Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes' right hamstring pull was deemed serious enough for Byrnes to be placed on the 15-day disabled list. While Byrnes heals, outfielder Josh Romero has been tapped from Triple-A Tucson to take his spot on the major league roster.
Byrnes has been struggling to get going this season but did hit his first career grand slam against the Braves on May 25th, the day before he injured his hamstring. Byrnes is hitting .216 with six home runs and 23 RBI.
Romero made the roster out of spring training and played 11 games batting 3-for-9 and 3-for-7 as a pinch hitter. He was sent down to Tucson to make room for Miguel Montero on April 22nd and since joining Tucson, Romero hit .331 with 22 runs scored in 31 games.
The Detroit Tigers will be without slugger Gary Sheffield for at least two weeks. He left last night's game with a left oblique strain and the decision was made today for Sheffield to go on the DL. Sheffield's roster spot was taken by 25-year-old first baseman Jeff Larish, recalled from Triple-A Toledo.
Sheffield has been hampered by injuries for most of the season including shoulder discomfort from a fall surgery and a torn tendon in his finger. In 39 games, Sheffield was hitting just .213 with three home runs but had eight hits in his last 21 at bats.
Larish was third in the International League in home runs with 16 and second in RBI with 43. Larish has never played in the majors and gives the Tigers a much needed left-handed bat.
New York Mets pitcher Matt Wise was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season. Wise has lost velocity on his fastball and was placed on the DL with right shoulder weakness. Triple-A reliever Carlos Muniz was called up from New Orleans to replace Wise.
The Mets are also concerned about outfielder Ryan Church who has still not recovered from concussion-like symptoms and was sent to a neurologist earlier today. Church suffered the injury on May 20th while trying to break up a double play in a game against the Atlanta Braves and has only been used as a pinch hitter in four games since then.
Muniz returns to the Mets after an earlier stint with the club this season where he appeared in three games, pitched four innings and gave up just two hits with a 0.00 ERA.
Other Notes:
- Astros manager Cecil Cooper announced that Brian Moehler would remain in the rotation and Chris Sampson would be moved to the bullpen.
- The Pirates activated Jack Wilson from the DL sending shortstop Brian Bixler down to Triple-A Indianapolis. Wilson is expected to be in the lineup tonight.
- Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell was a late scratch from the lineup tonight and is day-to-day with a stiff neck. Burrell's spot was taken by Greg Dobbs.
- Texas Rangers pitcher Kevin Millwood is expected to return from the DL and pitch in Friday's game against the Athletics but no decision has been made yet on who Millwood will replace on the roster.