PITTSBURGH -- Los Angeles Dodgers closer Takashi Saito has tightness in his left hamstring and may miss a key three-game NL West series in San Diego that starts Tuesday night.
Saito, 16-for-16 in save conversions this season and 26-for-26 dating to the end of last season, could not pitch Monday night in Pittsburgh. Manager Grady Little expects him to be sidelined for two to three days "in a best-case scenario."
"Hopefully, Saito won't be out but for a few days, but we don't know yet," Little said.
The Dodgers aren't considering putting Saito on the 15-day disabled list because they expect him to be ready long before that. However, they do plan to make a move Tuesday to add another pitcher.
Jonathan Broxton, who has excelled as a setup man this season, will be the closer until Saito returns. Broxton is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 28 appearances, and his average of 10.55 strikeouts per nine innings is the sixth best among NL pitchers with at least 25 innings.
"We've got choices, and one of them weighs about 300 pounds," Little said, referring to the 6-foot-4 Broxton. Full story
Reds' Hamilton to return vs. Cardinals
CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds said they plan to recall outfielder Josh Hamilton and reliever Todd Coffey from Triple-A Louisville for a game Tuesday in St. Louis.
To make room for them, the Reds plan to send right-hander Brad Salmon and outfielder Dewayne Wise to Louisville.
Hamilton was the National League's rookie of the month in April. He has been on the disabled list since May 22 after a bout with gastroenteritis that flared up during a series in Cleveland. He was hitting .261 with eight home runs and 18 RBI then, and hit .333 with four home runs in six rehab appearances with the Bats.
Coffey began the season with the Reds and was 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA in 26 relief appearances before he was optioned to Louisville on May 24. He did not allow a run in six appearances for the Bats, striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings.
Nats' Wagner to have surgery
WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals reliever Ryan Wagner will have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday.
Wagner traveled to Birmingham, Ala. for a second opinion on the shoulder, which has sidelined him for nearly a month. The Nationals will give an update on Wagner's prognosis following the surgery, which will be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham.
Wagner was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 8, retroactive to May 7, with inflammation in his right rotator cuff. He has appeared in 14 games this season, going 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA.
Wagner also missed much of the 2005 season, when he was with the Cincinnati Reds, because of shoulder problems.
White Sox shake up bullpen
CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox shook up their struggling bullpen, optioning Mike MacDougal and David Aardsma to Triple-A Charlotte while purchasing the contracts of pitchers Ryan Bukvich and Bret Prinz from the minor league club.
Chicago also transferred utility player Pablo Ozuna from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. He has a fracture in his lower right leg and a shoulder injury.
Aardsma, 2-1 with a 6.18 ERA in 22 appearances, was sent down following Sunday's 4-3 loss at Toronto. The White Sox optioned MacDougal, 1-3 with a 7.13 ERA, and called up Bukvich and Prinz before Monday's game against the New York Yankees.
The White Sox are coming off a 1-6 trip, and they're getting no help from their relievers. The bullpen is 2-6 with a 9.06 ERA and five blown saves in its past 22 games following Sunday's loss.
Pirates call up OF Davis, waive C Cota
PITTSBURGH -- Outfielder Rajai Davis, on a 21-game hitting streak for Triple-A Indianapolis, was recalled by the Pittsburgh Pirates on and catcher Humberto Cota was designated for assignment.
Davis, hitting .318 with four homers and 30 RBI in 53 games for Indianapolis, is likely to platoon with Chris Duffy in center field for at least the short term after joining the Pirates in Washington on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old Davis was only 2-for-14 (.143) during a brief callup last season, but manager Jim Tracy was told by the Indians' staff that the outfielder has made major improvements this season.
Davis was not in the lineup for the Indians on Monday night after extending his hitting streak Sunday with a leadoff home run in the first inning.
Seattle activates pitcher Reitsma
SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners activated Chris Reitsma from the disabled list before their game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The right-hander was placed on the DL with elbow inflammation on May 23, retroactive to May 19. He was 0-1 with a 4.86 earned run average with five walks and eight strikeouts in 16 relief appearances.
The Mariners sent Ryan Feierabend down to Triple-A Tacoma. He earned the win on Sunday in Seattle's 11-6 victory over Texas.
