Dodgers placed shortstop Rafael Furcal on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 6, with a strained lower back.
The Dodgers will go with Chin-Lung Hu as the starter and Luis Maza as the backup at shortstop until Furcal returns later this month. It's a huge blow to the team. Furcal has been one of the NL's best players this season, and the Dodgers don't have a lot of offense to spare. May. 13 - 6:54 pm et

Dodgers purchased the contract of infielder Luis Maza from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Maza, who spent eight years in the Twins system before joining the Dodgers last year, will be making his major league debut as a 27-year-old. He's usually posted weak offensive numbers in the minors, but he was hitting .402/.465/.528 for Triple-A Las Vegas this year. He'll serve as a backup at shortstop and second until Rafael Furcal returns. May. 13 - 6:51 pm et

Dodgers transferred infielder Tony Abreu from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Abreu has been on the DL since the beginning of the year, so this doesn't change anything for him. He might return from a strained groin at the end of the month or in early June, but it's really tough to tell with him. May. 13 - 6:48 pm et

The Reds are sitting Ken Griffey Jr. on Tuesday after he dropped a flyball in right field in Monday's game.
The miscue let to two runs. Griffey has been a little better at the plate lately, though he hasn't homered since April 23. He hasn't been an asset against lefties in years anyway, so the Reds are probably better off with him on the bench versus Mark Hendrickson tonight. May. 13 - 6:36 pm et

The Mets will have Johan Santana face the Yankees on Friday, manager Willie Randolph confirmed.
In a normal week, the Mets would have used Santana on Thusday and Mike Pelfrey on Friday after both pitched last Saturday in a doubleheader. However, the Mets have decided they want Santana facing the Bombers. Pelfrey will start Thursday. May. 13 - 6:33 pm et
Source: New York Daily News

Nomar Garciaparra (calf) doesn't yet feel ready to begin a rehab assignment.
"I felt like I could push it more, so that was good," Nomar said after working out Tuesday. "I was able to run harder. But at the same time, I couldn't do as much as I wanted to do. There was some tightness and some soreness there, so I had to back off. I did push it to the ceiling, but I still need some time. There is no need to go backward." It sounds like a return before the end of the week is unlikely. May. 13 - 6:31 pm et
Source: Los Angeles Daily News

Rocco Baldelli took batting practice Tuesday. He said he's been hitting and throwing for the last week after being sidelined from workouts for a while because of an infection in his right leg.
"I couldn’t do anything for a couple weeks," he said. "It was literally nothing – I just was resting it and letting it heal up with antibiotics." Baldelli has no timetable for his return to the Rays' lineup as he continues to deal with a mitochondrial disorder. He still hopes to play this year. May. 13 - 6:29 pm et

Melvin Mora was hit on the right shoulder while trying to field a groundball during infield drills on Tuesday, causing his removal from Baltimore's lineup.
No word yet, but Alex Cintron could start at third base. Mora was sent for X-rays. May. 13 - 6:27 pm et
Source: Baltimore Sun

Milton Bradley won't start tonight and is doubtful for Wednesday after leaving Monday's game with a sore right shoulder.
The Rangers haven't used the opportunity to activate Marlon Byrd, which is a surprise. Frank Catalanotto is DHing tonight. May. 13 - 6:25 pm et
Source: Dallas Morning News

Hank Blalock (hamstring) took infield and ran the bases at full speed this afternoon. He could return this weekend.
The assumption was that he'd need at least another week or two, but it looks like he could begin a brief rehab assignment as soon as Wednesday. May. 13 - 6:24 pm et
Source: Dallas Morning News

Kelly Johnson has been dropped to the seventh spot in Tuesday's lineup versus the Phillies.
The Braves have Yunel Escobar hitting leadoff and Mark Kotsay batting second. It figured they'd try this sooner or later with Kotsay hot of late, but it probably won't help in the long run. Johnson probably would cease having value in shallow mixed leagues if he hit seventh for any length of time. May. 13 - 5:57 pm et

Brian Roberts, who had Sunday off because of a bruised left foot, is back at second base on Tuesday. May. 13 - 5:54 pm et

Mets activated RHP Matt Wise from the 15-day disabled list.
Since the Mets dropped Jorge Sosa from the roster, Joe Smith gets to stick around. It looked like Smith, because he has options left, would be the odd man out to make room for Wise. May. 13 - 5:53 pm et

Mets purchased the contract of RHP Claudio Vargas from Triple-A New Orleans.
The Mets needed an extra starter this week anyway as a result of a doubleheader over the weekend. However, with Nelson Figueroa gone, it should be more than one and done for Vargas, who will pitch tomorrow. He'll likely stick until Pedro Martinez returns. He could have some short-term value in NL-only leagues. May. 13 - 5:52 pm et

Mets purchased the contract of infielder Fernando Tatis from Triple-A New Orleans.
Tatis will act as the team's primary right-handed pinch-hitter for now. He hit .242/.345/.592 with 23 homers in 120 at-bats for New Orleans. May. 13 - 5:50 pm et