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Nats bring in McLaren

John McLaren will serve as interim manager of the Nationals for only a short while, GM Mike Rizzo said. (Associated Press)
John McLaren will serve as interim manager of the Nationals for only a short while, GM Mike Rizzo said. (Associated Press)

John McLaren is moving from bench coach to interim manager of the Washington Nationals following the resignation of Jim Riggleman.

He probably won’t hold the position for long.

McLaren’s duties began Friday when the Nationals opened a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

General manager Mike Rizzo said that McLaren is an interim manager for days and not weeks. He added that the Nationals have already talked to several candidates to be the interim manager for the rest of the 2011 season. Included on that list is former major league manager Davey Johnson, who is a senior advisor to Rizzo.

McLaren was ejected in his first game as interim.

Phillies place Oswalt on disabled list

The Philadelphia Phillies placed right-hander Roy Oswalt on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury.

Reliever Scott Mathieson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Oswalt, who was sidelined with a back injury earlier this year.

Beckett’s start pushed back following illness

Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett’s next start has been pushed back to help him recover from an illness that left him bedridden earlier this week.

Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will start in Beckett’s spot today against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with Beckett not taking the hill again until Tuesday when the Red Sox travel to Philadelphia to play the Phillies.

Jeter has no timetable for return to lineup

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter doesn’t know when he will return from a strained right calf.

“I can’t give you a timetable,” Jeter said after throwing for the fourth straight day at New York’s spring complex. “Best way to put it, when I’m ready to play I’ll be back.”

Showalter ‘benches’ third-base coach

John Russell has been relieved of his job as the Baltimore’s third base coach, trading positions with bench coach Willie Randolph in a move manager Buck Showalter deemed “a better fit for the club.”

The switch comes less than a week after Russell waved pitcher Chris Jakubauskas toward the plate with no outs in the fifth inning of a game against Washington.

Jakubauskas was tagged out at home after an awkward slide.