Thursday, July 26, 2012

Twins area Anthony Swarzak On DL, telephone call Up Luis Perdomo

May 25, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA: Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer (7) talks with Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Anthony Swarzak (51) during the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE
Heading for that disabled checklist using a mild rotator cuff strain, Anthony Swarzak requires with him the extended relief role. while he was by no shows dominant in that part but he was quite serviceable, posting an ERA of 3.02 getting a reliever while permitting 17 runs away 44 hits in 50.2 innings. (As a starter he permitted identical amount of runs in 18.1 innings.)

In Swarzak's area the Twins have referred to as up 28-year aged perfect hander Luis Perdomo. Perdomo throws a mid-90s fastball as well as a slider within upper 80s, complimenting them using a changeup that is in reality a complete great offer more like a slower fastball. based on FanGraphs, if you're delighted believing quantities from the few many years ago, the changeup's velocity is only about 5mph much less compared to fastball.

Join us perfect after the start for Perdomo's story. He's not your daily journeyman.

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Signed as an novice free of advertising price agent out using the Dominican Republic with the Indians in 2003, he was traded for that Cardinals for Anthony Reyes in 2008 (four many years ago today, actually). At that place he experienced dominated High-A ball and was providing Double-A hitters a work for their money, striking out a complete great offer much more than a batter every inning as an intimidating 24-year old. nonetheless the Cardinals didn't safeguard him that winter, as well as the Giants picked him within Rule 5 draft. He by no shows pitched an inning for that organization, selected away waivers in earlier April '09 with the Padres.

That time period he was a standard out using the San Diego bullpen, appearing in 35 fits but racking up sixty innings. He struck out 55, permitted just 57 hits, however the 34 walks and 11 home runs kept him from owning gaudy numbers. In spite of some promise, he saw just one inning of purpose for that Padres the pursuing time period and was sent for his 1st genuine taste of Triple-A. His strikout quantities dipped that time period and didn't recover the next, and perfect after the '11 campaign he was a minor league free of advertising price agent.

Less than three days perfect after receiving his walking documents he was a member using the Minnesota Twins. also it certainly appears like Perdomo's obtained his groove back. For 26 fits and 39.1 innings he destroyed Double-A batters, striking out 43, walking just 16 and never permitting just one home run. His campaign to Triple-A yielded similarly optimistic results: 18 strikeouts in 19.2 innings, 0.6 bottom runners every inning, 0 home runs, 0.92 ERA, .157 opponent batting average.

It's difficult to acquire as well excited about a 28-year aged pitcher who has only experienced one time period of modest accomplishment within Majors, especially when that was three many years ago. But there's also something thrilling about next odds (even if you're in your fifth team).

Welcome back again for that huge leagues, Luis Perdomo. Here's hoping you can sustain your re-found minor league success.

Oh, and Carl Pavano was shifted by means of the 15-day DL for that 60-day DL to create space for Perdomo. This doesn't alter when Pavano can can be found away using the disabled list, because he's presently been on it for so long, however it does free of advertising price up that roster spot.

Indians report: basic Manager expects team to contend, will not rule out buy and sell

CLEVELAND: If there is any doubt the fact that Indians’ deep thinkers look at this team a potential contender for the middle Division championship this yr and next, basic Manager Chris Antonetti suit that idea to sleep Thursday.

“Absolutely,” he said. “The way we visual appeal at it, we really feel this may maybe be considered a really talented roster, and that people are able to compete with clubs within our division. one of the most needed place may be the reality that people hold out to our ability. We will visual appeal to dietary supplement this group, but nobody or two gamers we may acquire now or from the offseason is on the way to dictate our success.”

That signifies Antonetti even now is attempting to create a offer to strengthen the club — not acquire potential customers for just about any rebuilding job — preceding to Wednesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

Antonetti certainly not reveals whom he is attempting to pry loose from one more team, and also this yr he hasn’t prioritized his desires in public, but he do say he would favor to acquire a participant the Tribe can control for awhile as opposed to some rental player, who leaves in the accomplish in the season.

“But I think it is reasonable to say that people are not limiting ourselves [to gamers who will stay],” he said. “We’re not opposed to getting gamers for the short term.”

As he mentioned earlier, when inquired whether or not pitching or offense was the priority, “There are several methods to raise our situation, so we are flexible.”

He additional that as a accomplish result of the reality Roberto Hernandez presumably can be additional in the direction of rotation pursuing his suspension ends Aug. 10, the idea of finding a starter has not been abandoned.

“To some extent, we element that [Hernandez’s return] in,” he said, “but we will even now visual appeal at pitching options.”

It possibly will not be effortless for Antonetti to consummate an impact buy and sell as a accomplish result of the reality he cannot afford to element with many gamers other clubs may want. Consequently, making a offer is much from assured.

“Absolutely that is a possibility,” he said. “It’s challenging to acquire all the factors of the trade. So a buy and sell may maybe be considered a possibility, but not really a certainty.”

Antonetti wouldn’t be pinned straight down when inquired whether or not the subsequent amount of wins or losses would ascertain whether or not the club can be considered a purchaser and even a seller.

“I think every individual movement image game is important,” he said. “They have an effect on our place from the standings, specifically once they are in opposition to division opponents. But they are all important.”

Monday, July 23, 2012

Penn condition penalties: NCAA credibility plunges forward of announcement

Sunday began using the statue of Joe Paterno eliminated from outside Beaver Stadium. And that was the very least controversial moment in time from the day.

Stand back, everyone. The NCAA is near to the case.

While Penn connect was busy addressing the bronze statue, CBS information reported how the NCAA experienced reached a choice on penalties inside the situation from the college hiding Jerry Sandusky's sins.

Words like unprecedented. Punitive. passing away penalty.

Here's a few the great offer more sentences for you: disingenuous. Grandstanding. Blowhard.

Excuse me if I can't get excited about an institution that saw Ohio connect gamers accept money in envelopes shortly after instructor Jim Tressel's lies and illegal benefits for gamers have been exposed, but mentioned insufficient institutional deal with wasn't an issue.

If I can't get excited about an institution that knew Cecil Newton was buying his son, Cam, to Mississippi connect — however allow him hold on to hold out at Auburn (and sooner or afterwards triumph a country wide championship) — as a end result of the reality it experienced no rule prohibiting moms and dads from buying their offspring to the greatest bidder.

If I can't get excited about an institution that understands path agent Willie Lyles was compensated $25,000 by Oregon for useless recruiting information; that understands Lyles was the "mentor" for five-star recruit Lache Seastrunk; that understands Oregon instructor Chip Kelly lied when inquired with a newspaper if he knew Lyles (Kelly afterwards said, we phone him 'Will'); that understands Kelly informed Lyles he required a brilliant offer more recruiting details from Lyles shortly after the fact, however we're a brilliant offer greater than a yr in to the Oregon investigation without any complete in sight.

If I can't get excited about an institution that looked at really possibly the worst situation of NCAA infractions inside the track record from the pastime at North Carolina — in its depth and breadth of clear, indisputable illegal benefits and educational scams concerns — and made a decision it wasn't as destructive like a Southern Cal assistant instructor who the NCAA claimed "knew or need to possess known" Reggie Bush was acquiring illegal benefits.

What happened at Penn connect could possibly be the solitary top loss in sports activities history. what ever penalties the college receives away from your NCAA — whether or not or not the sport's governing whole body and Penn connect agreed on them — isn't the point. If it have been as a brilliant offer as me, I'd shut straight down the plan to the exact quantity of many years the college hid the child abuse.

But this isn't concerning the penalties; it's about NCAA process.


We should activity apart by making use of the raw feelings of the horrific instant in college football, and actual physical appearance in the bigger picture. You can't create a fast choice on the solo situation contemplating that it's unthinkable in its effect and destruction on so relatively a few lives, after which drag your ft on other people (Southern Cal, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio State, Miami of Florida) that reduce toward the relatively key of novice athletics.

You can't state deficiency of subpoena energy in exposing troubles at rogue schools, after which take advantage of the Freeh report since the framework of your sanctions versus Penn suggest — identical Freeh Commission that also experienced no subpoena power.

You can't admit there is no bylaw versus buying your boy for $180,000 in that huge catalog of dos and don'ts you call up a rulebook, after which proclaim you've been offered "special jurisdiction" to rule on the situation that isn't within a country mile of stated rulebook.

And we wonder why software programs hold on to cheat? We wonder why, regardless of NCAA president Mark Emmert's local community stand on getting significant about dealing with main offenders, coaches and their staffs jointly with other people of athletic departments have appear toward the discovered — essential term there, discovered — bottom line how the reward is worth the risk.

By producing utilization of "special jurisdiction," the NCAA has essentially opened just about every lasting situation to that precedent. It has arranged up by itself and its member universities for numerous lawsuits centered on sanctions resulting from "special jurisdiction" for a lot of years to come.

Imagine that, a governing whole body without any subpoena energy now has "special jurisdiction" power.

When information broke Sunday concerning the Penn suggest sanctions, a BCS instructor texted me and said, "Even if NCAA has no authority, they should appear like they do."

Early Sunday, employees in suggest College, Pa., threw up a fence and blue tarp near to the shrine to Joe Paterno at Beaver Stadium, and eliminated coach's 900-pound bronze likeness.

How fitting. There's nonetheless a 900-pound gorilla from the space identified since the NCAA: toothless enforcement, choose and find sanctions, numerous rules for numerous fools.

And zero credibility. 

Thursday, July 19, 2012

US policymakers brace for possible 'collapse' in Syria

U.S. policymakers are bracing for just about any possible "collapse" using the energy framework within Syria, since the Obama management closely monitors the intensifying violence within capital.

Following a bomb assault that left many Syrian regime officials dead, a think division source forwarded to Fox information an assessment from an impartial center East analyst who monitors interpersonal mass media within place and offers occasional guidance toward department.

"Tweet trends on #Damascus show a thing will collapse in #Syria subsequent 36 hours," the information said. "Looks a great offer like Tripoli do a yr ago."

The be aware was a reference toward atmosphere in Libya's budget preceding to Muammar Qaddafi's regime was overthrown, and Qaddafi was captured and killed.

It's unclear regardless of whether Damascus has entered this sort of the period, however the budget saw an unprecedented assault Wednesday on Bashar Assad's regime, when a bomb ripped by employing a high-level safety getting together with and wiped out a minimal of three officials.

Syrian television set confirmed the deaths of Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha, 65, a previous army basic as well as one of the most senior federal government standard for getting wiped out within rebels' battle to oust Assad; Gen. Assef Shawkat, the deputy defense minister who is married to Assad's elder sister; and Hassan Turkmani, a previous defense minister who died of wounds suffered within attack.

Also wounded experienced been inside Minister Mohammed Shaar and Maj. Gen. Hisham Ikhtiar, who heads the continent wide safety Department. think television set stated each experienced been in stable condition.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, speaking alongside British Defense Minister Philip Hammond on Wednesday, stated the escalating violence shows how the rebels really feel emboldened and how the federal government of Assad is suffering "probably some fragmentation near to the edges" since it struggles to retain a grip on power.

The bombing was the harshest blow toward government's inside circle within 16-month uprising.

Hammond and Panetta each stressed the urgency of acquiring a political alternative that last results in Assad's exit.

"The violence there has only gotten worse, as well as the great loss of day-to-day lives has only increased," Panetta said, "which tells us that this may maybe be considered a circumstance that is quickly spinning away from control." He stated that is all the a great offer more aim for that worldwide local community to take "maximum pressure" on Assad to activity cutting and permit a stable send of power.

Though a U.N. safety Council vote was scheduled Wednesday afternoon on the producer new resolution that could impose sanctions on Syria's government, that vote was postponed at envoy Kofi Annan's request.

Meanwhile, the Obama management slapped financial sanctions on the large swath of best people in Assad's government, targeting the prime minister and 28 other cupboard ministers and senior officials.

The Treasury division announced the sanctions on Wednesday, several hours subsequent best Syrian officials experienced been wiped out within explosion in Damascus.


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Penn State's 'Paternoville' to appear to be 'Nittanyville'

Paternoville will now be Nittanyville.

The Penn think undergraduate celebration that manages the place outside Beaver Stadium precisely where college students camp out for prime football tickets has transformed the brand inside the tent village that spouts up the month preceding to residence movement image games in content Valley.

The also-renamed Nittanyville Coordination Committee mentioned Monday that undergraduate officials determined the brand alter would ''return the concentrate using the all round celebration as well as the a tremendous amount of college students who help it.''

Late instructor Joe Paterno was fired in November shortly perfect after his past assistant, Jerry Sandusky, was charged with child sexual abuse. Sandusky awaits sentencing perfect after getting convicted last calendar month of abusing 10 boys. He has maintained his innocence.

An impartial investigation led by past FBI Director Louis Freeh unveiled a assertion last month that concluded Paterno with one another with other best Penn think administrators concealed Sandusky's abuse to defend the college from bad publicity.

On its website, the undergraduate institution that runs makeshift campgrounds mentioned that ''since it absolutely was unlikely one more instructor would stay as lengthy as instructor Paterno had, altering the brand for every individual new instructor will be impractical.''

''Now, it's a producer new era of Nittany Lion football,'' committee President Troy Weller mentioned within of a assertion unveiled Monday. ''And by altering the brand to Nittanyville we desire to return the concentrate using the all round celebration as well as the a tremendous amount of college students who help it. We thank the Paterno family people for their gracious help and help much more compared to last many different years.''

Students at this year's encampment method to donate some fundraising proceeds to some child abuse prevention and treatment center.

The tent village was dubbed Paternoville in 2005, as well as the undergraduate arranging celebration started to be an standard college organization, recognized in the workplace of undergraduate affairs, the subsequent year.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Tipsarevic wins Mercedes Cup final

Top seed Janko Tipsarevic won his first career clay court title after posting a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory over second- seeded Argentine Juan Monaco in Sunday's final at the Mercedes Cup tennis event.
The world No. 8 Tipsarevic became the first Serbian to capture the Stuttgart title.
A runner-up in Chennai earlier this year, Tipsarevic improved his record to 3-6 in career finals.
"I feel great. I honestly still don't believe I won the title, considering that in almost every match I was hanging [on]," said Tipsarevic. "There were a lot of ups and downs. I think my mental attitude was the key for me -- fighting from the first to the very last point. I think that is one of the reasons why I managed to win the title."
Monaco had been triumphant in two previous championship matches this season, winning clay titles in Vina del Mar and Houston.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Seahawks Release Mike Williams, Thoughts & Speculation

SEATTLE WA - JANUARY 08:  Wide receiver Mike Williams #17 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after catching a 38-yard third quarter touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8 2011 in Seattle Washington.  (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
The Seattle Seahawks have parted ways with WR Mike Williams. One of Pete Carroll's more daring experiments, the 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft busted out with his original team (the Lions) due to weight and effort problems. Joining the Seahawks and his former college coach was a chance to resurrect his career, and he seemed to be making good on that promise in his first year, logging 65 catches for 751 yards and 2 TDs. He also set the franchise record for TD catches in a single post-season that year, with 3. He didn't fall back into laziness after getting a new contract, but despite this it fell apart the next season as Big Mike Williams caught only 18 passed for 236 yards and a single TD in 12 games, before landing on IR after breaking his fibula. The decline in performance is largely attributed to a lack of chemistry with new quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, something Greg Cosell predicted would happen in this combination of a slow, big-body receiver and a see-it-throw-it quarterback. While this is in all probability correct, it's also true to say that BMW's bad performance served to highlight the weaknesses in his game. He was quite likely one of the slowest starting wide receivers in the league, and not an exceptional route runner. This weaknesses would still be there with a new quarterback. But can we say that was clearly the reason for his release? It seems unlikely this was the only factor. Fellow writer Davis Hsu had been speculating on some more releases to add more cap space to roll into next year, and removing BMW's $3.425M cap hit certainly helps there. If so, it is possible the Seahawks re-sign BMW at or near veteran minimum later. An obvious point of speculation is about his fitness, and whether or not he was in shape. There have been no real reliable reports on this topic, just a lot of speculation. However, he did have to take a lot of time off a more regular fitness regime to rehab his leg. It is quite possible this was a factor, but this is only speculation. From my perspective, it's the addition of TE Kellen Winslow that did it for Mike Williams. While they play in different positions, they have similar strengths (size, catch radius) and weaknesses (slow), and would serve similar functions on the Seahawks offense. Winslow is more adept at the joker, short-catching safety valve role, and the Seahawks FO has likely seen enough of him to know he'll do. What does this mean for the Seahawks WR situation... Star-divide Well, it's not overflowing larder. The Seahawks WR group was lacking in reliable top-end talent and it still is, keeping or releasing Mike Williams would change nothing there, but it does impact depth in a negative way, and the Seahawks have had some poor luck in injuries for their WRs for a few years now (on a semi-related note, from the Football Outsiders Almanac: Seahawks ranked near the bottom in health on OL and WR last season, but near the top for DL. One could speculate all groups might regress to the mean, which would have a positive impact on offense, and negative impact on defense). The core group of Seahawks WRs consists of Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin, and those three would be favored to start right now (Baldwin in the slot). I would personally add Kris Durham as a lock, with behind him Ben Obomanu, Deon Butler and Ricardo Lockette. Behind them come the long shots, Jermaine Kearse, Lavasier Tuinei, Phil Bates, etc. Since I was talking about the Football Outsiders almanac, Kris Durham and Ricardo Lockette are listed as the shared 24/25 in their top 25 prospects for 2012 (Doug Baldwin is number one, but he only technically fits their definition of unknown/little-seen prospect). What I expect to happen is less multi-WR sets and a bigger emphasis on two-TE pass-play sets, to the point where the front office could even consider keeping four tight ends (though I do not know if the quality of this group calls for that) and five wide receivers. Golden Tate was excellent as the single wide receiver in heavy packages, and I'd expect that to continue. On the more traditional two or three WR lineups, one would speculate the WR2 position is now "up for grabs". And surely we will see a starter assigned for the spot. But unless someone really wows in training camp and pre-season (Tate or Durham the most likely options), I don't think it'll be solidified as an every-down starter spot. Instead, we could see the #1 and #2 WRs in pass-play snap-count being Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin, while the #3-4 rotate in the WR2 spot, effectively utilizing Tate's athleticism, Butler's speed or Durham's size, depending on the down and distance. One thing is for sure, this will see the younger WRs get more training time and snaps, which is key to their development. The Seahawks do need another WR to break out, as the only true #1 we have in Rice is highly unreliable, and this breaking out can only happen if that receiver sees the field enough. From that perspective, the release of Mike Williams was a sensible, wise move on the long-term, even if it does add some risk and loss of quality on the short-term.

Jaguars Can reduce Blackout Number, But They Shouldn't

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The NFL proprietors recently passed a rule that could allow clubs to declare a reduce blackout amount compared to standard 100 % of standard bowl sales. clubs can now pile up that amount right down to 85 percent, and so much only just one set has executed so. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just recently announced which they would pile up their blackout threshold to 85 percent, the lowest that is allowed. Other clubs such as the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, and Indianapolis Colts have appear out and stated they would stick using the aged method, of 100 % standard bowl sales.

This has led some to wonder what the Jacksonville Jaguars will do in that regard, offered their struggles through the previous with advertising tickets. The set can reduce their blackout amount if they wish, but they shouldn't.

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Saying the fact that Jaguars need to preserve their blackout threshold at 100 % may appear nonsensical inside the surface, but for all those that explore the brand new rule a touch more, it's really detrimental to some set to pile up it as well low. through the situation using the Bucs, their ticket income are in much more dire straits compared to Jaguars actually were, so it helps make feeling for Tampa Bay. I would presume Tampa Bay, even with dropping the blackout number, to nonetheless struggle to acquire their games on television.

The Jaguars within another hand do obtain "help" in some instances with finding their games on tv last season, the total amount the set missed by was nicely above the 85 % threshold. The team, by all reports, are pacing forward of last time period in ticket income progress and has designed it a point to trim apart away from your term "blackout" on the way forward.

Given the path the set is on the way in that regard, I locate it difficult to think the Jaguars will pile up their blackout threshold much, if at all. it might make feeling using the set to pile up it to say 95 % or so, but preserving it on the present level ought for getting through the Jaguars interests. to not mention the stigma currently unfairly hanging over the set with blackouts, it might just be inviting in the swarm of unfavorable PR.

Once clubs pile up that threshold, half using the bucks from all tickets marketed previous that point are offered using the "visitors pool" of money, not using the home team. through the program of the season, if a set drops their threshold as well minimal they could lose millions of bucks in ticket income money, whereas it might occur to be much less high priced to just purchase up the remaining 2,000-3,000 tickets at 34 cents inside the dollar.

Somethings that appears like an great idea, aren't often an great idea. 



Thursday, July 12, 2012

Edwin Encarnacion signs three-year extension with Blue Jays


     The Toronto Blue Jays have signed DH/first baseman Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $27 million contract extension, according to the team’s website. There also is a $10 million team option for the 2016 season.
Encarnacion, 29, is in the midst of the breakout season many forecast for him when he broke into the majors with the Cincinnati Reds in 2005. In 83 games this season, he is hitting .295 with 23 homers, 58 RBIs, a .382 on-base percentage and a .565 slugging percentage.
Edwin Encarnacion is having a big year at the plate. (AP Photo)
The versatile Encarnacion has served primarily as the Blue Jays’ DH this season but also has played 37 games at first base, two in the outfield and one at third base.
With the Blue Jays fading recently, there had been speculation that Encarnacion would be dangled as trade bait prior to the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline. But those rumors now can be put to rest.
In his eight-season major league career, Encarnacion is a .264 hitter with 140 homers, 450 RBIs and a .947 OPS. 

Weekend Preview: Intradivisional matchups could obvious up playoff picture


     Welcome to the second half of the baseball season, which couldn’t arrive quickly enough for teams like the scuffling Boston Red Sox but couldn’t have come at a worse time for the surging Detroit Tigers.

This weekend features a trio of intriguing intradivision series between teams that are tightly bunched in the wild-card standings and still have at least some aspirations of chasing down their respective division leaders.




     A closer look at each series:

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS AT CINCINNATI REDS

The NL Central contenders are separated by just a game and a half in the standings, and the bad blood between them recently was rekindled when former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa snubbed Reds righthander Johnny Cueto and second baseman Brandon Phillips when finalizing his NL All-Star roster.
But don’t expect the rivalry, which has spawned benches-clearing brawls and wars of words in the past couple of seasons, to get too heated during this three-game set.
"We have to learn to turn the page. I think that's a good quality we should all learn to have in our life," Reds first baseman Joey Votto told reporters this past week at the All-Star festivities. "I would like to think that we've all seen the error in our ways here, for lack of a better term, and move on. Let's play ball. If anything happens (this weekend) I'll be surprised."
The Reds’ primary focus should be on getting out the Cardinals’ quartet of All-Star hitters. Carlos Beltran, David Freese, Matt Holliday and Rafael Furcal have combined to hit .321 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in the six games between the teams this season. That is a big reason St. Louis has won four of them.
As for Cueto, he will have an opportunity for at least some measure of revenge when he starts Sunday night.

BOSTON RED SOX AT TAMPA BAY RAYS

Tropicana Field hasn’t been kind to the Red Sox, who are 13-25 there in the past five seasons. Overall, Boston hasn’t won the season series against Tampa Bay since 2007.
Boston enters the second half at .500, which is either a cut-half-full or cup-half empty situation. Despite a first half marred by injuries, poor play and turmoil, the Red Sox are just 2 ½ games back in the AL wild-card chase. But it remains to be seen whether the team simply can flip a switch, both in terms of performance and chemistry. One thing is for certain: Boston’s health is improving. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is due back for the series opener, and righthander Clay Buchholz will be activated to start Saturday.
After losing 12 of 19 before the break, the Rays are a season-high 7 ½ games back in the AL East but just a half-game back in the wild card. The reason is simple: In those 12 losses, Tampa Bay scored a total of 30 runs. And with third baseman Evan Longoria’s return still unknown, there is little reason to expect improvement from an offense that ranks 28th in the majors in batting average (.232) and 26th in slugging percentage (.376).
So, the burden will remain on the Rays’ pitching staff, with Jeremy Hellickson, David Price and James Shields drawing the starts this weekend.

NEW YORK METS AT ATLANTA BRAVES

The Braves are tied atop the NL wild-card standings with the Cincinnati Reds, with the Mets just a half-game back. New York has won four of the six games between these teams this season, though they haven’t met since mid-April.
All-Star knuckleballer (and David Letterman guest) R.A. Dickey will start Saturday, hoping to avenge the worst beating he has endured this season. On April 18 at Turner Field, Dickey surrendered eight earned runs and served up three homers in 4 1/3 innings (he has allowed only four homers in 14 starts since then).
The Braves, who likely will try to add a starting pitcher via a trade, first will try to strike gold with a reclamation project. Ben Sheets, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2010 and has made only 20 starts in the majors since 2009 because of arm injuries/surgeries, will start Sunday’s series finale.
Pitching is even more of a concern for the Mets after righthander Dillon Gee had a procedure for a blood clot in his shoulder and will have what potentially could be season-ending surgery on the shoulder Friday. Gee had been scheduled to start the opener against the Braves.