Arizona: SS/3B Willie Bloomquist missed all three games in the Los Angeles series after he was slowed by back spasms Monday. He saw the team chiropractor on Wednesday morning and was feeling much better, said manager Kirk Gibson, who does not expect Bloomquist to go on the disabled list. … LF Jason Kubel led the NL and tied for the major league lead with 12 home runs in July, setting a franchise record for the most homers in July and tying for the third most homers in any month. Luis Gonzalez hit 13 homers in April 2001, and 12 in June 2001. Mark Reynolds had 11 in August 2008. Minnesota OF Josh Willingham also had 12 homers in July.
Atlanta: RHP Jair Jurrjens (groin) was placed on the disabled list, opening a roster spot for newly acquired LHP Paul Maholm. Maholm took batting practice, then had a bullpen session with pitching coach Roger McDowell. … OF Reed Johnson, acquired late Monday from the Cubs, made his Braves debut, leading off and playing right field. Manager Fredi Gonzalez used the opportunity of facing a left-handed starting pitcher to give left-handed hitting CF Michael Bourn a day off. RF Jason Heyward started in center.
Chicago: RHP Chris Volstad and RH reliever Alberto Cabrera were recalled from Class AAA (Des Moines) Iowa, and RHP Casey Coleman was optioned to Iowa. Cabrera made his major league debut against the Pirates, pitching one scoreless inning. Manager Dale Sveum said Volstad will start Saturday in Los Angeles. … 2B Darwin Barney did not play one day after being hit on the batting helmet by a pitch from Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett. Barney said he did not have a concussion and that he passed all the medical tests given to him at the ballpark. The Cubs said they rested him for precautionary reasons.
Cincinnati: C Devin Mesoraco was suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount for bumping umpire Chad Fairchild during an argument Monday. But Mesoraco, who appealed the decision, left Tuesday’s game because of dizziness caused by being overheated and was placed on the seven-day disabled list. C Dioner Navarro’s contract was purchased from Class AAA Louisville, Class AAA 3B Mike Costanzo was designated for assignment and RH reliever Todd Redmond was sent to Louisville to make room on the roster for newly acquired RH reliever Jonathan Broxton. … 2B Brandon Phillips told the team’s website he is “not going to be playing for a while” because of a strained left calf. Phillips said Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the team physician, told him the injury is worse than originally thought.
Colorado: Bill Geivett was named senior vice president of major league operations with a focus entirely on the big-league club. Dan O’Dowd remains general manager, a role he has held since September 1999, and will still make trades and be responsible for personnel moves. But he will spend more time in the area of player development and the minor league system. … 1B Todd Helton (flu) and RF Michael Cuddyer (sore right side) weren’t in the lineup. … C Will Nieves was activated from the disabled list and designated for assignment.
Houston: C Jason Castro is set to begin a rehab assignment, most likely Friday for Class AA Corpus Christi after missing nearly four weeks because of swelling in his right knee. Castro will start with three innings of catching and increase from there. … RH reliever Wilton Lopez was once again available Wednesday after he couldn’t get loose in Tuesday’s game. Lopez had either pitched or at least warmed up in four straight games before that.
Los Angeles: OF Bobby Abreu was designated for assignment to make room for newly acquired OF Shane Victorino on the active roster. Abreu, who hit .251 with a .359 on-base percentage in 70 games with the Dodgers, hit .229 with a .327 on-base percentage in July. “It was a tough one today,” manager Don Mattingly. … RH reliever Brandon League allowed one run in a third of an inning in his Dodgers debut. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt singled off League in the eighth inning and scored on a home run by C Miguel Montero off LH reliever Randy Choate.
Miami: RHP Josh Johnson said he was relieved the Marlins didn’t trade him at the deadline. “(Spending) the rest of my career (in Miami) would be great. It’s the only thing I’ve ever known. I’d love to stay here, be part of it and be part of a World Series here,” he said. … OF Gorkys Hernandez, acquired from Pittsburgh on Tuesday, was given uniform No. 2. He didn’t know it was 3B Hanley Ramirez’s old number until teammates told him.
Milwaukee: RHP Shaun Marcum (elbow) threw a bullpen session that manager Ron Roenicke called “outstanding.” Marcum is scheduled to throw a simulated game this weekend, then should be ready for a rehab assignment. … LH reliever Manny Parra had his sore left shoulder examined by team physician William Raasch. Parra has been unavailable for duty the entire homestand, and there’s a good chance he’ll sit out the weekend series in St. Louis as well.
New York: RHP Zack Wheeler was promoted from Class AA Binghamton (N.Y.) to Class AAA Buffalo. Wheeler, the team’s top overall prospect, was 10-6 with a 3.26 ERA in 19 starts with Binghamton. … LF Jason Bay (bruised left shin) was back in the lineup after being out of the lineup for one game. He was used as a pinch hitter Tuesday instead.
Philadelphia: IF Mike Fontenot was designated for assignment, and IF Michael Martinez was recalled from Class AAA Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Pa.), where he was hitting .271. … RF Nate Schierholtz got his first start for the Phillies, batting second, and LF Domonic Brown, just called up from Class AAA, hit sixth. Team officials have said Brown will get a chance to earn a regular role.
Pittsburgh: RH reliever Daniel McCutchen was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis to clear a roster spot for newly acquired RH reliever Chad Qualls. … 1B Gaby Sanchez made his Pirates debut and went 0-for-2 with one walk and one strikeout. Sanchez figures to play primarily against left-handers, platooning with right-handing hitting 1B Garrett Jones.
St. Louis: SS Rafael Furcal (lower back) missed his fourth straight start. Newly acquired RH reliever Edward Mujica was activated and RH reliever Trevor Rosenthal was sent to Class AAA Memphis. … 1B Lance Berkman again was out of the lineup against a left-handed starting pitcher. Manager Mike Matheny had said he would find time for Berkman: “We need to get him going. Right-handed, he looks good.”
San Diego: LF Carlos Quentin was not in the lineup simply because he was being rested. After hitting .311 in his first month-plus after coming off the disabled list following knee surgery, Quentin hit only .213 in July. … Manager Bud Black said not trading 3B Chase Headley sent a “positive message” to the Padres’ fans. “We’ve talked about the continuity of this group,” Black said. “I like how we’ve been focused. Josh (Byrnes, the general manager) felt it is in the best interest of the club to remain where it is. Every year is different.”
San Francisco: 1B Aubrey Huff (right knee) was placed on the disabled list to create a roster spot for newly acquired RF Hunter Pence, who batted fifth in his Giants debut. Huff re-injured the knee running to first base Monday. … LF Melky Cabrera remains in the Giants’ future even with the addition of Pence, who could make more than $13 million in arbitration next season. Cabrera is a free agent after the season, and interest in a contract extension is mutual. “There is flexibility in the budget to sign Melky and plug our holes in the offseason,” GM Brian Sabean said.
Washington: 3B Ryan Zimmerman (back) was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight day. Manager Davey Johnson had said Tuesday he thought Zimmerman would return Wednesday, but it didn’t happen. … 1B Adam LaRoche, also bothered by back problems, returned to the lineup. He sat out Tuesday’s series opener and came out in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game because of the back issues.