Sunday, June 7, 2009

Harden to miss rehab start today

Cubs pitcher Rich Harden, who was placed on the DL on May 18, was scheduled to make a rehab start today for Triple-A Iowa. Per the Chicago Tribune, he was scratched for undisclosed reasons.

Harden was also supposed to pitch Friday against the Twins, but that will be pushed back as well.

In eight starts, Harden is 4-2 with an ERA of 4.74 and 53 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings.

He has missed four starts while on the DL.

The Hot Corner, 6/7 edition

"John Maine might be going through a period of dead arm or whatever," [Mets manager Jerry] Manuel said. "I just didn't see the electric stuff we've been known to see, and that's a little concerning when that happens." The Mets lost 7-1 to the Nats.

David Wells said Jose Canseco suggested Wells use HGH when they were White Sox teammates, but Wells passed.

Carlos Beltran says nuh uh to Pittsburgh's Adam Laroche, who said Beltran doesn't have any class. Beltran said: "I've got class. And I've got what he said that I don't have."

To keep 20-year-old Fernando Martinez in the big leagues, the Mets designated Emil Brown for assignment after activating Ryan Church.

The Padres moved Chase Headley back to third and he said "it's fun to be back there."

Tony Gwynn Jr. reached base five times in the Padres' 6-4 win over the D'Backs last night.

Despite his 2-5 start, Jonathan Sanchez is not in danger of losing his spot in the Giants' rotation.

Phillies closer Brad Lidge has now blown two saves this weekend and six on the season.

Expect fastballs from Ricky Nolasco when he returns. "Pitch with his fastball," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "That's what he does best. I think he got away from that a little bit. In a couple of starts he had at Triple-A, he did that."

"The last 10 (pitches) I cranked it up a little bit, and I felt like I was throwing fairly hard," [D'Backs pitcher Brandon Webb] said [of yesterday's bullpen session]. "That was good."

K-Rod and Brian Fuentes, his replacement in L.A., are tied for the major league lead in saves (15).

Orioles Felix Pie left Saturday's game after a foul ball bounced and hit him in the throat.

Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is near his career high in home runs (20 in 2007) with 15 already this season.

Detroit's Jim Leyland sat Miguel Cabrera for a second straight game on Saturday.

Florida's Andrew Miller was sharp in his outing yesterday against the Giants.

A's reliever Dan Giese will need surgery that probably will sideline him for at least a year.

Detroit's Edwin Jackson pitched a four-hit complete game to beat the Angels yesterday.

The Reds beat the Cubs in extra innings on a throwing error by Mike Fontenot.

Has anyone had a better 24 hours than the Dodgers' Andre Ethier? Ethier's led the Dodgers to back-to-back wins with walk-off hits.