Player Notes

Padres manager Bud Black said he'd like Cameron Maybin (wrist) to get around 30 rehab at-bats.
Advice: Maybin hit in the cage and on the field before Monday's game and will do the same thing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Assuming it goes well, he'll begin a rehab assignment on Friday. Maybin could return before the end of the month.
More: Padres.mlb.com

Michael Cuddyer (neck) will play two games in extended spring training this week and is expected to be activated from the disabled list Friday.
Advice: Cuddyer will fly to Arizona on Monday night and play in games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Barring any setbacks, he should be ready to go as soon as he's eligible on Friday. The 34-year-old has been sidelined since May 8 with a bulging disc in his neck.
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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

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.

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

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

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

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

Curtis Granderson went 3-for-3 with his first home run of the season, but the Yankees lost to the Orioles on Wednesday.
Advice: The home run came seven games in, and it gave him his first RBI of 2013. His third-inning double was also a first. Yankees manager Joe Girardi had Granderson batting leadoff in an attempt to get his bat going. He should move toward the middle of the order eventually.

Indians placed 1B Nick Swisher on the paternity leave list.
Advice: Swisher's wife gave birth to a girl on Tuesday afternoon. He will be back within the next couple of days.

Matt Joyce left Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays with right hamstring tightness.
Advice: The Rays are saying his removal was precautionary, so Joyce can safely be considered day-to-day. He figures to need at least a day or two of down time, though.
More: Marc Topkin on Twitter

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

Trevor Plouffe left Tuesday's game in the 10th inning after taking a knee to the head.
Advice: Plouffe was sliding into second base to break up a double play when Dan Uggla's knee caught him in the head. The third baseman was able to walk off the field without assistance but appeared to be a little woozy. He'll no doubt undergo concussion tests.
More: Rhett Bollinger on Twitter

J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the Astros' 3-1 victory over the Royals on Wednesday.
Advice: Martinez now has two straight two-hit games, and he provided the game-winning homer off James Shields on Wednesday. The home run was his fourth and he now has 14 RBI in 28 games this year. The Astros don't have any reason not to bat him in the middle of the lineup if he continues to produce, but that's not worth much in a barren Houston offense.