Pavano to pitch Saturday for Yankees  —  Carl Pavano has been informed he will start Saturday for the Yankees against the Baltimore Orioles, Pavano's agent Tom O'Connell said today.  —  Pavano last pitched in the majors on April 9, 2007.  He has been out all year after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery on June 5, 2007.

Blue Jays acquire Bautista  —  The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have acquired INF JOSE BAUTISTA from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later.  —  BAUTISTA, 27, is currently with Indianapolis (AAA) of the International League, having appeared in five games, hitting .300 (6-20) with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.

Lee wins 18th, Sizemore tallies 7 RBI to lead Indians sweep  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Cliff Lee won his AL-best 18th victory and seventh straight decision, backed by Grady Sizemore's career-high seven RBI, as Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 10-3 on Thursday.  —  GAME REPORT: Indians 10, Royals 3

Phils looking for depth behind plate  —  The Phillies continue to look at ways to improve their roster for the stretch run, no matter how small the improvement might be.  —  A club source confirmed yesterday that the Phillies were interested in catcher David Ross, who was released Monday by Cincinnati.

A Look Ahead To Yankees' Impending Free Agents  —  By Cork Gaines [August 21 at 12:39pm CST]  —  The Yankees have several big-name free agents looming this off-season, including Bobby Abreu, Andy Pettite, Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Mussina, and Jason Giambi ($5MM buyout of '09 $22MM option).

Sox demote Buchholz after another pummeling  —  BALTIMORE - Even he knew, as he walked off the mound, as he walked out of the major leagues (for now), what his fate would be.  There was little else to do, little leeway, on a team for which every win is precious.

Dunn frees up D-Backs to be themselves  —  You want to know about the Adam Dunn effect?  —  OK, here goes:  —  Bottom of the first inning Wednesday at Chase Field.  The San Diego Padres have a 4-0 lead and Jake Peavy on the mound.  —  That's as sure of a thing as there is in baseball.

INSIDE PITCH  —  Ricky Nolasco gave the bullpen a rare night off Tuesday.  —  Nolasco threw the first complete game by a Marlins starter since Anibal Sanchez went eight innings in a 2-1 loss on Sept. 16, 2006.  That snapped a major league record 301 straight games without a Marlins starter going the distance.

AMAZIN' YOUTH WINS NY BATTLE  —  DANIEL MURPHY came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning.  The Brave-Mets game was scoreless.  —  Atlanta's fine young starter Jair Jurrjens got ahead 1-2.  But one piece of information we have learned about Murphy quickly is that he has some Wade Boggs in him.

These Yankees Need To Be Dismantled - Immediately  —  “Break up the Yankees” was the cry after the Joe DiMaggio-led Bombers won straight championships between 1936 and 1939.  In an effort to stop the Yankees from improving or replenishing their dominant team, the American League even briefly adopted …

Prospect Q&A: Jordan Schafer  —  Braves outfielder speaks about 50-game suspension … Ben Badler: Let's go back ... to the Year 2000.  You were featured in Baseball America that year as the top 13-year-old in the country.  What did you think when you read that and how did that affect you?

Ryan Church returns Friday  —  Ryan Church will make his long-awaited return to the Mets tomorrow, sources told the Daily News.  —  “I'm champing at the bit,” he said after going 0-for-4 in a rehab game with Double-A Binghamton Wednesday night following a flight from Triple-A New Orleans.

A-Rod says critics are off base  —  TORONTO - Alex Rodriguez's struggles with runners in scoring position have been well-documented, but it has been his decision-making that has cost the Yankees in the past two weeks.  —  With the Yanks trailing the Blue Jays by a run in the ninth on Tuesday …

Talent in center could make Taveras the odd man out  —  LOS ANGELES — The Rockies' center field position sits at the epicenter of activity.  Ryan Spilborghs is going out on a rehab assignment, Scott Podsednik is coming back Friday, Dexter Fowler is returning home soon from Beijing …

Cracked molar, emotions can't stop Big Z, Cubs  —  Carlos Zambrano earned his 13th victory on the fourth try and also homered to lift the Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds  —  When Lou Piniella visited Zambrano in the seventh with two runners on, he was surprised to see what the problem was.