MINNESOTA: Manager Ron Gardenhire wouldn't go as far as to say that rotation spots are in jeopardy, but Gardenhire did say that his top starters need to start establishing themselves in the three-game series in Texas. RHPs Brad Radke, Carlos Silva and Kyle Lohse all have ERAs higher than 7.00, and if they continue to falter, LHP Francisco Liriano is an option to move into the rotation. Gardenhire said Liriano, who led all minor leaguers in strikeouts last season, has ``electric stuff.'' ... While the starters struggle, Twins relievers have been sharp, posting a 2.86 ERA over an eight-game span entering Monday night. The bullpen has posted a strikeouts-to-walks ratio of 3-to-1.5, tops in the AL.
TEXAS: Rookie 2B Ian Kinsler is getting closer to a minor league rehab assignment. Kinsler, on the 15-day DL since April 12 due to a dislocated left thumb, went 2-for-3 as a DH in a simulated game on Monday at the team's minor league complex outside Phoenix. He is scheduled to play second base in another simulated game on Tuesday. ... RHP Frank Francisco will throw two innings on Tuesday in his comeback from ligament transplant surgery in his right elbow. If all goes well, he could begin a rehab assignment later this week. ... 1B Mark Teixeira announced the establishment of the Mark Teixeira Charitable Fund, which will provide $5,000 college scholarships for six area high school students.
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LOS ANGELES: Injured Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon threw long toss on Sunday and felt much better, manager Mike Scioscia said. Colon has been on the DL since April 19 because of inflammation in his shoulder. He will throw another long toss on Tuesday. ``If he comes out of the next test OK we certainly could see him on the mound in five or six days,'' said Scioscia, who added he's still a long way from returning to the majors. ``It's one thing to be feeling good. It's another to be ready for the challenges of facing major league hitters. He's got work to do.''
TORONTO: Asked about the status of injured RHP A.J. Burnett, Toronto manager John Gibbons said: ``Who?'' Burnett hasn't picked up a baseball since leaving his start on April 21 with a sore right elbow. Gibbons said he anticipated Burnett will begin throwing long toss soon. Burnett, who signed a $55 million, five-year deal with Toronto in the offseason after spending seven years with the Florida Marlins, began the season on the DL with the same injury. Burnett has said he's going to take all the time he needs to get his injured elbow right. General manager J.P. Ricciardi has said the injury is more in his head. ... Gibbons said C Gregg Zaun won't need to go on the DL because of his sore calf. Zaun hasn't played since Wednesday, but Gibbons hopes to start him on Tuesday.
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CLEVELAND: RHP Rafael Betancourt is scheduled to throw a 40-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday in Cleveland. The next step will be a simulated game. He was put on the DL with a back injury. ... Now that LHP C.C. Sabathia has returned from the DL, manager Eric Wedge is hoping to separate right-handers Jason Johnson and Jake Westbrook in the rotation. They were not pitching back-to-back early in the year before Sabathia went out. ``We've got an off day coming up. We're going to look at everything. We've got it mapped out,'' Wedge said. ``At some point in time we are, I'm just not exactly sure when. I think it's more important to separate the sinkerballers than the left-handers.''
KANSAS CITY: Owner David Glass declined to say what changes he is contemplating in his front-office staff. Glass said last week that he planned major changes, but did not specify what. ... RHP Joe Mays, 0-4 with a 10.27 ERA, was designated for assignment and RHP Denny Bautista was reinstated from the 15-day DL. Mays has declined to accept a minor league assignment. ``We were hoping he would accept his assignment here,'' manager Buddy Bell said. ``But he felt like it was best to go somewhere else.'' ... CF David DeJesus, who's been out since April 19 with a left hamstring strain, has developed a problem with his right hamstring. He was in Arizona on Monday getting an MRI. ``I don't even know if his left's all right, to be honest with you,'' Bell said.
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TAMPA BAY: RHP Tyler Walker is making a strong case to be the Devil Rays' closer. Manager Joe Maddon has not named a closer this season, but has been impressed with Walker, who was acquired in a trade with San Francisco on April 28. Walker saved both of Tampa Bay's wins in Oakland last weekend. ``He's really done a nice job at the end of the game. We're looking to get that role established and he's on his way to doing that,'' Maddon said. ... Struggling 1B Travis Lee was given his second straight day off on Monday. Lee has been working extensively in the batting cage to find his swing. Lee is hitting .202 and is 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position. ``He's trying, but don't forget what he's done defensively,'' Maddon said. ``Go back and measure what he's done for us defensively. This guy has absolutely saved us I don't know how many runs this year.'' ... Tuesday's starter, RHP Doug Waechter, is 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA in four career appearances against Seattle.
SEATTLE: RHP Joel Pineiro was named American League player of the week on Monday after picking up two impressive victories. Pineiro was 2-0 last week with a 1.59 ERA in victories over Minnesota and Cleveland. Against the Twins, Pineiro pitched the ninth complete game of his career in an 8-2 win. Against Cleveland, Pineiro pitched eight innings, allowing just one run and striking out six in a 4-1 victory. ``Too bad it couldn't be a team thing, team of the week or something like that,'' Pineiro said. ``Everybody deserves a little part of that.'' For the season, Pineiro is 4-2 with a 3.72 ERA. ... Manager Mike Hargrove held a meeting with his hitters before Monday's game. Hargrove said it was the third such meeting he's held this season and cautioned reading too much into it. ``It was nothing out of the ordinary,'' Hargrove said. ``We felt like it was normal course of the season maintenance.'' Seattle is 10th in the AL in hitting (.252) and 11th in runs scored (137). ... GM Bill Bavasi said he spoke with OF Matt Lawton and Lawton is fine with his current situation. Over the weekend, Lawton said he was frustrated last month and approached the Mariners offering to be released. Since then, Lawton has become part of a three-man rotation in center field and has played in four of the last eight games. Bavasi said they may reassess the situation with Lawton later.
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COLORADO: The Rockies entered the game 10-5 on the road this season and six games above .500 for the first time since Sept. 14, 2000, when they were 76-70.
ST. LOUIS: The St. Louis Cardinals reported no improvement in reliever Ricardo Rincon within the last 10 days. Rincon was placed on the DL April 28th with an injured left shoulder. He was at Busch Stadium on Monday but left before speaking to reporters prior to the start of the game. ... Monday marked the return of two former Cardinals, Rockies reliever Ray King and outfielder Eli Marrero. It is the first appearance in St. Louis for King since demanding a trade following his inactivity in the 2005 playoffs against the Houston Astros. ... Cardinals manager Tony La Russa indicated that outfielder Larry Bigbie, activated from the 15-day DL Monday, would start in one of the next two games against Colorado, his former team.
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CHICAGO: The Cubs outrighted OF Michael Restovich to Triple-A Iowa on Monday and recalled INF Ryan Theriot from Iowa. Restovich was hitting .167 in 10 games. ... Greg Maddux entered Monday night's start at San Diego with a 23-14 career mark against the Padres, and a 2.97 ERA.
SAN DIEGO: The Padres were trying Monday night for their first-ever four-game sweep of the Cubs in San Diego. ... CF Mike Cameron was back in the lineup after suffering from flulike symptoms on Sunday.
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HOUSTON: OF Chris Burke underwent an MRI exam in Houston and the Astros were pleased. He was placed on the DL Sunday with a dislocated left shoulder sustained a day earlier making a catch and crashing into the wall at Colorado. He will rejoin the team when it returns from this seven-game trip. ``I'm optimistic about it,'' manager Phil Garner said. ``He feels good.'' Said general manager Tim Purpura: ``It was a really good report. Hopefully we can get him back right around the time the disabled period ends.'' ... Closer Brad Lidge, who had pitched four straight games before taking the past two days off, was available and eager to get back on the mound. ``The worst thing in the world is to sit there during the game and not pitch,'' he said. ``I love getting out there with the game on the line. That being said, I was happy to get the two days off.'' ... Utilityman Eric Bruntlett was named to Stanford's career starting nine, celebrating the past 30 years under coach Mark Marquess. ``That's an incredible honor,'' he said. ``That's been an outstanding program ever since Marquess got there.''
SAN FRANCISCO: Slugger Barry Bonds was not in the starting lineup a night after hitting career home run No. 713 at Philadelphia to move within one of tying Babe Ruth for second place on the career list. ... LHP Jeff Fassero might have thrown his final pitch in a major league career spanning 15 seasons. He was designated for assignment Monday to make roster room for Noah Lowry, who was activated from the DL in time to start in a makeup game against the Houston Astros. ``We could have done this a week ago. I could have told you this,'' the 43-year-old Fassero said, fighting tears. ``I've been around this game long enough. ... I understand everything they've done. They've got some good young arms.'' He was 1-1 with a 7.80 ERA in 10 appearances and one start. An emotional Fassero - who received hugs and handshakes from most of his teammates including Bonds - planned to return home to Scottsdale, Ariz., and take some time off before deciding whether to retire. ... The Giants also recalled OF Dan Ortmeier from Triple-A Fresno and transferred C Justin Knoedler's option to Fresno after he had been sent to Double-A Connecticut late Sunday.
One more note from Monday that should be added concerns KC reliever Mike Wood. The Floridian picked up his third win of the season on Monday. All three wins have been in relief, leaving just five more wins for the rest of the staff, starters and relievers, to share.
He couldn't get anyone out, literally, in his first go this season, letting the Tigers knock a couple of homers and score three times in his Apr 5th outing. He's allowed just four earned runs and one long ball since then in 22.2 IP, with a 42:22 ground ball to fly ball ratio in that same span. Three times he has pitched 4+ innings in relief, and could be a candidate for the rotation before the season plays out.
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Notes from Monday's games
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