Last night, Magglio Ordonez left the game early with a pulled oblique. After reporting to the club today with more pain, Detroit immediately placed Ordonez on the 15-day disabled list with the right oblique injury. With Ordonez joining Gary Sheffield and Brandon Inge with similar injuries, the Tigers recalled Matt Joyce from Triple-A Toledo.
Ordonez was the only player on the Tigers to play in all 80 games this season before being placed on the DL. At the time of the injury, his average was .307 with 12 home runs, 50 RBI and 42 runs scored. It is Ordonez's first trip to the disabled list since 2005 when he missed half the season after joining the Tigers from the White Sox.
Joyce is making his second appearance on Detroit's 25-man roster this season. The 23-year-old outfielder played 18 games in May and hit .200 with five home runs and 10 RBI in 53 at bats.
After his first start in a Pirates uniform on Saturday, Pittsburgh sent down Ty Taubenheim to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for reliever Romulo Sanchez.
Taubenheim made his Pittsburgh debut against the Rays on Saturday and went six innings with a no decision. He gave up two runs on seven hits and three walks in their 4-3 13-inning win over the Rays.
Sanchez joins the team for the first time this season. The 24-year-old righty made 25 relief appearances with Indianapolis and posted a 4-0 record with four saves to go with his 2.85 ERA. Last season, Sanchez appeared in 16 games with the Pirates and was 1-0 with a 5.00 ERA during a late August call up.
Due to a forearm injury to Shawn Hill, the Nationals announced they will tap Collin Balester from Triple-A Columbus to make his Major League debut. The fourth round pick of the then-Montreal Expos in 2004, will start Tuesday against the Florida Marlins and is expected to remain with the club in the rotation during the remainder of Hill's injury.
At Columbus, Balester was 9-3 with a 4.00 ERA in 15 starts. In 78 2/3 innings, Balester gave up 79 hits and walked 23 while striking out 64. Balester joined the team out of Huntington Beach High School in California and is just 22 years old. According to Baseball America, Balester is considered to be the third best prospect in the organization behind outfielder/first baseman Chris Marrero and left-handed pitcher Ross Detweiler.