News briefs: Carpenter set to return Wednesday

ST. LOUIS -- Chris Carpenter passed a final test with a short bullpen session Sunday and the Cardinals' ace is due to come off the 15-day disabled list Wednesday against the Cubs.

Carpenter, on the DL since April 15 with a strained left rib cage muscle, had been set to throw another side session on Tuesday before returning to the rotation next weekend. A rainout Friday led to rethinking that plan.

Manager Tony La Russa said Kyle Lohse is set to pitch Monday night's makeup game against the Brewers after working two innings of the rain-shortened game Friday, followed by Joel Pineiro on Tuesday.

Carpenter said he put enough effort into a strenuous bullpen session Friday, throwing four simulated innings, to realize he's ready. Less than a week after being hurt, he said he resumed doing arm exercises.

Carpenter was injured while hitting, and La Russa said he encouraged him to take shorter, compact swings. Carpenter said he took 50 swings Saturday and 50 more Sunday.

"I can tell you one thing: I'm not going to go up there and be an automatic out, because that's not fair to my club," Carpenter said. "It's not fair to let the other side know that I'm not going to be swinging the bat. I'm going to be ready to go up and put a swing on the ball and try to do something." Full story

Cubs' Big Z struggles in rehab start, feels fine

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano struggled in a rehab start for Class A Daytona, but did not appear bothered by his strained left hamstring.

Zambrano, on the 15-day disabled list, allowed four runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings. He also walked three with one strikeout, and threw 42 of 67 pitches for strikeouts.

"No problems, it's a 100 percent," said Zambrano, who hurt his hamstring legging out a bunt on May 3. "I just had a little problem with my release point. ... It's been two weeks since my last outing, so between now and Friday I have a lot of time to correct my release point."

Zambrano, who is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA this season, is scheduled to face San Diego on Friday. A win would be the 100th of his career.

Rockies reliever Daley heads to DL

PITTSBURGH -- Colorado Rockies reliever Matt Daley is headed to the disabled list after a fluke accident during a 10-run seventh inning by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Early in the inning Sunday, Daley gave up an RBI double to Freddy Sanchez. As the pitcher ran to back up home plate, umpire Bill Welke tossed the bat out of the way to clear space. It landed directly under Daley's left foot on his next stride.

Daley tried some practice pitches before manager Clint Hurdle and the training staff elected to remove him from the game. The Pirates went on to win 11-4.

Daley said X-rays taken on the foot were negative, and the team was characterizing the injury as a sprain. The club said a corresponding roster move to replace Daley would be made later Sunday or early Monday.

Bucs recall lefty Gorzelanny

PITTSBURGH -- Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, a former 14-game winner who was demoted to the minors, was recalled by Pittsburgh from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Gorzelanny takes the roster spot of right-handed Tyler Yates, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Saturday with an inflamed elbow. Yates was one of two Pirates relievers who did not pitch during a rain-delayed 7-4 victory over Colorado on Saturday night.

Gorzelanny was bothered by wildness last season while going 6-9 with a 6.66 ERA, a year after he was 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA. He was sent to the minors in spring training and was 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA in seven starts at Indianapolis. He had a 2.89 ERA in three starts this month.

Yates is 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in 15 appearances.

Indians call up pitchers Huff, Aquino

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Cleveland purchased the contracts of pitchers David Huff and Greg Aquino from Triple-A Columbus.

Huff made his major league debut by starting against Tampa Bay. Aquino will work out of the bullpen.

To make room on the roster, Cleveland optioned reliever Tony Sipp and outrighted right-hander Masa Kobayashi to Columbus.

Left-hander Scott Lewis was transferred from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list so Aquino could be added to the 40-man roster. Lewis is out with a left elbow injury.

Brewers' Weeks exits with sore wrist

ST. LOUIS -- Rickie Weeks left Milwaukee's game against St. Louis with soreness in his left wrist after striking out in the first inning.

Bill Hall replaced Weeks in the leadoff slot and played third. Craig Counsell moved from third to second to take Weeks' spot. The moves were made after the Brewers batted around against Todd Wellemeyer, taking a 4-0 lead over St. Louis.

Weeks is batting .272 with nine homers and 24 RBI.

Nats' Dukes aggravates hamstring injury

WASHINGTON -- Center fielder Elijah Dukes left the Nationals' game against the Phillies after aggravating a hamstring injury.

Dukes slowed down about three steps from home plate after a hit to the right-field corner in the first inning. He made it to second for a double and finished the inning, but was replaced in the outfield by Willie Harris in the top of the second.

The Nationals said Dukes experienced tightness in his left hamstring and is day to day.

He strained the hamstring in Friday's extra-inning loss and appeared only as a pinch hitter in Saturday's day-night doubleheader.