Tigers receive encouraging news: Bruce Rondon fine after BP
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(11:55 am ET) Potential Tigers closer-in-waiting Bruce Rondon felt good Friday after a bullpen session, which could lead to a simulated game and rebab assignment, the Detroit News has reported.

Rondon has struggled to regain his health after missing the entire 2014 season following Tommy John surgery. But he remains young at 24 and is still considered a possible long-term answer as closer for Detroit.

Tigers’ Shane Greene (arm) scheduled for an MRI on Saturday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:55 am ET) Tigers starting pitcher Shane Greene will undergo an MRI on his injured arm Saturday, according to MLive.com. Greene exited Friday’s start after five innings with mild ulnar neuritis — a never issue in his arm.

“I’m a little scared, but there’s no pain,” Greene said after the game, per MLive.com. “I’ve got to just keep telling myself there’s no pain, (that) everything’s going to be all right.”

Greene is 4-2 with a 4.21 ERA in eight starts this season. He owns a 1.21 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB ratio over his first 47 innings pitched. His status for Wednesday’s start at home against Milwaukee is up in the air.

Solid sinker means no stinker for Cardinals P Carlos Martinez
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(11:45 am ET) Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez has followed three straight winning starts with three winless ones, but his latest provided encouragement.

Martinez allowed 14 runs on 16 hits in nine innings in losing his previous two outings. His ERA had soared from 1.73 to 4.89. But he could take comfort Friday after a solid effort against dangerous Detroit in which he gave up two runs in five innings and matched a season-high with eight strikeouts.

The difference was his sinker. “I felt a lot better than the last couple times that I threw,” Martinez told MLB.com. I felt much better with the sinker. The sinker was working good today in the strike zone and down.”

Matheny concurred, but added that Martinez is still simply throwing too many pitches to go deep into games. He threw just 63 percent of his pitches for strikes Friday.

“He just can’t average 20 pitches an inning,” Matheny said. “It’s not going to work out real well for you … the stuff is there. He looks good. He’s just going to have to be more on the plate with it.”

He also can’t continue giving up home runs. The one blasted by Yoenis Cespedes was the seventh he has allowed in 40 innings – all solo jobs. The rest of the St. Louis rotation has yielded eight in a combined 165 1/3 innings.

Cards move Grichuk to top of order, Bourjos eighth with Heyward off
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:45 am ET) Cardinals outfielder Jason Heyward was given the day off Saturday against left-hander David Price and the Tigers, per MLB.com. Heyward is hitting .143 (2 for 14) over his last four games, and .361 against left-handers this season.

With Heyward on the bench, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny inserted Randal Grichuk in right field at the leadoff spot, bumping center fielder Peter Bourjos from the top of the order to the No. 8 hole.

St. Louis is an underdog (+105) at home against Detroit, per VegasInsider.com.

Twins place Jordan Schafer on DL, activate Shane Robinson
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:35 am ET) The Twins placed Jordan Schafer on the 15-day disabled list — retroactive to May 11 — with a right MCL sprain, and activated Shane Robinson from the family emergency list, per MLB.com.

Schafer told reporters his right knee has been bothering him since he tweaked it in a game against Seattle in late-April. Manager Paul Molitor told reporters that surgery is not an option at this point, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Schafer started the year with a .217 batting average with no homers and five RBI before landing on the DL.

Twins’ Casey Fien will toss a bullpen session on Sunday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:08 am ET) Twins pitcher Casey Fien will throw a bullpen session on Sunday, according to the Star Tribune.

Fien has been on the disabled list since late April with a shoulder strain. Manager Paul Molitor said Friday that he has a “rather elaborate” rehab plan for the right-hander, who could be back from the shelf by the end of May.

Report: Rays likely to skip turn of Erasmo Ramirez in rotation
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(10:57 am ET) So what does Rays righty Erasmo Ramirez get for throwing five shutout innings Thursday in his first start in three weeks? He gets skipped in the rotation, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Ramirez, who earned his first win of the season by shutting down the Yankees, likely won’t start again until next Saturday against Oakland. That will allow Jake Odorizzi to pitch Wednesday on normal rest.

Not that Ramirez has earned great consideration. His ERA was 8.38 heading into that encouraging performance.

Phillies acquire INF Jayson Nix from Orioles in exchange for cash
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:54 am ET) The Phillies have acquired infielder Jayson Nix from the Orioles in exchange for cash considerations, the News Journal reports on Saturday. Nix played 18 games for the Phillies in 2014. He batted .167 at Triple-A Norfolk before the trade.

Nix will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

X-rays on Nationals OF Jayson Werth’s wrist come back negative
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:49 am ET) Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth underwent X-rays on his left wrist, which came back negative, manager Matt Williams told reporters, per the Washington Post. Werth exited Friday’s game against San Diego in the second inning after getting plunked on the left wrist with a 92 mph fastball from Odrisamer Despaigne.

He is expected to be evaluated again on Saturday.

Rays LHP Matt Moore takes step in recovery with BP session
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(10:48 am ET) Rays lefty Matt Moore, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, threw a bullpen session Friday after what he considered a disappointing simulated game two days earlier, per the Tampa Bay Times.

A batting practice/simulated game is set for Monday. If all goes well, he will move on to extended spring training and rehab assignment. A return to the Tampa Bay rotation is not expected for at least another month.

Moore hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since last April.