Chicago White Sox could shut down Jake Peavy  —  Manager Ozzie Guillen says it's a possibility  —  Jake Peavy smiles after being introduced as the latest member of the White Sox pitching staff.  (Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press / August 1, 2009)  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Jake Peavy's goal …

Senate hopeful of the day: Curt Schilling  —  Add another name to the growing list of pols and would-be pols eyeing a run for Edward M. Kennedy's Senate seat: former Red Sox ace Curt Schilling.  —  That's right, Mr. Bloody Sock himself told NECN's Brad Puffer in an interview today that he has been …

Heroes abound in Sox's win over Rays  —  While Lester shines, Ellsbury, Papelbon steal show late  —  ST. PETERSBURG — It looked like it might have been slipping away, this game that the Red Sox once led by five runs.  At Tropicana Field, where manager Terry Francona and his team …

Giants will purchase Buster Posey's contract today  —  The Giants are calling up top catching prospect Buster Posey and he'll join the team today, sources confirmed to me.  —  Now it's clear why Posey wasn't in the lineup for Triple-A Fresno last night.  GM Brian Sabean had said repeatedly …

Ned Colletti wants to return to the Dodgers  —  The general manager, a day after acquiring Jim Thome and Jon Garland, says he'd love to be back next season.  —  Ned Colletti's contract as Dodgers' general manager includes a mutual option for 2010.  (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)  —  On The Dodgers

Sternberg talks attendance, Kazmir  —  Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg addressed the media this afternoon, touching on the hot topics of the moment—primarily attendance and the team dealing away Scott Kazmir last week.  —  Sternberg didn't seem too interested in latching onto …

Bad blood bubbling in Baltimore  —  When A.J. Burnett allowed a home run by light-hitting Felix Pie in the first inning yesterday, he turned around and shouted some unkind words in the direction of the Baltimore outfielder.  —  The words weren't necessarily at Pie, they were more an expression of frustration.

BELTRAN BACK IN ACTION  —  DH FOR BROOKLYN CYCLONES  —  Carlos Beltran's long road back took a huge step tonight, starting a a rehab assignment as DH for the Brooklyn Cyclones at KeySpan Park.  —  The Mets center fielder — out since June 22 with a bone bruise in his right knee …

Teams interested in Braves pitching surplus  —  The Rockies and D-backs both sent scouts to watch Tim Hudson make his return last night.  Like Hudson, these clubs are wondering whether the Braves will bring the veteran right-hander back to Atlanta next year.

Brad Penny joins the Dodger haters  —  PHILADELPHIA — A reporter started to ask Brad Penny about pitching in front of 42,000 crazed, Dodger-hating fans when the Giants' new No. 5 starter interrupted him.  —  “42,001,” said Penny, grinning.  —  It remains to be seen how much Penny …

Swisher baffled by homers on the road  —  New York (84-48) at Baltimore (54-79), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  BALTIMORE — Maybe Nick Swisher really just loves eating meals off a room-service tray?  It's as good an explanation as anyone has been able to come up with for his bizarre home run stats in 2009.

Lilly shines for Cubs, blanks Astros 2-0  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Ted Lilly (FSY) pitched eight shutout innings to reach the 10-win mark for the seventh consecutive season and Derrek Lee (FSY) hit a two-run homer Wednesday, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 2-0 victory over Aaron Boone (FSY) and the Houston Astros.

A-Rod's doctor optimistic about hip  —  Slugger may not need another surgery after season  —  Alex Rodriguez's recovery from a March right hip surgery has progressed so well that the doctor who performed the procedure is hopeful that the Yankees slugger won't need another surgery after the season.