Baseball notebook: Red Sox fight injuries

Boston Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay was out of the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s game against Tampa Bay because of a mildly strained right hamstring.

Bay left Saturday’s game at Baltimore in the sixth inning with a cramp in the hamstring. He expects to start in today’s game.

“Give it one more day, probably the smart thing to do,” Bay said. “It feels a lot better than it did yesterday.”

J.D. Drew, slowed by a groin strain, started in right field. He felt OK after running before the game.

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, out since July 18 with a lower back strain, said he will throw a bullpen session today. While his back has greatly improved, Wakefield said a nerve irritation has caused discomfort in his calf.

“Throwing a side for the first time and going from there,” Wakefield said. “My biggest hurdle right now, I think, is fielding my position.”

Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, on the disabled list since June 20 due to a right shoulder strain, threw at 120 feet and is scheduled for his initial bullpen session next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Padres release Prior

The San Diego Padres have released right-hander Mark Prior, whose once-promising career has been interrupted by two shoulder surgeries since April 2007.

Prior had signed a minor league contract with the Padres in January.

General manager Kevin Towers said the Padres didn’t see enough progress with Prior’s rehab to believe he could help the big league club this season.

Clearing the bases

Troy Glaus’ bulging disk in his lower back has not responded to treatment, forcing St. Louis to shut down the third baseman’s minor league rehab assignment. Glaus had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in January and hasn’t played all season. … Third baseman Scott Rolen got a CT scan that came back normal, an indication he could be back in the Cincinnati lineup within a few days. Rolen was beaned on the left side of the head by a pitch from Colorado’s Jason Marquis on Sunday. … Minnesota pitcher Kevin Slowey is out of surgery, and his right wrist is expected to be OK for spring training. Slowey had a bone chip removed. His wrist will require two to four months of rehab.