RF Raul Mondesi aggravated his right hip flexor while making a catch and later left the game. Manager Joe Torre said Mondesi would not play Saturday.
Toronto manager Tosca wants to get some work for RHP Juan Acevedo, who returned to the team Wednesday after bereavement leave. Tosca is hoping to get Acevedo a one-inning stint, but wants him to start the inning. ``I'm not going to bring him in with the bases loaded and nobody out,'' Tosca said.
The Indians are expected to call up lefty Jason Stanford on Saturday to start Sunday. It would be Stanford's major league debut. He is 8-2 with a 3.18 ERA for Triple-A Buffalo, with 82 strikeouts and 21 walks in 99 innings. Cleveland sent down pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez on Wednesday and has not replaced him on the roster yet.
Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire said the team has not made a decision about whether to put LF Jacque Jones on the disabled list. Jones strained his groin Monday against the White Sox. Tying into that decision could be the rumors that the Twins might be looking to make a trade or another roster move in response to their recent 5-14 funk. Gardenhire hinted at that, saying, ``There are some other issues involved here.'' ... Infielder Chris Gomez remains on the DL with a sprained right knee, but Gardenhire said he had a good day running and taking grounders and could be ready soon. ``He's very close to being activated. He felt great,'' Gardenhire said.
DETROIT OF Bobby Higginson (pulled left hamstring) went on the 15-day DL. Taking his place on the 25-man roster was outfielder Cody Ross, who was recalled from Triple-A Toledo. ... The Tigers are nearing the end of a 20-game stretch without a day off, matching their longest of the year. They'll have a day off Monday.
OAKLAND LHP Ted Lilly will make his regular start in the rotation according to a plan set forth by manager Ken Macha and pitching coach Rick Peterson back on May 1. There had been some discussion, with an off-day on Monday, to skip Lilly once. ``I know I said that, but we're sticking with the plan,'' Macha said. ``We sat in my office for five hours doing this thing on May 1 and it's all worked out. That's good foresight on the part of the pitching coach.'' LHP Barry Zito will go Tuesday, followed by Lilly, LHP Mark Mulder, RHP Tim Hudson and RHP Aaron Harang. With Mulder going again Thursday, he could conceivably start the All-Star game July 15 if he's selected to the AL team. ... 3B Eric Chavez was back in the lineup after missing two days with a sore right foot. He fouled a ball off the foot Tuesday. ... OF Jermaine Dye was also back in the lineup after taking a day off to help a sore right knee. Dye, who received a cortisone shot last week, is being monitored daily. ... Harang will make his first career appearance against the Angels on Saturday. ... The A's bullpen had an 8.18 ERA through the first four games of a season-long 13-game homestand.
TAMPA BAY Manager Lou Piniella will go with a six-man starting rotation through the All-Star break in hopes to getting the staff rested for the second half of the season. The move is especially intended to help RHP Jeremi Gonzalez. He was one of Tampa Bay's most effective starters in June, but he's struggled in his last two outings while allowing 10 runs, 13 hits and four homers in 10 innings. Gonzalez's next scheduled start has been pushed back from Tuesday in Oakland to Friday in Seattle. RHP Rob Bell will start Tuesday against the Athletics.
LHP Al Leiter will miss his scheduled start Saturday because of a sore right knee. Steve Trachsel will take his place.
Mets SS Jose Reyes was scratched from the lineup because of a tight hamstring Friday and is questionable Saturday. He also missed a game on Wednesday. Reyes worked out before Friday's game, but didn't feel completely healthy. ``He's still feeling it,'' manager Art Howe said. ``I'm not going to gamble with it.''
The Phillies are 29-3 when they score five or more runs and 30-4 when they score first. ...
HOUSTON RHP Kirk Saarloos makes a spot start Saturday against Pittsburgh, but isn't scheduled for any other upcoming starts. He is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 relief appearances but has allowed 11 earned runs in 6 1-3 innings in two starts. He pitched a shutout against Pittsburgh on July 25, 2002, the only shutout of his career. ... 2B Jeff Kent, out with tendinitis in his left wrist, was eligible to come off the disabled list Friday but still isn't ready.
CF Kenny Lofton didn't start for the third straight game Friday because of a strained right calf, but could return to the lineup Saturday. ..
3B Chris Stynes left in the second inning of Friday's game with a contusion of the left triceps. He was hit by a Dave Burba pitch in the first inning. He is listed as day-to-day. ..
LOS ANGELES RHP Kevin Brown, who sustained a lower abdominal strain while running the bases Thursday, had an MRI Friday, which was negative. He's listed as day to day. ``He's pretty sore,'' manager Jim Tracy said. If Brown can't make his next scheduled start on Tuesday, LHP Wilson Alvarez will sub for him. ... 1B Fred McGriff sat out Friday with a sore leg that was aggravated while stretching to make a catch Thursday. ... 3B Adrian Beltre got the day off and was replaced by Jolbert Cabrera.
Toronto manager Tosca wants to get some work for RHP Juan Acevedo, who returned to the team Wednesday after bereavement leave. Tosca is hoping to get Acevedo a one-inning stint, but wants him to start the inning. ``I'm not going to bring him in with the bases loaded and nobody out,'' Tosca said.
The Indians are expected to call up lefty Jason Stanford on Saturday to start Sunday. It would be Stanford's major league debut. He is 8-2 with a 3.18 ERA for Triple-A Buffalo, with 82 strikeouts and 21 walks in 99 innings. Cleveland sent down pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez on Wednesday and has not replaced him on the roster yet.
Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire said the team has not made a decision about whether to put LF Jacque Jones on the disabled list. Jones strained his groin Monday against the White Sox. Tying into that decision could be the rumors that the Twins might be looking to make a trade or another roster move in response to their recent 5-14 funk. Gardenhire hinted at that, saying, ``There are some other issues involved here.'' ... Infielder Chris Gomez remains on the DL with a sprained right knee, but Gardenhire said he had a good day running and taking grounders and could be ready soon. ``He's very close to being activated. He felt great,'' Gardenhire said.
DETROIT OF Bobby Higginson (pulled left hamstring) went on the 15-day DL. Taking his place on the 25-man roster was outfielder Cody Ross, who was recalled from Triple-A Toledo. ... The Tigers are nearing the end of a 20-game stretch without a day off, matching their longest of the year. They'll have a day off Monday.
OAKLAND LHP Ted Lilly will make his regular start in the rotation according to a plan set forth by manager Ken Macha and pitching coach Rick Peterson back on May 1. There had been some discussion, with an off-day on Monday, to skip Lilly once. ``I know I said that, but we're sticking with the plan,'' Macha said. ``We sat in my office for five hours doing this thing on May 1 and it's all worked out. That's good foresight on the part of the pitching coach.'' LHP Barry Zito will go Tuesday, followed by Lilly, LHP Mark Mulder, RHP Tim Hudson and RHP Aaron Harang. With Mulder going again Thursday, he could conceivably start the All-Star game July 15 if he's selected to the AL team. ... 3B Eric Chavez was back in the lineup after missing two days with a sore right foot. He fouled a ball off the foot Tuesday. ... OF Jermaine Dye was also back in the lineup after taking a day off to help a sore right knee. Dye, who received a cortisone shot last week, is being monitored daily. ... Harang will make his first career appearance against the Angels on Saturday. ... The A's bullpen had an 8.18 ERA through the first four games of a season-long 13-game homestand.
TAMPA BAY Manager Lou Piniella will go with a six-man starting rotation through the All-Star break in hopes to getting the staff rested for the second half of the season. The move is especially intended to help RHP Jeremi Gonzalez. He was one of Tampa Bay's most effective starters in June, but he's struggled in his last two outings while allowing 10 runs, 13 hits and four homers in 10 innings. Gonzalez's next scheduled start has been pushed back from Tuesday in Oakland to Friday in Seattle. RHP Rob Bell will start Tuesday against the Athletics.
LHP Al Leiter will miss his scheduled start Saturday because of a sore right knee. Steve Trachsel will take his place.
Mets SS Jose Reyes was scratched from the lineup because of a tight hamstring Friday and is questionable Saturday. He also missed a game on Wednesday. Reyes worked out before Friday's game, but didn't feel completely healthy. ``He's still feeling it,'' manager Art Howe said. ``I'm not going to gamble with it.''
The Phillies are 29-3 when they score five or more runs and 30-4 when they score first. ...
HOUSTON RHP Kirk Saarloos makes a spot start Saturday against Pittsburgh, but isn't scheduled for any other upcoming starts. He is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 relief appearances but has allowed 11 earned runs in 6 1-3 innings in two starts. He pitched a shutout against Pittsburgh on July 25, 2002, the only shutout of his career. ... 2B Jeff Kent, out with tendinitis in his left wrist, was eligible to come off the disabled list Friday but still isn't ready.
CF Kenny Lofton didn't start for the third straight game Friday because of a strained right calf, but could return to the lineup Saturday. ..
3B Chris Stynes left in the second inning of Friday's game with a contusion of the left triceps. He was hit by a Dave Burba pitch in the first inning. He is listed as day-to-day. ..
LOS ANGELES RHP Kevin Brown, who sustained a lower abdominal strain while running the bases Thursday, had an MRI Friday, which was negative. He's listed as day to day. ``He's pretty sore,'' manager Jim Tracy said. If Brown can't make his next scheduled start on Tuesday, LHP Wilson Alvarez will sub for him. ... 1B Fred McGriff sat out Friday with a sore leg that was aggravated while stretching to make a catch Thursday. ... 3B Adrian Beltre got the day off and was replaced by Jolbert Cabrera.
