MLB roundup: Rodriguez cleared to begin rehap
The New York Yankees announced Monday that they cleared third baseman Alex Rodriguez to begin a rehab assignment.
Rodriguez is scheduled to start and play at least three innings for Class A Charleston, S.C., on Tuesday night.
Rodriguez, who has not played this season because of offseason hip surgery, has been working out at the team's spring training facility in Tampa, Fla.
Rodriguez and the team had a disagreement last week over his progress. Rodriguez tweeted that his doctor cleared him to play, which led to an angry reaction from general manager Brian Cashman since the team had not given him approval. The two sides then talked it out.
---The Washington Nationals activated outfielder Bryce Harper from the 15-day disabled list..
To make room for Harper, the club optioned right-handed reliever pitcher Erik Davis to Class AAA Syracuse.
Harper was in the Nationals starting lineup against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. Harper missed 31 games with left knee bursitis.
---The Arizona Diamondbacks placed pitcher Trevor Cahill on the disabled list because of a hip contusion that he originally suffered two weeks ago.
Cahill was injured when he was hit by a he was hit by a line drive in a start against the Miami Marlins on June 19. He made his next two scheduled starts, losing both.
---Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who has been on the disabled list since June 6 because of a forearm strain, has received a platelet-rich plasma injection, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Having the injection means Rodriguez will be out for at least three more weeks for rest, more treatment and rehabilitation.
---Edwin Encarnacion was scratched from the Toronto Blue Jays' lineup before Monday's game against the Detroit Tigers because of tightness in his left hamstring.
Encarnacion has been dealing with the hamstring issue for the last few days, manager John Gibbons told the Toronto Star, limiting him to duties as the designated hitter.
He is batting .270 with 23 home runs and 66 runs batted in this year.
---Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays took ground balls at third base before Monday night's game at Houston, but was out of the lineup for a third consecutive game because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
---Ace right-hander Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers told ESPN Radio that he believes he has identified a problem in his delivery that has made him a little less effective this season.
The 30-year-old Verlander has an 8-5 record with a 3.77 earned-run average and 114 strikeouts, but has not been as dominating as he was in the previous two seasons.
Verlander said that by comparing video from starts this season to what he did in the last two years, he was able to spot a problem with the shoulder angle in his delivery.
---Right-hander Kyle Kendrick of the Philadelphia Phillies has been diagnosed with a mild concussion after he was hit on the back of the helmet by a pitch during the sixth inning of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
The Phillies did not say on Monday if Kendrick's next start is in jeopardy.
---Lance Berkman of the Texas Rangers, who has been out since twisting his right knee when he slipped down a staircase on Thursday night, said he doesn't think he will need to go on the disabled list.
Berkman, who did not play over the weekend against the Cincinnati Reds, told ESPNDallas.com that he has been dealing with soreness in the knee, which has required surgery four times, all season.
