National League team-by-team notebook -- Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Arizona: RHP Josh Collmenter (bleeding ulcer) threw four shutout innings for the D-backs' rookie Arizona League team Tuesday and seems ready to be activated when rosters expand Saturday. "No issues," he said. ... Manager Kirk Gibson said he recently swore off tobacco and caffeine and feels better, but then the D-backs went 2-8 on their just completed homestand. "Maybe I should start doing it again. We had a better record when I did it," he said.
Atlanta: IF/OF Martin Prado was in the lineup at first base, giving 1B Freddie Freeman the day off. It's the fifth different position Prado has started at on this road trip. Manager Fredi Gonzalez wanted another right-handed bat in the lineup, so he had OF Reed Johnson starting in left. ... RHP Kris Medlen picked off two baserunners while pitching eight shutout innings Tuesday. "I think it's just the anxiety in me. I can't hold still," he said.
Chicago: 1B Anthony Rizzo did not start because he was 4-for-18 on the homestand and hadn't homered since Aug. 5. "It's just a combination," manager Dale Sveum said. "He's not feeling right at the plate. It's snowballing a little bit now, so you just want to kind of stop that from snowballing even further." ... 3B Josh Vitters, hitting .093 through Tuesday, was not in the lineup for the second straight game. "Some people take on a little more than they can bite off sometimes, and right now he's got a lot going on at the plate and defensively," Sveum said.
Cincinnati: GM Walt Jocketty told the Cincinnati Enquirer that minor league stolen base sensation Billy Hamilton probably will not be called up to the majors in September. But Jocketty that team officials haven't reached a final decision. ... RH reliever Nick Masset (shoulder) has been shut down and probably won't pitch again this year. "We're treating the symptoms," head trainer Paul Lessard said. "He has some generalized soreness. It's not one specific spot."
Colorado: 1B Jordan Pacheco hit fourth for the first time in his career and other than leadoff has batted in all eight positions in the lineup this season. He has batted second 15 times, third (6), fifth (8), sixth (39), seventh (18) and eighth (4). ... LHP Drew Pomeranz has gone nine straight starts without a victory since his only win of the season, July 6 at Washington. In those nine starts, Pomeranz is 0-5 with a 7.28 ERA and has allowed 46 hits and 12 walks in 38 1/3 innings.
Houston: RHP Bud Norris left his start Tuesday because of a blister on his right middle finger after giving up one run in 6 2/3 innings. "It's going to be OK," Norris said. "I've just got to manage it; it's something I've done." ... SS Jed Lowrie said he expects to play again this season despite still being in a leg brace six weeks after a collision at second base resulted in knee, ankle and nerve damage. "I think I'll get at least two or three weeks in assuming everything goes well," he said.
Los Angeles: CF Matt Kemp was held out of the lineup one day after he bruised his right knee crashing into the wall at Coors Field. An MRI of Kemp's knee revealed a bone bruise and X-rays of his jaw showed nothing broken. He told reporters he hopes to be in the lineup tonight. ... LH reliever Scott Elbert was placed on the disabled list because of a sore left elbow, the same injury that shelved him for three weeks earlier in August, and RH reliever Shawn Tolleson was recalled from high-A Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.). Tolleson faced four batters, couldn't get an out and gave up four runs Wednesday.
Miami: LF Logan Morrison is scheduled to have a second surgery Sept. 5 on his right patella tendon and should be ready for spring training. He had surgery on the same knee in December but said the knee was never right. ... Marlins Park survived its first tropical storm with no damage. The retractable roof was manually tied down as a precaution, and the $515 million facility held up well in 40 mph winds from Tropical Storm Isaac.
Milwaukee: IF Jeff Bianchi on Tuesday hit his first career home run, a three-run shot, on a 3-0 pitch. "He had the green light, but I didn't think he would swing," manager Ron Roenicke said. "Most young players won't spring on 3-0, but I'm glad he did." ... RHP Yovani Gallardo won his sixth consecutive start Tuesday and his second straight against the Cubs. Gallardo (14-8) also turned in his 22nd quality start, most in the league.
New York: RHP Matt Harvey will be shut down before the end of the season, manager Terry Collins said. Harvey entered Wednesday's play with 146 innings split between two levels after throwing 135 2/3 in the minors last season. ... C Kelly Shoppach started behind the plate for the second straight night against a right-handed pitcher. When the Mets acquired Shoppach from the Red Sox earlier this month, they originally hinted at a catching platoon with Josh Thole. But Collins said he would like to evaluate Shoppach more thoroughly by seeing what he can do against right-handed pitching.
Philadelphia: LHP Cole Hamels was scratched from his start because of a stomach virus, RHP Tyler Cloyd was called up from Class AAA Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Pa.) to make his major league debut and RHP Vance Worley (elbow) was placed on the disabled list. Cloyd is a combined 15-1 with a 2.26 ERA in Class AA (four starts) and AAA (22 starts) this season. ... 2B Chase Utley is taking groundballs at third base after asking GM Ruben Amaro Jr. whether a move to that position might be worth considering, the Philadelphia Daily News reported. "I thought it could be an option in the future," Utley said.
Pittsburgh: RHP Jeff Karstens was cleared to make his start Friday. Karstens had been questionable after leaving his previous outing Saturday because of a strained right groin muscle. ... 2B Neil Walker (back spasms) was not in the lineup for a third straight game. Manager Clint Hurdle said Walker was making progress, but there is no timetable for his return.
St. Louis: C Yadier Molina was not in the lineup because of a severe headache and strains to his upper back, left shoulder and neck, the result of being plowed into Tuesday by Pittsburgh 2B Josh Harrison. But Molina, after two rounds of tests, did not have concussion symptoms and hoped to play in a day or two. Molina called Harrison's contact with him a "clean play." ... C Bryan Anderson and RH reliever Trevor Rosenthal were recalled from Class AAA Memphis, and RH reliever Brandon Dickson and IF Ryan Jackson were sent down.
San Diego: The Padres' new ownership group completed its $800 million purchase of the team from John Moores. Ron Fowler will act as the control person under the new regime along with Peter O'Malley's sons, Kevin and Brian O'Malley, and his nephews, Peter and Tom Seidler. Tom Garfinkel was named president and chief executive officer, and Josh Byrnes will stay on as executive vice president and general manager. ... LH reliever Tommy Layne struck out both Braves he faced Tuesday, which meant he had retired 22 of his first 24 major league hitters, allowing one hit and one walk with 12 strikeouts.
San Francisco: RH reliever Clay Hensley (right groin) was placed on the disabled list to make room on the roster for LH reliever Jeremy Affeldt, who came off paternity leave. Manager Bruce Bochy said the injury is the reason behind Hensley's 14.29 ERA since Aug. 3. ... 3B Pablo Sandoval and SS Brandon Crawford combined for a circus catch of a foul popup Tuesday -- Sandoval batted the ball in the air twice with his glove and Crawford caught it the second time. "It looked harder than it was," Crawford said.
Washington: RHP Stephen Strasburg stayed late after Tuesday's loss to speak with catcher Kurt Suzuki and pitching coach Steve McCatty. Strasburg was concerned with the two stolen bases he allowed in the 9-0 loss against Miami and wanted to talk strategy with Suzuki. ... LH reliever Sean Burnett had retired 41 of his first 58 batters faced through Tuesday and had 27 holds, good for second in the NL behind the Pirates' Jason Grilli. His ERA was 2.01.
