Chase Utley has been cleared to begin swinging a bat for the first time since he broke his hand in late July. Utley also got the green light Monday from hand specialist Dr. Randall Culp to begin throwing without a splint. A timetable for Utley's return will be set later in the week, but it is welcome news for the Phillies, who trailed the National League East-leading Mets by five games heading into Monday night. The Phillies were one game behind San Diego in the wild card race. Utley was injured when he was hit by Washington's John Lannan in the fifth inning of a 7-6 loss on July 26. Utley stayed in the game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, but had surgery the next day to put a pin in the fourth metacarpal of his right hand. Utley is among the league leaders in hitting, batting .336 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs. He was replaced in the lineup by Tadahito Iguchi, who was acquired from the White Sox shortly after Utley went down. Despite losing their most complete hitter, the Phillies have kept pace with the Mets, going 13-9 since Utley was hurt.

Pedro Martinez allowed two unearned runs over five innings Monday in his rehab start for Single-A St. Lucie. "I got groundballs when I wanted and those are the things that I want to see," he said. "Regardless of what happens, if they go through or whatever, I just want to get those ground balls." Martinez likely will pitch in the minors again on Saturday or Sunday. Martinez gave up five runs and six hits in three innings in his first rehab start on Aug. 8. He was charged with three runs in four innings with the Mets' Rookie-level Gulf Coast League team last Tuesday.  … Ben Sheets, on the DL with a sprained finger, developed a blister in the sixth inning of his simulated game Monday, leaving his status uncertain."A little blister popped up," Sheets said. "It didn't hurt. It just popped up."

Chris Ray is expected to miss the entire 2008 season after having major surgery on his right elbow. Ray underwent the Tommy John procedure on Thursday, the team announced before Friday night's game in Toronto. "Right now, I think we have to assume he won't be around for 2008," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said. "We will be conservative." Ray was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 21 with a sprained right elbow. After a period of rest, he resumed throwing this week at the Orioles' minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla., but still felt sore. A bone spur was judged to be the cause of lingering pain. During surgery to remove it, Dr. James Andrews discovered damage to the ulnar collateral ligament and repaired that as well. Ray saved 33 games in 2006. The 25-year-old reliever was 5-6 with 16 saves and a 4.43 ERA in 43 appearances this year.  Danys Baez will take over the closer's role. "I don't think there's anybody else," Trembley said. Baez is 0-5 with a 6.02 ERA in 43 games with one save in two opportunities this season. The 29-year-old has 112 career saves. He saved 41 games for Tampa Bay in 2005.

General manager Jim Bowden said Thursday that Nick Johnson (broken right leg) will have another surgery on the leg and will not play in 2007.  Johnson broke his right femur in a collision with RF Austin Kearns during a game against the Mets on Sept. 23, 2006. At the time - and for several weeks afterward - the Nationals were confident Johnson would recover in time for this year's spring training. But Johnson wasn't ready in February, and the date for his return was pushed back several times. He has received two cortisone shot this year dull the pain in the hip.  He hit .290 with 23 home runs and 77 RBI in 2006. With Johnson out, Dmitri Young has been a surprisingly effective replacement. Young was hitting .333 entering Thursday's game against Philadelphia and was selected to play in this year's All-Star game.

-The Rockies placed OF Willy Taveras on the DL Wednesday and recalled RHP Ramon Ramirez from the minors. The move was announced by manager Clint Hurdle on Monday night after Taveras left a game against the San Diego Padres with a strained right groin in the fourth inning. He has been fighting the injury for the past few weeks and aggravated it beating out an infield single in the first. Taveras is batting .311 with two home runs and 22 RBIs in 91 games. He leads the majors with 49 infield hits.

Brian Fuentes was activated from the shelf on Tuesday by Colorado, which then lost Willy Taveras to an injury in the game against the Padres. The left-handed Fuentes won't return as closer. Fuentes had been the Rockies' closer for most of the season, with 20 saves in 26 opportunities, but blew four straight saves during a road trip and was demoted.

Nomar Garciaparra was placed on the DL because of a strained left calf muscle. Garciaparra said the injury has plagued him for more than a week. "We all have injuries and you deal with them. It wasn't an easy decision," said Garciaparra. "I was still running hard throughout the week and it wasn't bothering me too bad, so I was able to get by with it. But it just got progressively worse," he said. "So before it gets really bad, I figured let's try to control this and put a stop to it now." Garciaparra is hitting .280 with six home runs and 57 RBI in 110 games. He began the season at first base, then was shifted to third because of a lack of offense at that position and the emergence of 1B James Loney. The Dodgers replaced Garciaparra on the roster with LHP Eric Hull from Triple-A Las Vegas.

The Tigers will be calling up Joel Zumaya from a rehabilitation assignment to be active for Tuesday night's game against the Indians. Detroit optioned Aquilino Lopez to Triple-A Toledo to open the roster spot. Zumaya, whose fastball regularly tops 100 mph, had surgery three months ago to repair a ruptured tendon in his right middle finger. He was put on the disabled list May 3 with a 1-1 record, 3.63 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 13 appearances this season. He ranked third among AL relievers with 97 strikeouts last season, helping Detroit reach the playoffs for the first time since 1987 and advance to the World Series for the first time since 1984. The slumping Tigers open a homestand Tuesday night against Cleveland, which has a 1 1/2-game lead over them in the AL Central, before starting a four-game series with the New York Yankees, who lead Detroit by 2 1/2 games in the wild-card race. Since the Tigers had the best record in baseball on July 21, they are 9-20.

Tim Lincecum was placed on the bereavement list Friday by the San Francisco Giants before their game against the Marlins, clearing the way for IF Rich Aurilia to return from the 15-day disabled list. Aurilia, sidelined Aug. 2 by a strained right hamstring, started Friday's game at second base. A member of Lincecum's family was ill, but the team hoped he would be able to return for his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Cubs. Lincecum (7-3) has a 3.95 ERA in 19 starts. On Thursday, he gave up three runs in five innings to help beat Atlanta 9-3.

Akinori Otsuka will seek a third opinion on his sore right elbow from noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews.  Otsuka has already been examined by Rangers team doctor Keith Meister and by Angels physician Lewis Yocum. Both diagnosed him with forearm tendinitis but found no structural damage to the elbow.  "We're hoping Dr. Andrews says the same thing," assistant general manager Thad Levine said.  Otsuka hasn't pitched since July 1. The Japanese right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA and four saves in 34 appearances.

The Angels activated Howie Kendrick from the DL on Monday, making room by placing Erick Aybar on the DL. Kendrick (finger) is hitting .297 with four HR and 18 RBI in 51 games and has missed the past 35 games. He also missed 32 games earlier in the year due to a broken left middle finger. The 24-year-old infielder hit .276 with one RBI with Rancho Cucamonga in a seven-game rehab stint. … The Athletics placed OF Travis Buck on the DL Monday with a strained left hamstring and recalled OF J.J. Furmaniak from Triple-A Sacramento. Buck, who hurt himself running the bases Friday, is batting .288 with seven HR and 34 RBI in 82 games. Furmaniak was batting .292 with 15 homers, 51 RBI and a team-leading 21 stolen bases in 106 games at Sacramento. … Russ Ortiz left Monday's game against the Marlins with a strained elbow, and he's scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Tuesday. He was making his third start after missing two months with a strained right forearm. … Mark Kotsay was placed on the shelf because of lower back spasms before Friday night's game against the Royals. Jeff DaVanon was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to take his place on the 25-man roster.  DaVanon hit .154 in 13 games with Arizona before his release and then batted .321 with Sacramento. He hit .329 with two home runs, seven RBI and 18 walks in 24 minor league games overall.  … Brendan Donnelly underwent "Tommy John" reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday, sidelining him at least through most of next season. The operation on Donnelly, acquired in a trade with the Angels last December, was done by Dr. Lewis Yocum. The Red Sox said it went as expected and that he would rejoin Boston in several weeks for a follow up examination. He is expected to be sidelined 12-18 months. Donnelly was 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA this season.  ... The Reds put C David Ross on the DL and called up C Ryan Jorgensen from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. Ross sustained a concussion Sunday in a collision at home plate in which San Diego's Mike Cameron scored. Jorgensen played briefly for the Marlins in 2005, appearing in four games. In 69 games at Louisville, he batted .229 with two home runs and 26 RBI. The Reds also said starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez did not accompany the team to Chicago, remaining behind because of the continued illness of his 10-month-old son.

Triple-A International League Leaders
Home Run Leaders
1. 3B Mike Hessman, TOL (DET) – 29 HR (384 AB)
2. OF John-Ford Griffin, SYR (TOR) – 26 HR (421 AB)
3. OF Shelley Duncan, SWB (NYY) – 25 HR (336 AB)
4. 1B Joey Votto, LOU (CIN) – 21 HR (439 AB)
5. OF Michael Resterovich, COL (WAS) – 20 HR (356 AB)
6T. OF/2B Ryan Rayburn, TOL (DET) – 17 HR (315 AB)
6T. OF Chad Mottola, SYR (TOR) – 17 HR (349 AB)
6T. OF Justin Ruggiano, DUR (TB) – 17 HR (422 AB)
9T. 1B Ryan Mulhern, BUF (CLE) – 16 HR (430 AB)
9T. 3B Joel Guzman, DUR (TB) – 16 HR (413 AB)
9T. Aaron Herr, LOU (CIN) – 16 HR (455 AB)

Stolen Bases
1. OF Jacoby Ellsbury, PAW (BOS) – 30-for-36 SB
2. OF Darnell McDonald, ROC (MIN) – 29-for-35 SB
3. OF Rajai Davis, IND (SF) – 27-for-36 SB
4. SS Brian Bixler, IND (SF) – 26-for-30 SB
5T. OF Tike Redman, NOR (BAL) – 25-for-33 SB
5T. Justin Ruggiano, DUR (TB) – 25-for-33 SB

Victories
1. Julio DePaula, ROC (MIN) – 12-5, 2.90 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 63/27 K-BB in 83.2 IP
2T. Mitch Halbot, DUR (TB) – 11-8, 4.77 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 118/52 – 143.1 IP
2T. Jeff Niemann, DUR (TB) – 11-5, 3.90 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 108/45 – 115.1 IP
2T. Ron Chiavacci, TOL (DET) – 11-6, 3.53 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 122/42 – 145.1 IP
2T. Bryan Bullington, IND (SF) –     11-5, 3.71 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 76/53 – 133.1 IP

Saves
1. Bobby Korecky, ROC (MIN) – 32 Saves, 3.58 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
2. Cory Doyne, NOR (BAL) – 29 Saves, 2.23 ERA, 0.88 WHIP
3. Chris Booker, COL (WAS) 27 Saves, 3.40 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
4T. Jim Brower, SWB (NYY) – 21 Saves, 2.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
4T. Aquilino Lopez, TOL (DET) – 21 Saves, 2.20 ERA, 1.02 WHIP