MLB roundup: Angels' Weaver expected back this week
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jered Weaver could be back on the mound by Wednesday or Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.
Weaver has been out since early April after suffering a fractured elbow in his non-pitching left arm but is expected to be activated from the disabled list and rejoin the Angels' rotation.
The 30-year-old pitcher worked 5 2/3 innings in an extended spring training game on Wednesday, throwing 75 pitches, and apparently showed the Angels that he's ready. No other rehab assignment is planned, the Times reported.
He will return to a team that had won seven straight games entering Sunday and moved up to third place in the American League West standings
The Angels designated Billy Buckner, who started Saturday's game, for assignment and hope to have right-hander Tommy Hanson back soon. Hanson has been out since May 4 after the death of his step-brother.
---Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz will not start Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies as scheduled because of what manager John Farrell calls an injury to the "collarbone area."
Farrell called the move precautionary and said Buchholz could start later in the week.
Alfredo Aceves will start in Buchholz's place Monday.
---Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy has been scratched from his scheduled start in Monday's first game of a day-night doubleheader against the Texas Rangers because a cut to his right index finger.
Tyler Skaggs will be called up from Triple-A Reno to replace Kennedy as the starter in Monday's first game, the Arizona Republic reported.
Kennedy hopes to make his next scheduled start on Friday. Kennedy is 2-3 with 4.70 ERA in 10 starts this season.
---The St. Louis Cardinals put left-hander John Gast on the 15-day disabled list after he left Saturday's game with shoulder tightness. They also called up right-hander Michael Blazek from the minor leagues to take his place.
The 24-year-old Gast replaced injured Jake Westbrook in the Cardinals' rotation and went 2-0 with a 5.11 ERA in three starts. Westbrook was placed on the DL with elbow inflammation in early May.
---San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Santiago Casilla is scheduled to have surgery this week to remove a cyst from his right knee.
Presuming there are no complications in the procedure, Casilla is expected to miss about a month.
---New York Yankees infielder Eduardo Nunez has suffered a setback with his rib cage injury and will be on the disabled list longer than anticipated, Newsday reported.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi told Newsday that Nunez felt something in injured area during batting practice on Saturday. He will be shut down for a few days before resuming his rehab.
---St. Louis Cardinals slugger Ryan Ludwick, who underwent April shoulder surgery, will be out longer than the three months that was originally projected, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
Ludwick said he won't resume baseball activities until July 3, so he probably won't be back until mid-August.