By The Associated Press

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Braves-Astros

ATLANTA: Three former Astros are playing key roles with the Braves this season: third baseman Vinny Castilla and pitchers Mike Hampton and Shane Reynolds. Hampton left after the 1999 season and Reynolds joined the Braves after he was released by the Astros in spring training this year. Castilla played third base for the Astros in 2001. Hampton pitches against his former teammates Wednesday and Reynolds pitches Thursday. ... The Braves optioned C Johnny Estrada to Triple-A Richmond before the game.

HOUSTON: The Astros have won only one season series (1998) from the Braves since Atlanta started its string of 11 straight division titles. ... Manager Jimy Williams dropped struggling cleanup hitter Lance Berkman to the No. 5 spot. Berkman, who led the NL with 128 RBIs last season and hit a career-high 42 homers, is batting .235 this season. Jeff Kent, who has been hitting fifth, moved into the No. 4 spot.

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Expos-Brewers

MONTREAL: RHP Orlando Hernandez made his first rehab start Monday night, pitching three perfect innings and striking out four for Class-A Brevard of the Florida State League. Hernandez was placed on the 15-day DL during spring training with right shoulder tendinitis. ... Montreal's starting pitchers came in with the lowest ERA in the majors at 2.93. The team ERA was 2.99, also lowest in the majors. ... During C Michael Barrett's 15 starts, the Expos are 10-5 with a 2.60 ERA. ... Montreal's next four opponents - Milwaukee, St. Louis, San Diego and Los Angeles - all entered play Tuesday with losing records.

MILWAUKEE: LHP Valerio De Los Santos was placed on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his left shoulder. De Los Santos was the top left-handed setup man in Milwaukee's bullpen and has an 0-2 record with a 5.73 ERA. The team purchased the contract of LHP Leo Estrella from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace De Los Santos on the roster. Estrella has pitched in two major league games, both with Toronto in 2000. ... Only 12 of the 25 players on the team's active roster were in the Brewers' organization at the end of last season. ... The Brewers play 19 of their next 25 games at home.

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Mets-Cardinals

NEW YORK: The Mets began the night last in the NL in batting with a .229 average. "The offense hasn't started to click yet," manager Art Howe said. "You believe sooner or later it's going to start clicking." ... Howe believes his pitchers are trying too hard for strikeouts when they don't have that kind of stuff. Consequently, pitch counts have been running high. "If you're not a strikeout pitcher, don't try to strike them out," Howe said. ... RHP Pedro Astacio, who beat the Astros in his first start of the season April 24, pitches again Wednesday against the Cardinals. He's 3-6 with a 5RA in 11 games at Busch Stadium. ... LHP John Franco, recovering from left elbow surgery, threw batting practice. ... The Mets led the NL with 10 outfield assists, four by Cliff Floyd and three by Roger Cedeno.

ST. LOUIS: Jim Edmonds was in an unusual spot in the batting order, hitting second against LHP Al Leiter. Manager Tony La Russa called it a "one-day lineup," partly because LF Eli Marrero has struggled against Leiter, and added Edmonds would be back hitting cleanup Wednesday. Seven other players have batted second in the first 24 games. ... C Mike Matheny has missed only two starts, playing as a reserve both times, including a nine-inning stint in Sunday's 20-inning game against Florida, and had caught all but 17 innings entering Tuesday's game. The Cardinals are short at that position with Joe Girardi on the DL with a back injury, but Marrero could get some action there this week. ... LHP Lance Painter, on the DL with a torn hamstring, hopes to begin long tossing this week and could accompany the team on its next road trip starting May 5 to continue his rehab. ... Leadoff hitter Fernando Vina, in a 2-for-20 slump, got a day off. Vina was 1-for-10 Sunday, but had the go-ahead hit.

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Reds-Rockies

CINCINNATI: First base coach Jose Cardenal rode a motor scooter and wore a crash helmet in the clubhouse before the game. ... Manager Bob Boone said SS Barry Larkin was feeling better, but he won't be able to return until Thursday at the earliest. Larkin has been on the 15-day DL since April 14 with a strained left calf. "He is still a little tentative on taking off after bunts and from making that first step and going to a full sprint, but he is getting closer," Boone said. "We just talked. We are close, but let's not rush it and hurt it. So we are going to be cautious." ... Boone said holding Larkin back had nothing to do with getting more playing time for Felipe Lopez. "This is all about Larkin. Even if he (Lopez) was struggling more we'd be more cautious. I don't want to lose him." ... A threat of severe weather Tuesday reminded Boone of a thunderstorm that hit in Colorado Springs during a game he was managing in 1992. "I had never seen baseball-size hail, and it came from the back. The grounds crew never got it (the field) covered. They just blew the game. It was the first and only time I'd seen baseball-size hale." ... RHP Chris Gruler, the Reds' No. 1 draft pick in 2002, had surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff.

COLORADO: The Rockies are just 4-9 on the road, but have re-established their home-field advantage. Colorado is 10-2 at Coors Field, the best home start in team history. "One of the things we talked about over the winter was developing that mind-set where this needs to be a huge home-field advantage, not just a home-field advantage," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Just about everybody plays better at home, but with the challenges we have on the road, we need to magnify the situation at home. We've had some comments coming out of the other side where people are starting to show some frustration, which is a positive for us." ... Hurdle said he had a short discussion with Larry Walker about not trying so hard to break out of his recent slump. A career .317 hitter, Walker was batting just .271 coming in. "He's a human being like anybody else and when things don't go as well as we like, we have a tendency to try and force the issue at times," Hurdle said. "I think that's happened in Larry's case. He's happy we're winning, but he just wants to contribute." Hurdle batted Preston Wilson between Walker and Todd Helton to take some of the pressure off Walker.

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Marlins-Diamondbacks

FLORIDA: RHP A.J. Burnett had "Tommy John" surgery on his elbow and will miss 12-to-18 months. Orthopedist James Andrews performed the surgery in Birmingham, Ala. Trainer Sean Cunningham said Andrews grafted a tendon from Burnett's groin into his right elbow to replace the torn ligament. ... The Marlins optioned RHP Justin Wayne to Triple-A Albuquerque and recalled LHP Tommy Phelps from the Pacific Coast League team. Wayne was an emergency callup to take Burnett's start Monday night. Phelps was optioned to Albuquerque on April 8.

ARIZONA: RHP Curt Schilling, due to come off the DL on Saturday to make his fifth start, will throw on the side Wednesday. "Then we'll roll some bunts out there and let him cover first," manager Bob Brenly said. Schilling had an appendectomy April 20. ... Arizona has won a season-high three straight as part of an 8-4 string since April 16. ... The pitching staff, a weak point early in the season, has a 2.42 ERA in its last 104 innings.

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Phillies-Dodgers

PHILADELPHIA: The heat was on LHP Scott Wolf to keep it going for the Phillies on Tuesday night following back-to-back shutouts by the pitching staff - including Kevin Millwood's no-hitter on Sunday and Brett Myers' combined effort Monday night. The last time the Phillies recorded three straight shutouts was Aug. 13-16, 1969, when they had four in a row to tie the club record set by the 1951 staff. "I know the starters always trying to one-up each other and I think those guys have a friendly little competition going, which is always good," reliever Terry Adams said. "Fortunately, they don't need us down in the bullpen because very much. We've been sitting down there kind of twiddling our thumbs. It's been nice to watch, and it's been really relaxing for us." ... SS and leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins, who led the NL in stolen bases two years ago with 46, has made only two attempts - both successful - in the first 26 games because of nagging hamstring problems in both leagues which has plagued him since spring training. "I'm just spotting everybody about eight bags right now," joked Rollins, who had 31 steals last season. "My hamstrings have really not been cooperating with me. It's kind of a day-to-day situation. I can still do it, but playing on artificial turf has definitely beaten them up a little bit. I mean, if it's a guy that I can definitely steal off of, I'm going to take advantage of that. Hopefully, I can hit doubles, so I won't have to do that."

LOS ANGELES: RHP Darren Dreifort has never pitched on his birthday at any level, but he will on Saturday at Dodger Stadium against Pittsburgh, when he turns 31. The last time a Dodgers pitcher started on his birthday and got the win was Aug. 21, 1995, when 22-year-old Ismael Valdes beat the Expos 7-2 at Montreal. One month later in Los Angeles, Hideo Nomo left after 7 1-3 innings with a 5-0 lead and a two-hitter against the Mets - but the bullpen spoiled his 27th birthday by blowing a five-run lead in the ninth. On Tom Candiotti's 40th birthday, Aug. 31, 1997, the knuckleballer gave up a first-inning homer by Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. and only three more hits through the eighth, but left with a 1-0 deficit as Jamie Moyer no-hit the Dodgers through 6 1-3 innings at Dodger Stadium. ... The relievers have contributed handily to the Dodgers' 3.08 ERA, which was second in the majors behind Montreal's 2.99 figure entering Tuesday's play. ... CF Dave Roberts sat out for the fourth straight game because of a sore right hamstring, which he injured running out a bunt single last Friday night at Pittsburgh. "It feels better than yesterday, and yesterday it was at 80 percent in a controlled setting," said Roberts, who leads the majors with 10 stolen bases. "I'm just trying to get it to a point where it's 100 percent and not have to think about it - because if I blow it out, then it'll be a month or two. And I can't afford that." ... Entering Tuesday, Dodgers' opponents had scored first 11 consecutive games, with the Dodgers going 6-5 during that stretch.

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Pirates-Padres

PITTSBURGH: OF Brian Giles (sprained right knee) is traveling with the Pirates on their 10-game road trip. Giles, eligible to come off the 15-day DL last weekend, is not expected to be activated until the Bucs come home on May 9. Pittsburgh is 4-11 with Giles sidelined. ... OF Reggie Sanders has just two RBIs in his last 17 games after driving in 11 in his first four games.

SAN DIEGO: CF Mark Kotsay (strained back) started for the first time in six games. Kotsay's only action since suffering the injury running out a grounder April 21 at Chicago was two innings in Cincinnati on Saturday. ... Padres pitchers have either been really good or really bad. In the team's 10 wins, the club's ERA is 1.70. In San Diego's 14 losses, the ERA is an astronomical 7.10. ... Only two teams in the majors - Detroit and St. Louis with eight - have played fewer home games than the Padres, who have played home nine times. The Padres just completed a 12-game, 13-day road trip - their longest of the season.

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Cubs-Giants

CHICAGO: When Sammy Sosa met Barry Bonds at Pacific Bell Park, it was the first time a player with 500 career homers faced a player with 600 homers since Aug. 1, 1976, when Milwaukee's Hank Aaron played against Cleveland's Frank Robinson. ... Manager Dusty Baker returned to San Francisco on Tuesday for the first time since leaving the Giants after 10 years as their manager. Baker wasn't the only one with San Francisco ties, however: Cubs players Shawn Estes, Tom Goodwin, Ramon Martinez and Mike Remlinger all played for the Giants. ... In addition, five Cubs coaches were once on the Giants' staff: Gene Clines, Sonny Jackson, Wendell Kim, Juan Lopez and Dick Pole. Coach Gary Matthews played for the Giants from 1972-76, winning NL Rookie of the Year in 1973. ... LF Moises Alou, the son of Giants manager Felipe Alou, had one hit in his last seven at-bats entering the game. "My son said he was not swinging the bat well," the elder Alou said. "That worries me. It worries me he's not swinging the bat well and it worries me because he doesn't do that for very long. I hope he breaks out big time when they leave."

SAN FRANCISCO: RHP Jason Schmidt rejoined the team after attending his mother's funeral in Washington state. Schmidt had a bullpen session during the off day Monday and will pitch Wednesday against the Cubs. "He threw pretty good," manager Felipe Alou said. "He got a good workout. He was quiet. He's a very quiet guy. He's been quiet before and after his mom passed away. He was businesslike and doing his side work." ... Alou wants slugger Barry Bonds to hit in the first inning, so he moved him up to third in the batting order. Bonds started last season hitting third before moving down to fourth. Alou and Bonds discussed the possibility in spring training. "He said he doesn't really mind where he hits, three, four or five," Alou said. "We want him hitting in the first inning now at this time in the season. We want to give a whole different look to the lineup."

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Royals-Red Sox

KANSAS CITY: Carlos Beltran hit an inside-the-park homer in the third. It was the first such homer at Fenway since Arizona's Junior Spivey hit one against Chris Haney on June 9, 2002. ... It was the first Royals inside-the-parker since Beltran hit the first of his career on Aug. 4, 2002, at Minnesota. ... The Royals have homered in nine consecutive games. ... P Chris George lost his shoe on a 3-1 putout to end the third.

BOSTON: The Red Sox activated left-handed reliever Alan Embree from the disabled list. He missed 17 games with tendinitis in his left shoulder. ... Kansas City is the first team Boston played this season with a record above .500, a span of 25 games. ... Wednesday night's game time was moved back from 6:05 p.m. to 7:05 p.m.

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Rangers-Blue Jays

TEXAS: Players were briefed by both their medical staff and the players' union about Toronto's SARS outbreak. Alex Rodriguez said they were told to avoid large public gatherings, hospitals and night clubs. Rodriguez wasn't disappointed about the warning about night life. "Those days are behind me now," he said, laughing. The trainer handed out bottles of disinfectant to use for frequent handwashing. "I haven't used it yet," Rodriguez said. "Maybe I will after I'm done (with reporters)." ... Rodriguez hit his 19th career homer at SkyDome, the most by any visiting player.

TORONTO: Manager Carlos Tosca said INF Dave Berg and INF Mike Bordick will play more at second base. 2B Orlando Hudson entered the game hitting .211. ... Ontario premier Ernie Eves, Toronto mayor Mel Lastman and Dr. Sheela Basrur, Toronto's medical officer of health, attended the game. ... Toronto's double-A affiliate, the New Haven Ravens, plans to raffle a trip to Toronto on Friday.

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Angels-Indians

ANAHEIM: 3B Troy Glaus returned to the lineup Tuesday as the designated hitter. Glaus left Friday's game with an infection on his left foot. "I hope he'll be back at third base tomorrow," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He has not tested his lateral movement, but can run straight ahead, so we want his bat in there tonight." ... OF Darin Erstad, sidelined since April 20 by a strained right hamstring, said "there is basically nothing I can do right now except be patient." Erstad said experience has told him not to try and come back too soon. "Being 50 percent, you can't help the team," he said. "This is going to take a little while." Erstad, who is eligible to be activated next Tuesday, said it is too early to have a timetable as to when he will return. ... Scioscia has shuffled his starting rotation. RHP Scot Shields is now scheduled to start Thursday in Cleveland and rookie RHP Mickey Callaway will start Saturday in Toronto. Scioscia said RHP Aaron Sele will make at least one more start at Triple-A on a rehab assignment.

CLEVELAND: Closer Danys Baez's recent slump doesn't have the Indians worried - yet. After not giving up an earned run in his first seven appearances (8 2-3 innings), the closer has a 21.60 ERA in his last four games. In the four games, Baez has given up eight runs and eight hits - three homers, including a walk-off grand slam in Seattle - with two blown saves and two losses. Still, the Indians think they made the correct move in taking the right-hander out of the starting rotation. "The stuff is there," general manager Mark Shapiro said. "I think he's going to come out OK on the other side of this thing." For a while, Baez was the best thing about Cleveland's shaky bullpen, which after 25 games, is 0-8 with a 4.73 ERA. If the problems continue, Shapiro said the club may consider bringing up right-hander Dave Elder or Jason Boyd from Triple-A Buffalo. ... Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge continue to hold out hope that OF Matt Lawton will shake off his early-season slump. Lawton is batting .154 with two homers and nine RBIs. Take away a pair of three-run homers and Lawton is hitting .132 with two RBIs. He's also got nearly three years left on a four-year, $27 million contract. ... RHP Jason Bere will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. Bere has missed all season with a sore shoulder.

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Orioles-Tigers

DETROIT: The Tigers juggled their pitching rotation for the Orioles series. Nate Cornejo will now pitch Wednesday while Mike Maroth will go Thursday. While Tigers pitching coach Bob Cluck said the move was made to keep Cornejo in his normal rotation spot, it will also keep Maroth (0-6) from becoming the first pitcher in major league history to go 0-7 in April. "I don't go to the mound thinking about things like that, but I'm glad I won't end up being remembered for it," Maroth said. "Mainly, I'm just happy to get an extra day of rest." ... Pitcher Kenny Baugh, Detroit's first-round pick in 2001, saw his first game action in nearly two years Monday night. Baugh, who missed the 2002 season with shoulder problems, allowed three runs on five hits in three innings for Class-A Lakeland.

BALTIMORE: Melvin Mora, who has started at five positions this season, was at shortstop on Tuesday. "He's swinging the bat well," manager Mike Hargrove said. "Deivi (Cruz) will be back in there tomorrow." Mora is batting .271, and has two homers in his last three games. ... Cruz, who spent his first five seasons with the Tigers, is returning to Detroit for the first time since going to San Diego after the 2001 season. Cruz is hitting just .188, but his 11 RBIs would lead the Tigers. ... Baltimore's first-inning run Tuesday meant they have scored first in 18 of their 25 games.

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Mariners-Yankees

SEATTLE: 2B Bret Boone lost track of outs in the third inning, possibly costing the Mariners a double play. Alfonso Soriano grounded to 3B Jeff Cirillo, who threw to second for the forceout. Rather than pivot on the base, Boone ran across toward shortstop, then grimaced when he realized that was only the second out of the inning. ... The Mariners began their road trip 8-0 in day games and 8-9 in night games.

NEW YORK: RHP Rolando Arrojo, released by Pittsburgh during spring training, is talking with the Yankees, GM Brian Cashman said. ... LHP Sterling Hitchcock turned 32. ... Wednesday was the 17th anniversary of Clemens' record-setting 20-strikeout game against Seattle for Boston. ... RHP Mariano Rivera, on the disabled list since spring training with a right groin injury, was activated before the game and RHP Jason Anderson was optioned to Columbus of the Triple-A International League. ... RHP Jose Contreras made his first start for Columbus, striking out eight and walking none in five scoreless innings during a 7-1 win at Toledo. He allowed three hits.

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Devil Rays-Twins

TAMPA BAY: The Devil Rays activated 1B Travis Lee from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. Lee batted .347 in 49 at-bats before straining his right oblique muscle April 13. ... Tuesday's game was the beginning of a tough travel stretch for the Devil Rays, who play 18 of their next 24 games on the road. ... LHP John Rocker allowed two runs and three hits in one inning of an extended spring training outing and said he expects to join Double-A Orlando this week.

MINNESOTA: Just a few short months ago, the Twins were the toast of the Twin Cities as they made their first playoff appearance in 11 years. Tuesday night, the Twins played third string by a long shot. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild both played home playoff games Tuesday night while the Twins, struggling below the .500 mark, hosted Tampa Bay. ...The Twins placed utility infielder Denny Hocking (bone spurs in his left elbow) on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to April 22, and recalled first baseman Todd Sears from Triple-A Rochester. Sears started Tuesday as the Twins designated hitter. ... With a 9-14 record in April, the Twins are guaranteed their first losing month since September 2001.

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Athletics-White Sox

OAKLAND: Almost five months after the A's and White Sox swapped closers, Oakland is getting the better end of the deal so far. Keith Foulke has a 2.19 ERA and had converted six of his seven save chances. Billy Koch is 1-1 with two blown saves, and has a 20.25 ERA in his last five games. "I'm really kind of over it," Foulke said. "I have great memories of being here. Being traded was a big step for me. It was something that needed to happen. I've accepted it and moved on." As for Koch, the White Sox are confident his troubles are just a phase. "We have confidence that he can get it done," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. "It's good to see that Keith is doing well over there, and I'm pretty sure Billy is going to do the same for us. He just hasn't rea got on track, and I anticipate he will do that. There is no doubt in my mind that he'll be able to handle it." ... OF Jermaine Dye had surgery Tuesday to remove loose cartilage in his right knee and is expected to miss three-to-five weeks. ... The A's brought a four-game winning streak to Chicago, but have two tough series against the White Sox and the Yankees. "I like the way our pitching has been," manager Ken Macha said. "Everyone is absolutely encouraging Miggie (Miguel Tejada) to just be Miggie. If that happens, we've got some good players. We should win some games." ... 3B coach Ron Washington turned 51 on Tuesday.

CHICAGO: Despite a seven-game hitting streak, Paul Konerko was dropped a spot in the batting order, to sixth. Manager Jerry Manuel said he made the switch to take advantage of a hot Carlos Lee, who is hitting .345 with six homers and 18 RBIs over the last 15 games. "One spot is not a big difference," Manuel said. "Hopefully that is a spot we can see us driving in runs. Now if we can get Paul to drive in runs from that particular spot, get himself back going again, we'll easily flip-flop and put it back the other way." ... Six-time All-Star Harold Baines, now a special instructor in the organization, is spending some extra time with the White Sox at the request of hitting coach Gary Ward. "Wardo asked him to stay until Sunday if his wife will let him," Manuel said. "He's just with some of the hitting guys giving Wardo a different little spin on things. We're definitely having problems driving in those runs from third, and he's historically been one of the best clutch hitters in the game." ... Esteban Loaiza, one of two five-game winners in baseball, was named AL player of the week. Loaiza leads the AL in ERA (1.25) and opponents average (.151), and hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his five starts. "We just hope he keeps doing the thing he's doing," Manuel said. "I don't anticipate a letdown in the quality."