Arizona: RH reliever Takashi Saito (left hamstring) was placed on the disabled list for the second time this season, and LH reliever Mike Zagurski rejoined the D-backs three days after he was designated for assignment. Zagurski cleared waivers Monday. … Veteran RHP Brett Tomko has signed with Class AA Mobile (Ala.) and is to make his first start Thursday, the team announced. Tomko, 39, who started the season at Louisville, the Reds’ Class AAA affiliate.
Atlanta: OF Matt Diaz is scheduled to undergo right thumb surgery this morning and will be out for the season. An MRI revealed two foreign bodies in the thumb that were causing an infection. … RHP Ben Sheets, making a comeback after being out of the majors for two years, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his body felt “dead” in his start Sunday. “I was like (the) ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ guy,” he said. “I was Bernie.”
Chicago: RHP Matt Garza (elbow) is still more than a week away from throwing again, and manager Dale Sveum told WGN Radio that he would be “surprised” if Garza pitches again this season. President Theo Epstein said, “There’s no need to rush him back. Let it heal and put him in a position to be 100 percent.” … OF Albert Almora, the Cubs’ first-round draft choice this year, has been promoted from rookie-level Mesa (Ariz.) to short-season Boise. Almora, 18, was selected with the sixth pick overall.
Cincinnati: 1B Joey Votto said he will not avoid sliding when he returns. He injured his left knee and re-injured it sliding, leading to two surgeries. “I’m not going to come back until I can do everything as a ballplayer,” he said. … RHP Johnny Cueto has a fan in RF Jay Bruce. “He really pitches,” Bruce said. “When I say pitch, he’s not out there throwing. He knows what’s going on. He knows where the out is.”
Colorado: LHP Drew Pomeranz will not make his scheduled start this afternoon because of soreness in his left pectoral muscle. Manager Jim Tracy said Pomeranz is tentatively scheduled to start Sunday against the Marlins. … OF-1B Michael Cuddyer (strained right side) was scheduled to begin a two-day rehab assignment at Class AAA Colorado Springs. He could rejoin the Rockies on Thursday, when he is eligible to come off the disabled list.
Houston: SS Jed Lowrie is not expected back before rosters expand Sept. 1, GM Jeff Luhnow said. Lowrie has been out since July 14 with multiple injuries in his leg stemming from a collision at second base. … OF Jimmy Paredes is “highly probable” to be a September call-up, according to Luhnow. Paredes, whose path was cleared by his move to the outfield to escape 2B Jose Altuve’s shadow, was hitting .315 in Class AAA through Monday.
Los Angeles: LH reliever Scott Elbert (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Class AA Chattanooga (Tenn.), and he is also scheduled to pitch Thursday and Saturday. He could be activated as soon as Monday. … OF Yasiel Puig was promoted to high-A Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) just nine games into his professional career. Puig, who signed a seven-year, $42 million contract with the Dodgers on June 29, hit .400 (12-for-30) with three triples and four home runs for the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers before his promotion.
Miami: RHP Nate Eovaldi needed 103 pitches to get through five innings Monday and allowed baserunners in every inning. “He’s got to throw strikes. He’s a kid. He’s trying to figure it out,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t care how much good stuff you have. If you don’t throw strikes you’re going to run into trouble.” … The Marlins were shut out Monday for the 12th time this season, tying their total from 2011. They were tied with Houston for most shutout losses in the NL.
Milwaukee: RHP Mark Rogers’ wife, Kerrie, gave birth to a daughter, Ellyette Bay. Rogers, who went on paternity leave Monday to be on hand for the birth, is expected to make his start today. … SS Jean Segura was back in the lineup after getting Monday off. Segura was spiked in the left calf Sunday and was limping noticeably, but manager Ron Roenicke said he just wanted to give him a day off after he had played in six straight games.
New York: C Kelly Shoppach was acquired on waivers from Boston for a player to be named. Shoppach will enter into a catching platoon with Josh Thole, according to manager Terry Collins, starting regularly behind the plate against left-handed pitchers. … The Mets are considering using a six-man rotation down the stretch to give extra rest to RHP Chris Young and LHP Johan Santana, both coming off major shoulder surgery, and RHP Matt Harvey, who is on a strict innings limit.
Philadelphia: 3B Placido Polanco (back) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment today at high-A Clearwater (Fla.). If it goes well, Polanco is expected to be activated Monday and split time with Kevin Frandsen. … LHP Cole Hamels, who has reeled off 22 straight shutout innings, is the third Phillies pitcher to pitch consecutive shutouts in the last 20 years, joining Cliff Lee (2011) and Cory Lidle (2004).
Pittsburgh: RF Travis Snider (right hamstring) returned to the lineup after being limited to pinch-hitting duties in the two previous games. He was injured Saturday while running the bases. … LHP Wandy Rodriguez will try to snap a five-game losing streak tonight. Rodriguez is 0-2 with a 4.74 ERA in three starts since being acquired from Houston on July 24.
St. Louis: LH reliever Brian Fuentes left the club for personal reasons and was placed on the restricted list, and RH reliever Trevor Rosenthal was recalled from Class AAA Memphis. … RHP Lance Lynn has given up 16 runs in his last 22 innings, including nine in the first inning. “He’s going to have to do something different,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He’s going to have to make a different mental approach, a different warmup approach.”
San Diego: LH reliever Alex Hinshaw was designated for assignment, and LH reliever Tom Layne was called up from Class AA San Antonio. Layne was acquired from Arizona for cash considerations on May 3 and has split his time since then between Class AAA and AA. … RH closer Dale Thayer picked up Monday where injured RH closer Huston Street left off and earned his sixth save of the season with a 1-2-3 inning. That made Thayer 6-for-6 in save opportunities.
San Francisco: 3B Pablo Sandoval was in the lineup for the first time since coming off the disabled list Monday, when he was limited to a pinch-hit appearance. Manager Bruce Bochy said he didn’t want to start Sandoval in all three games of the series and preferred to have the switch hitter face right-handed pitching. … RHP Ryan Vogelsong’s ERA went from a league-leading 2.27 to 2.72 when he gave up eight runs Monday, including seven in the third inning. “I don’t think sharpness was the issue,” he said. “I just couldn’t get them to hit the ball at anybody.”
Washington: RF Jayson Werth was scheduled to undergo a precautionary MRI after being scratched from Monday’s game because of a sore right ankle. He left AT&T Park Monday in a protective walking boot. … SS Ian Desmond (strained left side) took early batting practice, another positive sign he is getting closer to returning. He originally wasn’t expected back until the end of the month.