TORONTO: All-Star RHP Roy Halladay may miss his scheduled start Friday against Tampa Bay. Halladay, who was knocked out of Sunday's start against the Angels after Garret Anderson's line drive hit him on his pitching elbow, threw on the side Wednesday. "He felt OK today throwing on the side," manager John Gibbons said. "As of right now, he's a go for Friday but that could change.
We'll see how he feels tomorrow." If Halladay can't go, LHP Gustavo Chacin would probably get the start. Gibbons said Halladay would still pitch Saturday or Sunday. ..
DETROIT: Manager Jim Leyland was watching when Minnesota Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano left in the third inning of Wednesday's loss against Oakland with left elbow pain. The rookie will miss the rest of the season and may need Tommy John surgery. "We don't want to see anybody get hurt," Leyland said. "We want to be able to beat people at their best." ... RHP Joel Zumaya has tendinitis in his right wrist and will not be available until Friday. ...
NEW YORK: RHP Mariano Rivera made 25 throws on flat ground at about 90 percent and said he didn't feel any stiffness in his right elbow. "I feel good. Much better," Rivera said. "Best I've felt since I pitched." If he feels OK on Thursday, Rivera plans to throw off a mound in a bullpen session Saturday -- and he could return to action after a couple of bullpen sessions. "I wasn't worried," Rivera said. "I knew it was going to be there. And it's there." Rivera hasn't pitched since Aug. 31 because of a muscle strain near his right elbow. "You keep your fingers crossed," manager Joe Torre said, adding that New York's trainer doesn't think the problem is serious. ...
BOSTON: RHP Curt Schilling put off a throwing session Wednesday. Boston manager Terry Francona Schilling would not pitch this weekend against the New York Yankees. ... RHP Kyle Snyder (4-4, 6.54) will pitch Saturday. Schilling has missed two starts because of a strained muscle near his rib cage.
PITTSBURGH: LHP Tom Gorzelanny will come off the disabled list to start Saturday's game against the New York Mets. Gorzelanny, who has been on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis, will be given three starts the remainder of the season. Manager Jim Tracy said he will progressively add to the rookie's pitch count in each outing. "I have been going through the process, trying to get ready," Gorzelanny said. "I'm happy they decided to let me pitch." ... LHP Mike Gonzalez, who also has left elbow tendinitis, threw off a mound Wednesday and was told there was no structural damage, meaning he should be cleared to return for the last week or two of the season. "My goal is to take those last seven to nine days and take a positive into the offseason," he said. ... Tracy said he would like to get LHP Shane Youman another start this season. Youman allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings in his major-league debut Sunday.
ATLANTA: RHP John Smoltz threw a regular indoor session Wednesday and said he will be ready for his scheduled Saturday start against Florida. He had soreness in his groin while giving up six runs in two innings in an 8-3 loss to Chicago Monday. He has suffered three straight losses. .
NEW YORK: RHP Pedro Martinez won't necessarily be on a pitch count when he makes his return Friday in Pittsburgh, but the Mets don't expect to have throw more than five innings. "We'll probably watch him real close and keep it as low as we can," manager Willie Randolph said. If Martinez -- who hasn't pitched since Aug. 14 with a strained right calf -- is healthy, Randolph said he'll start Game 1 of the Mets' first playoff series.
FLORIDA: Because RHP Ricky Nolasco was summoned for a relief appearance Tuesday after starter Josh Johnson stiffened up after five innings, the Marlins may use someone else as a starter Sunday. "Subject to change," Florida manager Joe Girardi said.
SAN DIEGO: RHP Clay Hensley will start for the Padres in the series finale Thursday. In his only other start against the Reds this year, Hensley allowed four runs in 5 innings Sept. 1 in San Diego, a game that Cincinnati won 6-2.
CINCINNATI: Eric Milton, who left Tuesday night's game after five innings with stiffness in his left elbow, got a cortisone shot Wednesday, team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek said. X-rays and an enhanced MRI showed nothing serious, Kremchek said. "We'll know more by Friday," Kremchek said. Right now, Milton is expected to take his turn Sunday.
CHICAGO: Reliever Glendon Rusch was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung and will miss the rest of the season. A team trainer said the condition was not life threatening. Rusch was sent to Northwestern Memorial Hospital during Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "He is out of danger," Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said. O'Neal said the clot could have been life threatening if it not been diagnosed in time. "This was caught early and obviously we are very thankful that we didn't sit on it and that he was evaluated last night," said O'Neal. Rusch will be in the hospital for at least two days and will be on blood-thinning medication from three-to-six months. The size of the clot and where it came from is still being determined. Rusch split the season as a reliever and a starter. He was 3-8 with a 7.46 ERA on the season. His last appearance came on Sept. 4 against Pittsburgh. "This is a serious one," said Cubs manager Dusty Baker. "Right now we're concerned about his life not than his career."
SAN FRANCISCO: Closer Armando Benitez is done for the season with inflammation in his right knee. The Giants planned to place the RHP on the 60-day disabled list Thursday, after the club said Tuesday it hoped he could come back before the end of the year. To fill the roster spot, San Francisco will purchase the contract of right-hander Billy Sadler from Triple-A Fresno -- though he has been home in Florida since the Grizzlies' season ended. The Giants expect the pitcher to be in town for Thursday's afternoon game, the series finale against the Colorado Rockies. Benitez had been unable to pitch for eight straight games because of sore knees, but by making the move now to start getting him healthy the Giants hope he will be ready by spring training. "We were kind of on the fence which way to go," trainer Stan Conte said. "He won't be back this year. We're optimistic for him regaining strength and getting the knee calmed down." Veteran LHP Mike Stanton has been pitching the ninth inning in Benitez's place, converting saves in five of his last eight. "He's been invaluable," GM Brian Sabean said.
We'll see how he feels tomorrow." If Halladay can't go, LHP Gustavo Chacin would probably get the start. Gibbons said Halladay would still pitch Saturday or Sunday. ..
DETROIT: Manager Jim Leyland was watching when Minnesota Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano left in the third inning of Wednesday's loss against Oakland with left elbow pain. The rookie will miss the rest of the season and may need Tommy John surgery. "We don't want to see anybody get hurt," Leyland said. "We want to be able to beat people at their best." ... RHP Joel Zumaya has tendinitis in his right wrist and will not be available until Friday. ...
NEW YORK: RHP Mariano Rivera made 25 throws on flat ground at about 90 percent and said he didn't feel any stiffness in his right elbow. "I feel good. Much better," Rivera said. "Best I've felt since I pitched." If he feels OK on Thursday, Rivera plans to throw off a mound in a bullpen session Saturday -- and he could return to action after a couple of bullpen sessions. "I wasn't worried," Rivera said. "I knew it was going to be there. And it's there." Rivera hasn't pitched since Aug. 31 because of a muscle strain near his right elbow. "You keep your fingers crossed," manager Joe Torre said, adding that New York's trainer doesn't think the problem is serious. ...
BOSTON: RHP Curt Schilling put off a throwing session Wednesday. Boston manager Terry Francona Schilling would not pitch this weekend against the New York Yankees. ... RHP Kyle Snyder (4-4, 6.54) will pitch Saturday. Schilling has missed two starts because of a strained muscle near his rib cage.
PITTSBURGH: LHP Tom Gorzelanny will come off the disabled list to start Saturday's game against the New York Mets. Gorzelanny, who has been on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis, will be given three starts the remainder of the season. Manager Jim Tracy said he will progressively add to the rookie's pitch count in each outing. "I have been going through the process, trying to get ready," Gorzelanny said. "I'm happy they decided to let me pitch." ... LHP Mike Gonzalez, who also has left elbow tendinitis, threw off a mound Wednesday and was told there was no structural damage, meaning he should be cleared to return for the last week or two of the season. "My goal is to take those last seven to nine days and take a positive into the offseason," he said. ... Tracy said he would like to get LHP Shane Youman another start this season. Youman allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings in his major-league debut Sunday.
ATLANTA: RHP John Smoltz threw a regular indoor session Wednesday and said he will be ready for his scheduled Saturday start against Florida. He had soreness in his groin while giving up six runs in two innings in an 8-3 loss to Chicago Monday. He has suffered three straight losses. .
NEW YORK: RHP Pedro Martinez won't necessarily be on a pitch count when he makes his return Friday in Pittsburgh, but the Mets don't expect to have throw more than five innings. "We'll probably watch him real close and keep it as low as we can," manager Willie Randolph said. If Martinez -- who hasn't pitched since Aug. 14 with a strained right calf -- is healthy, Randolph said he'll start Game 1 of the Mets' first playoff series.
FLORIDA: Because RHP Ricky Nolasco was summoned for a relief appearance Tuesday after starter Josh Johnson stiffened up after five innings, the Marlins may use someone else as a starter Sunday. "Subject to change," Florida manager Joe Girardi said.
SAN DIEGO: RHP Clay Hensley will start for the Padres in the series finale Thursday. In his only other start against the Reds this year, Hensley allowed four runs in 5 innings Sept. 1 in San Diego, a game that Cincinnati won 6-2.
CINCINNATI: Eric Milton, who left Tuesday night's game after five innings with stiffness in his left elbow, got a cortisone shot Wednesday, team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek said. X-rays and an enhanced MRI showed nothing serious, Kremchek said. "We'll know more by Friday," Kremchek said. Right now, Milton is expected to take his turn Sunday.
CHICAGO: Reliever Glendon Rusch was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung and will miss the rest of the season. A team trainer said the condition was not life threatening. Rusch was sent to Northwestern Memorial Hospital during Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "He is out of danger," Cubs trainer Mark O'Neal said. O'Neal said the clot could have been life threatening if it not been diagnosed in time. "This was caught early and obviously we are very thankful that we didn't sit on it and that he was evaluated last night," said O'Neal. Rusch will be in the hospital for at least two days and will be on blood-thinning medication from three-to-six months. The size of the clot and where it came from is still being determined. Rusch split the season as a reliever and a starter. He was 3-8 with a 7.46 ERA on the season. His last appearance came on Sept. 4 against Pittsburgh. "This is a serious one," said Cubs manager Dusty Baker. "Right now we're concerned about his life not than his career."
SAN FRANCISCO: Closer Armando Benitez is done for the season with inflammation in his right knee. The Giants planned to place the RHP on the 60-day disabled list Thursday, after the club said Tuesday it hoped he could come back before the end of the year. To fill the roster spot, San Francisco will purchase the contract of right-hander Billy Sadler from Triple-A Fresno -- though he has been home in Florida since the Grizzlies' season ended. The Giants expect the pitcher to be in town for Thursday's afternoon game, the series finale against the Colorado Rockies. Benitez had been unable to pitch for eight straight games because of sore knees, but by making the move now to start getting him healthy the Giants hope he will be ready by spring training. "We were kind of on the fence which way to go," trainer Stan Conte said. "He won't be back this year. We're optimistic for him regaining strength and getting the knee calmed down." Veteran LHP Mike Stanton has been pitching the ninth inning in Benitez's place, converting saves in five of his last eight. "He's been invaluable," GM Brian Sabean said.
