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Published: April 30, 2008
Smoltz on DL with sore shoulder; Lowell is back in Red Sox's lineup
■ Pitcher John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves went on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with an ailing right shoulder, although the Braves were told he can get over the problem without surgery.
Smoltz was examined in Birmingham, Ala., by Dr. James Andrews, who diagnosed a severely inflamed biceps tendon and inflammation of the rotator cuff in the right shoulder. Smoltz, 40, went on the DL retroactive to Monday.
Andrews injected Smoltz's shoulder for the inflammation and prescribed rest and rehabilitation until he is pain free, the team said. The Braves aren't sure when Smoltz will return.
■ Third baseman Mike Lowell of the Red Sox was in the lineup for Boston's game against the Toronto Blue Jays last night after being activated from the 15-day disabled list.
Lowell, last year's World Series MVP, sprained his left thumb making a diving play against Detroit on April 9. He was slated to bat sixth.
Lowell, one of the keys to Boston's AL East title last season, hit .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs. Before the injury, he was batting just .200 with no homers or RBIs.
Lowell, who batted fifth for most of last season, was moved down in the order because of Kevin Youkilis' strong start.
■ Ryan Garko, the Indians' slumping first baseman, was benched last night against Seattle in an effort to get Cleveland's sagging offense in gear.
Garko, in an 0-for-23 slump that sent his average plummeting to .227, was only part of the shuffle. Casey Blake moved to first base from third, where Andy Marte got the start. Designated hitter Travis Hafner remained in the lineup despite a 7-for-47 (.149) slide.
Hafner has appeared tentative at the plate, hitting just .219 with three homers and a team-high 26 strikeouts. This comes after a 2007 season in which his average tumbled 41 points to .267 and his homers dropped from 42 to 24.
■ The Baltimore Orioles expanded their pitching staff to 13 players yesterday, recalling Garrett Olson and Rob McCrory from Class AAA Norfolk after a stretch in which the team played four games in three days.
Olson started last night's game against Tampa Bay and McCrory was sent to the bullpen. To make room on the roster, the Orioles optioned infielder Brandon Fahey to Norfolk and designated right-hander Greg Aquino for assignment.
Baltimore needed additional arms after a four-day stretch against the Chicago White Sox that included a rainout, a day-night doubleheader and an 11-inning game Monday that was suspended by rain.
Olson was 1-1 with a 1.85 ERA in four starts with Norfolk and 1-3 with a 7.79 ERA in seven career major league starts, all of which came last year. McCrory, 0-2 with a 1.80 ERA with the Tides, got a shot in the big leagues for the first time.
■ For Moises Alou, the oft-injured Mets left fielder, this was a medical report he didn't mind hearing.
Alou, on the 15-day disabled list since March 23 after hernia surgery, rolled his left ankle last week, but an MRI exam on Monday showed nothing but "a little swelling" and the results came back "clean."
Alou certainly looked ready. He was in his Mets workout clothes and at his locker in the New York clubhouse for the first time this season.
Alou, on the DL for the 16th time in his 19-year career -- he missed two full seasons because of injuries -- has been participating in the Mets' extended spring training in Florida, including a game for Class A St. Lucie. He said he batted third every inning and said that he'll be ready to play every day even if his stamina isn't quite there yet.
■ Scott Kazmir is expected to make his season debut for Tampa Bay on Sunday after missing more than a month with an elbow injury.
Kazmir made his third rehabilitation start Monday, pitching for Class AAA Durham against Richmond. Kazmir, a left-hander, one run and three hits in five innings, striking out three and walking one.
Rays manager Joe Maddon has until the end of the week to decide whom to drop from the 25-man roster to make room for Kazmir, who went 13-9 in 34 games last year. The three most likely candidates to be optioned are Jason Hammel, Edwin Jackson or Andy Sonnanstine.
Maddon also must make a decision soon on reliever Al Reyes (right shoulder soreness), who is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday.
■ The Kansas City Royals released Hideo Nomo yesterday, probably ending the Japanese right-hander's big league career.
The Royals designated Nomo for assignment on April 20, then requested unconditional release waivers five days later.
Nomo, 39, had an 18.69 ERA in three relief appearances, allowing nine runs and 10 hits, including three home runs, in 4 1/3 innings. Nomo had not pitched in the majors since 2005 before attempting a comeback this year with the Royals.
Nomo's 123 victories in the majors are the most by a Japanese pitcher.
■ The Phillies activated center fielder Shane Victorino from the disabled list before last night's game against the San Diego Padres.
Outfielder T.J. Bohn was sent to Class AAA Lehigh Valley to make room for Victorino, who was sidelined by a calf strain since April 12. Jayson Werth has filled in for Victorino.
Victorino missed significant time with a similar injury last year. He was hitting just .234 in 47 at-bats this season and wasn't in the starting lineup against the Padres.
The Phillies are still without Jimmy Rollins, the reigning NL MVP, who is on the disabled list with an ankle injury.
■ Third baseman Hank Blalock of the Texas Rangers went on the 15-day disabled list yesterday because of a slight tear in his left hamstring.
The move was retroactive to Saturday, a day after Blalock was injured against Minnesota. He's hitting .299 with three home runs and seven RBIs.
Texas also designated first baseman Jason Botts for assignment. Botts, a 27-year-old switch-hitter, made the opening-day roster for the first time in nine professional seasons but was batting .158 in 15 games, including nine starts.
The Rangers have 10 days to trade, release or send Botts outright to the minor leagues.
Texas filled the roster spots by recalling outfielder Brandon Boggs from Oklahoma and purchasing the contract of first baseman Chris Shelton from the Class AAA farm team. Boggs hit .309 in 18 games, and Shelton was hitting .354 with three home runs and 18 RBIs.
■ Ray King, a left-handed reliever, decided to become a free agent yesterday when the Washington Nationals removed him from their 40-man roster and attempted to send him outright to Class AAA Columbus.
King, 34, made his last appearance for Washington last Wednesday, when he allowed two runs in two-thirds of an inning in a 7-2 loss to the New York Mets. That left King with a 5.68 ERA this season, with no decisions in 12 appearances covering 6 1/3 innings.
King first reached the majors in 1999 with the Chicago Cubs.
■ Alex Rodriguez was out of the Yankees' starting lineup last night against Detroit, and New York waited for another opinion on Jorge Posada's injured throwing shoulder.
Rodriguez, slowed by a strained right quadriceps, was removed for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of Monday night's 5-2 win at Cleveland. Rodriguez said he felt a "pull" while running the bases.
Rodriguez, a three-time AL MVP, missed three games last week after injuring the leg, then returned for the four-game series at the Indians.
Posada, placed on the disabled list Monday for the first time in his career, was examined by orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Alabama. Girardi said the scans from those tests were being sent to Cincinnati Reds team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek, a shoulder specialist.
Chris Stewart made his first start behind the plate for New York against the Tigers, one day after being called up from the minors.
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