MLB Rumors

Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is out the lineup against Saturday with bruised ribs, Fox Sports Southwest reports. Kinsler injured his ribs in Thursday's series opener against the Tigers and was held out of Friday's game as well.

Hitting .302/.369/.500 with seven home runs and three stolen bases this season, Kinsler can be considered day to day.

Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak went back-to-back in the ninth inning with Raul Ibanez on Saturday in Cleveland. The Mariners still lost.

Smoak hit his second HR of the season for a solo shot off closer Chris Perez. He went 2 for 3 in the game with a walk and two runs scored. He added a double and is batting .254.

The 26-year-old has hit in three straight games and is 5 for 11 over that span with three walks.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday that Cardinals starting pitcher Jaime Garcia is set to go on the 15-day disabled list, due to a left shoulder strain. The team will call up Mitchell Boggs to take his place on the active roster.

Garcia dealt with shoulder injuries last season as well, hitting the disabled list twice, though he did avoid surgery. At this point, it is not known how long he is expected to be sidelined. 

It is not clear when Garcia suffered the injury, but he has allowed 11 runs in his last two starts, stretching over 11 1/3 innings. 

The Rockies optioned reliever Rob Scahill to Triple-A Colorado Springs Saturday to make room for starter Tyler Chatwood on the active roster.

Scahill had two scoreless appearances in which he struck out two and allowed two hits in 5 1/3 innings. 

The Rockies officially recalled pitcher Tyler Chatwood Saturday, so he could start against the Giants. Rob Scahill was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs to make room on the active roster.

Chatwood will make his first start since April 29, when he had a quality start against the Dodgers. 

Athletics catcher John Jaso returned to the lineup as the designated hitter Saturday against the Royals. Jaso sat Friday with a right leg injury.

Mariners outfielder Michael Morse overcame an eye irritation to play Saturday in Cleveland. He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Morse, hitting .254, had his four-game hitting streak snapped. He had at least two hits in each of those games.

Cubs starting pitcher Scott Feldman won his fourth decision in a row Saturday on the strength of six-plus shutout innings vs. the Mets.

Feldman scattered seven hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings, striking out six. He had four groundball outs and nine fly ball outs while throwing 68 of 109 pitches for strikes.

Feldman lowered his ERA to 2.19, and it was his fifth quality start in a row. He is 4-3 after losing his first three starts.

Despite the return of Matt Garza, Feldman will remain in the rotation. His next start is Friday against the Reds. 

Mets starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner was on the wrong side of the ledger Saturday against the Cubs, as he remains winless through his first eight starts.

Hefner allowed four runs in four innings of work, all coming in his fourth and final inning. He faced just two batters over the minimum in his first three innings, with one hit and walk as his only blemishes before he fell apart in the fourth.

The Cubs jumped on Hefner for four runs on four hits and a walk in the fourth inning. He also hit a batter. Hefner finished with three strikeouts, two walks and five hits allowed in four innings en route to an 8-2 loss.

The Mets have lost each of Hefner's starts this season, and he is 0-5 with a 5.00 ERA. Hefner will try to turn things around Friday against the Braves. 

The Blue Jays promoted prospect John Stilson to Triple-A Buffalo, Sportsnet.ca reports Saturday.

Stilson, who spent the first month of the season on the minor-league DL, could become an option down the road for the Blue Jays.

The 22-year-old posted a 3.86 ERA over two appearances with Double-A New Hampshire.