Ankiel leaves game with intercostal strain  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals manager Jim Riggleman filled out Tuesday's lineup card with Rick Ankiel in center field and Roger Bernadina receiving a precautionary day off.  —  But Bernadina replaced Ankiel, who exited in the second inning with a strained left intercostal (rib cage) muscle.

Yankees' Jeter Goes on DL With Strained Right Calf  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of a strained right calf, an untimely setback for the New York Yankees star as he pursues 3,000 career hits.  —  The Yankees put the All-Star shortstop on the DL …

Cool, collected Crawford returns to St. Pete  —  Left fielder hoping for warm reception in city where he thrived  —  TORONTO — Carl Crawford, as shy and quiet of a star as you'll find in the Major Leagues, was uneasy with the number of reporters who crowded his locker on a cool Sunday morning in Toronto.

Astros fire their pitching coach  —  The Astros have announced that they have fired pitching coach Brad Arnsberg.  He is being replaced by an interim: Doug Brocail, who if you put a gun to my head I probably would have guessed was still pitching mopup duty for someone out west because I tend …

Blue Jays play host to Orioles; send Villanueva to the mound  —  Sports Network  —  (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays have to be pretty happy to see the Boston Red Sox leaving town.  Their smiles are even brighter with the Baltimore Orioles coming to Rogers Centre.

RHP Phil Hughes throws in Yankees' camp game  —  TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees starter Phil Hughes took another step forward in his rehabilitation program for a shoulder injury, throwing 50 pitches Tuesday against minor leaguers in a camp game.  —  Hughes has been out since April 15 because of inflammation in his right shoulder.

Confirmed: McCourt meets Dodgers' Wednesday payroll  —  Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has met the team's Wednesday payroll, two people familiar with the Dodgers' finances said Tuesday.  —  McCourt is 5-for-5 in making payroll this season, even after Commissioner Bud Selig tabled …

Why Jim Crane Could Become Baseball's Most Controversial Owner  —  Owning a Major League Baseball club has a gratification and ego element that, for some, far surpasses a corporate takeover or merger.  To buy a team means entering a rare fraternity where you become part of baseball's incredible lineage.

White Sox's Peavy open to returning as reliever  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Jake Peavy has informed the Chicago White Sox that he is open to pitching out of the bullpen when he returns from the disabled list.  —  The White Sox right-hander threw a brief bullpen session Tuesday and the club announced …

The problem with perpetual interleague play  —  TOWER GROVE  • When it comes to covering baseball and describing injuries, it always helps to know the code words and how to translate them.  Say it with me now: A strain is actually a tear.  A “sports hernia” is often an abdominal strain, which is a tear.