MLB RUMORS AND NEWS

Newark Star-Ledger "Curtis Granderson suffered another unfortunate strike from fate. This one came to his left hand. He was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning and left the game to undergo X-Rays. The results showed that the Yankees' outfielder had fractured the knuckle on his left pinky finger. It is the second..." May 25

Detroit News "He had already chopped his way into the Tigers record book, flamboyantly, three weeks ago when he struck out 17 batters, the most in a single game by any Tigers pitcher in history. Friday night at Comerica Park, Anibal Sanchez came within two batters of finding elite fame in baseball's all-time..." May 25

New York Post "Curtis Granderson was the first one back from the disabled list and it appears Mark Teixeira will be the second, with Kevin Youkilis a close third. “He could start a rehab [assignment] Tuesday in Trenton [Double-A],’’ general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday after Teixeira worked out at the..." May 24

Boston Globe "The Red Sox placed third baseman Will Middlebrooks and outfielder Shane Victorino on the 15-day disabled list, the team announced Friday. Infielder Jose Iglesias and pitcher Alfredo Aceves were called up from Triple A Pawtucket, and Iglesias will start tonight's game vs. the Indians at third..." May 24

ESPN.com "Toronto Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ said a package containing a knee brace didn't arrive Thursday as hoped, so Friday will be the earliest he'll try throwing outdoors since he suffered injuries in a graphic May 7 episode. Happ, 30, has been rehabbing at Toronto's minor league complex..." May 24

Los Angeles Times "All signs are pointing toward Jered Weaver's returning to the rotation next week, but the team won't make a final decision until the right-hander throws in the bullpen this weekend. "It's very encouraging," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're going to see how he comes out of his bullpen, and if..." May 24

CBSSports.com "Left-handed reliever Sean Marshall has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday, with a sprained left shoulder, the Reds announced Friday. As a corresponding move, lefty Manny Parra has been activated from his DL stint. This marks the second stint on the disabled list for..." May 24

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe remained with the team and was scheduled to undergo a full-impact test before Thursday's game at Comerica Park. Plouffe, placed Wednesday on the seven-day concussion disabled list, was admittedly groggy after taking a Dan Uggla knee to the back of the head on..." May 24

Toronto Star "Epy Guerrero, a pioneer of Dominican baseball and the most influential scout in Blue Jays history, died Thursday morning in the Dominican Republic at the age of 71. Guerrero, the Jays’ chief Latin American scout from 1978 until 1995, recruited and developed some of the franchise’s all-time..." May 24

Boston Globe "It was a play ripped out of the post-breakup handbook. After a bitter ending with the Red Sox two years ago, Terry Francona was eventually able to find something new and at present something hotter. That something was the Cleveland Indians. Returning to Fenway Park as a manager for the..." May 24

Detroit Free Press "If you ever wondered what it was like to see Hack Wilson drive in those record 191 runs for the 1930 Cubs, Miguel Cabrera is providing a reenactment. Cabrera drove in the Tigers’ first three runs Thursday night with a two-run home run and a single. That gives him 13 RBIs in the past four games..." May 24

Toronto Sun "The Baltimore Orioles unveiled what promises to be a future star in right-hander Kevin Gausman on Thursday night. The Blue Jays countered with something better -- the home run power of Edwin Encarnacion and J.P. Arencibia. The muscle of Encarnacion and Arencibia prevailed this night as,..." May 24

Fox Sports West "This is what the Angels were expecting from themselves all along — a robust offense, steady pitching and a sense of confidence every time they take the field. They didn’t get much of it in April, but now, in the season’s eighth week, the Angels are beginning to see what they can do when all..." May 24

Pittsburgh Tribune Review "Travis Snider's run-scoring triple in the second inning Thursday was clutch, but it was the finishing touch the right fielder put on the head-first slide into third base that made it even more memorable. Snider was still face down when he lifted his arms toward the Pirates' dugout and flashed..." May 24

CBSSports.com "The Phillies have placed Chase Utley on the 15-day DL with a "very mild" Grade 1 oblique strain, the Phillies announced. There is no corresponding intercostal or ribcage injury. The team expects him to return in two to four weeks. Utley, 34, first felt the problem during batting practice on..." May 24

New York Post "The Mets have clearly reached the countdown stage to Zack Wheeler's major league debut. A high-ranking team official told The Post on Thursday that barring a setback, the club's top pitching prospect is expected to make 2-3 more starts for Triple-A Las Vegas and then join the Mets. If Wheeler..." May 24

New York Post "In a season where seemingly every bump and bruise suffered sends the player to the disabled list, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he is supremely confident Hiroki Kuroda won’t be sidelined by the bruised right calf that forced him out of last night’s game. “I would be shocked if he couldn’t..." May 23

WEEI Boston "Red Sox GM Ben Cherington, in an appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show, said that the Red Sox have talked at various points with outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury about the possibility of something other than a one-year deal. However, each time, the team and player elected to agree to a one-year..." May 23

Miami Herald "When Marlins manager Mike Redmond finished his injury update before batting practice Tuesday, he smiled. “We’re starting to move some dirt,” Redmond said. “That feels good.” Yes, the Marlins are getting healthier — and thereby moving some dirt. On Wednesday, slugger Giancarlo Stanton..." May 23

The News Tribune "On the heels of a six-game losing streak and a 2-7 road trip, the Seattle Mariners will make an expected and needed roster move sometime today. Catcher Jesus Montero will be sent to Triple A Tacoma, while catcher Jesus Sucre will be selected from the Rainiers. Double A back-up catcher Brandon..." May 23

MLB.com "At last, Logan Morrison is feeling like his game is on solid footing. It's been a long, laborious process for the 25-year-old Marlins first baseman, who is battling back from a surgically-repaired right knee. But after opening the season on the 60-day disabled list and undergoing weeks of..." May 23

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Manager Mike Redmond has been relying on a cheat sheet of sorts during his pregame press gatherings. It’s a list of the Marlins’ injured players and where they stand in their rehab programs. It might have gotten lengthier. Starter Kevin Slowey departed Wednesday’s series finale against the..." May 23

Philly.com "Chase Utley took his first swing in batting practice Tuesday and it did not feel right. He took a second hack, then another, and one more. That is when he went to Charlie Manuel and told the manager his right side hurt. "It definitely scared me a little bit," Utley said Wednesday. Depending..." May 23

St. Paul Pioneer Press "The Twins gave Vance Worley 10 starts to find his groove. On Wednesday, they finally ran out of patience. The Twins optioned their Opening Day starter to Triple-A Rochester after he was shelled for eight runs on 10 hits in an 8-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Three of the hits were homers,..." May 23

Denver Post "Rafael Betancourt walked down the clubhouse hallway without a limp, the most obvious sign that he wasn't going on the disabled list. His right groin required only an anti-inflammatory injection, and after two days of rest he should return to his closer role for Colorado at San Francisco. For..." May 23

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Right-handed pitcher Kyle Lohse will miss his next start because of elbow soreness, Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said Wednesday. His place in the rotation Saturday vs. Pittsburgh will be taken by Mike Fiers, a starter last season who is working out of the bullpen this year. Fiers was..." May 23

New York Post "Zack Wheeler was “rusty” in his return to the mound for Triple-A Las Vegas yesterday, but improved as his start in Des Moines, Iowa, progressed. “Honestly, nothing was working real well for me today,” the Mets’ top pitching prospect said after surrendering three runs on five hits, including two..." May 23

Baltimore Sun "Reality didn't set in for Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman that he was heading to the major leagues until the moment he boarded his connection flight to Baltimore on Wednesday morning. "Then, I just kinda was thinking, you know, 'Wow, I'm really here. It's crazy,'" Gausman said. "I wish..." May 23

CSN Chicago "In a less-than-shocking twist late Wednesday, the White Sox named John Danks as the starting pitcher for their next game. Danks, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 19, 2012 after he had season-ending shoulder surgery last Aug. 6, is set to pitch Friday night when the host White Sox open..." May 23

Washington Post "After postgame comments in which he reportedly criticized Bryce Harper’s positioning in right field, Rafael Soriano insisted he isn’t upset with Harper for a play in the bottom of the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 4-2 10-inning loss to the Giants. With two outs and a runner on first, Harper chased..." May 23

MLB.com "Just as it has done so many times before, Ryan Madson's comeback attempt has taken another unexpected twist. "Hopefully it's just a little glitch," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I don't think it's anything major, but he needs to get over this. He's close, as we said. Hopefully it's just a..." May 23

Toronto Star "If the Blue Jays are going to turn around the disappointing start to their season it will be on the back of Jose Bautista. While he is not a vocal captain and demurs at the suggestion he is anything but one of the guys, Bautista showed once again on Wednesday night that he will lead this team..." May 23

L.A. Daily News "Dodgers manager Don Mattingly criticized his team and benched All-Star right fielder Andre Ethier, then watched Los Angeles beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-2 Wednesday. Mattingly, in the third and final year of his contract, discussed his club's lack of mental toughness and said he wanted a..." May 23

L.A. Daily News "C.J. Wilson got two quick outs to start the game, then served up a walk and a single and suddenly, his head was swimming. "I thought I was going to pass out in the first inning," Wilson said. "I didn't feel good today, I ate too much pasta last night or something. When you throw the ball as..." May 23

Boston Herald "On Day 9 of a nine-day trip, and with a Memorial Day weekend showdown against former manager Terry Francona awaiting their return to Fenway Park, the Red Sox could’ve been dragging before last night’s game. So, Clay Buchholz exhausted his playlist to keep the clubhouse lively. But if the Red..." May 23

Philly.com "When morale was at its lowest, approximately 46 hours before Delmon Young smashed yet another home run, Charlie Manuel attempted to justify his faith in this Phillies lineup. It was Monday, the atrocious Miami Marlins had just confounded his offense, and Manuel clutched at words. "The history..." May 23

St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Jaime Garcia, out. Jake Westbrook, out. Chris Carpenter, still out. And the Cardinals’ rotation rolls on, no matter what Memphian is added. Lefthander Jon Gast, who features a changeup, has won his first two big-league starts in relief of Westbrook. Lefthander Tyler Lyons, a curveball..." May 23

Detroit News "Two rain delays, a comical home run for Miguel Cabrera and another unusual start by Justin Verlander. The Tigers splashed past the Cleveland Indians 11-7 on Wednesday night to complete a two-game sweep of the first-place Tribe. They waited out delays of one hour and 50 minutes to win..." May 23

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Francisco Liriano said he worked hard this offseason to perfect a tweak in his delivery. Manager Clint Hurdle said he has watched a lot of tape and still can't see a difference. The difference in the results, however, is undeniable. Liriano has been dominant this season and continued that..." May 23

CSN Baltimore "What a difference two days made for the Orioles. After their rotation looked battered and their closer teetering, they won their second straight game on Wednesday night, and looked forward to watching their phenom, Kevin Gausman, debut on Thursday. Thanks to Jason Hammel’s 6 2/3 innings, the..." May 23

Washington Times "The ball flicked off Ian Desmond’s bat in one motion and started on its path toward right field. Bryce Harper broke into a sprint from second base. As Harper slid into home and Hunter Pence’s throw to the plate sailed just wide, a collective sigh of relief from the Washington Nationals seemed to..." May 23

Houston Chronicle "The Astros don’t just appear to be playing better baseball. They are. A 3-1 victory against Kansas City on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park gave the Astros a series win versus the Royals and a 4-3 record in their last seven games. Righthander Jordan Lyles guided the Astros (14-33). The..." May 23

Atlanta Journal-Constitution "Decisions, decisions. Braves rookie sensation Evan Gattis was poised and ready at the plate Wednesday afternoon, working with a 3-0 count and the bases loaded. The question was, when the next pitch came over the plate, where was he going to put it? Over the right-field wall was Gattis’..." May 23

Cincinnati Enquirer "The Reds completed a three-game sweep of the Mets to wrap up a 7-2 road trip. The Reds blew leads of 2-1 and 4-2 in this one, but they scored three runs in the ninth to put it away. The Reds have won 10 of 12 and 11 of 13 to move to 11 games over .500 at 29-18. They did not get to 11 games..." May 23