Briefs: Dice-K on way to DL; Bowden receives call

Daisuke Matsuzaka appears poised to hit the disabled list, as CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam reports.

Dice-K underwent an MRI earlier Tuesday and the results must not have been pleasing. Matsuzaka has been particularly disastrous since leaving his start on April 29 with a tight elbow.

To replace Matsuzaka on the roster, reliever Michael Bowden is joining the team. Bowden is likely not long for the club, as Dan Wheeler is nearing the end of his rehab stint. Still, the club needs someone to fill the breach now and Bowden will make his 2011 debut. The 24-year-old made his debut in 2008 and has pitched parts of each of the last three seasons. Overall, he's tosse 36 1/3 innings and posted a 6.69 ERA, although much of that comes from his 2009 stint. In 2010, he tossed 15 1/3 innings, posting a 4.70 ERA.

It's not yet known who will replace Matsuzaka in the rotation, but the odds are heavy that it will be Alfredo Aceves, who has been starting in Pawtucket and functioning as a long reliever in Boston. On Monday, Aceves nabbed the win with three innings in relief of Matsuzaka and Scott Atchinson.

Bowden has been impressive in Triple-A, tossing up a 1.59 ERA in 22 2/3 innings while whiffing 28 and walking four. It's unlikely he sticks in the bullpen, but with a few clean innings, can build up confidence in Red Sox brass. Full Story

Giants to make anti-gay bullying video

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants are following in the footsteps of President Barack Obama, pop star Janet Jackson and more than 10,000 others who have made videos for an anti-suicide campaign geared toward gay youth.

The baseball team announced it had agreed to produce a YouTube video for the "It Gets Better" campaign at the request of a fan who started an online petition signed by 6,000 people.

Seattle writer Dan Savage launched the "It Gets Better" project last year amid several highly publicized suicides by gay teenagers.

Although recreational sports teams and British rugby star Gareth Thomas have made videos for the campaign, the Giants are the first professional team to participate.

Indians minor leaguer suspended for 50 games

NEW YORK -- Cleveland Indians minor league outfielder John Drennen has been suspended for 50 games after a positive test.

The commissioner's office says Drennen tested positive for the banned female fertility drug Clomiphene. The drug can be used to boost testosterone as part of a steroids cycle.

Drennen was penalized Tuesday under baseball's minor league drug program.

A 24-year-old from Honolulu, Drennen is batting .256 with three homers and 15 RBI at Double-A Akron of the Eastern League.

Rangers' Hamilton could play 1st rehab game Wed

CHICAGO -- Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton is on schedule to play his first rehab game Wednesday with Double-A Frisco.

Hamilton took early batting practice before the Rangers' game at Chicago on Tuesday night, then returned to Texas to be re-evaluated by team physician Dr. Keith Meister. If Meister clears him, the AL MVP will play two games at Frisco starting Wednesday, then three with Triple-A Round Rock.

Hamilton broke a bone in his upper right arm April 12 on a headfirst slide into home at Detroit.

Another injured Texas outfielder, Nelson Cruz, began a rehab assignment with Frisco on Monday night. Cruz had been sidelined with a strained right quad.

Pujols back at 1B for Cardinals after start at 3B

ST. LOUIS -- A night after making his first start at third base since 2002, Albert Pujols was back at first base.

Manager Tony La Russa said before Tuesday night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies that Pujols might make a handful of starts at third the rest of the season. Pujols fielded five chances in a 3-1 victory Monday, starting a double play and going to his left to make a nice stop and struggled only on a potential double-play grounder that he bobbled, settling for a forceout.

"He's willing to do whatever we need," La Russa said. "But that's not in our best interests to get him over there very much."

Pujols said no one should worry about his arm. He had bone chips removed from his right elbow after the 2009 season.

Cubs option Colvin, call up Campana

CINCINNATI -- The Cubs optioned struggling outfielder Tyler Colvin to the minors and made a change in their bullpen a day after hitting a new season low.

Chicago called up outfielder Tony Campana from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and replaced Marcos Mateo with reliever Scott Maine. Cincinnati's 7-4 win on Monday night left the Cubs a season-low five games below .500.

Colvin batted only .113 with two homers in 28 games. Campana was a 13th-round draft pick out of the University of Cincinnati in 2008 and gives the Cubs a versatile outfielder with a lot of speed.

Mateo threw a wild pitch and gave up a two-run homer that let the Reds pull away on Monday. He was 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA.

Astros recall RHP Rodriguez from minors

ATLANTA -- The Houston Astros optioned struggling left-handed reliever Fernando Abad to Oklahoma City and purchased the contract of right-hander Fernando Rodriguez from the Triple-A team.

The Astros announced the move Tuesday after a 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Abad (1-4) took the loss in a 3-2 setback to the Braves on Monday. He has an 7.43 ERA in 22 games, allowing 18 hits and walking eight in 13 1-3 innings.

The 26-year-old Rodriguez is 2-3 with two saves and a 1.29 ERA in 13 games at Oklahoma City. The Astros are desperate for help in their bullpen, which has a 5.18 ERA and just five saves in 16 chances.

White Sox place Teahen on 15-day DL

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have put third baseman Mark Teahen on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle.

Teahen hasn't played since he was replaced by Omar Vizquel in the seventh inning of Chicago's victory at the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Teahen is batting .226 with one homer and four RBI in 24 games.

Vizquel started at third in Monday night's 4-0 loss to the Texas Rangers, and Brent Morel was in the lineup Tuesday against left-hander Matt Harrison.

Chicago recalled infielder Dallas McPherson to replace Teahen. McPherson hit .305 with three homers and 18 RBI in 31 games with Charlotte.

Gibson, Riggleman, Acta to be All-Star coaches

NEW YORK -- Arizona's Kirk Gibson and Washington's Jim Riggleman will be coaches for San Francisco's Bruce Bochy, the NL manager, at the All-Star game in Phoenix in July 12.

Cleveland's Manny Acta and Toronto's John Farrell will be coaches for Texas' Ron Washington, the AL manager, Major League Baseball said Tuesday.

Washington's Rangers coaches will assist with batting practice: Dave Anderson, Thad Bosley, Andy Hawkins, Mike Maddux, Jackie Moore and Gary Pettis.

Bochy's San Francisco coaches will be part of his All-Star staff: Tim Flannery, Mark Gardner, Roberto Kelly, Hensley Meulens, Dave Righetti and Ron Wotus.

Royals RHP Duffy to make big league debut

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals plan to bring up Danny Duffy to start against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night in his major league debut.

Duffy, a 22-year-old right-hander, is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in seven starts and 36 innings at Triple-A Omaha. He is among many highly rated prospects the Royals have been bringing along in a minor league system rated among the best in baseball. The Royals will select his contract from the Triple-A Storm Chasers.

On Monday night, following a 19-1 loss to Cleveland, the Royals announced that right-hander Vin Mazzaro was being optioned to Omaha and left-hander Everett Teaford was being recalled.

La Russa fires back at Reds' Brennaman

CINCINNATI -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa objects to Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman calling one of his pitchers a whiner.

Brennaman criticized Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter on the air Monday, a day after Cincinnati beat St. Louis 9-7 to sweep their three-game series. Carpenter was upset about the condition of the mound and the smoke that lingered in Great American Ball Park from fireworks set off after a Reds home run.

Before a game Tuesday in St. Louis, La Russa noted that Brennaman is in the broadcasters' wing of baseball's Hall of Fame. La Russa said Brennaman "earned the right to get into the Hall of Fame. And now he ought to keep earning that respect instead of abusing it."