YANKEES: Joba Chamberlain breezed through 35 pitches while facing batters in a simulated game, saying he’s ready to rejoin the Yankees for the stretch run. On the disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis, Chamberlain said he threw all of his pitches. The 22-year-old right-hander, who was moved from the bullpen to the rotation earlier this year, said he doesn’t know when he’ll be activated but plans to return to relief duty.
“Wherever they need me,” he said. “We’re going to see how it reacts, and the way it has been is good. Hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to get in there soon.”
ATHLETICS: Oakland designated hitter Frank Thomas was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right quadriceps. Thomas was in uniform and scheduled to bat fourth against the Minnesota Twins before the team made the surprise announcement less than two hours before the start of the game. This is the second time Thomas has been on the DL this season. The 40-year-old slugger, who is tied with Willie McCovey and Ted Williams for 17th place with 521 career home runs, missed 55 games with tendinitis in his right quad from May 28-July 30.
ORIOLES: Baltimore third baseman Melvin Mora is expected to be sidelined about a week with a strained left hamstring. Mora left Friday’s game against Tampa Bay in the third after he was hurt trying to beat out a ground ball . Mora is hitting .393 with 12 homers and 49 RBIs since the All-Star break.
PHILLIES: Veteran Matt Stairs joined Philadelphia eager to fill whatever role needed as the defending NL East champs try to make a push back to the playoffs. Stairs was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade that wrapped up Saturday. The Blue Jays will receive a player to be named later.
“They (Toronto) were headed in a different direction,” Stairs said. “I can understand that. It’s tough leaving Toronto, being Canadian and playing for a Canadian team. But when they told me I was going to Philly I was like… ‘nice.’ Going to a ballpark where I enjoy playing in.”
With Geoff Jenkins on the disabled list with a strained hip flexor, the Phillies needed a left-handed bat. Stairs had been designated for assignment by Toronto on Thursday.
MARLINS: Struggling Florida closer Kevin Gregg says he’s taking a break to rest a sore left knee that has bothered him the past three or four weeks. The ailment wasn’t previously disclosed, and it helps explain why Gregg is 0-4 in his past seven outings with an ERA of 16.20. In his absence, manager Fredi Gonzalez said he’ll use Matt Lindstrom or Joe Nelson as the closer. Lindstrom, touted as the Marlins’ closer of the future, has no career saves. Nelson’s most recent save was in 2006. Gregg is expected to be sidelined only a few days.
REDS: Cincinnati recalled right-hander Ramon Ramirez from Class AAA Louisville to get the start against the San Francisco Giants in his major league debut. Infielder Adam Rosales was optioned to Louisville for the second time in two weeks. Ramirez, 25, was a combined 6-8 with a 3.59 ERA and one save in 30 games, including 24 starts, with Louisville and Class AA Chattanooga this season.
Associated Press
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