Pregame notes: One-more-day kind of thing  —  Nick Swisher said he feels better today than he did yesterday, and he felt better yesterday than he did the day before.  He acknowledged this afternoon that the initial problem was a little worse than he indicated back in Detroit.

Beckett on disabled list  —  Josh Beckett's bad back has landed him on the disabled list.  —  Joe Nelson was called up.  —  Beckett on disabled list

Reports: Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez to apologize, will be in lineup tonight against Cardinals  —  Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez told ESPN Deportes he's sorry the last couple of days have gotten so “ugly” and that he is prepared to apologize to his teammates …

Don't make Epstein face the music for this  —  NEW YORK — No, Theo Epstein was not with the Red Sox last night.  —  The general manager was seen at the Pearl Jam concert at TD Garden Monday night, which led some to question where his priorities are.  Well, relax.

Game 41: Twins at Red Sox  —  The Sox are home for two days.  Here are the lineups for tonight's game:  —  RED SOX (20-20)  —  Drew RF  —  Pedroia 2B  —  Martinez C  —  Youkilis 1B  —  Ortiz DH  —  Beltre 3B  —  Hermida LF  —  Hall SS  —  McDonald CF  —  Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.46).

Herd tallies losses: one game, four players  —  To say it was a painful evening for the Buffalo Bisons might be an understatement.  —  Four players were injured during the team's 8-6 loss in 11 innings to the Charlotte Knights on Tuesday, the most serious being lead-off man Jason Pridie …

Should Brewers fire Macha?  Maybe, but on performance, not personality  —  When a team goes as sour as a three-month-old carton of milk, a faction either wants the manager fired or it wants him to suddenly start shooting fire out of every available orifice.

Rubin: Wright's all wrong  —  Mets' Manuel planning Wednesday rest for struggling third baseman … ATLANTA — David Wright bears the weight of an entire organization's struggles, whether he admits it or not.  That burden appears particularly heavy these days.

Konerko's big bat could help a contender  —  Paul Konerko has hit 13 home runs this season, the most in the major leagues.  —  That may surprise you.  Maybe it shouldn't.  —  Konerko is coming off a season in which he clubbed 28 and didn't spend a day on the disabled list.

Maya Unblocked, Yankees Interested  —  The latest model from Cuba is now officially on the showroom floor.  Nine months after defecting, pitcher Yunesky Maya* has been cleared to sign as a free agent, reports Jorge Ebro at El Nuevo Herald (link in Spanish).

Texas Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on overcoming yips: ‘I know I can do it’  —  OKLAHOMA CITY — Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia still is having trouble making an accurate throw back to the pitcher's mound, and he knows he won't return to the major leagues with the Texas Rangers until he figures it out.

Jon Heyman>DAILY SCOOP  —  More ColumnsEmail Jon HeymanFollow Jon Heyman on  —  Inside the mess with the Marlins (cont.)  —  Of Mets' M and M boys, Manuel's the one under review  —  Mets manager Jerry Manuel is under the gun, whether it's deserved or not.

CUBS IN BRIEF: Hendry looking, but no relief in sight  —  The return of Carlos Zambrano to the starting rotation figures to ratchet up the Cubs' need for a late-inning right-hander.  That doesn't mean general manager Jim Hendry is any more likely to pull off a trade in May than he was last week.

Dickey Takes His Version of Knuckleball to Mets  —  ATLANTA — In their almost 50 years of existence, the Mets have had more knuckleheads than knuckleballers, but the gap will be closed slightly Wednesday when R. A. Dickey throws his version of the pitch for the Mets against Washington.