Strasburg to pitch off mound soon  —  NEW YORK — Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was in Washington on Tuesday to see an orthopedist.  It was a routine checkup on his right elbow, which was found to be sound.  —  The next step is to pitch off the mound, and general manager Mike Rizzo said that will happen “any day.”

Source: Yankees considering Posada options  —  The New York Yankees will reconsider Jorge Posada's future with the team if his numbers don't improve by the All-Star break, according a baseball official with knowledge of the Yankees' thinking.  —  On Wednedsay, Yankees manager Joe Girardi left Posada …

Peavy Throws Shutout in Season Home Debut  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Jake Peavy pitched a three-hitter in his home debut this season, outdueling Justin Masterson and making Adam Dunn's sacrifice fly in the first inning stand up to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.

Niese goes seven strong as Mets beat Nationals in heavy rain  —  NEW YORK — Jonathon Niese pitched seven sharp innings, some of them in heavy rain, and Justin Turner added to his surprising tear with a two-run double that sent the New York Mets to a 3-0 victory over the light-hitting Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

Holliday and Berkman Leave Cards' Game  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals cleanup hitter Matt Holliday was removed after two innings, complaining of tightness in his left quadriceps.  —  The Cardinals were minus all three starting outfielders after Lance Berkman was taken out as a precaution …

Blue Jays pay for error of their ways  —  Toronto— From Thursday's Globe and Mail  —  The Toronto Blue Jays returned home riding the high of a six-game win streak and the continuing home run assault of Jose Bautista, their all-star outfielder.  —  They were quickly jolted back to reality …

Pirates Beat Reds 5-0, End 6-Game Slide  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Charlie Morton shut down Cincinnati's powerful lineup again, throwing a five-hitter for his second career shutout, and Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run homer Wednesday night, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-0 victory that snapped their six-game losing streak.

Vargas runs scoreless streak to 16 innings, M's beat Angels  —  SEATTLE — Jason Vargas went seven innings and denied Jered Weaver another chance at becoming the first pitcher in the majors to reach seven wins, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Teixeira: 'I'll always love Baltimore'  —  Severna Park native on angry fans, charity, O's ‘bright future’  —  When Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira takes the field Wednesday night against the Baltimore Orioles, he's returning home and entering enemy territory.

Giants fan Stow opens eyes but remains critical  —  SAN FRANCISCO — A Giants fan brutally beaten on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium is opening his eyes but remains in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital.  —  Chief neurosurgeon Dr. Geoff Manley said Wednesday that 42-year-old Bryan Stow …

A-Rod planning to have hip looked at  —  BALTIMORE — Alex Rodriguez is planning to have his surgically repaired right hip checked in the coming days, even though the Yankees cleanup hitter said it is not bothering him.  —  Rodriguez hit two home runs Tuesday night against the Rays, but had been in a miserable slump before then.

Bad endings for several beloved players  —  From Ozzie Smith to Sammy Sosa to Ken Griffey Jr., the conclusion was pretty awful  —  Jorge Posada said he's sorry.  He had a “bad day,” and manager Joe Girardi's decision to drop him to ninth in the batting order prompted him to do the previously unthinkable …

Red Sox score late in rain-soaked win over Tigers  —  BOSTON — Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled off the left field wall in the eighth inning, scoring Carl Crawford from first and giving the Boston Red Sox their fifth straight win, 1-0 over the Detroit Tigers on a rainy Wednesday night.

Matsuzaka joining Lackey on disabled list  —  In a span of roughly 24 hours, the Red Sox lost 40 percent of their rotation.  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka was diagnosed with a sprained ligament in his right elbow yesterday and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list today, joining John Lackey.