MLB Notes: Sanchez’s year over?

Giants left-hander Jonathan Sanchez might be done for the season with a left ankle sprain that isn’t improving.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday that Sanchez hasn’t made progress, more disturbing injury news for the reigning World Series champions. Sanchez last threw Aug. 19 at Houston to see if he could start two days later, but he didn’t show signs of improvement.

Ethier’s knee issues cause commotion

All-Star right fielder Andre Ethier was held out of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup because of a sore right knee, and the team is disputing the nature of the injury.

Ethier went public with his problem in the Los Angeles Times, which caused a clamor throughout the clubhouse and resulted in a 15-minute closed-door meeting with manager Don Mattingly and general manager Ned Colletti.

The outfielder’s remarks to a Times columnist gave the impression that Ethier had repeatedly told the Dodgers he couldn’t play and that they instead insisted he did.

Mattingly denied that implication, saying before the series finale against Colorado that he was blindsided by the information in the column.

Rangers: No update on man who fell

The Texas Rangers are providing no additional information on the condition of a male fan knocked unconscious after falling 21 feet in a stairwell while leaving a game at Rangers Ballpark on Saturday.

Citing privacy laws, the team gave no updates Sunday on what happened the previous night.

Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (strained hamstring) will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Round Rock. … The Twins recalled catcher Rene Rivera from Triple-A Rochester for extra backup while Joe Mauer is recovering from a stiff neck. … Indians outfielder Michael Brantley will have surgery to remove part of the hamate bone in his right hand and will miss the rest of the season.