AMERICAN LEAGUE

Orioles vs. Rangers
Baltimore: With the four-game series at Texas, the Orioles will complete a 13-game road trip during which they will play in four cities, had two day games after night games, and switched time zones three times. ... Entering Tuesday's doubleheader, Orioles relievers had 22 blown saves and a league high 5.69 ERA. But Baltimore's bullpen has been better lately, converting 18 of 21 save opportunities since June 27. Texas: Rookie 3B Mike Lamb began the doubleheader with a team-high 26 errors, but none in 12 games. The Rangers have been encouraging Lamb to react to grounders rather than thinking first and then reacting. ... The Rangers will honor the U.S. Little League champions from Bellaire, Texas, prior to Sunday's game against Kansas City. The team, which lost to Venezuela in the finals, will be recognized before the game.

Red Sox vs. Indians
Boston: The Red Sox and Indians have developed a testy rivalry the past few years, fueled by three postseason meetings since 1995, Pedro Martinez hitting Roberto Alomar earlier this year, and Boston manager Jimy Williams insisting the Indians cover a center-field camera he felt they were using to steal signals. "We've played them a lot of times the last couple years," Williams said. "We've played them a lot of different games with a lot of different cameras involved." ... Eight games in the next 10 days against the wild-card leading Indians might determine whether or not the Red Sox make the playoffs. "You'll know where we stand next Thursday, if we're in or we're out," closer Derek Lowe said. "So there's nothing to be afraid of." ... After batting .451 with five homers and 17 RBI against Cleveland last season, SS Nomar Garciaparra entered the three-game series hitting just .133 with five strikeouts and one RBI this season. Cleveland: Pedro Martinez's 8-0 career record and 1.47 ERA against the Indians hasn't stopped manager Charlie Manuel from believing Cleveland's due to defeat the AL's best pitcher. "Our time is coming," Manuel said. "I hope he can't keep going on beating us all the time. I think one of these days we're going to have our day and we're going to get him." Martinez will face the Indians on Thursday. ... Manuel doesn't think the importance of the next two weeks would necessarily prevent the Red Sox and Indians -- who have brawled in the past -- from going at it again. "It might be more apt to happen because these games mean so much," he said. Martinez was suspended five games in May after ignoring an umpire's warning and hitting Roberto Alomar. "I think that's history," Manuel said. "Until somebody opens it back up." ... RHP Charles Nagy, out since May 19 after undergoing elbow surgery, will start Thursday's series finale. In 18 career starts against the Red Sox, Nagy is 10-2 with a 2.96 ERA.

Blue Jays vs. Yankees
Toronto: 3B Tony Batista was stuck in a 9-for-66 slump over 16 games. ... 1B Brad Fullmer had homered in a career-high three straight games. New York: CF Bernie Williams again was out of the starting lineup, this time because of a sore right knee. He did not play in six of the Yankees' previous seven games. ... Chuck Knoblauch, who began the night in a 1-for-18 slump since coming off the DL, drew a leadoff walk in the first inning and hit a two-run triple in the second. ... Denny Neagle's only other start against Toronto came Oct. 4, 1991, when he was a rookie with Minnesota.

Tigers vs. White Sox
Detroit: OF Juan Gonzalez has struggled in three games since coming back from the flu. "He's lost at the plate right now," manager Phil Garner said of Gonzalez's 1-for-12 skid. Gonzalez was called out on strikes in the first inning Tuesday night and became upset with home plate umpire Rich Rieker before Garner came out to intercede. ... The Tigers have lost valuable ground in their improbable wild-card chase by losing six straight after making a second-half charge. ... The Tigers will send six minor leaguers to the Arizona Fall League next month -- Brandon Inge, Omar Infante, Mike Maroth, Adam Pettyjohn, Matt Miller and Kris Keller will join the Scottsdale Scorpions. ... The Tigers announced a two-year agreement Tuesday with the Erie SeaWolves of the Eastern League to be their new Double-A affiliate. The Tigers' Double-A franchise has been in Jacksonville, Fla., the last six years. Chicago: When the White Sox began to stretch Tuesday about two hours and 30 minutes before the game, they looked up on the scoreboard and to their surprise the replay screen was showing -- in slow motion -- their April brawl with the Tigers. While the players watched, the agitated coaches called the scoreboard booth to get it turned off. "That surprised me, maybe it was somebody who didn't understand," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. "Who put it up?" asked general manager Ron Schueler, when told about the incident minutes later. "That's not real smart." ... Manuel hopes to rest SS Jose Valentin as much as possible during the final three weeks, but not for long periods. Valentin, who didn't start Tuesday night, has been nursing an inflamed pelvis. ... RHP Cal Eldred, with a screw in his ailing elbow, might try to play catch Wednesday. James Baldwin, who had an injection Saturday in his sore right shoulder, isn't sure if he will be able to throw Wednesday or wait till later. ... The White Sox recalled left-handed reliever Jesus Pena from Double-A Birmingham.

Twins vs. Athletics
Minnesota: RHP Danny Mota was recalled from Salt Lake City of the Pacific Coast League to replace RHP Hector Carrasco on the roster. Carrasco was traded to Boston on Sunday. Mota was 5-3 with a 2.19 ERA in 57 combined games for Salt Lake City, Double-A New Britain and Single-A Fort Myers. He has 97 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings with eight saves. Mota, acquired in the Feb. 6, 1998, trade for Chuck Knoblauch, will be making his major league debut. ... LHP Mark Redman underwent an MRI on Monday, which showed nothing out of the ordinary. He has a bone bruise in his left knee and is expected to miss at least one start. ... Twins CEO Chris Clouser was in attendance at Tuesday night's game. Oakland: 3B Olmedo Saenz is getting closer to returning to action. He took batting practice for the first time since Aug. 30, when he reinjured his strained left hamstring during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento. Saenz has been on the 15-day DL since Aug. 1, but could return as early as Friday when the A's travel to Seattle for a crucial series. ... 2B Randy Velarde was given a day off Tuesday. ... SS Miguel Tejada has already set single-season highs for homers (25) and RBI (98) for shortstops in franchise history. Eddie Joost hit 23 homers in 1949, and Eric McNair drove in 95 runs in 1932. Tejada entered Tuesday 8-for-53.

Devil Rays vs. Angels
Tampa Bay: The Devil Rays, who did not draw a walk in their four-game series at Oakland, entered Tuesday with a streak of 147 consecutive at-bats since Fred McGriff's one-out walk in the fifth inning last Thursday at Cleveland. ... McGriff, mired in a 13-game RBI drought, is six shy of his fifth career 100-RBI season. He needs two homers to join Frank Robinson as the only players in major league history to hit at least 200 homers in both leagues. ... 3B Vinny Castilla, who was never on the DL in nine major league seasons before this year, has been placed on the DL three times in his first season with the Devil Rays -- costing him 63 games. Castilla, 33, sat out only nine games in four previous seasons combined. ... The Devil Rays, whose only run in their last three games came on Gerald Williams' RBI double in the sixth Monday at Oakland, have hit only five homers in 15 games. ... Greg Vaughn needs four homers to join McGriff and Jose Canseco as the only players in major league history to hit at least 30 homers with four different teams. ... Castilla, who hit at least 32 home runs in each of five previous seasons with Colorado, has gone 141 at-bats without a homer -- the longest drought of his career -- and has only one in 216 previous at-bats. ... Roberto Hernandez needs one save to reach the 30-save mark for the fifth time in his career, and two to give him 100 with the Devil Rays. ... Tampa Bay has not allowed a pinch-homer in 58 at-bats. Anaheim: Mo Vaughn's career-high 160 strikeouts are the most by any player in the Angels' 40-year history. The previous high was 156 in 1982 by Reggie Jackson. ... Vaughn, Troy Glaus and Tim Salmon have combined to strike out 430 times, more than half of six other teams. ... Salmon needs to score three runs to give the Angels three players with at least 100 runs scored for the fourth time. ... Darin Erstad needs eight RBI to become the first player in franchise history with 100 RBI, 100 runs scored and 200 hits in the same season. ... Scott Schoeneweis' balk in Monday night's loss to Baltimore was the 10th by the Angels' staff, most in the majors.

Royals vs. Mariners
Kansas City: Rey Sanchez ranks second among AL shortstops with a .993 fielding percentage. He's made four errors in 600 chances of 128 games. Cleveland's Omar Vizquel is first with a .997 fielding percentage with two errors in 576 chances. ... Since the All-Star break, Johnny Damon is hitting .429 (109-for-254) and has scored 59 runs. He leads the AL in total bases in the second half of the season with 163. ... All-Star RF Jermaine Dye has 32 home runs, four shy of the team record of 36 set by Steve Balboni in 1985. Seattle: With a 42-30 record at Safeco Field, the Mariners have ensured their 11th winning season at home. ... The Mariners have the lowest pinch-hitting average in the AL at .183 (15-for-82). Raul Ibanez had a pinch-single in a 6-3 loss to the Royals on Monday night. ... LF Rickey Henderson (bruised left hip) and 2B Mark McLemore (strained left hamstring) were not in Tuesday's lineup. McLemore left after five innings Monday night.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Brewers vs. Mets
Milwaukee: With starting catcher Henry Blanco slowed by a sore right shoulder, the Brewers purchased the contract of C Kevin Brown from Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room, they moved pitcher Rocky Coppinger from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. ... Starter John Snyder pitched a scoreless first inning for the sixth straight start. He allowed 19 first-inning runs in his first 15 starts this season. New York: Manager Bobby Valentine played coy when asked about his team's health. "We have a little situation, I'd rather not talk about." That situation is a sore right foot for closer Armando Benitez, limiting his ability to push off the mound. Benitez, who allowed one earned run between June 22-Sept. 5, has given up three runs and two homers in his last two outings. ... C Mike Piazza, just 5-for-30 with two RBI this month, did not start. The team as a whole is hitting just .201 with 30 runs in 10 September games. "It's not only myself. It's been everybody," Piazza said. "It just shows how frustrating this game can be." ... 3B Robin Ventura returned to the lineup after two days off and singled in his first at-bat, snapping an 0-for-23 slump.

Marlins vs. Braves
Florida: Entering Tuesday, LF Cliff Floyd and 3B Mike Lowell had done the most damage to Braves pitching this season. Floyd was hitting .300 (9-for-30) with three homers and 10 RBI, while Lowell hit .323 batting average (10-for-31) with three homers and nine RBI. ... C Ramon Castro was hit in the head with Andruw Jones' bat in the third inning, but remained in the game. ... One reason the Marlins entered with a 5-4 record against Atlanta this year was a .290 average against the Braves. Only Montreal's .302 was better. ... Lynn Jones will replace Rusty Kuntz as first base coach next year. A former utility man for the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals, Jones spent eight years in the Marlins' organization. He guided Triple-A Calgary to a 60-82 record this year. Kuntz will remain in the organization as a roving outfield and baserunning instructor. Atlanta: After compiling a 9.82 ERA in 11 innings, RHP Stan Belinda called it quits Tuesday. Belinda, 0-0 with no save opportunities, was signed July 29 after being released by Colorado. He had 2.79 ERA in 12 appearances in April, but left the Rockies with a 7.07 ERA in 46 appearances. Belinda said he will try to return to baseball next year with another club. ... Facing Jesus Sanchez, SS Rafael Furcal hit from the right side, where he was batting .257 (18-for-70). Furcal had a .300 average (93-for-310) against right-handers. ... LHP John Rocker last walked a batter on Aug. 16 against San Diego, giving the closer a stretch of nine games and 9 1/3 innings without issuing a pass. For the year, Rocker has walked 45 in only 46 1/3 innings. ... RF Brian Jordan is hitting .440 against left-handers, best in the majors.

Expos vs. Phillies
Montreal: The Expos set a team record Tuesday by adding its 49th player of the season, purchasing the contract of C Yohanny Valera from Double-A Harrisburg. Valera takes the spot of Michael Barrett, who is suffering from tendinitis of the right elbow and is day-to-day. ... Wednesday night's starter, LHP Trey Moore, has had great difficulty against left-handed batters, who are .459 against him (17-for-37). Philadelphia: On Wednesday night, LHP Bruce Chen will look to extend his scoreless innings streak which is at 20 2/3 innings. The last time he surrendered a run was in the third inning against San Francisco on Aug. 27. ... Leading hitter Bobby Abreu (.316), who left game 2 of Monday's doubleheader with inflammation of the right elbow, did not start Tuesday and is listed as day-to-day.

Cardinals vs. Pirates
St. Louis: Mark McGwire got a new position Tuesday. He led off and was officially listed as the starting left fielder. McGwire was the Cardinals' No. 2 hitter and second baseman for the past four games. Of course, his defensive position is purely a technicality since McGwire is in the game to make one plate appearance, then give way to the normal starter at that position. He was replaced by Craig Paquette in the bottom of the inning. McGwire hit a ground ball to shortstop against Dan Serafini, and was clearly favoring his aching right knee when he came off the field. ... Thomas Howard has an overall average of .197, but is a .324 hitter with runners in scoring position. He's 12-for-37 with runners in scoring position and 12-for-85 (.141) with none on base. Howard picked up his 10th RBI as a pinch-hitter with a double in Monday's 8-4 win over the Pirates. Pittsburgh: Kevin Young took some grounders at first base Tuesday, He has missed the last 14 games with a groin strain. Young hopes to play this weekend in Houston. ... John Vander Wal forced his way into the lineup with his steady production. Vander Wal drove in all four of the Pirates' runs Monday, raising his season total to 79. He hit his 20th homer in the game. The Pirates want to look at younger players, but the 34-year-old Vander Wal has been too productive to keep on the bench.

Cubs vs. Reds
Chicago: RF Sammy Sosa has a nine-game hitting streak, with four home runs in five games, and 49 homers for the season. He needs one HR to join Babe Ruth and Mark McGwire as the only players with more than two 50-homer seasons. ... Don Baylor got his 500th win as a big-league manager Tuesday. The first 440 were with Colorado. Cincinnati: An MRI showed that CF Ken Griffey Jr. has a partial tear of his left hamstring, the result of a collision Monday night with Cubs C Joe Girardi. He is expected to be out 5-7 games. ... C Eddie Taubensee was on the bench for the first time since back surgery on a bulging disk last Friday. He said the surgery was more extensive than expected, but that his back already feels better.

Giants vs. Astros
San Francisco: The Giants' lead of 8½ games over Arizona is their widest September lead in a division race since Sept. 19, 1987, when they were nine games in front of Cincinnati. ... The Giants' 207 home runs are their most while playing in San Francisco, and they are on pace to hit 235, which would top the franchise mark of 221 set in 1947. Houston: With a loss Monday night, the Astros were mathematically eliminated from the NL Central Division as they are 20 games out with 18 to play. ... Houston has used 23 pitchers this year, tying the club record set in 1965. The Astros also have used 43 total players, five short of the record set in 1965.

Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks
Los Angeles: Gary Sheffield needs two homers to match the Dodgers' franchise record for homers in a season. ... RHP Ismael Valdes dropped his appeal and began serving his six-game suspension Tuesday. Valdes was suspended for hitting Chicago's Mark Grace on Aug. 27. ... C Todd Hundley is hitting .308 with 21 homers and 57 RBI in his last 66 games. ... Jeff Shaw is 12-for-12 in save opportunities since coming off the DL July 13. ... Los Angeles' 40 road wins lead the NL. The Dodgers are 40-36 away from Chavez Ravine. Arizona: After winning his first three decisions with the Diamondbacks, RHP Curt Schilling has lost five of his last six. Schilling hasn't won since Aug. 18 against Chicago. ... The Diamondbacks are 1-54 when trailing after eight innings and 2-49 when trailing after seven. ... Arizona has been held to four runs or less in seven straight games and has managed just 44 hits during that stretch. ... Diamondbacks play-by-play man Thom Brennaman, son of Cincinnati Reds' broadcaster Marty Brennaman, turned 37 on Tuesday. ... Jason Conti on Monday became the 34th player in Diamondbacks history to homer. ... Arizona has homered in four straight games, its longest streak since homering in seven straight games from June 25 to July 1.

Rockies vs. Padres
Colorado: The defeat of Julian Tavarez in Monday's 7-2 loss snapped his club record of nine consecutive winning decisions. ... 3B Jeff Cirillo needs four more doubles to join Todd Helton (54) as only the sixth pair of teammates to record 50-plus doubles in the same season. Helton is only 10 behind Joe Medwick's NL record of 64 set in 1936 and eight shy of the NL mark for left-handers, set by Pittsburgh's Paul Waner in 1932. San Diego: Ryan Klesko, who stole his 21st base Monday night, is the only NL 1B to reach the 20-steal mark this season. ... In the last two starts of rookie RHP Adam Eaton, Wednesday's scheduled starter, the games have each lasted 13 innings and took more than four hours to complete.