Player Notes

A.J. Pollock broke out of a slump by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored Monday against the Rockies.
Advice: Pollock went 1-for-19 last week, and he was hitting just .204 in May. He's probably getting sent down later this month when Adam Eaton comes off the DL.

David Freese was scratched from Monday's lineup due to inflammation near his right thumb.
Advice: Freese was spiked during Sunday's game and required three stitches. He'll be available off the bench and could be ready to return to action on Tuesday. Ty Wigginton is getting the start at third base Monday.
More: Jenifer Langosch on Twitter

Michael Cuddyer (neck) expects to be activated from the disabled list on Friday when first eligible.
Advice: Cuddyer said he is feeling much better after receiving an epidural on Tuesday to relieve the stiffness and soreness in his neck. He resumed baseball activities Saturday, throwing and hitting in the cage. It's possible he'll go out on a short rehab assignment, though that's not a given.
More: Denver Post

Carlos Quentin is not in the Padres' lineup Tuesday after tweaking his knee during Monday's game.
Advice: Quentin missing games here and there due to his chronic knee issues has become routine. The good news is that he's expected to be back in there Wednesday. Chris Denorfia is getting the start in left field Tuesday.
More: Scott Miller on Twitter

Chris Stewart (groin) estimated Monday that it will be likely be a few more days before he's ready to return to the lineup.
Advice: Stewart injured his left groin on an awkward slide into third base last Thursday and hasn't played since. An MRI came back negative, so he's optimistic that he'll avoid a trip to the disabled list. Austin Romine will continue to handle the load behind the plate for now.
More: Chad Jennings on Twitter

Oscar Taveras (ankle) is expected to return to action at Triple-A Memphis by the middle of this week.
Advice: Taveras injured his right ankle last Sunday while attempting to steal second base. X-rays taken in the immediate aftermath showed no structural damage, but the Cardinals have understandably decided to play it safe with their top prospect. Taveras, 20, was batting .317 with an .831 OPS through his first 31 games this season for the Memphis Redbirds. He should reach the major league level at some point in 2013.
More: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Adam Jones is dealing with some right leg soreness.
Advice: Jones tweaked his leg during Monday's game. The Orioles are playing him in the designated hitter spot on Tuesday in order to protect him. As long as the ailment doesn't get worse, he should continue to play through it.
More: MLBlogs.com

Aaron Hicks went 3-for-4 and hit his fourth homer Wednesday against the Braves.
Advice: Hicks had fallen back into a 2-for-25 slump since his two-homer game on May 13. Today's homer off Cory Rasmus was his first off a righty. He was hitting just .119 in 101 at-bats against them.

Jed Lowrie went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice-fly RBI in Saturday's victory against Kansas City.
Advice: Lowrie pounded the ball in April, batting .333 with a .938 OPS and 15 RBI in 102 plate appearances. The 29-year-old suffered a strained neck at the end of the month and hasn't been the same since, batting .232/.328/.286 with no homers, four RBI and one run scored over 56 May plate appearances. It's possible that the oft-injured infielder is trying to play through a malady that would be better treated by rest.

Justin Maxwell (hand) hit 15 balls off a tee and took 30 soft-tosses on Monday.
Advice: Maxwell is no longer wearing a brace on his fractured left hand and is progressing steadily. He's scheduled to have a routine X-ray on Tuesday to see how the healing is coming along. The outfielder should make a late May/early June return if all goes well.
More: Astros.mlb.com

Oswaldo Arcia is not in Thursday's lineup against the Tigers.
Advice: This will actually be his fourth straight game on the bench, but the good news is that he's completely healthy. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he's going with Ryan Doumit out of the DH spot Thursday because he's 4-for-10 lifetime against starter Rick Porcello. Arcia is expected to return to the lineup Friday.
More: Minnesota Twins on Twitter

Andre Ethier is out of Wednesday's lineup, in part because Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he wanted to put out his "most competitive lineup" and one that would "fight the hardest."
Advice: Ouch. Ethier is only hitting .264 with four homers and a .758 OPS this season, but it's still unusual to see him sitting against a right-hander Wily Peralta. And in favor of Scott Van Slyke, no less. Either way, Mattingly sounds like someone who is feeling the pressure of his team's struggles. This could be the beginning of the end for him in Los Angeles.
More: Bill Plunkett on Twitter

Miguel Tejada's first homer since July 16, 2011 was a three-run shot off the Astros' Dallas Keuchel on Monday.
Advice: Tejada has started just seven games this season, even though the Royals have gotten terrible production at third base, second base and first base. What's the harm in giving him an expanded role for a bit? For what it's worth, he's gone 9-for-27 with six RBI in his limited action.