Pedroia shooting for Tuesday return  —  Breaking news here from Toronto.  Dustin Pedroia is on track to rejoin the Red Sox one week from today.  The Laser Show is back on.  —  Pedroia had a successful workout at the Rogers Centre this afternoon, running at nearly full speed.

Cards brawl with Reds, take division lead  —  Yadier Molina jawed with Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips in the first inning Tuesday night, sparking a bench-clearing altercation, and the Cardinals followed their catcher's lead to an 8-4 victory that moved St. Louis back into first place in the NL Central.

Mets' Beltran clears waivers  —  Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran cleared trade waivers on Monday, major-league sources told FOXSports.com.  —  The Mets are now technically able to trade Beltran, just as they were prior to the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Ethier leads Dodgers over Phillies  —  PHILADELPHIA—Andre Ethier had four hits, scored four runs and reached base six times, and Casey Blake and Jay Gibbons hit home runs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 15-9 battering of the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Let's face it, Grandy's no Johnny Damon  —  Yankees outfielder booed as Red Sox salvage series split, playoff hopes in the Bronx … Damon, that is.  —  In a moment fit for Johnny Damon no matter what side of the rivalry he was on, his Yankeereplacement, the underwhelming Curtis Granderson …

Strasburg roughed up in return  —  Stephen Strasburg returned from his first trip to the disabled list and turned in the worst start of his sometimes-spectacular rookie season.  —  Washington's prized right-hander allowed a career-high six earned runs in a career-low 4 1-3 innings Tuesday night …

Burnett's highs and lows in 2010  —  William Perlman/The Star-Ledger/US Presswire  —  It will either be a smile or a grimace for A.J. Burnett, whose starts in 2010 have been rather inconsistent  —  Yankees starter A.J. Burnett is having a strange season.

Nationals reinstate Strasburg from DL  —  WASHINGTON (AP)  —  Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is back from his first trip to the disabled list.  —  The Nationals have reinstated the rookie from the 15-day DL so he can start against the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night.  —  He last pitched July 21.

Bo is no beau as girlfriend is hit by foul ball  —  HOUSTON — A young female Astros fan got a painful lesson in chivalry Monday night at Minute Maid Park.  —  The woman, identified only as Sarah, was struck on the right arm by a foul ball off the bat of Chris Johnson in the fourth inning …

St. Louis High: Chris Carpenter lectures Brendan Ryan in dugout  —  antagonistic quotes, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa says that his team will never get “arrogant” or “show anybody up” when it wins.  —  But he must be talking about the Cards' treatment of opponents, because starting pitcher Chris Carpenter

Aging ‘El Duque’ aims for one more shot in majors  —  VIERA, Fla.—Orlando Hernandez travels to road games now in charter buses.  Private jets, luxury hotels and four-course meals don't exist here.  —  Not in the rookie league.  —  Games are played in mostly empty ballparks and even a four …

Price K's nine Tigers to win No. 15  —  Lefty sets Tampa Bay single-season record for victories  —  DETROIT — David Price made Rays history Monday night, but he had to lean on his teammates to do so.  —  The Rays' 24-year-old left-hander established a new single-season club record …

A Minor report  —  Mike Minor throws a four-seam fastball against the Mets in Spring Training, March 3, 2010.  (Icon/SMI)  —  Though I've always been interested in pitch grips, you may have recently noticed that fascination extending to my articles here at the Hardball Times.

Why We Miss the Obvious (Mariners Edition)  —  Don Wakamatsu went 127-147 before being fired by the Mariners.  (AP)  —  It all seems so obvious now, doesn't it?  Bringing back Ken Griffey Jr.?  Trading for Milton Bradley?  Giving 32-year-old Chone Figgins (and his lifetime 99 OPS+) …

Izturis reaches 1,000-hit plateau  —  BALTIMORE — Cesar Izturis got career hit No. 1,000 on Sunday with his second-inning single off White Sox starter Mark Buehrle in the Orioles' 4-3 victory, and manager Buck Showalter took time on Monday to praise his shortstop.