Player Notes

Travis Hafner (shoulder) returned to the Yankees' lineup Saturday.
Advice: Hafner was available to pinch-hit Friday, but didn't start against left-hander Mark Buehrle. He returns after missing the last four games with shoulder tendinitis. With Curtis Granderson now healthy, the Yankees will go with a committee of Hafner and Vernon Wells at designated hitter. Hafner is batting .260/.383/.510 this season.
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Kevin Jepsen (triceps) is expected to begin a rehab assignment early next week.
Advice: Jepsen has been sidelined since April 12 with a strained right shoulder, but resumed throwing from a mound last weekend and hasn't had any setbacks. He remains on track to return from the DL sometime later this month.
More: Los Angeles Daily News

Chris Sale struck out 12 in 7 2/3 scoreless innings Friday in the White Sox's 3-0 win over the Angels.
Advice: Poor C.J. Wilson got matched up with Sale for the second time in six days and took another tough loss. Sale allowed just four hits and struck out 19 while pitching 16 2/3 scoreless innings over the course of the two outings. He's allowed one run in 24 career innings against the Angels.

Despite taking a comebacker off his pitching hand, Drew Storen pitched a scoreless 10th inning Friday against the Padres for his first save.
Advice: Aided by a Ryan Zimmerman throwing error, Rafael Soriano took a blown save in the ninth. Storen got his chance in the 10th after a Chad Tracy homer and got the job done, though not before allowing a couple of singles. The first of those was a hard shot up the middle that deflected off his pitching hand. Storen, though, remained in after a couple of warmups. His ERA sits at 4.41 currently, and he's no threat to Soriano's job as is.

Curtis Granderson is starting in right field Saturday against the Blue Jays.
Advice: It's Granderson's first career start in right field. With Ichiro Suzuki struggling, the Yankees are looking for ways to get Granderson, Vernon Wells and Travis Hafner in the lineup against right-handed pitching. Granderson has been playing exclusively in left field since his return from the disabled list, so it's a sign that Ichiro's playing time could be reduced going forward.
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Yankees acquired INF Reid Brignac from the Rockies for cash considerations.
Advice: Brignac made the Rockies' Opening Day roster, but was designated for assignment on Thursday after he batted just .250/.294/.375 in 53 plate appearances. The former top prospect is capable of playing multiple infield positions and will serve in a utility role with the Yankees.

Yoenis Cespedes went 0-for-4 on Friday to drop under the Mendoza Line at .198.
Advice: Cespedes has just four hits and one RBI in his last 10 games. His slump hasn't included many strikeouts -- in fact, he's gone six straight games without one -- but he might be fighting some lingering weakness from his illness earlier this week.

Orioles recalled RHP Jake Arrieta from Triple-A Norfolk.
Advice: Arrieta was scheduled to start for the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate, but will instead serve as bullpen depth for Saturday's game. The 27-year-old has a 6.63 ERA over 12 innings at the major league level this season.

Reds optioned LHP Tony Cingrani to Triple-A Louisville.
Advice: The Reds need to clear a rotation spot with Johnny Cueto set to return from the disabled list Monday, so Cingrani will officially be sent down. He was mostly impressive over his first six major league starts, posting a 3.27 ERA, nine walks and 41 strikeouts over 33 innings. Neftali Soto has been called up to replace Cingrani on the active roster, while Mike Leake will remain the team's fifth starter.

ESPN New York reports that the Mets have "intensified" discussions about potentially demoting Ike Davis.
Advice: Davis was able to snap a six game hitless streak Friday, but he may not have more than this weekend's series against the Cubs to prove he deserves to avoid a demotion. If Davis is sent down, the Mets are expected to call up Andrew Brown from Triple-A Las Vegas to replace him on the active roster. Davis is batting .160/.245/.267 with four home runs in 38 games this season.
More: ESPN New York

Marco Scutaro went 3-for-5 with an RBI single and a run scored Friday against the Rockies.
Advice: Ho-hum, just another multi-hit night for the hottest hitter in the game. Scutaro now has a 16-game hitting streak and has raised his batting average from .215 to .327 in the process. The 37-year-old is not going to provide much in the way of pop or speed, but keep running him out there in all formats until he cools down.

Orioles optioned RHP Alex Burnett to Triple-A Norfolk.
Advice: Burnett lasted just three days on the Orioles' roster. He'll return to a 1.50 ERA in the minors.

The Cubs are moving Carlos Villanueva to the bullpen.
Advice: Villanueva held his own as a starter, but he's no longer needed in the rotation with Matt Garza returning from the disabled list. The Cubs were considering going with a six-man rotation, but decided against it after Villanueva allowed seven runs over five innings in his last outing. Villanueva has a 3.93 ERA and 1.14 WHIP this season and will likely be used as long reliever.
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Mets GM Sandy Alderson confirmed Friday that Travis d'Arnaud (foot) should be ready to play in minor league games by the end of June.
Advice: D'Arnaud is still in a walking boot, but he's hoping to be cleared for weight-bearing activities in two weeks. The 24-year-old suffered a non-displaced fracture of the first metatarsal in his left foot during a mid-April game at Triple-A Las Vegas and will continue to be moved along slowly. D'Arnaud won't be a candidate for a promotion to majors until well into the second half of the season.
More: Newsday