Tigers' slugger Miguel Cabrera has been struggling with an ankle injury. (Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE)
Baltimore: IF Wilson Betemit took batting practice with the Orioles, and he is expected to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday. Betemit, out since Aug. 11 with a right wrist injury, is likely to return when rosters expand this weekend. … Newly acquired LHP Joe Saunders and LHP Zach Britton are expected to start Wednesday and Thursday against the White Sox, though manager Buck Showalter hadn’t settled on the order. The Orioles will have to make a roster move before activating Saunders on Tuesday.
Boston: DH David Ortiz, who played just one game in his return from the disabled list, went back on the DL after experiencing renewed discomfort in his right heel. He expects to return before the end of the season. The Red Sox recalled OF Ryan Kalish from Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.). … RH reliever Pedro Beato, who won Sunday’s game, was optioned to Pawtucket. The move cleared a spot for the return of RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, who had been out since July 3 due to a strained right trapezius muscle.
Chicago: RHP Gavin Floyd, who left his Sunday start after two innings due to right elbow discomfort, was scheduled to be examined by team doctors. Manager Robin Ventura expects Floyd to miss at least his next start, with RHP Philip Humber and LHP Hector Santiago under consideration to replace him. … CF Alejandro De Aza has begun doing baseball activities as he recovers from bruised ribs. He is likely to play some rehab games before rejoining the White Sox.
Cleveland: SS Asdrubal Cabrera, hitless in his last nine at bats and in a 3-for-27 slide, was out of the starting lineup. “He’s been banged up some and looks a little tired to me. He needs a day off,” manager Manny Acta said. … 2B Jason Kipnis had three hits and three steals Sunday, the first Cleveland player to pull off that feat since Coco Crisp vs. Atlanta on June 20, 2004. Kipnis led the Indians with 26 steals through the weekend. “I think he can be a 20 to 30 guy in stolen bases every year,” Acta said.
Detroit: Manager Jim Leyland said he would use 3B Miguel Cabrera as the designated hitter Tuesday if he had to, but that he preferred to get him back on the field because of how it affects the lineup. Cabrera sat out Sunday due to a right ankle sprain, and the team was off Monday. … RHP Doug Fister’s right groin muscle strain is getting better, and a decision on whether he can start Saturday against the White Sox will be made later in the week. If Fister isn’t ready, LHP Drew Smyly would sub for him for a second time.
Kansas City: The Royals made a change of right-handed relievers, recalling Vin Mazzaro from Omaha (Papillion, Neb.) and optioning Jeremy Jeffress to the Class AAA club. In eight games with Kansas City, Jeffress allowed no earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. Mazzaro made 13 appearances for Omaha since his mid-July demotion, going 0-1 with five saves and a 1.56 ERA. … LHP Bruce Chen, who is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Tigers, sustained what appeared to be a right ankle injury in the outfield before the game. He was on the ground for several minutes before walking off without much trouble.
Los Angeles: 1B Albert Pujols is expected back in the starting lineup Tuesday. He has missed four games with a calf injury he sustained while running the bases Wednesday at Fenway Park. … OF Mike Trout went 1-for-13 in the three-game weekend series against the Tigers, but he scored his 100th run of the season Sunday. OF Devon White holds the club’s rookie runs record, having scored 103 runs in 159 games in 1987. Trout has played 105 games this year.
Minnesota: Having appealed his six-game suspension, LHP Scott Diamond plans to start tonight against the Mariners. Diamond was penalized by Major League Baseball for throwing behind Rangers OF Josh Hamilton on Thursday, prompting his ejection in the third inning. … RHP Cole De Vries threw 98 pitches Sunday despite a first-inning rain delay that lasted 86 minutes. “He said, ‘I’m ready to go. I can do this,'” manager Ron Gardenhire said. De Vries allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings to get the win against Texas.
New York: 1B/OF Steve Pearce was acquired from the Astros in a cash deal. Pearce, who began the season in the Yankees’ organization, batted .254 with three homers and 22 RBI in a combined 49 games for the Orioles and Astros this year. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the team liked Pearce because he’s had success against left-handers. … RHP Ivan Nova (right shoulder inflammation) said he feels he could resume throwing Tuesday, with a doctor’s approval. Nova, out since Aug. 22, hopes to be back in two weeks. … LH reliever Pedro Feliciano (torn left shoulder capsule) was moved to Class AA Trenton (N.J.), and he could make an appearance with the Yankees in September, Girardi said. “If he can help us, I’m sure we’ll bring Pedro Feliciano up,” the manager said.
Oakland: LH reliever Travis Blackley will start Wednesday at Cleveland. It is likely to be a one-start assignment for Blackley, with RHP Dan Straily eligible to return from the minors Thursday and RHP A.J. Griffin (shoulder) likely to return from a rehab assignment Saturday. … LHP Dallas Braden’s exploratory surgery on Aug. 21 resulted in a rotator cuff repair, according to A’s trainer Nick Paparesta. Braden incurred the tear while trying to come back from May 2001 shoulder capsule surgery. There is no timetable yet for Braden’s return.
Seattle: CF Franklin Gutierrez was activated after spending eight weeks on the disabled list due to concussion symptoms. He hit .333 (8-for-24) in seven rehab games with Class AAA Tacoma (Wash.). OF Casper Wells, who batted .114 (5-for-44) in his past 12 games, was optioned to Tacoma. … RH reliever Stephen Pryor got credit for an appearance Sunday without throwing a pitch. He was officially announced in the seventh inning as the replacement for LH reliever Lucas Luetge, but the game was delayed, then eventually stopped before he could face a batter.
Tampa Bay: IF Sean Rodriguez, who was sent down to Class AAA Durham (N.C.) last week, broke his right hand when he punched a locker following Sunday’s game. He would have been in line for a September recall, but now his season is in jeopardy. … With Sunday’s off day, the Rays weighed moving up LHP Matt Moore in the rotation and giving RHP Alex Cobb a couple of extra days off. Instead, they decided to keep the pitchers in order, with Cobb starting Wednesday at Texas and Moore starting Thursday at Toronto.
Texas: IF Luis Hernandez, who went 0-for-2 in two games with the Rangers, was designated for assignment. The move cleared a roster spot for the return of IF/DH Michael Young from paternity leave. Hernandez had hit .262 in 124 games for Class AAA Round Rock (Texas) this season. … RHP Scott Feldman has lost four consecutive starts, but manager Ron Washington has no intention of removing him from the rotation. Feldman had won his previous six decisions after losing each of his first six starts of the season.
Toronto: RF Jose Bautista, who went back on the disabled list after aggravating his left wrist injury last weekend, was scheduled to see a hand specialist in Cleveland on Monday. Bautista had just returned Friday from a DL stint that began July 17, but he said he felt discomfort and opted for caution. … RH reliever Jason Frasor, who has not pitched since July 16 due to forearm tightness, threw a bullpen session Monday. Manager John Farrell said Frasor could begin a rehab stint this weekend.
