RANGERS
Darvish: No All-Star game
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish says he would likely opt for sightseeing over pitching if he's selected to the AL All-Star team for the third consecutive season.
Darvish is scheduled to make three more starts before the break, including one that would come two days before the July 15 All-Star game in Minnesota.
The Japanese pitcher answered "No" in English on Thursday when asked if he'd be willing to pitch in the All-Star game if he stays on that schedule. He also shook his head several times, then said through his translator that he'd go sightseeing instead.
All-Star pitchers who start on the Sunday before the showcase game can be replaced on the roster by a fresh arm.
Darvish is 7-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 14 starts this season. He has 118 strikeouts in 96 1/3 innings.
The right-hander didn't pitch in the 2012 All-Star game and was replaced on the AL roster last year because of injury.
DODGERS
Puig lawsuit still on
MIAMI -- A Miami judge has denied a motion by Los Angeles Dodgers star Yasiel Puig to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a Cuban man blaming the player for his imprisonment and torture on the communist island.
In the lawsuit, Miguel Angel Corbacho Daudinot claims he was falsely accused by Puig of involvement in human trafficking and was subjected to torture in Cuban prisons. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams denied Puig's request this week and set a trial date for November.
Puig has denied the allegations. His attorney says in court papers that Corbacho Daudinot's torture allegations aren't sufficient under U.S. law.
Other lawsuit filings have detailed Puig's eventual defection out of Cuba by smugglers who took him to Mexico and eventually to the U.S. amid threats over unpaid debts.
Puppies at play
The Dodgers wanted to make a call-to-action movie that would also leave fans feeling warm and fuzzy. Dodgers spokesman Josh Turner says the answer was simple: Puppies.
Potential All-Stars Adrian Gonzalez, Dee Gordon and Puig are among the players and coaches who got down on the floor to play with the puppies for a video posted Thursday at Dodgers.com. Besides being cute, it reminds fans they have until July 3 to vote for their favorite players to go the 2014 All-Star game.
With a week left to vote, Puig, Gonzalez and Gordon are each near the top in position voting for the July 15 game.
The puppies seemed unfazed by the presence of pro athletes. The two puppies Gordon was holding fell fast asleep.
METS
CF Lagares returns
PITTSBURGH -- Centerfielder Juan Lagares has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the New York Mets and was in the starting lineup, batting sixth, for Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Infielder Wilmer Flores was optioned to Class AAA Las Vegas.
Lagares had been out since June 2 with a right ribcage strain. He was hitting .295 with two home runs in 43 games when injured.
Lagares went a combined 2 for 16 on a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Coast League and with Class AA Binghamton.
Flores was hitting .225 with one home run in 25 games.
WHITE SOX
Surkamp recalled
TORONTO -- The Chicago White Sox have designated left-handed pitcher Scott Downs for assignment and recalled left-hander Eric Surkamp from Class AAA Charlotte.
The White Sox announced the moves on Thursday.
The 38-year-old Downs went 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA in 38 games this season -- his first with Chicago.
Surkamp was 3-4 with a 4.54 ERA in 14 games (11 starts) with Charlotte.
He is 2-3 with a 7.36 ERA in seven starts over two major-league seasons with San Francisco (2011, '13).
NATIONALS
Ramos back from rehab
CHICAGO -- The Washington Nationals recalled catcher Wilson Ramos from his minor-league rehab stint and activated him from the 15-day disabled list Thursday.
Catcher Sandy Leon was optioned to Class AAA Syracuse to make room on the active roster.
Ramos missed 14 games with a strained right hamstring. He played four games during the rehab stint, going 7 for 16 with a double, two home runs and nine runs batted in.
"He's full go," Washington manager Matt Williams said. "He's been playing, he's passed all the tests down there and he's had no issues. Going first to third, advancing on balls in the dirt, slugging homers. He's obviously fine."
Still, the Nationals plan a cautious approach.
"Sure doubles are OK," Williams said. "We certainly don't want to push it. If he has any thought about whether he can make it or not, make sure we're conservative."
Sports on 06/27/2014