Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka's injured rotator cuff is going to require time on the 15-disabled list to recover fully.  Dice-K will be eligible on June 12th to come off the DL and the team expects him back close to that date.  Temporarily, first baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Matsuzaka's move to the DL was a short-term pain/long-term gain decision to ensure he was ready for the rest of the season.  Through 11 starts, Dice-K is 8-0 with a 2.53 ERA.

Bailey should be available through the Baltimore series but is expected to return to Pawtucket when Daisuke's spot in the rotation comes up.  While no decision has been made, the front-runner for that call-up is prospect and designated spot starter Justin Masterson.  Masterson is 1-0 in two spot starts during two previous trips to the Major League club.

The waiting game for Mark Kotsay's back to improve is over in Atlanta and the Braves have made the move to place him on the 15-day disabled list.  While Kotsay recovers, outfielder Josh Anderson from Triple-A Richmond will give the Braves some outfield depth.

Kotsay's injury opens the door for Gregor Blanco to see playing time and Anderson will pick up some of Matt Diaz's time as he is also on the DL.  The 25-year-old Anderson has quicks - he stole 13 bases with Richmond and hit .282 before the call-up. 

Saint Louis Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan suffered a hernia mid-season in 2007 and has not been the same player since.  His poor second half performance has carried into '08 and now Duncan is headed to Triple-A Memphis to work on his hitting.  The decision was made easier by a hot bat being available in Louisville in outfielder Joe Mather.

Duncan played 47 games and hit .252 with four homers and 16 RBI and .368 slugging percentage, well off his career numbers.  The big concern with Duncan was manager Tony LaRussa expected to cut back his playing time and there was concern that would not allow him to get enough at-bats to fix his hitting problems.

In Mather, the Cardinals get a hitter who dominated Pacific Coast League pitching so far this season.  Mather comes to the Major League team hitting .315 with a .406 on-base percentage and .671 slugging percentage.  He has 12 home runs in 143 at-bats so the 25-year-old could provide Saint Louis with some pop which they could use since they are 11th in the National League in homers.

Trenton Thunder manager Tony Franklin benched Yankees prospect Jose Tabata (#3 Yankees prospect, Baseball America) for what seems like a lack of effort on a play during the fifth inning of last night’s game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

The right fielder was suspended for three games in April for leaving the stadium after a strikeout. Franklin refused to comment on the punishment for the current offense.

Tabata has struggled in his first season in Eastern League, especially against right-handers against whom he has a .512 OPS (125 AB). 

A man who seems destined to play in Milwaukee, shortstop Brent Brewer (#7 Brewers prospect, BA) was promoted to the Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League.

The players to watch and what to watch for this weekend in baseball:

Jose Reyes, New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (5/29-6/1)

The series started on Thursday and the focus was originally on Dodgers manager Joe Torre's return to New York.  However, the Mets took the first game of the series and have now won three in a row.  Reyes has been on a tear of late riding a 14-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 29 consecutive games.  In the 29 games, Reyes is .317 with five home runs, 20 runs scored, 15 RBI and 11 steals. 

Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves at Cincinnati Reds (5/30-6/1)

The Braves struggles on the road cannot be pinned on the hot bat of Chipper Jones.  Jones extended his hitting streak to 11 on Thursday in Milwaukee and has at least one hit in 44 of 50 games.  Jones raised his average to .420 and his on-base percentage to a staggering .500.  With 12 homers this season and 398 in his career, there is an outside shot that Great American Ballpark could be the setting for Chipper's 400th.  Now, if only the rest of the team could keep up with Jones on the road, Atlanta is a dismal 7-18 on the road this season.

Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles (5/30-6/2)

Manny is just one home run away from joining the 500 club.  Daniel Cabrera will be the first Orioles pitcher to try and avoid being a piece of Manny trivia.  Ramirez is 3-for-13 against Cabrera in his career with no homers and he has never went yard against any of the four starters scheduled to go for Baltimore this weekend.  Ramirez has performed well in Camden Yards with 15 home runs in 90 games with a .312 average but has not hit a home run against the Orioles since 2006.  Baltimore beat Boston twice at Camden Yards earlier this season, Manny and the Red Sox would love to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Marcus Thames, Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners (5/30-6/1)

After manager Jim Leyland told Thames he should expect more playing time in left field, the 31-year-old veteran blasted two home runs in their 6-2 win over the Angels on Wednesday.  The Tigers have had more questions than answers so far this season and could use an answer or two to get back on track.  Left field has been one of the biggest questions for Leyland's Tigers - they have started five different players in left this season.

Bengie Molina, San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres (5/30-6/1)

After sweeping the first-place Diamondbacks in Arizona, the Giants must be licking their chops as they return home to face one of the few teams in baseball behind them in the standings.  At the plate, no one has been hotter than Bengie Molina for the Giants.  Despite losing his hitting streak on Thursday night, Molina is 23-for-42 in his last 11 games with 2 home runs and 16 RBI and has not made an error behind the plate in 44 games.  One player that would like to avoid Molina is Padres closer Trevor Hoffman who has given up a double and two home runs in the six times he has faced Molina.

Aaron Cook, Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs (5/30)

When Aaron Cook takes the hill these days, Rox fans must be asking themselves, “Who is this on the mound and what has he done with Aaron Cook?”  Cook is 7-3 with a 2.82 ERA and is just two wins away from matching his career high in wins… and it's only May.  Cook is faced with the task of trying to stop the Rockies four game skid against the owners of the best record in baseball.  He has already faced the Cubs once this season and outpitched Jason Marquis on April 24th en route to the Rockies 3-1 win.  In four career starts against Chicago, he is 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA (well below his lifetime 4.31 ERA).

Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox (5/31)

After missing all of April on the disabled list and a disappointing first start on May 4th, Scott Kazmir has gone 4-0 with an 0.69 ERA in his last four starts.  In his 30 innings, Kazmir has struck out 32 while walking 10.  The White Sox have the second lowest batting average in the American League and could dip lower after facing Kazmir - opponents are hitting just .181 against the 24-year-old.

Jamie Moyer, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Florida Marlins (6/1)

If the Florida Marlins were a car, Jamie Moyer's name would be on the pink slip.  The 45-year-old Moyer is 7-0 with a 3.05 ERA in seven games against the Marlins.  Current members of the Marlins are hitting a combined .221 against the cagey veteran.  Moyer draws 23-year-old Andrew Miller who has struggled so far this season and if the Phillies win at least one of two games on Friday or Saturday, this game will decide which of these NL East teams will own first place on Monday.

Tim Byrdak, Houston Astros at Milwaukee Brewers (5/30-6/1)

Middle reliever Tim Byrdak has quietly not given up a run this season.  In 16 appearances, Byrdak has thrown 14 scoreless innings and add in the last six scoreless innings Byrdak threw to close out last season, the 34-year-old veteran has gone 20 innings without giving up a run.  In three career games against the Brewers, Byrdak has pitched four scoreless innings and current Brewers are 0-for-5 against the lefty.

*** What will you be watching this weekend?  Leave comments about what has gotten your attention for this weekend's games.

The Royals were 1 1/2 games out of first place on May 16. Two weeks and 11 straight losses later, they're 9 1/2 games back of the White Sox. Heck, they're almost as bad as the Padres.

They've been outscored, 67-28, in those 11 games. That's roughly a 1-10 Pythagorean record, so we can't even claim bad luck, although Wednesday's ninth-inning meltdown was bad something.

Meanwhile, I'm discovering that my new team has way too much in common with my old one. Here's an oddly specific complaint from a comment at Joe Posnanski's blog that I swore was unique to the Padres:

Part of the problem is that the team insists on carrying 12 pitchers. The 12th pitcher doesn't serve the purpose of reducing innings for his teammates as much as tempting managers to over manage.

Yeah, I've been complaining about that for a long time as it relates to the Padres. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel very comfortable pulling for the Royals.

Don't Blame Me

Right fielder/cruise director Jose Guillen is hitting .250/.267/.364 during the Royals' 11-game skid. Almost all of the damage came in a May 22 contest against Boston, when he went 4-for-5 with a double and a homer.

When you point the finger at someone else, you point three back at yourself. Just sayin'…

Chasing Bill Bergen

Tony Pena did not play on Thursday. Season to date:

Bill Bergen 1909: 372 PA, .139/.163/.156 (1 OPS+)
Tony Pena 2008: 156 PA, .160/.181/.200 (4 OPS+)

Billy Butler has been sent down after hitting .263/.330/.339 in the majors.
  (tracie7779/flickr)

Chicago Cubs    

Jose Ascanio - Optioned to Iowa (AAA).
Neal Cotts - Recalled from Iowa (AAA).
    
Chicago White Sox    

Danny Richar - Missed 53 games (rib injury), optioned to Charlotte (AAA)
    
Cincinnati    

Kent Mercker - Missed 20 games (back injury).
Matt Belisle - Optioned to Louisville (AAA).
    
Detroit   

Clete Thomas - Recalled from Toledo (AAA).
Matt Joyce - Optioned to Toledo (AAA).
    
Houston    

Dave Borkowski - Outrighted to Round Rock (AAA).
Ray King - Signed by the Houston Astros to a minor league contract.
    
Kansas City    

Mike Aviles - Contract purchased from Omaha (AAA).
Mark Grudzielanek - Back injury, day-to-day.
Billy Butler - Optioned to Omaha (AAA).
Neal Musser - Recalled from Omaha (AAA).
Leo Nunez - Right lat strain, 15-day DL (retroactive to May 28).
    
Los Angeles Dodgers   

Jeff Kent - Missed 2 games (back injury).
    
Minnesota    

Pat Neshek - Transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL (right elbow injury).
Craig Breslow - Claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Indians.
    
Oakland    

Jeff Fiorentino - Designated for assignment by the Oakland Athletics.
Frank Thomas - Right quadricep tendinitis, 15-day DL (retroactive to May 28).
Eric Chavez - Missed 53 games (back surgery).
    
Pittsburgh    

Marino Salas - Optioned to Indianapolis (AAA).
Bryan Bullington - Recalled form Indianapolis (AAA).
    
San Francisco    

Rich Aurilia - Kidney stones, day-to-day.
    
Tampa Bay    

Willy Aybar - Missed 45 games (hamstring).
Troy Percival - Hamstring strain, 15-day DL.
    
Texas    

Franklyn German - Outrighted to Oklahoma (AAA).
German Duran - Optioned to Oklahoma (AAA).
Kameron Loe - Optioned to Oklahoma (AAA).
Travis Metcalf - Recalled from Oklahoma (AAA).
Kevin Millwood - Missed 17 games (strained right groin).

• Jorge Campillo allowed just one run while striking out 6 over 5 innings, and Mark Teixeira reached base 4 times, homered, and drove in 4 runs as the Braves took care of the Brewers, 8-1.
• Wil Ledezma gave up just one run on 2 hits in 5 innings, and Jody Gerut hit a 3-run home run in the 8th inning to break a 2-2 tie as the Padres defeated the Nationals, 5-2.
• Luis Castillo went 3-for-4 with a walk, and David Wright hit 2 home runs and drove in 4 as the Mets doubled up the Dodgers, 8-4. Blake DeWitt and Jeff Kent each homered for Los Angeles.
• Ryan Theriot reached base 4 times and scored twice, and Alfonso Soriano had 2 hits and 2 RBI to lead the Cubs to an 8-4 win over the Rockies. Chicago scored 2 runs in the 7th inning and 3 more in the 8th to seal the victory.
• Kyle Lohse tossed 6 strong inning, Chris Duncan drove in 2 runs, and Albert Pujols homered and scored twice as the Cardinals held on to beat the Astros, 3-2. Roy Oswalt pitched 7 solid innings for Houston despite taking the loss.
• Kevin Mench went 3-for-5 and scored 3 times, Rod Barajas hit 3 doubles, drove in 3 runs, and scored twice, and Jesse Litsch threw 7 shutout innings as the Blue Jays trounced the A's, 12-0. Jack Hannahan collected 3 hits for Oakland.
• Joe Crede and Paul Konerko each hit solo home runs, and John Danks struck out 8 and allowed just one run over 6 innings to lead the White Sox to a 5-1 win over the Rays.
• Phil Dumatrait pitched 7 brilliant innings, giving up just one unearned run on 2 hits while striking out 9, and Xavier Nady and Jason Bay each doubled, homered, and drove in 2 runs as the Pirates cruised to a 7-2 win over the Reds.
• Carlos Gomez went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI, and Kevin Slowey tossed a complete game 6-hitter as the Twins sent the Royals to their 11th straight defeat, 5-1. Alexi Casilla also had 3 hits for Minnesota.
• Randy Winn went 3-for-4 with 2 solo home runs, including a game winning shot in the top of the 9th, to give the Giants a 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Randy Johnson pitched 7 strong innings for Arizona, striking out 9 and tying Roger Clemens for second on the all-time strikeout list.

Thursday's Scoreboard