Brandon McCarthy is expected to rejoin the Oakland rotation on Friday when the A's take on the White Sox. (Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE)
Baltimore: UT Ryan Flaherty was placed on the disabled list due to a bacterial infection, the team announced. MASNsports.com reported that he has tonsillitis. The Orioles called up RH reliever Miguel Socolovich from Class AAA Norfolk (Va.), where he had a 1.90 ERA in 28 games. … RHP Steve Johnson was recalled from Norfolk to start the series finale against Seattle. LHP Zach Britton was optioned to Class AAA after allowing seven runs (four earned) in five-plus innings Tuesday, leaving him 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA.
Boston: RH reliever Vicente Padilla went on the disabled list due to a strained right biceps. The Red Sox recalled RH reliever Clayton Mortensen from Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.), and he was charged with a ninth-inning run, giving him the loss against Texas. … After his Tuesday loss to the Rangers, LHP Jon Lester is 0-5 with a 7.49 ERA in his past seven starts. “I can’t keep talking about being frustrated and all this stuff,” Lester said. “It’s like beating a dead horse.”
Chicago: The White Sox are off Thursday, so they could have given their injured players an extended rest, but 3B Kevin Youkilis and CF Alejandro De Aza were back in the starting lineup for the series finale against the Royals. Youkilis missed one game due to a sore right knee, and De Aza sat out two games because of a stiff back. … Two other starters were missing from Wednesday’s lineup. RF Alex Rios and 1B Paul Konerko were both out with minor back ailments.
Cleveland: DH Travis Hafner, who has missed four of the past five games due to a sore back, underwent an MRI exam. “We’ll get the results back and then we’ll have some decisions to make,” manager Manny Acta said. … RH reliever Vinnie Pestano, on the Indians’ 11-game losing streak that ended Wednesday: “It was like a disease or a virus. It was tough to kick, but we finally did.”
Detroit: RH reliever Joaquin Benoit was passed over for eighth-inning duty Tuesday, not due to the two homers he served up Sunday but because manager Jim Leyland said Benoit had a little soreness in his right shoulder. “He went through this last year. He’ll be fine,” Leyland said. … RHP Justin Verlander threw 132 pitches Monday, matching his regular-season career high, but Leyland wasn’t concerned. “I think Justin Verlander could throw 140 pitches in a game and it wouldn’t bother him one bit,” the manager said.
Kansas City: IF Tony Abreu was in the starting lineup for the third consecutive game at a third position since his promotion Monday from Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Neb.). Abreu started at second base Wednesday after playing third base Monday and shortstop Tuesday. … LHP Bruce Chen heeded manager Ned Yost’s advice about establishing his fastball, and he allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings Tuesday while beating the White Sox. In his previous seven starts, Chen was 0-3 with an 8.73 ERA.
Los Angeles: RH reliever Jordan Walden threw in the bullpen before the game, and he might begin a rehab assignment with Class AAA Salt Lake (Salt Lake City) as soon as Friday. He could be back with the Angels early next week. Walden has not pitched since the All-Star break due to a biceps strain and a loss of arm strength caused by a neck issue. … With his home run Tuesday (on his 21st birthday), OF Mike Trout became the youngest player in history to have a 20-homer/30-steal season. Astros OF Cesar Cedeno (1972) is the only other player to do it before his 22nd birthday.
Minnesota: RF Ben Revere went 0-for-4, ending his 21-game hitting streak, which was the longest by a Twin since Torii Hunter hit in 23 consecutive games in 2007. Revere hit .378 (34-for-90) with 13 RBI and nine stolen bases during his streak. … RHP Carl Pavano made his first game appearance since June 1, throwing two innings Tuesday for high-A Fort Myers (Fla.). He gave up one run on two hits. Pavano, sidelined due to a right shoulder strain, is expected to make multiple starts on his rehab assignment.
New York: CF Curtis Granderson’s stint as the leadoff man lasted five games, during which he went 2-for-20 with a .217 on-base percentage. He batted sixth Wednesday, with SS Derek Jeter leading off. … 3B Alex Rodriguez visited the University of Michigan’s athletic facilities. “He’s a real nice guy,” former Wolverines basketball captain Zack Novak wrote on Twitter. Rodriguez, sidelined due to a broken left hand, told reporters he’s on pace to rejoin the Yankees in early September.
Oakland: RHP Brandon McCarthy, who worked six scoreless innings Saturday in his second rehab start for Class AAA Sacramento (West Sacramento, Calif.), threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday. He is on track to start Friday against the White Sox. McCarthy has been out since June 20 with a right shoulder strain. … Yoenis Cespedes took grounders at shortstop Tuesday during batting practice, strictly for fun, and he showed off a sensational arm. He has alternated between left field, center field and designated hitter during his rookie season.
Seattle: Manager Eric Wedge was ejected from a game Tuesday for the first time this year, disputing an out/safe call at first base in the 14th inning. The Mariners argued that 1B Mike Carp’s foot never left the bag, but umpire Brian Knight disagreed, calling Baltimore 2B Omar Quintanilla safe. … Entering play Wednesday, the Mariners were hitting .269 in their last 12 games, during which they were 8-4. Seattle’s season average was .233, which ranked 28th in the majors.
Tampa Bay: RHP Jeff Niemann, sidelined since mid-May due to a broken right leg, began a scheduled four-start rehab assignment by pitching 2 2/3 innings Wednesday for high-A Charlotte (Port Charlotte, Fla.). He allowed one run on three hits and a walk, and he struck out three. … DH Luke Scott reported no troubles with his strained side muscle after taking batting practice. He might hit once more in the batting cage before beginning a rehab assignment.
Texas: C Yorvit Torrealba, designated for assignment last week after the Rangers acquired C Geovany Soto, was placed on release waivers. Torrealba, 34, hit .236 with three homers and 12 RBI in 49 games this season. … C Mike Napoli sat out the series finale in Boston due to a sore left quadriceps. With Soto starting behind the plate Tuesday and Wednesday and the team off Thursday, manager Ron Washington was able to give Napoli a three-day breather.
Toronto: 3B Brett Lawrie was out of the lineup for the fourth game in a row because of a sore rib cage. He threw a baseball before the game and said he felt better, but no timetable has been set for his return. … RF Jose Bautista was scheduled to have a second MRI on his left wrist, which was injured during a swing of the bat July 16. “He is still complaining of some soreness in one small area,” manager John Farrell said.
