Chicago Cubs: After tremendous sessions during batting practice this past weekend in Houston, Sammy Sosa is likely to return to the Cubs' lineup during their upcoming series against the Pirates, the Chicago Tribune reported in Sunday's editions.

Chicago begins a three-game series against Pittsburgh starting Monday. Sosa has been on the DL since having his right big toenail removed on May 10.

"He's a lot further along than I anticipated and everyone anticipated," manager Dusty Baker said to the newspaper. "Until you see a guy, it's all speculation. He's moving around pretty good. I don't see him limping, and he was hitting the ball a ton [in batting practice]."

One of his homers during batting practice hit the train tracks at Minute Maid Park.

St. Louis Cardinals: Cardinals second baseman Fernando Vina left Sunday's game in Pittsburgh after straining his right hamstring trying to beat out a grounder.

As Vina ran out a grounder to second in the fifth inning, he grabbed at his right hamstring about a stride short of first base. He tried reaching for the bag as he went down, but was called out.

After spending about a minute on the ground, he walked off the field with only minimal help, but was replaced by Miguel Cairo in the bottom of the inning.

Vina had five hits in St. Louis' weekend series in Pittsburgh, three for extra bases. He was 2-for-3 Sunday.

Pittsburgh Pirates: At least Ryan Vogelsong got some frequent-flyer miles.

Vogelsong, one of the Pirates' top pitching prospects, was called Saturday and told to get to Pittsburgh so he could start Sunday against the Cardinals.

But after he arrived from Triple-A Nashville, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield and manager Lloyd McClendon changed their minds, and right-hander Brian Meadows started instead.

The change was made, Littlefield said, about an hour after the team told reporters following St. Louis' 6-0 victory Saturday night that Vogelsong was pitching. The move also affected reliever Pat Mahomes, who was told after pitching three shutout innings Saturday that he was being designated for assignment.

However, the Pirates didn't officially make a move with Mahomes, meaning he was technically available to pitch Sunday, although he wasn't used. He's expected to be reassigned Monday, when Josh Fogg comes off the 15-day disabled list to start against the Cubs.

San Diego Padres: Padres outfielder Jason Bay broke his right wrist when Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Elmer Dessens hit him with a pitch in the second inning of Sunday's game.

Bay had an X-ray taken, and the Padres said the rookie would remain with the team through Monday night, when the four-game series concludes. He's due to return to San Diego for further evaluation.

Bay, in obvious pain, took first and stayed in the game for the next two outs, which ended the inning. Gary Matthews Jr. then replaced him in center field to start the Arizona second.

In the fourth, Dessens hit Rondell White, and White glared at Dessens as plate umpire Ron Kulpa accompanied him partway down the basepath.

The 24-year-old Bay was playing in his third major league game. He was called up Friday from Triple-A Portland after Mark Kotsay went on the disabled list with a back sprain. Bay's first hit was a solo home run in the ninth inning of Friday night's 5-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.