Player Notes

Zach Duke was rocked for four runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Giants on Monday.
Advice: Duke struck out one and didn't walk a batter. His most impressive feat of the evening was logging one of the three hits off Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong. Duke, making his first start of the season as a fill-in for Ross Detwiler (lower back), didn't acquit himself well. Though he kept the ball in the strike zone and only allowed one extra-base hit, San Francisco was fooled by none of the offered slop. Duke will presumably now return to the bullpen, though his 8.84 ERA and 1.80 WHIP may not be long for Washington's roster.

Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer off Jon Lester in the White Sox's victory Monday.
Advice: The home run was his second off a lefty this year. He hit 15 off southpaws last season after going without a single homer off a left-hander in 2011. Overall, Dunn has 11 homers this year. He's batting .211 with 13 RBI in 16 games this month after coming in at .148 with 12 RBI in 24 games in April.

Rangers optioned RHP Josh Lindblom to Triple-A Round Rock.
Advice: Lindblom was sent down shortly after an unsuccessful first major league start where he allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over just 4 2/3 innings. The Rangers will call up a reliever prior to Tuesday's game.

David Freese (thumb) is not in the lineup Tuesday for the second straight game.
Advice: Freese still has some swelling around his right thumb where he needed three stitches for a small cut. He's considered day-to-day. Matt Carpenter is getting the start at third base, while Daniel Descalso is at second.
More: MLBlogs.com

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that Tommy Hanson would "most likely not" start on Saturday in Kansas City.
Advice: Hanson has been away from the team since early May due to the death of his step-brother. The Halos were hoping he'd be ready to rejoin the rotation on Saturday, but he needs to get some work in at extended spring training first. The right-hander seems like to return sometime next week.
More: Bill Shaikin on Twitter

Andrew McCutchen (knee) is back in Tuesday's lineup against the Cubs.
Advice: McCutchen was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to right knee soreness, but it was never a major concern. He should be fine moving forward.
More: Rob Biertempfel on Twitter

Shin-Soo Choo is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Mets.
Advice: He'll get a day off with left-hander Jon Niese on the hill for New York. Derrick Robinson will play center field and bat leadoff.
More: C. Trent Rosecrans on Twitter

Phillies placed C Carlos Ruiz on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 20, with a right hamstring strain.
Advice: Ruiz was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his hamstring and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. It's a tough blow for the Phillies, who just got Ruiz back from his suspension less than one month ago. Erik Kratz and Humberto Quintero will fill in behind the plate once again.

Yankees sent INF Alberto Gonzalez outright to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Advice: Gonzalez passed through waivers unclaimed after he was designated for assignment over the weekend following the acquisition of Reid Brignac. The 30-year-old will function as organizational depth for New York.

Angels activated LHP Sean Burnett from the 15-day disabled list.
Advice: Burnett wound up missing a little over three weeks with discomfort in his left forearm. He will return to his role as a setup man and left-handed relief specialist.

Brandon Belt went 4-for-5 with his sixth home run of the season and four runs scored in Monday's 8-0 blowout of the Nationals.
Advice: Belt has reached base safely in 10 of his last 11 starts. Belt suffered through a forgettable April, batting .235/.287/.353, but his playing time and production have both spiked in May. Belt cut down his strikeouts and increased his rate of walks and his numbers reflect an improved approach at the plate. In May, he's slashing .250/.357/.521 with three homers over 48 at-bats.

Giants placed RHP Ryan Vogelsong on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right hand.
Advice: Vogelsong was hit by a pitch while swinging the bat in the fifth inning Tuesday and suffered fractures above and below the top knuckle in his pinkie. He's expected to undergo surgery Tuesday and will likely miss around six weeks. Chad Gaudin is the most likely replacement for the rotation, though the Giants could call up Michael Kickham from Triple-A.

Angels optioned RHP Ryan Brasier to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Advice: Brasier was only up in the bigs for five days this time around. He will probably be back and forth all summer.

Jon Lester yielded six runs -- five earned -- in six innings Monday against the White Sox to take his first loss of the season.
Advice: Lester, who entered 6-0, has always had problems with the White Sox. He's now 4-5 with a 5.43 ERA in 10 career starts against the team. He's 87-44 with a 3.64 ERA against everyone else.

Jaime Garcia will visit Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday for a second opinion on his left shoulder.
Advice: Garcia was placed on the disabled list over the weekend with a left shoulder strain and could be facing season-ending surgery. Tyler Lyons will fill his spot in the rotation for now, but the Cardinals are hoping to have Jake Westbrook (elbow) back from the disabled list soon.
More: Jenifer Langosch 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