BRADLEY PASSES TEST (1:29 a.m. ET)
Milton Bradley's surgically repaired right knee passed a major test.
Bradley, making his first start in right field this spring, tripled and handled two chances during the first four innings of the Texas Rangers' 5-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
"He looked awesome," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
Bradley, limited to designated-hitter duty since making his Cactus League debut Friday, was replaced by Nelson Cruz in the top of the fifth.
Bradley recorded the first out of the game when he settled under Ichiro Suzuki's high fly to straightaway right field. In the bottom of the first, Bradley followed Blalock's two-run homer with a triple off the right-field wall, barely beating the relay to the bag after a slight bobble round second.
Frank Catalanotto singled Bradley home to give Texas a 3-0 lead.
"He scared the heck out of me when he stumbled, turning that ball into a triple," Washington said. "It was him he was trying to prove it to. Where that ball was he said, 'It's a triple, not a double.'"
-- The Associated Press
ESCOBAR SUFFERS SETBACK (1:00 a.m. ET)
An already depleted Angels pitching staff suffered another blow when Kelvim Escobar, who is rehabbing a sore shoulder, was shut down indefinitely after experiencing discomfort over the weekend, according to several media reports.
"Everything was going well, and I was just throwing easy when I felt the pain come back," Escobar told MLB.com. "It's very frustrating, very disappointing. I'll have to wait and see how it goes now. I have to be patient. I can't try to rush it and do too much before I'm ready."
Escobar, who won 18 games last season, is working his way back from shoulder inflammation from September. He aggravated it while working out in December and had been doing extensive rehab since February.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia told the Web site he didn't know how long Escobar would be out.
"I don't think it's anything unusual in the rehab scenario to take a step back," Scioscia said. "He was at baby steps. It wasn't anything he was pushing. It's just ... little glitches.
ROWAND HIT BY PITCH (7:53 p.m. ET)
Giants outfielder Aaron Rowand left San Francisco's game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday with a lower right leg contusion after getting hit by a pitch from Rich Hill during the third inning.
Rowand was hit on his right shin. He fell to the ground and stayed there for a minute before Giants head trainer Dave Groeschner helped him to his feet. He walked off the field under his own power. Fred Lewis ran for him.
"I'm all right. It's just a shin burger," Rowand said. "My left leg got out of the way quick enough but my right leg didn't."
Said Hill: "You don't want to see anything like that, especially in spring training. That's not what I want to happen."
Rowand, the Giants' biggest free-agent signing during the offseason, singled in his first at-bat and is hitting .321 on the spring with a pair of home runs and 10 RBIs. He's expected to play in Wednesday's game at Fresno.
-- The Associated Press
CREDE AT 3B FOR CHISOX (7:33 p.m. ET)
With Joe Crede entering free agency next season, the White Sox were prepared to give third base to youngster Josh Fields. That plan is on hold.
Chicago announced on Tuesday that Fields will start the season at Triple-A Charlotte, allowing last season's starter at third to remain.
White Sox general manager Ken Williams had been shopping Crede this spring but couldn't find a deal to his liking.
Crede hit .216 in 47 games before back surgery ended his 2007 season. He signed a one-year, $5.1 million deal in January. Fields stepped in for Crede and hit .244 with 23 homers and 67 RBIs in 2007, but he reportedly wasn't surprised by the demotion.
"He understands where we are, where he is in his career," Williams said. "To his credit, he said, 'Well, I'll use it as an opportunity to improve on some things not only for myself, but to you guys. I'll get better defensively, I'll get better offensively so that I can be the total package when I get back to the big leagues.' A class reaction."
Juan Uribe will start the year as the everyday second baseman, but rookie Alexei Ramirez will get playing time there, along with spot starts from Pablo Ozuna, Williams said.
-- ESPN.com news services, The Associated Press
ASTROS' MATSUI TO DL (6:43 p.m. ET)
The Astros' new second baseman won't break camp with the team.
Houston announced that it put Kaz Matsui on the disabled list on Tuesday. He had surgery March 17 for an anal fissure but will be eligible to come off the disabled list April 5 when the Astros take on the Cubs.
GONZALEZ ON TRACK (6:37 p.m. ET)
Mike Gonzalez, recovering from ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow, said Tuesday he hopes to come off the disabled list by the first week of May. He'll remain at the team's facility in Kissimmee, Fla., when the Braves return to Atlanta this week, and thinks it will be easier then for him to focus on his comeback.
"I love to see the guys around, but I'm ready for them to take off so I can get going with things here," the reliever said.
Gonzalez had surgery on May 31. He had been projected for a midseason return but would beat that timetable if he is back in May.
"It's feeling really good," he said. "I haven't had any setbacks. Maybe a little soreness here and there, but it's gone the next day."
Gonzalez threw in the bullpen Tuesday and will throw five minutes of batting practice every other day this week. He hopes to begin throwing in minor league games next week.
-- The Associated Press
NO WORD ON BENSON (6:05 p.m. ET)
Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. wouldn't comment on right-hander Kris Benson's contract situation.
The deadline to put Benson on the 40-man roster was Tuesday. When it passes, Benson has 24 hours to opt out of his minor league contract and become a free agent.
Benson sat out last year following shoulder surgery. Amaro said Benson could be ready by late May or early June.
"He has to build up innings and arm strength," Amaro said. "He has a ways to go."
Meanwhile, Phillies closer Brad Lidge retired all five batters he faced with four strikeouts in a minor league game. Lidge will start the season on the disabled list.
-- The Associated Press
PENNY TO START OPENER (5:38 p.m. ET)
The Los Angeles Dodgers will have new face on the mound for Opening Day.
According to MLB.com, manager Joe Torre has tabbed Brad Penny to start the opener on Monday against the Giants at Dodger Stadium. Derek Lowe has started the last three Dodgers openers.
"I'll take it just like another game," said Penny, according to the Web site. "I won't get too emotional for a start like this. It's not like a World Series or playoff game, but I'm excited about it."
Penny went 16-4 last season with a 3.03 ERA.
KAZMIR TO DL (5:36 p.m. ET)
Scott Kazmir has officially gone from Opening Day starter to sitting.
The Tampa Bay Rays announced that they put the left-hander on the disabled list on Tuesday, retroactive to March 21.
Kazmir, who went 13-9 with a 3.48 ERA last season, has been battling an elbow strain. The Rays expect him to return in the middle of April.
James Shields has received the nod to start the opener for Tampa.
NIX GETS THE NOD (5:29 p.m. ET)
Rockies rookie Jayson Nix earned a starting job at second base thanks to his stellar defense, plus a sprinkling of offense.
"It's a relief to know I made it," said Nix, who was anointed the starter after the game Monday against Milwaukee. "But honestly, it doesn't feel any different. I still have a job to do."
The Rockies were holding open auditions this spring for the second-base job following the departure of Kaz Matsui. Nix beat out the likes of Jeff Baker, Clint Barmes, Marcus Giles and Ian Stewart for the first crack at starting.
The team knew Nix was solid in the field; the concern was over his bat. So far this spring, he's hitting .300, mostly from the No. 8 spot in the batting order.
"To play in the big leagues, you've got to be a complete player," said Nix, who hit .292 last season with the Sky Sox. "I had to show them something."
-- The Associated Press
SMOLTZ TESTS SHOULDER (5:23 p.m. ET)
John Smoltz said he felt no discomfort while throwing Tuesday morning, the first time he tested his right shoulder since he was held out of his last scheduled spring start.
Smoltz was encouraged that the stiffness that caused him to miss a start Friday was gone. He played catch in the outfield for only about 10 minutes and he still appears almost certain to open the season on the disabled list. He could come off the DL to make his first start on April 6, against the New York Mets.
Smoltz said he hopes to throw off a mound on Wednesday or Thursday and then throw again on Saturday. He may need to start in a minor league game before being deemed ready for the regular season.
The main point for Smoltz on Tuesday was to throw without pain.
"I don't care how many times I go through it and do it, you get that anticipation of what it's going to feel like and hopefully it clears out. It has, to this point," Smoltz said after throwing with pitching coach Roger McDowell watching.
"The last time I threw was more or less a chore. This wasn't a chore."
-- The Associated Press
LO DUCA GOES BACK-TO-BACK (5:14 p.m. ET)
Paul Lo Duca caught for the Nationals during their 5-3 exhibition loss to the Detroit Tigers, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double before being replaced by a pinch runner in the seventh inning.
It was the first time Lo Duca has played in major league games on consecutive days as he comes off left knee surgery. Afterward, he pronounced himself fit -- and set for the regular season despite a shortened spring training.
"My knee feels great. Everything's on schedule," said Lo Duca, who signed a $5 million, one-year deal with Washington after two seasons with the New York Mets. "The timing's starting to come a little bit, so hopefully it will be there opening night."
Barring a setback, Lo Duca will be behind the plate when left-hander Odalis Perez winds up and throws the first pitch in Nationals Park history Sunday night against the Atlanta Braves.
-- The Associated Press
BREWERS RELEASE VARGAS (4:34 p.m. ET)
The Brewers released pitcher Claudio Vargas on Tuesday, a move that puts the team closer to finalizing its starting rotation.
With Vargas' release and a recent serious elbow injury to left-hander Chris Capuano, the final three spots in the rotation likely belong to right-handers Dave Bush and Carlos Villanueva and left-hander Manny Parra -- at least until Yovani Gallardo returns from the minor knee operation he had early in spring training.
Gallardo could return in mid-April.
Capuano will see Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday for a second opinion on his recently diagnosed torn elbow ligament. Andrews performed Tommy John surgery on Capuano in 2002.
The right-handed Vargas went 11-6 with a 5.09 ERA in 29 games for Milwaukee last season. He was 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts this spring.
-- The Associated Press
CANTU WINS JOB (2:31 p.m. ET)
Jorge Cantu has won the battle to replace Miguel Cabrera at third base for the Florida Marlins.
Cantu's lone remaining competition for the job, Dallas McPherson, was optioned Tuesday to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Cantu hasn't played third base on a consistent basis since 2005 and has spent most of his career at second.
"This is the first time he has played third base the majority of his career," manager Fredi Gonzalez said before Tuesday's game with Baltimore. "He's a good defender over there. I'm not going to say he's going to win a Gold Glove or be a Brooks Robinson-type guy, but I think he'll do well at third base."
Alfredo Amezaga and Jason Wood will back up at third base.
-- The Associated Press
RIVAS MAKES PIRATES (11:36 a.m. ET)
The Pirates have purchased infielder Luis Rivas' contract from Triple-A Indianapolis. They plan to start him at second base on Opening Day if Freddy Sanchez's sore shoulder isn't better.
The Pirates also cut four players Tuesday, including former major league outfielder Kevin Thompson. The Bucs now are down to 33 in camp -- eight over the season-opening limit.
Thompson was optioned to Triple-A, while non-roster left-hander Casey Fossum and right-hander Elmer Dessens were reassigned to the minor league camp. Right-hander Jonah Bayliss was designated for assignment, creating a spot on the 40-man roster for Rivas.
Rivas was the Twins' starting second baseman for most of the 2001 through 2004 seasons. He has a .348 average with no home runs, five doubles, a triple and three RBIs this spring. He has played only four games in the majors since the 2005 season, all with Cleveland last season.
-- The Associated Press
FIGUEROA TAKING THE FIFTH? (9:26 a.m. ET)
A surprise name might fill the Mets' fifth starter role to start the season.
With Orlando Hernandez struggling with his new delivery and Mike Pelfrey struggling period, Nelson Figueroa has emerged as a viable candidate to fill the role.
"He's gotten stretched out, he played winter ball, his arm's good," manager Willie Randolph said, according to the Star-Ledger. "Yeah, he's a possibility, too."
The 33-year-old Figueroa, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2004 with the Pirates, has a 2.87 ERA in six spring games -- including two starts. In a spring game on Sunday against the Cardinals, El Duque and Pelfrey combined to allow 17 hits and 13 runs.
ILLNESS HITS YANKEES CAMP (9:13 a.m. ET)
Johnny Damon was scratched from the Yankees' lineup Monday night due to illness. The team sent him home "instead of me being here breathing on people," he said, according to the Star-Ledger.
Reliever Joba Chamberlain was sick with a similar illness, which includes a sore throat and headache, on Sunday.
"Joba got it the other day," manager Joe Girardi said, according to the Star-Ledger. "It went through the minor league camp. You kind of hold your breath that it's not going to go through our camp. It's not a good time. … So you just hope it's a couple of days."
According to the newspaper, Chamberlain said he felt better after "I slept for 22 hours."
UNFORTUNATE SON (8:57 a.m. ET)
Orioles manager Dave Trembley doesn't play favorites -- even when it comes to his own son.
Kevin Trembley, 17, has been serving as a bat boy and performing other duties for the team this spring, but he was late for the Orioles' workout Monday and received a lecture from his father.
Making matters worse, the lecture, which the Baltimore Sun described as playful in tone, came in front of Kevin's favorite player, Nick Markakis.
"He was late," Dave Trembley told the Sun. "Print that in [the newspaper]."
