CARDINALS
Garcia may miss start
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia is a question mark for Thursday’s start, still struggling to return from a groin cramp in his last start. Manager Mike Matheny committed to John Lackey starting Wednesday against the White Sox but offered no further details on the St. Louis rotation going forward. Lance Lynn took Garcia’s turn in the rotation on regular rest Tuesday because the team was off Monday. Garcia has not thrown a side session since getting hurt running the bases last week against Miami. Matheny didn’t say whether he’d be comfortable having Garcia pitch without at least some side work. Garcia is 3-3 with a 1.69 ERA in seven starts coming off thoracic outlet surgery. Earlier Tuesday, right-handed reliever Matt Belisle was placed on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflammation, retroactive to June 28. Belisle’s elbow stiffened on the flight home from Miami last week and Matheny said the pitcher “flipped out” when it was first suggested that a stay on the DL might be beneficial. Belisle said there are no “big red flags.” “We’ve just got to get the swelling down and do another assessment,” he added. “I’m not going to fret over anything we don’t know yet.” Belisle, 35, is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 30 games this season.
RANGERS
Hamilton comes off DL
BALTIMORE -- Josh Hamilton has been activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Texas Rangers, who placed the outfielder in the starting lineup for Tuesday night's game against the Orioles.
Hamilton was sidelined since May 31 with a strained left hamstring. He has played in only seven games this season, batting .273 with two home runs and five RBI.
He was fifth in the lineup and in left field against Baltimore.
Texas made room for Hamilton on the 25-man roster by optioning rookie Joey Gallo to Class AAA Round Rock. Gallo had his contract purchased from Class AA Frisco on June 2 and hit .218 with five home runs and 13 RBI over 25 games in his major league debut.
He ended his stint with a 7-for-47 skid that included 27 strikeouts.
PHILLIES
Mackanin to remain for season
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phillies say Pete Mackanin will stay as their manager for the rest of the season.
General Manager Ruben Amaro made the announcement Tuesday.
Mackanin took over on an interim basis last Friday after manager Ryne Sandberg resigned.
At 27-51, the Phillies had the worst record in the majors going into Tuesday night's home game against Milwaukee.
This is Mackanin's third stint as an interim manager after working in a similar role previously with the Reds and Pirates.
ATHLETICS
Gray misses Tuesday's start
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics scratched starter Sonny Gray because of an illness and brought up right-hander Chris Bassitt from Class AAA Nashville to face Colorado.
The A's announced that Gray missed Tuesday's game because of flu-like symptoms. Gray (9-3) is the AL leader with a 2.09 ERA.
Bassitt joins the A's for the second time this season. He had a 3.38 ERA in five relief appearances earlier this season. He is 2-6 with a 3.71 ERA in 12 games for Nashville.
Oakland optioned infielder Max Muncy to Nashville to make room for Bassitt on the roster. Muncy was batting .203 with two home runs and six RBI in 34 games with the A's.
ODDS & ENDS
Casey McGehee, the NL Comeback Player of the Year in 2014, will need another comeback. The veteran infielder was designated for assignment Tuesday by the San Francisco Giants shortly before they began a three-game series at Miami. The Giants purchased the contract of infielder Ehire Adrianza from Class AAA Sacramento. McGehee, 32, lost his starting job at third base to Matt Duffy and was demoted to the minors earlier this season. After returning, he went 5 for 17, and he's batting .213 with two home runs in 49 games. Despite playing part-time, he has grounded into 15 double plays, tied for most in the majors. ... The Tampa Bay Rays have signed first-round pick Garrett Whitley, the 13th overall selection in this year's baseball draft. The 18-year-old outfielder from Niskayuna High School in New York visited the club before Tuesday night's game against the Cleveland Indians, slipped on a uniform and participated in batting practice. Whitley is the highest high school draft selection from New York state since 1991, when Manny Ramirez also was selected 13th overall by the Indians. ... Matt Cain and Jake Peavy are headed back to work for the San Francisco Giants. The two pitchers will start this week following lengthy stays on the disabled list. Manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Cain is scheduled to start Thursday against the Miami Marlins. Cain hasn't pitched since July 2014. He underwent elbow surgery last year and has been sidelined this season with a strained flexor tendon. Peavy, out since April 17 with a strained back, is to start Friday at Washington.
Sports on 07/01/2015