Oft-injured righty Dustin McGowan was expected to open the year as the Blue Jays' No. 5 starter, but a right foot injury forced him to be shut down late in camp.

Reliever Mark Melancon, who has allowed 11 earned runs in two innings this season, was demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday.

Reliever Glen Perkins received good news, as he was cleared by team physician Dr. Dan Buss to throw 40 pitches in a bullpen session at Target Field on Wednesday morning, and flew to New York in time for the Twins' game against the Yankees.

Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano anticipates the fences being moved in at Marlins Park in the future. “In baseball, you don't see ballparks this big anymore,” Soriano said.

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez is retiring from Major League Baseball, and he wants to do so back with the team where he spent the best years of his career.

In the midst of jury selection in the federal perjury trial of Roger Clemens, the government and the defense presented arguments to Judge Reggie Walton on Wednesday about just how much Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte's recollections about using human-growth hormone can come into the trial.

The mild left groin strain that sidelined Omar Infante last Saturday acted up on the Marlins second baseman on Tuesday. Infante is expected to miss at least two games before returning.

Juan Francisco, Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman each homered, powering Atlanta to a 14-6 victory over the Mets on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game set.

Kerry Wood had a cortisone shot in his right shoulder on Wednesday and if all goes well, he could be back in the Cubs' bullpen on Friday.

There is a fair amount of freaking out about “The Freak” taking place right now — among San Francisco Giants fans and, yes, among fantasy baseball worrywarts.

Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira, Tim Lincecum and Heath Bell are accustomed to success on a baseball diamond. Despite their slow starts, all four are looking to bounce back soon.

Indians pitcher Jeanmar Gomez was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount Wednesday for intentionally hitting Kansas City's Mike Moustakas with a pitch on Saturday.

The D-backs will be without their leading hitter for at least two weeks, as Chris Young was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday with a right shoulder contusion.

David Wright notched another franchise record on Wednesday, tying Darryl Strawberry for the most RBI in Mets history with 733.

The Pirates on Wednesday placed right-hander Jeff Karstens on the 15-day DL with right shoulder inflammation and recalled right-hander Brad Lincoln from Triple-A.

While making a rare visit to Turner Field on Wednesday afternoon, Bo Jackson spent time with his former general manager, threw a ceremonial first pitch to a University of Alabama fan and also promoted Bo Bikes Bama.

As Chipper Jones prepared to rest his sore legs during Wednesday afternoon's game against the Mets, he said is hoping that his surgically repaired left knee starts to prove more comfortable over the next few days and weeks.