Kennedy to return Thursday  —  Yankees' fans will not see Kei Igawa the sequel, at least not any time soon.  —  Ian Kennedy will be called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to pitch Thursday against the Rays.  —  Kennedy will start for SWB tonight in Indianapolis in the first game of a doubleheader …

Tavarez DFA'd  —  The Red Sox have designated Julian Tavarez for assignment to make room for Sean Casey, who was activated today.  —  Casey will be in the lineup, hitting eighth and playing first base.  Kevin Youkilis is getting the day off.  Coco Crisp will be leading off with Jacoby Ellsbury also getting a break.

Garcia top hired gun for '08 stretch run  —  The best remaining pitcher on the free-agent market is not David Wells, it's Freddy Garcia.  The righthander, who had surgery to repair his throwing shoulder on Aug. 30, will step on the mound Thursday and begin the final laps to a return that should occur sometime around the All-Star break.

A-Rod improving but not likely to play this week  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez's strained right quadriceps will keep him from playing this week, causing him to miss this weekend's series against the crosstown rival New York Mets.  —  “It's still not where it needs to be.

Orioles' Jones a ‘work in progress’  —  Center fielder enduring highs and lows at the plate, but excelling defensively  —  The frustration from one of the most difficult days of his young baseball life still lingered when Adam Jones boarded the Orioles' team charter for the relatively short flight …

Sandberg suspended for three games  —  Chiefs manager serving for role in bench-clearing incident  —  CHICAGO — Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg was suspended three games for his role in a bench-clearing incident last Thursday involving his Class A Peoria Chiefs team and Clinton manager Mike Micucci.

Duke, Sanchez lead Pirates past Braves in DH opener  —  PITTSBURGH - Freddy Sanchez's three-run double in the fifth inning broke a scoreless tie, leading Zach Duke and the streaking Pittsburgh Pirates past the Atlanta Braves 5-0 today in the first game of a doubleheader.

Unhappy Stewart looking like odd Jay out  —  CLEVELAND — Shannon Stewart is experiencing a season only a mother could love.  He tried calling her on Mother's Day from the visitors clubhouse, but no answer.  It figures.  His timing seems to be way off in everything.

Wrigley return nothing special for Maddux  —  The drama was taken out of Greg Maddux's return to Wrigley Field this week when he won his 350th game late Saturday, becoming only the third pitcher since the 1920s to do it.  —  San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman handed Maddux the ball after saving a 3-2 victory over Colorado.