throw 45-50 pitches tonight when he makes his first start for the Rockies, taking the place of LHP Jamie Moyer, who was designated for assignment Wednesday. Outman began the year on the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his right side and has made eight relief appearances, none longer than one inning.
Houston: Manager Brad Mills touted 2B Jose Altuve and SS Jed Lowrie as All-Star candidates. "If you look into how consistent those two guys who have been this whole first half, they need to have some consideration," Mills said. "There's absolutely no doubt." ... RH reliever Brandon Lyon had a 0.78 career ERA at Coors Field through Wednesday, easily the lowest ERA of any pitcher who has worked at least 20 innings at Coors. Second is Phillies RH reliever Jose Contreras at 1.66. "I kind of approach it the same I would any other game: Try to make good pitches and not make any mistakes," Lyon said.
Los Angeles: CF Matt Kemp was placed on the disabled list after an MRI confirmed that he has another left hamstring strain, and 2B-OF Alex Castellanos was recalled from Class AAA Albuquerque, where he hit .379 with 10 doubles, four triples and five home runs in 22 games. Kemp, who was on the DL for much of May because of the same injury, had played in only one full game in his return before he was reinjured. ... 2B-OF Elian Herrera made his second start in center field in place of Kemp. Herrera, 27, has started 12 of 16 games since he was recalled from Albuquerque. ... C A.J. Ellis, whose .430 on-base percentage through Wednesday ranked third in the National League, batted second Thursday. It was the first time he had batted higher than fifth in a major league lineup.
Miami: SS Jose Reyes takes an 11-game hitting streak into tonight's game and is 10-for-26 (.385) with two home runs against Phillies starter Kyle Hendrick. Reyes has 16 career hitting streaks of at least 10 games. ... OF Chris Coghlan has started nine of the last 11 games and has hit only .152 in that span, but manager Ozzie Guillen said his defense has been huge. "Little by little he contributes to win some games," Guillen said.
Milwaukee: OF Nyjer Morgan went into Thursday having gone 135 plate appearances without an RBI, a major league record to start a season. The previous mark was held by the Chicago White Sox's Herb Adams, who went 125 plate appearances without an RBI to begin the 1950 season. ... RHP Yovani Gallardo made his sixth consecutive quality start Wednesday, allowing three runs in six innings. It was the first time Gallardo has beaten the Dodgers in six starts.
New York: RHP Chris Young (shoulder) pitched six shutout innings in a rehab start for Class AAA Buffalo, allowing two hits and three walks. Young, who probably will pitch at least one more game at Buffalo, threw 87 pitches. ... C Josh Thole (concussion) started behind the plate for Buffalo and singled in his third at-bat. Thole, who has been on the disabled list since May 8, could return to the Mets today.
Philadelphia: RHP Vance Worley (elbow) is scheduled to throw his second side bullpen session in four days today. If he responds well, he probably will rejoin the rotation as soon as Monday, replacing injured RHP Roy Halladay. ... C Carlos Ruiz already has eight home runs in 45 games this season. He hit a career-high nine homers in 107 games in 2009.
Pittsburgh: OF Nate McLouth, who had been designated for assignment, was placed on release waivers. He'll be unconditionally released if he clears waivers. ... RHP Kevin Correia, the Pirates' starter tonight, has lost five consecutive decisions but is not in danger of coming out of the rotation. If anything, his 4.30 ERA highlights how effective he has been at keeping the team in games. The Pirates have yet to offer more than two runs of support in any of his first nine starts.
St. Louis: 2B-OF Skip Schumaker was expected to be placed on the disabled list after straining his right hamstring Wednesday. He's likely to be replaced on the roster by 1B-OF Allen Craig, who has been on the DL because of a left hamstring strain. ... LHP Jaime Garcia, sent home to be examined for left elbow tenderness, got a clean bill of health and is scheduled to start Tuesday. He originally was supposed to start tonight.
San Diego: LF Carlos Quentin went 7-for-12 with three doubles, three home runs and six RBI in his first three games after coming off the disabled list. But the man hitting ahead of him, 1B Yonder Alonso, followed a 10-game hitting streak by going 0-for-13 with four strikeouts. ... RH reliever Andrew Cashner has been scored upon in three of his last four outings, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings. Cashner's ERA has soared from 2.75 to 3.86.
San Francisco: RHP Tim Lincecum on Wednesday pitched more than five innings and yielded two or fewer runs for just the second time in 11 starts this season. But he still lost when Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt homered off him for the fourth time in 13 career at-bats, and the Giants fell to 2-9 in Lincecum's starts. ... RH reliever Sergio Romo is shelved with a partially dislocated right knee, an injury confirmed in an MRI. The club says he's day-to-day, but he wasn't a bullpen option the last three games. He was hurt while stretching during Monday's game.
Washington: RH reliever Henry Rodriguez was unavailable Wednesday because he accidentally shut a door on his right index finger. Manager Davey Johnson said he hopes Rodriguez can pitch again tonight. ... RF Bryce Harper's nine-game hitting streak ended Wednesday, but he still has a .359 average (14-for-39) in his last 10 games.