Magglio Ordonez was benched again Friday.
Ordonez is 2-for-20 over the past five games and it seems his benching a few weeks back hasn't helped him at all. He can no longer be considered an everyday player, as he will sit at least once or twice a week until he snaps out of his season-long slump, which may not happen anytime soon. Jul. 3 - 8:41 pm et
Source: MLBlogs.com

John Buck (back) may be back in the lineup by the weekend, according to manager Trey Hillman.
He was scheduled to catch his second consecutive game Friday at Triple-A Omaha. If his troubled herniated disc holds up, he will likely be activated Saturday. Unfortunately, he'll have to battle Miguel Olivo for playing time, as he's taken advantage of Buck's injury to put up solid offensive numbers with 12 home runs and 32 RBI in 57 games. Jul. 3 - 8:34 pm et
Source: Kansas City Star

Nick Punto (back) returned to the lineup Friday.
Punto left Wednesday's game after he suffered a lower back injury. Jul. 3 - 8:25 pm et
Source: MLBlogs.com

Justin Morneau returned to the lineup Friday after leaving Wednesday's game with a tight groin.
Activate the slugger immediately, especially if you're in a daily transaction league. Jul. 3 - 8:20 pm et
Source: MLBlogs.com

Oliver Perez (knee) wasn't great in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo Friday.
Perez allowed three runs, but it was his pitch count that was worrisome. Of his 92 pitches, only 46 were strikes. The Mets were planning on starting Perez against the Dodgers Wednesday if all went well, but seeing as it didn't, that plan may now be in jeopardy. Stay tuned. Jul. 3 - 8:18 pm et
Source: New York Daily News

Gio Gonzalez will switch starts with Brett Anderson this weekend.
Gonzalez will pitch Sunday on four days rest while Anderson will get an extra day off and face the Red Sox Monday. Manager Bob Geren thinks the extra rest will be beneficial to Anderson, who tossed five solid innings in a 7-1 win in his last outing when he was similarly rested. Jul. 3 - 8:02 pm et
Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Manny Ramirez apologized to his teammates and the fans without acknowledging what he was sorry for.
"Well, I want to say I'm sorry to the fans and to my teammates. I don't want to get into my medical record," Ramirez said while wearing sunglasses during the news conference. "Showtime tonight!" was how he ended the conference. This sounds like the forgotten script to a Major League sequel. The show begins Friday with Manny's return from a 50-game ban for performance enhancing drugs. Jul. 3 - 7:26 pm et
Source: Associated Press

Mike Lowell said that his hip is feeling good after draining excess fluid and an injection of lubricant.
Lowell will take the weekend off of all activities and begin his rehab in earnest on Monday, which may not include a rehab assignment. He believes he'll be ready to return as soon as he's eligible to come off the disabled list after the All-Star break. Jul. 3 - 7:11 pm et
Source: WEEI.com

Alexei Ramirez will not start Friday due to a bruised finger.
This will mark Ramirez's second consecutive game on the sidelines because of the injury. Jayson Nix will start at short in his place. Jul. 3 - 6:49 pm et
Source: Chicago Tribune

Phillies designated LHP Jack Taschner for assignment.
Acquired from the Giants in late March for catcher Ronny Paulino, Taschner posted a 5.20 ERA, a 1.92 WHIP and a 17/20 K/BB ratio in 27 2/3 innings for the Phillies. He surrendered six runs in his last three outings. The Phils now have 10 days to trade or release him. Jul. 3 - 6:36 pm et

Carlos Quentin (foot) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday.
Quentin has been sidelined since late May and is hoping to return just before the All-Star break. He'll play three innings with Charlotte on Saturday, five on Sunday and DH for a full nine on Monday. The outfielder was batting just .229/.325/.458 before he was injured. Jul. 3 - 6:23 pm et
Source: Joe Cowley on Twitter

Phillies purchased the contract of RHP Rodrigo Lopez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Lopez will get the start Friday against the Mets. He is 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 13 minor league starts. The 33-year-old doesn't hold much long-term fantasy value as the Phillies may try prospects Carlos Carrasco and Andrew Carpenter during Antonio Bastardo's injury. Jul. 3 - 6:19 pm et

Jake Fox received a bases-loaded walk from Mark DiFelice in the bottom of the 10th inning Friday to give the Cubs a 2-1 win over the Brewers.
After Alfonso Soriano grounded out to start the 10th, Ryan Theriot reached on an infield single, took second on a wild pitch and then went to third on Derrek Lee's flyout to right. For some reason, the Brewers responded by intentionally walking both Milton Bradley and Geovany Soto to load the bases. As few walks as DiFelice issues, it wasn't as terrible of an idea as it might have been with the typical reliever on the mound. However, DiFelice, perhaps a little off after being forced to throw so many intentional balls, issued just his fourth unintentional walk of the year to Fox to end the game. Jul. 3 - 6:15 pm et

Carlos Zambrano limited the Brewers to one run in seven innings Friday in a no-decision.
He might have taken a loss if not for his bat, as he drove in the team's only run through nine innings. Zambrano is winless in his last five starts, even though he's lowered his ERA from 3.72 to 3.50 during the span. Jul. 3 - 6:11 pm et

Back in the lineup after two days off, Alfonso Soriano went 0-for-5 as the Cubs' leadoff hitter Friday.
Soriano has been terrible, but it's not like the Cubs can bench him in favor of Sam Fuld for any length of time. What they could do is pull him from the leadoff spot until he gets his act together. If the Cubs insist on having an overpaid outfielder batting first, Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukudome would both be better choices. Jul. 3 - 6:10 pm et