News that Michael Phelps is on the same diet as me has me far too shocked to engage in our usual small talk, so let's get right to the notes from around baseball .
* The combination of Chris Carpenter being scratched from his next start with a strained shoulder and Chris Perez emerging as a ninth-inning option has caused the Cardinals to adjust their plans for Adam Wainwright. Initially being groomed to come off the disabled list as a reliever and likely take over the closer job, general manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday that Wainwright is now being stretched out so that he can return as a starter.
Manager Tony La Russa has quickly gained confidence in Perez, who tossed 1.2 hitless innings Wednesday to pick up his third save in the past week. Perez is just 23 years old and struggles to consistently throw strikes, but the rookie right-hander has a 3.43 ERA, 29 strikeouts, and a .234 opponent's batting average over 29 innings in the majors after posting a 2.72 ERA and 147-to-72 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 109 career minor-league frames. He should be owned in all leagues.
* Manager Jim Leyland made it clear Tuesday that he wasn't expecting Joel Zumaya to contribute again until next year because of ongoing arm problems and the Tigers placed him on the disabled list Wednesday with a sore right shoulder. Between a ruptured tendon in his finger last year and shoulder problems this year Zumaya has appeared in just 49 of the Tigers' last 282 games while struggling to find the plate with a 49-to-39 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 57 innings.
Shutting him down for the season seems likely with Tuesday's loss dropping Detroit to 9.5 games back in the AL Central and Todd Jones scheduled to come off the shelf Friday. Jones has spent two weeks on the DL with shoulder soreness of his own after being stripped of ninth-inning duties, but the Tigers' bullpen has crumbled even further without him and despite pitching poorly overall he did convert 18-of-21 saves. Don't be shocked if Jones finds himself back in the mix for saves.
* Daniel Murphy went 3-for-6 with a homer Wednesday, continuing a Shane Spencer-like debut that has him hitting .467 with two homers and eight RBIs through 11 games. While Mets fans are no doubt thrilled to see Murphy stepping up with injuries to Moises Alou and Ryan Church wiping out two-thirds of the team's starting outfield, the rapidly rising expectations for Murphy definitely need to be held in check somewhat.
Murphy is hitting the cover off the ball thus far, but his track record shows solid but unspectacular numbers in the minors. Murphy earned his call-up by hitting .308/.374/.496 with 13 homers and 67 RBIs in 95 games at Double-A, and carries a .290/.352/.444 line in 1,078 career trips to the plate. He should be able to maintain a solid batting average over the long haul, but don't expect much more than 15-homer power and the occasional steal once he comes back down to earth.
Sports
* After leaving Tuesday's night crazy win over the Rangers with a strained oblique muscle, Mike Lowell was placed on the disabled list Wednesday. Oblique strains can be extremely tricky and the Red Sox should probably consider themselves lucky if Lowell can get healthy for the final few weeks of the season. With Jed Lowrie needed at shortstop in place of the injured Julio Lugo, expect Kevin Youkilis to play regularly at third base while Sean Casey takes over for him at first.
* Delmon Young followed up Tuesday night's game-tying three-run homer off Mariano Rivera with another dramatic three-run bomb Wednesday afternoon, leading the Twins to a 4-2 win over the Yankees. Young failed to homer in his first 60 games with the Twins and hit just .270/.321/.349, but in 52 games since then he's hitting .315/.345/.477 with seven homers and 33 RBIs. If you're interested in reading more about how Young has turned things around, check out my blog.
* Once 2-5 with a 5.11 ERA, Paul Maholm has quietly turned his season around in a big way. He tossed eight innings of two-run ball Wednesday night against the Reds, improving to 6-2 with a 2.80 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 68-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 99.1 innings spread over his last 14 starts. As a 26-year-old ground-ball pitcher who misses a fair number of bats and has made big strides with his control, Maholm has a very bright, underrated future.
AL Quick Hits: With his wife going into labor, Josh Hamilton left Wednesday's game in the sixth inning and flew back to Texas . Forearm soreness kept Carlos Quentin out of Wednesday's lineup for the second straight day . Jeremy Guthrie had just nine wins through 42 starts with the Orioles despite a 3.46 ERA, but is now 7-1 in his last 10 outings . Vernon Wells blasted a grand slam Wednesday, making him 5-for-15 with seven RBIs in four games since a month-long stint on the disabled list . Raul Ibanez and Jarrod Washburn have reportedly been claimed off waivers, giving the Mariners a 48-hour window to possibly deal them . Meanwhile, after predictably being unable to find a taker for him via trade, the Mariners have released Jose Vidro . David Purcey shut out the Tigers for six innings Wednesday, slicing his career ERA from 7.40 to 5.93 . Charlie Zink was sent back to Triple-A following his ugly start Tuesday as the Red Sox decided to keep Clay Buchholz in the rotation . Daily Dose favorite Eric Patterson has another chance to establish himself in the majors after replacing Ryan Sweeney (thumb) on the roster Wednesday.
NL Quick Hits:Tim Lincecum said Wednesday that he'll make his next scheduled start despite being hit on the knee by a line drive Tuesday . Ryan Braun (ribcage) said Wednesday that he's hoping to rejoin the lineup this weekend after making "significant progress" . John Maine came off the disabled list Wednesday with five shutout innings . John Grabow tossed a perfect ninth inning Wednesday for his third save in two weeks . Billy Wagner (forearm) is slated to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Thursday at Double-A . Brad Hawpe went 3-for-3 with a homer Wednesday and is now hitting .327 with 16 homers and 46 RBIs in 60 games since returning from the DL . With Andy LaRoche now entrenched at third base, the Pirates demoted former starter Jose Bautista to Triple-A despite his .729 OPS matching his .725 career mark . Chipper Jones was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with a stomach virus . Rich Harden tossed five scoreless innings Wednesday and has a 1.80 ERA in six starts with the Cubs . Hitting just .219 with one homer in the past 30 games, Russell Martin dropped to eighth in the lineup Wednesday.
