MLB roundup: Angels' Weaver sidelined; Rays' Neimann shelved
Two starting pitchers received some bad news on Tuesday
First, Los Angeles Angels' right-hander Jered Weaver was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a non-displaced fracture of his left elbow and is expected to miss at least one month.
Weaver left Sunday's game against the Rangers after landing on his left arm trying to dodge a line drive. The team said he twisted his elbow and left arm.
Weaver had been diagnosed with an elbow strain. The Angels confirmed he has a non-displaced left radial head fracture (elbow).
Weaver (0-1) gave up five runs on seven hits and four walks against Texas. The leadoff batter in the sixth, Mitch Moreland, hit a line drive that Weaver dodged, but the pitcher fell on his left arm and injured his elbow.
Right-handed pitcher Dane De La Rosa was added to the 25-man roster from Triple-A Salt Lake, and the Angels transferred LHP Andrew Taylor from the 15-day DL to the 60-day list (left shoulder labrum tear).
Another starter, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann discovered he is scheduled to have shoulder surgery this week that may end his season.
Niemann visited Texas Rangers team physician Keith Meister on Monday for a second opinion, and then decided on surgery to repair his labrum and rotator cuff rather than resting his right shoulder.
Rays trainer Ron Porterfield told the Tampa Tribune that the surgery will "more than likely" end Niemann's season.
Niemann, 30, struggled with injuries in 2012 as well. He went 2-3 with a 3.08 ERA in eight starts, but broke his leg in May. He returned Sept. 1, but left that game with shoulder problems.
--Pitcher Roy Oswalt chose an odd time to mention that he'd welcome a return to Philadelphia.
The free-agent posted on Twitter Monday that he'd "love to come back to Philly," after former teammate Roy Halladay finished a poor outing against the New York Mets.
Oswalt, 35, posted a 5.80 ERA in 17 appearances with the Texas Rangers last season. Halladay isn't the only pitcher struggling in Philadelphia. Ace Cole Hamels has a 10.97 ERA after two starts, and has allowed four home runs in 10 2/3 innings.
--Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke spent Tuesday morning at a Chicago-area hospital with back pain. He told WTMJ-AM radio that he couldn't sleep, so he phoned team doctors.
"My back's been bothering me a little bit," he told the radio station. "Everything's fine. It's just the back. Once in a while, my back gets a little squirrely."
He said he planned to be on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.
Also, the Brewers purchased the contract of Blake Lalli from Triple-A Nashville. The first baseman/catcher will replace injured pitcher Chris Narveson on the roster and provide help off the bench.
---Cleveland Indians backup catcher Lou Marson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a neck strain, and catcher Yan Gomes was recalled from Triple-A Columbus.
The Indians also selected the contract of catcher Omir Santos from Triple-A and added him to the Major League roster.
