Player Notes

Michael Morse went 0-for-4 at the plate in his return to action Saturday.
Advice: Morse was scratched from Friday's game with irritation in one of his eyes, but he'll be fine. The outfielder is batting .254/.316/.493 with 10 homers this season.

Jacoby Ellsbury is not in the Red Sox' lineup Sunday.
Advice: Ellsbury had played every inning of every game to this point, so the club finally decided to give him a breather. The outfielder is batting just .189/.268/.230 in May. Shane Victorino is handling center field Sunday, while Daniel Nava is in right.
More: Pete Abraham on Twitter

Dodgers activated 2B Mark Ellis from the 15-day disabled list.
Advice: Ellis had been scheduled to remain on his rehab assignment through the weekend, but the Dodgers decided to bring him back early since Luis Cruz (elbow) is banged up. The second baseman is hitting second on Sunday afternoon against the Braves' Mike Minor.

Adam Dunn (back) is back in the White Sox' lineup Sunday.
Advice: Dunn left Saturday's game with back spasms, but he's feeling a lot better a day later. The veteran is batting .421/.450/1.158 with four homers and 10 RBI over his last five games.
More: Daryl Van Schouwen on Twitter

Brian Roberts (knee) will have the sutures removed from his right leg on Monday.
Advice: They were supposed to be removed on Friday, but Roberts wasn't sufficiently healed at that time. The second baseman is coming back from surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in the back of his right knee and will be out for at least the next six weeks or so.
More: Roch Kubatko on Twitter

Willie Bloomquist (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment midway through the week.
Advice: Bloomquist has been playing games at extended spring training and hasn't had any recent setbacks. He should be ready for activation before the end of the month.
More: Arizona Republic

Shane Victorino (back) is back in the Red Sox' lineup Sunday.
Advice: Victorino sat out the last two games after his back tightened up on him, but he's ready to give it a go. He's starting in center field with Jacoby Ellsbury getting a day off.
More: Evan Drellich on Twitter

Andrew McCutchen was scratched from the Pirates' lineup due to pain in his right knee.
Advice: It's not clear at this point how McCutchen suffered the injury or if it might cause him to miss additional games. The Pirates should offer an update on his status soon. Starling Marte will move over to center field to cover for McCutchen, while Travis Snider plays left and Garrett Jones right.
More: Bill Brink on Twitter

Buster Posey is not in the Giants' lineup Sunday.
Advice: As he often does, Posey is getting a breather with Barry Zito on the mound. Guillermo Quiroz is getting the start behind the plate. Marco Scutaro is also receiving a day off, as Nick Noonan is at second base.
More: Henry Schulman on Twitter

Troy Tulowitzki does roughly two hours of pregame and postgame maintenance on his left leg every day.
Advice: The maintenance includes massages and strengthening exercises before the game and sitting in the ice tub and a routine with exercise bands after the game. Tulo admits that his nagging left groin ailment leaves him "not capable" of playing every day. The injury bothers the shortstop most when he's running, particularly when he lunges to first base and sometimes when he breaks out of the batter's box. The Rockies are doing their best to manage the condition, and assistant general manager Bill Geivett admits that the club is "being overly cautious." Tulo has started 34 of the team's first 42 games and will probably continue to play at a similar pace. He's been awfully productive, hitting .341/.413/.605 with eight homers and 35 RBI, but obviously the groin issue remains a long-term concern.
More: Denver Post

Bryce Harper (knee) is not in the Nationals' lineup Sunday.
Advice: Harper is still feeling banged up from last week's collision with the wall, and his knee appears to be in the worse shape of his various aches and pains. He'll try to return to the lineup on Monday.
More: Adam Kilgore on Twitter

Stephen Drew (back) is sitting out for the second straight game Sunday.
Advice: Drew was able to play through a minor back issue on Friday, but the Red Sox don't want to push him. He should be ready to roll again soon. Pedro Ciriaco is getting another start at shortstop.
More: Evan Drellich on Twitter

David Ross (concussion) has reported improvement and could begin working out soon.
Advice: Ross will be examined on Monday in hopes of being cleared to resume workouts. The catcher has missed the last week of action with concussion-related symptoms.
More: Pete Abraham on Twitter

Everth Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI in Saturday's win against the Nationals.
Advice: Cabrera has now stolen a base in four consecutive games, bumping him to the National League leader with 15. The shortstop will never post a good batting average, but he's getting on base more and running as effectively as ever. The 26-year-old shortstop batted .246/.324/.324 with a league-leading 44 stolen bases last season and is a decent bet to improve upon all numbers in 2013.

Taylor Teagarden (thumb) will start a hitting and catching program on Monday.
Advice: Teagarden had the splint removed from his dislocated left thumb on Friday and is ready to begin baseball activities. He should be ready to return late this month or early next month.
More: Roch Kubatko on Twitter