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.”

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Byrd Helps Cubs Beat Marlins 7-5  —  MIAMI (AP) — Marlon Byrd hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs broke a three-game losing streak by beating the Florida Marlins 7-5 on Wednesday night.  —  Reed Johnson hit his third career pinch-hit home run for the Cubs to make the score 5-all in the sixth.

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.

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 …

Phillies top Rockies 2-1 in battle of NL division leaders  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Rockies and Phillies had a lot in common going into Wednesday night's game at Citizens Bank Park.  —  They both were in first place in their divisions, the Rockies in the National League West, the Phillies in the NL East.

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.