Cubs’ Prior to make first start of season
Mark Prior will make his first start of the season today in Chicago against the Detroit Tigers after missing the first 2 1/2 months with a strained shoulder.
“It’s been a long, hard road, but I’m glad that Mark’s getting back on the mound,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said before Saturday’s game. “Hopefully, we can keep him on the mound all year long.”
Already on a slower-paced program to avoid the elbow problems he had the previous two springs, Prior strained a muscle in his right shoulder in March and began the season on the disabled list for the third straight year.
He made four minor league rehab starts, allowing one unearned run and four hits while striking out 10 in 6 2/3innings for Triple-A Iowa at New Orleans on Tuesday night.
He threw 90 pitches in that game and will likely be limited to about 90 in today’s start.
“He threw 90 his last game, so that’s what we’re looking for,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said of Prior, who also made two rehab starts at Single-A and one at Double-A.
He began last season on the DL with a sore elbow, went back in May after taking a line drive in the elbow and finished 11-7 in 27 starts. He’s been there six times in all.
Matsui adjusts to minors
Kazuo Matsui settled into the cushions of a purple leather couch and stared around at his new surroundings.
The clubhouse of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox – the Triple-A team of the Colorado Rockies – may not be spacious by major league standards, but it’s going to be home for a while.
Matsui, who was traded by the New York Mets to the Rockies on June 9, already has made quite an impression with his new team.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that this guy can be a star again,” said Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells.
The Rockies aren’t sure who they’re getting. They’re hopeful it’s the Matsui who was a seven-time All-Star and four-time Golden Glove recipient with the Seibu Lions in Japan. Matsui was once regarded as highly as Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle and Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees.
But the 30-year-old Kazuo Matsui never has come close to living up to his Japanese fame. In 239 games with the Mets over three seasons, he hit .256 with 11 home runs.
Mets place Floyd on DL
The New York Mets placed left fielder Cliff Floyd on the disabled list because of a sprained left ankle.
Floyd was injured June 6 at Los Angeles running the bases in the top of the second inning and had to be helped off the field. His DL assignment is retroactive to June 7.
“I have no idea when I’ll play,” he said before the Mets’ game against Baltimore. “It’s the same and I am frustrated.”
Yankees designate Small
Aaron Small, struggling this season after going 10-0 last year, was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, who recalled pitcher T.J. Beam from Triple-A Columbus.
Small is 0-3 with an 8.46 ERA in 11 appearances, including eight in relief.
If Small clears waivers, he will join Columbus.
Claussen lands on DL
Cincinnati left-hander Brandon Claussen was diagnosed with shoulder tendinitis, prompting the Reds to put him on the 15-day disabled list.
“By no means do I think it’s anything serious,” Claussen said.
Claussen hasn’t won since May 19, going 0-4 in five starts while jeopardizing his spot in the rotation. He gave up eight hits and nine runs in two-plus innings Friday night.