Orioles’ Caleb Joseph mired in 1-for-19 slump
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(10:56 am ET) Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph is just 1 for 19 over his last seven games, dropping his season line to .259/.346/.419 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 93 at-bats.

Joseph hit well through much of April and finished the month with a .910 OPS, but it’s been downhill since, as he’s just 8 for 44 in May. No. 1 catcher Matt Wieters appears close to beginning a rehab assignment, and his eventual return to take away a lion’s share of Joseph’s at-bats.

Rangers’ Joey Gallo makes outfield debut Monday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(10:50 am ET) Rangers third-base prospect Joey Gallo made his organizational debut in the outfield on Monday, playing left field for Double-A Frisco.

General manager Jon Daniels indicated that Gallo will continue to play third base but will receive more time in the outfield moving forward, the Dallas Morning News reports.

“Increasing his versatility as much as anything,” Daniels said.

Gallo has been blocked at third base at the major-league level by Adrian Beltre, but if he proves ready to see time in the outfield, it could accelerate his timetable to the majors. He has hit .316/.442/.592 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 76 at-bats with Frisco.

Orioles’ Manny Machado yet to hit stride vs. LHP
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(10:45 am ET) Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has hit just .217/.269/.304 in 23 at-bats against left-handers this season.

Machado struggled against southpaws in 2014 as well, posting a .642 OPS against lefties and a .802 OPS against righties, but the split has been more pronouced this season, as the third baseman has powered to a .288/.366/.519 line while hitting all six of his home runs against righties.

Machado is set to face Mariners righty Taijuan Walker on Tuesday but then has a pair of matchups against left-handers on Wednesday and Thursday.

Blue Jays RP Brett Cecil works perfect inning on Monday
by Jason Lempert | Staff Writer

(10:40 am ET) Blue Jays closer Brett Cecil pitched a perfect inning in a non-save situation on Monday. With the team up by four runs, manager John Gibbons wanted to get Cecil some work. He struck out two in the inning.

Though he has just two saves on the year, Cecil has been pitching much better since regaining the closer role in early May. In six appearances this month, the 28-year-old lefty has allowed just one earned run while striking out eight in six innings. He now owns a 3.46 ERA over 13 innings this season.

Cecil hasn’t pitched in back-to-back games since the middle of April, as the Blue Jays have struggled to get him save opportunities. Monday’s win was just their second in the last nine games.

Mariners’ Logan Morrison picking things up in May
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(10:39 am ET) Mariners first baseman Logan Morrison has hit his stride offensively in May, hitting .288/.403/.654 with five home runs and seven RBI in 52 at-bats this month after posting a .488 OPS in April.

Morrison has delivered his best numbers on the road and against right-handers this season. He’s hitting just .187/.282/.307 at Safeco Field but has managed a .302/.351/.566 in 53 at-bats on the road. He’s also posted a .793 OPS against righties while displaying virtually all his power in that matchup, as he’s hit just .219/.265/.250 against southpaws.

Royals RP Wade Davis still going strong as set-up man
by Jason Lempert | Staff Writer

(10:29 am ET) Royals reliever Wade Davis continues to be one of, if not the best eighth-inning set-up man in the game. Davis has made 17 appearances and has not allowed a single run to score this season. He has microscopic 0.647 WHIP and a pristine 16:4 K:BB ratio.

Though he lost some fantasy value when closer Greg Holland recently returned from the disabled list, Davis’ ability to get strikeouts and limit baserunners makes him a very viable fantasy asset as he has remained exceptional at the back-end of the Royals’ bullpen.

A’s RF Josh Reddick hitless Monday, still going strong
by Jason Lempert | Staff Writer

(10:10 am ET) Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick went 0 for 4 on Monday against the Astros, the third time in the last five games that he was hitless.

Despite the recent lack of hits, Reddick has been very productive for the A’s. He’s batting .273 with four home runs and 16 RBI this month.

He’ll look to get back in the hit column on Tuesday when the A’s continue their series against Houston. Reddick is 2 for 7 lifetime against Tuesday’s starter Roberto Hernandez.

Report: Nationals to promote Wilmer Difo; Jayson Werth to DL?
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:59 am ET) The Nationals are set to promote infielder Wilmer Difo to the majors, while outfielder Jayson Werth could be headed to the disabled list, FOX Sports reports.

An MRI on Werth’s injured left wrist revealed no structural damage, but it appears he may get an extended rest for the injury to heal. He was hit by a pitch on the wrist on Friday and hasn’t played since. Werth has hit .208/.294/.287 with two home runs and 12 RBI in 101 at-bats.

Difo, who has yet to make his major-league debut, has logged just 52 at-bats over the high Class A level. He has hit .308/.339/.500 with three stolen bases for Double-A Harrisburg.

Orioles prospect Dylan Bundy has rough game at Double-A
by Jason Lempert | Staff Writer

(9:58 am ET) Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy got knocked around in his most recent start for Double-A Bowie. On Friday, the right-hander allowed six runs on eight hits in two-plus innings. With the rough outing, his ERA ballooned from 2.25 to 4.50 over seven starts.

“He handled it like a pro,” Bowie manager Gary Kendall said, per MASNSports.com. “He’s the first guy to tell you if he made a bad pitch. He’s not an excuse-maker. He’s dedicated and he had a taste of major league life and he knows what it takes. I saw poise Friday night.

Bundy is just about recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2013, and his velocity is evidence. The 22-year-old reched 96 mph in his previous two starts and hit 97 mph on Friday.

Tigers’ Victor Martinez won’t abandon switch-hitting
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:54 am ET) Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez is just 12 for 85 against right-handed pitchers while batting lefty, but giving up switch-hitting isn’t a consideration for him or the team, MLB.com reports.

“Something that I’m never going to do and I have never done is just going out there and go righty on righty,” Martinez said.

Martinez is 7 for 19 with four walks in his career while batting righty against a right-handed pitcher, but all of those at-bats came against knuckleball pitchers. Tracking a right-handed power pitcher from the right side would be a big change for the designated hitter.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I’m going to react when the pitcher throws the ball,” Martinez said. “I might get out of the way. I’ve never done it before.”

While the idea may have come up among the coaching staff, manager Brad Ausmus isn’t willing to force Martinez out of his comfort zone.

“We thought about it, we talked about it and he’s not comfortable with it,” Ausmus said. “If he’s not comfortable with it, obviously we aren’t going to be comfortable with it.”

Martinez suffered a knee injury on Monday, and his availability for Tuesday’s game has yet to be determined.