MLB roundup: Billingsley faces Tommy John surgery
Los Angeles Dodgers righty Chad Billingsley will have Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday and is likely out for at least a year, the team announced.
Billingsley, 28, first experienced elbow pain last July and had platelet-rich plasma injections in August and September and tried to rehab. He made two starts this season before the elbow injury resurfaced.
The right-hander joined fellow starters Zack Greinke (broken collarbone) and Chris Capuano (strained calf) on the disabled list two days ago. The Dodgers' rotation now consists of Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Josh Beckett, Ted Lilly and Stephen Fife.
---Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward is expected to miss at least five games recovering from an appendectomy. He required surgery Monday at Rose Medical Center in Denver.
Heyward, 23, is off to a slow start, batting .121 with two home runs and five RBI. Reed Johnson was expected to fill Heyward's spot in right field but could share time with Jordan Schafer.
---Closer of the future Bruce Rondon was recalled from triple-A Toledo by the Detroit Tigers, who retroactively placed Octavio Dotel on the disabled list with a strained elbow.
Dotel has experienced inflammation in his right elbow since April 20, and the Tigers made the move effective as of that date. Joaquin Benoit will continue as the primary closer until further notice, but Rondon is viewed as the best option in the ninth inning.
---The Oakland A's optioned outfielder Michael Taylor to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for the newly-acquired Casper Wells.
Taylor went 0 for 6 during his brief time with the A's.
---Left-hander Aaron Laffey is returning to Toronto after the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers from the New York Mets.
Laffey, 28, was designated for assignment by the Mets last week after he posted a 7.20 ERA in four games to start the season, giving up eight runs in 10 innings. Last year, Laffey pitched for the Blue Jays. In 16 starts and 22 appearances, he logged a 4-6 record with a 4.56 ERA in 100 2/3 innings. His career record is 25-29 with a 4.41 ERA.
