Pre-Game Carnage:

- Stephen Strasburg was scratched before Tuesday's start because he couldn't get loose. The official diagnosis is shoulder inflammation and he'll have both an MRI and x-ray this morning. GM Mike Rizzo made the decision to scratch Strasburg.
- Jorge Posada was a game-time scratch because of knee soreness. Francisco Cervelli got the start.
- Huston Street got hit in the "pelvic area" by a line drive in batting practice and passed out 2-3 times due to the pain, having to be carted off in an ambulance. He was diagnosed with a bruised abdomen.
- Jason Bay was scratched with concussion symptoms first suffered on the flight home from LA, stemming from a face-first collision with the wall back on Friday. He will be observed for 48 to 72 hours.

Pitching Often is Defense:

- The Angels have three DH's and two have to masquerade as corner outfielders, and on Tuesday night it caught up to them. Juan Rivera turned what should have been a running catch fly out into a go-ahead two-run double by taking a bad route. Jered Weaver unfairly got saddled with the loss as a result, turning a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 deficit.

Notables:

- Josh Tomlin's major league debut was superb. He held the Yankees to one run on three hits and no walks, though he struck out just two. He pretty much fit the pitch-to-contact profile that he's had in the minors.
- Miguel Batista was fantastic in an emergency start, shutting out the Braves through five innings, striking out six while walking one and allowing three hits.
- If the Astros were to trade Brett Myers (hint, they should), his value went up with his 12-strikeout complete game against the Cubs.
- Cliff Lee was masterful once again, only giving up a run thanks to Ian Kinsler's inexplicable decision not to cover second base on a steal attempt. He struck out 13 in a nine-inning outing without issuing a walk.
- It was Gavin Floyd's turn to cruise with a ton of run support, throwing seven shutout innings while the White Sox were scoring 11 runs for him.
- Danny Valencia was a monster again, going 4-for-5 with three RBI.
- Scott Rolen went 4-for-4 and Brandon Phillips went 4-for-6 as the Reds pounded out 19 hits total.
- Chad Billingsley threw six shutout innings against the Padres. Notably, the Dodgers pulled him after 84 pitches.

Save Chances:

- Chris Perez, converted (10). Perez gave up two singles but managed to avoid any run damage while protecting a three-run lead. The Indians have said that Kerry Wood will once again close when he comes off the DL - but the assumption here is that it's to showcase him for a trade, and Perez will resume closing. Just beaware that for at least some amount of time, Perez's run as the closer will be interrupted. Wood (blister) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday.
- Matt Capps, converted (25). One strikeout in a clean inning.
- Rafael Soriano, converted (27). This one was choppy - Soriano allowed two hits, including a ground-rule double, and a walk, before inducing a game-ending double play off the bat of Miguel Cabrera, of all hitters.
- Octavio Dotel, converted (21). One hit (a double by Brad Hawpe) but no runs allowed and a strikeout.
- Jonathan Papelbon, converted (24).
- Jonathan Broxton, converted (20).
- Brian Wilson, converted (30). Gave up a solo homer to Dan Uggla with a three-run lead, but that was it. Two strikeouts.

Other Closer Outings:

- Alfredo Simon gave up a two-run homer to Jose Bautista in mop-up duty.
- Francisco Rodriguez - nobody closes out six-run leads better.
- Neftali Feliz got the win thanks to Nelson Cruz's homer in the 10th.
- Jon Rauch finished up with a nine-run lead.
- Brian Fuentes allowed a run on two hits and two walks (one intentional).

Non-Closer Reliever Outings:

- Mike Gonzalez entered the game in the sixth inning, with the O's already trailing 6-0.
- Chad Qualls gave up two more runs on a two-run Cody Ransom homer. His ERA sits at 8.51 with a 2.05 WHIP. Has there been a worse reliever that was drafted in nearly every league this year?
- Andrew Cashner had his worst day as a major leaguer, giving up all six runs to the Astros, including a Lance Berkman grand slam.
- Joe Inglett came on to pitch the ninth for the Brewers and threw a knuckleball, getting a 1-2-3 inning.
- Hong-Chih Kuo went two innings for a change, striking out five.

Lineup-o-logy:

- Brian Roberts got a routine day off on Tuesday to rest his back and keep it off the Skydome/Rogers turf.
- The O's are debating whether to replace Bradley Bergesen in the rotation following his last debacle.
- Troy Tulowitzki batted fourth in his return from the DL. He went 0-for-4 and also committed an error.

Injuries:

- B.J. Upton rolled his ankle in the first inning of Tuesday's game, getting replaced by Ben Zobrist in center, with Reid Brignac coming on to play second base, where Zobrist started. If Upton has to go on the DL, do the Rays turn to Desmond Jennings?
- Justin Upton left in the fifth inning of his game with tightness in his right hip.
- Jimmy Rollins sat out with a bruised left foot, getting replaced by Wilson Valdez, who batted eighth.
- Shane Victorino left in the seventh inning with a left oblique strain. He'll have an MRI in the morning. Domonic Brown could possibly get the call if Victorino has to go on the DL. Ross Gload came into the game when Victorino departed, with Jayson Werth sliding over to center.
- Jamie Moyer will get a second opinion on his elbow from Dr. Lewis Yocum.
- Tyler Walker has a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder and is out for the year.
- R.A. Dickey felt some discomfort in his last start, but has been cleared to make his next start.
- Jeff Keppinger left in the eighth inning with a tight lower back.
- Geovany Soto (foot) sat out and will also sit out on Wednesday.
- Andrew Bailey (back spasms) still wasn't available on Tuesday.
- Jose Lopez left with a tight left hamstring in the second inning. Franklin Gutierrez was away from the team due to a personal issue.
- Gil Meche is out for the season due to his shoulder injury. Mismanagement all the way around from the Royals on this one, dating back to last season.
- Corey Hart (thumb) missed another game, but said that he'd come back on Friday.
- J.D. Drew was a late scratch with a tight left hamstring. After the game he said that he'd been dealing with the pain for three weeks.
- Andre Ethier (stomach virus) didn't start but had a two-out, two-run pinch-single.

Stolen Bases:

- Shin-Soo Choo (13); Nyjer Morgan 2 (26,27); Shane Victorino (20); Ian Desmond (9); Josh Willingham (8); Angel Pagan (23); Ben Zobrist (20); Carl Crawford 3 (35,36,37); Carlos Lee (2); Fred Lewis (11); Jason Bourgeois (7); Coco Crisp (12); Chris Getz (11); Joey Votto (8); Howie Kendrick (10); Will Venable (17); Everth Cabrera (8); Andres Torres (18).

Caught Stealing:

- Derek Jeter (4); Carlos Ruiz (1); Denard Span (2); Nick Punto (2); Xavier Paul (1); Hanley Ramirez (7).

Home Runs:

- Jose Bautista 2 (29,30); Carlos Pena (22); Mark Reynolds (24); Jeff Francoeur (9); Jayson Werth (14); Jose Reyes (7); Alexi Ramirez (10); Paul Konerko (23); Yovani Gallardo (4); Ryan Howard (23); Andruw Jones (14); Cody Ransom (2); Tyler Colvin (16); Lance Berkman (13); Nelson Cruz (14); J.J. Hardy (4); Rickie Weeks (22); Neil Walker (4); Brad Hawpe (6); Clint Barmes (8); Bobby Abreu (12); Dan Uggla 2 (20,21); Cody Ross (9); Juan Uribe (14); Edgar Renteria (2).

Tough Days:

- Adam Wainwright suffered a rare bad outing, giving up six runs over five innings, allowing six hits and three walks. Following this outing, he has a 1.12 ERA at home, 3.38 ERA on the road (which is still pretty good, but worth noting just how good he's been at home).
- Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up a whopping 11 runs on 11 hits, including three homers, in a "take one for the team" outing.
- Ian Kinsler: Check out the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram for more details on Kinsler's gaffes.
- Yovani Gallardo and Edinson Volquez combined to pitch a drudgery first three innings, both getting pounded. Gallardo gave up six runs (five earned) over 2.2, Volquez gave up four runs on six hits and four walks over 3.2 innings.

Transactions:

- Michael Brantley got sent down to make room for Josh Tomlin. Wonderful - nice to see he had the same lack of rope as last time.
- Brad Mills got called up to start Wednesday's game for the Jays. Mike McCoy got sent down.