Jesus Montero has faced a lot of questions about his ability to be an everyday catcher. There's still a lot left to answer, but Wednesday night was a big step as the 22-year-old caught Felix Hernandez for the first time in the regular season.

Shin-Soo Choo's name was missing from the Indians' lineup card on Wednesday afternoon, and the ballclub is expecting that to remain the case over the next few days.

Mike Pelfrey is playing the waiting game. The Mets have sent Pelfrey's MRI results to Dr. James Andrews, and as of late Wednesday afternoon were awaiting word on the orthopedist's medical opinion.

Paul Konerko's long ball in the ninth inning Wednesday did two things: It brought the White Sox even with the A's to send the game to extra innings, and it gave the White Sox slugger 400 homers in his career.

Ryan Zimmerman was absent from the lineup again on Wednesday, but an MRI taken on the third baseman's right shoulder showed no structural damage. The lingering pain could, however, land Zimmerman on the DL if it does not subside soon.

Brian Wilson recently undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery, becoming the third prominent closers who will spend the duration of 2012 on the disabled list. Three others are expected to endure a shorter stay. For the pitchers, the injuries mean grueling rehab. For the teams they leave behind, it means an adjustment.

Lots of people inside the Blue Jays' clubhouse were surprised at how hard Eric Thames took Tuesday night's 2-1 loss to the Orioles, but manager John Farrell wasn't among them.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was not concerned with how his team would bounce back on Wednesday following two straight walk-off losses to the Cubs.

After opening 2012 with two rough starts, Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright put together an impressive outing Tuesday, tossing six innings of one-run ball and striking out seven.

Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, on the disabled list with right shoulder fatigue, threw off the mound Tuesday and was continuing to make progress in his rehab.

For Michael Bowden, pitching at Wrigley Field was something he had only imagined as a kid. On Tuesday, Bowden, acquired by the Cubs from the Red Sox over the weekend, actually did it.

Until Tuesday, Jared Hughes wasn't even aware of the new rule permitting teams to add a 26th player for doubleheaders. The right-hander soon realized he would be contributing to history on Wednesday as the Bucs' 26th man.

Kyle Weiland, who was scheduled to pitch on Friday in Cincinnati, is being skipped in the rotation because of a sore right shoulder.

Nursing a sore neck after a violent collision with the Brewers' Mat Gamel Monday, Jason Castro was out of the lineup Wednesday for the second day in a row.

Gio Gonzalez couldn't ask for a much better first month with the Nats. The southpaw is the only pitcher since 1918 to have three consecutive appearances with at least six shutout innings and no more than two hits allowed.

Philip Humber is a Major League pitcher, a husband and very soon will be a father for the first time. But after a special December trip to the Philippines, the 29-year-old Humber feels as if he became a better person overall.

The Rays head out for three games in Texas after Thursday afternoon's game, and manager Joe Maddon has declared it the team's first themed road trip of the season.