AMERICAN LEAGUE

Devil Rays vs. Red Sox
Tampa Bay: The Devil Rays won five consecutive road games heading into their current 13-game trip, one short of the franchise record. They play 23 of their next 30 on the road and have 27 away games remaining, second-most in the AL. They went 7-6 on their most recent homestand -- the first time in club history they had a winning homestand and road trip in a row. ... Gerald Williams' 18th homer on Sunday was a career high. ... Miguel Cairo's three-run homer off Pedro Martinez on Monday night was his first homer since July 20, 1999. Boston: The Red Sox purchased the contract of INF Lou Merloni from Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday and placed Izzy Alcantara on the 15-day disabled list with a strained lower back. Merloni played for the Red Sox in 1999, hitting .254 with one homer and 13 RBI before signing with the Yokohama BayStars of Japan's Central League in the offseason. ... By striking out five in the first two innings, Pedro Martinez moved into the top 10 in strikeouts for the Red Sox with 773. Dennis Eckersley and Dutch Leonard were tied for 10th with 771.

White Sox vs. Orioles
Chicago: Charles Johnson and Harold Baines returned to Baltimore for the first time since being traded July 29. ... Although the Orioles started right-hander Jose Mercedes, Baines didn't start. Frank Thomas was DH. ... Thomas drew his 88th walk in the first inning, third-best in the AL. ... Chicago has owned the best record in the AL every day since June 3. Baltimore: The Orioles once again dipped into their minor league system for pitching help Monday, calling up right-hander Jay Spurgeon from Triple-A Rochester and optioning Leslie Brea to the same club. ... Luis Matos, who sat out Sunday's game in Kansas City after being hit in the thumb with a pitch Saturday, started in center field Monday. ... OF Brady Anderson missed a fourth straight game with a sprained wrist. ... Jerry Hairston hit his second homer of the season in the first inning, both leading off the game.

Yankees vs. Rangers
New York: Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who is being treated for bone marrow cancer, might resume his duties when the Yankees begin a road trip Aug. 25 at Oakland. Manager Joe Torre said he's not counting on having Stottlemyre back until at least then. Stottlemyre began the more intensive part of his treatment during the Yankees' last homestand. He left the team Aug. 7 and returned for one afternoon three days later, when David Cone (2-10) won for the first time in 16 starts. In Stottlemyre's absence, Yankees vice president and former major league pitching coach Billy Connors is taking his duties. Stottlemyre asked reporters to respect his privacy and does not discuss his treatment. Torre has shared only vague details about it. ... The Yankees still lead the AL East over Boston, but are seven games off their pace from a year ago. Through 113 games last season, they were 70-43. Texas: OF Chad Curtis, who was traded to the Rangers from New York in the offseason, will have to wait another week to get his World Series ring. Curtis thought Yankees manager Joe Torre might bring the ring with him to Arlington, but found out he will be presented his ring during an on-field ceremony when the Rangers play in New York next week. Curtis was a key contributor to the Yankees' last two titles. He has become a seldom-used reserve in Texas. ... Prior to Monday's game, Texas 3B Mike Lamb sat at his locker working on a half-finished crossword puzzle. He was trying to finish the job for one of his teammates. "I'm closing for John Wetteland. He went back to being a starter," Lamb joked.

Tigers vs. Mariners
Detroit: The Tigers entered the series with a 4.80 ERA, their lowest since April 18 (4.76). They're fifth in the AL. The last time the Tigers finished the season ranked in the top five in ERA was 1988, when they were fourth at 3.71. Their bullpen is fourth in the league with a 3.99 ERA. ... Brian Moehler, the winning pitcher in Detroit's 5-3 victory over Oakland on Sunday, is 4-2 in his last seven starts with two complete-game wins. He has allowed one walk or less in 14 of 20 starts, and is third in the AL with 1.63 walks per nine innings, and fifth with a 3.13 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. Seattle: LHP Rob Ramsay was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of a strained left biceps. RHP Joel Pinero was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. Ramsay was one of two lefties in Seattle's bullpen, along with Arthur Rhodes. Pinero, 21, was brought up by the Mariners for a spot start at Chicago last Tuesday and won his major league debut 12-4. Ramsay pitched 1 1-3 innings in relief of Seattle's 10-4 loss to Cleveland on Sunday. He is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 30 games. Pinero, a Mariners' farmhand since 1997, is ranked as one of their top minor league pitching prospects. He can start or relieve.

Indians vs. Athletics
Cleveland: OF Manny Ramirez was scratched from the starting lineup due to lingering problems with the left hamstring strain that landed him on the 15-day disabled list May 30. Ramirez was to start in the field for the first time since May 29, when the injury first occurred. He has spent most of his time at DH since being activated on July 13. Ramirez has 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 24 starts at DH. ... Thanks in large part to Ramirez, Cleveland has 37 homers from the DH spot, 13 more than the Indians got out of that position last year. ... Russell Branyan, a career third baseman, has been employed exclusively in the outfield since he was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo almost two weeks ago. "We consider him a third baseman, but we're trying to develop him as an outfielder too," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. Oakland: RHP Jason Isringhausen, Oakland's closer, has developed a small point of pain in his right biceps, but A's head trainer Larry Davis said it's nothing to be concerned about yet. "It's something that won't go away as long as he's pitching," Davis said, "but it has never affected his availability." The pain first surfaced when Isringhausen was used in both ends of a doubleheader at Colorado on July 17. ... RHP T.J. Mathews flew to Los Angeles to have the MRI on his right elbow looked at by Anaheim Angels team doctor Lewis Yocum, who removed bone chips and spurs from Mathews' right elbow during the offseason. "It's just not recovering fast and we're still cautious," Davis said. Mathews has allowed 10 home runs in 53 2/3 innings this year and has an ERA of 6.71. "Hopefully I can get this thing better soon," Mathews said. "I'm not scared. I'm just frustrated because the elbow has been fine until this." ... RHP Omar Olivares has come off the 15-day DL, but still has no place in the starting rotation and will continue to work out of the bullpen. "I'm not changing the rotation," A's manager Art Howe said.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Rockies vs. Expos
Colorado: RF Larry Walker was rested and did not start, though he pinch hit in the ninth. ... Entering Monday night's game, the Rockies had a chance to go over .500 for the first time since July 22. ... The Rockies have had at least 10 hits in each of the first four games of their current road trip, going 57-for-155 (.368) in those games. The Rockies were hitting a NL-low .232 on the road prior to their current trip. Montreal: The Expos were trying to avoid being swept in a four-game series at home for the first time since July 14-17 against San Francisco. ... The Expos were 7-21 at home since June 5 entering Monday night's game.

Dodgers vs. Marlins
Los Angeles: Since coming off the disabled list July 13, closer Jeff Shaw has pitched 13 consecutive scoreless innings, converting six saves chances. Florida: Mark Kotsay was 0-for-15 lifetime against the Dodgers' Kevin Brown going into Monday's game, but with Brown on the mound, Kotsay was in the lineup nonetheless. "Do you see Lou Gehrig around here to take his place?" Marlins manager John Boles said. "Most guys don't have real good numbers against Kevin Brown." ... OF Henry Rodriguez began the week batting .229 with no homers and one RBI in 10 games since joining Florida.

Giants vs. Mets
San Francisco: Barry Bonds was only 1-for-11 through the first three games of the series at Shea Stadium. ... Russ Ortiz took a 3-0 career mark against the Mets into his start Monday night. ... An afternoon rain made it look Monday night's game might be postponed, which would have caused schedule trouble for these teams. Because of few common off-days the rest of the season, Mets general manager Steve Phillips proposed a couple of odd scenarios. Two of them involved makeups with the Giants playing day-night doubleheaders in different cities -- one in New York and Pittsburgh, the other in New York and Philadelphia. New York: GM Steve Phillips is still trying to work out a trade for Matt Franco, who was designated for assignment last week. The Mets have until Saturday to do something with the former pinch-hitter deluxe, who slumped this season in a utility role. Several teams have shown interest in Franco, and Phillips remained confident that a deal could be made. ... Closer Armando Benitez had not allowed an earned run in his last 20 appearances, spanning 21 innings.

Diamondbacks vs. Phillies
Arizona: Curt Schilling returned to Veterans Stadium on Monday for the first time since a July 26 trade sent him to the Diamondbacks. Schilling is 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA with Arizona. ... Four Arizona pitchers have more career wins than Schilling's 108: Johnson (175), Mike Morgan (139), Todd Stottlemyre (137) and Greg Swindell (121). ... LF Luis Gonzalez is the only player to bat in the No. 3 hole for Arizona this season. He has started each of Arizona's 118 games. Philadelphia: Manager Terry Francona started an all right-handed lineup against Arizona's Randy Johnson on Monday so OF Travis Lee had to wait an extra day to face his former teammates. ... 3B Scott Rolen returned to the lineup after missing four games with a sprained wrist. ... C Mike Lieberthal did not start Monday because of back spasms.

Cardinals vs. Cubs
St. Louis: In a scheduling quirk, the Cardinals' visit to Wrigley Field on Monday was their first this season and first meeting with their NL Central rivals since April 3-6. The Cards swept that series 3-0, outscoring the travel-weary Cubs 30-8 and hitting nine home runs. The Cubs were coming off a two-game opening series in Japan. St. Louis did play in Chicago earlier, taking two of three from the White Sox at Comiskey Park. ... Manager Tony La Russa said the Cardinals obviously miss Mark McGwire, but even with Cincinnati closing in on their lead, they have no plans to change the way they play. " We're going to go about it the way we have all year," La Russa said. "The trade for (Will) Clark has given us an edge. I like our club a lot. We've been competing for 4½ months." The Cards went without a homer during an entire series for the first time during their three-game set in Milwaukee last weekend. Chicago: The Cubs recalled right-hander Jamie Arnold from Triple-A Iowa on Monday and he will start Tuesday. He gets the roster spot created when Phil Norton was sent to Triple-A on Sunday. Arnold will be the 44th different player to appear for the Cubs this season (24 position players, 20 pitchers). The club- record for players in a season is 49, set in 1966. ... Manager Don Baylor said he had no plan to pull a lineup out of a hat, even though the Cubs entered Monday night's game with no runs in their previous 22 innings. ... 3B Shane Andrews, who had surgery to repair a herniated disc, is rehabbing in Triple-A and could rejoin the Cubs next week in Houston, Baylor said. ... RHP Kerry Wood, on the DL with a strained oblique muscle, won't be ready to pitch next week. Wood hasn't started a game since July 29.

Reds vs. Brewers
Cincinnati: 1B Sean Casey's average reached .300 on Sunday for the first time since April 21. He was at .227 on June 16 before going 62-for-167 (.371). ... OF Brian Hunter began serving a three-game suspension Monday. He was suspended for charging the mound after being hit by a pitch from Colorado's Scott Sullivan on July 15. He will miss the Milwaukee series and return to action when the Reds return home to face Pittsburgh. ... Reds pitchers had not allowed a run in 22 innings prior to Monday's game against Milwaukee. Milwaukee: Injured SS Mark Loretta was 0-for-3 in a rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. He fielded cleanly, and scouts said he ran well to first. "We'll get a better feel (Monday), with back-to-back nights," Brewers manager Davey Lopes said. ... A decision is nearing on the status of injured 3B Jose Hernandez. He has been seeing a chiropractor for his strained lower back, and Lopes said the medical staff will decide whether to place him on the disabled list before the Brewers go on the road Thursday. ... The Brewers continue on pace to set the NL record for walks allowed. With 572 through Sunday, Milwaukee is averaging 4.9 walks per game. That would give the Brewers 792 for the year, 55 more than the Rockies allowed last season.

Pirates vs. Astros
Pittsburgh: Pirates pinch-hitters have gone 4-for-18 this month after going just 1-for-17 in July. The group still has not accounted for an RBI since June 30 when Aramis Ramirez had one against Philadelphia ... OF Adrian Brown batted leadoff for the seventh straight game. He is 14-for-50 (.280) while leading off in 12 games this year. The Pirates have nine different leadoff hitters this season. Houston: OF Roger Cedeno is expected to return Friday from his rehab assignment in Triple-A New Orleans and manager Larry Dierker plans to use him immediately. Cedeno has been out since May 25 with a fractured left hand. He went to the rehab assignment last Friday and has gone 3-for-11 with two walks and one stolen base in three games ... The Astros have only five players who have hit 30 or more home runs and two have done it this season. Richard Hidalgo became the fifth Houston player to reach that plateau Sunday, following Jeff Bagwell who reached it Thursday. The others who have had 30 in Houston are Moises Alou (1998), Glenn Davis (1986, '88, '89) and Jimmy Wynn (1967, '69).

Padres vs. Braves
San Diego: San Diego's four-game winning streak is its longest since June 22-July 2, 1999. The Padres last won five in a row from Aug. 23-27, 1998. With a 10-3 record in August, the Padres are in position to have their first winning month since going 18-8 in June 1999. Atlanta: OF Reggie Sanders remained off the roster for another day, with the Braves saying they planned to activate him off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and send George Lombard back down to Triple-A Richmond. Sanders has been out since July 28 with a strained left hamstring. ... LF B.J. Surhoff entered Monday night's game with an eight-game hitting streak. Owner Ted Turner and former star OF Dale Murphy were inducted into the Braves' Hall of Fame.