Jacobs sees way out of slump  —  · Slow starts aren't all bad.  Sure, Mike Jacobs isn't happy about opening with 11 hits in his first 56 at-bats, but he can focus on one positive.  —  Two or three multihit games and that .196 average skyrockets.  A 5-for-10 stretch would amount to a 46-point spike.

Diamondbacks-Padres Preview  —  Jake Peavy doesn't have much to show for strong efforts in his last two starts.  —  Peavy tries for his first win since opening day for the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night when they continue a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park.

Notes: Pelfrey promoted to Double-A  —  Pitching prospect could see Majors sometime this year  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The dots don't necessarily connect, Omar Minaya said.  The Mets' promotion of Mike Pelfrey from Class A to Double-A on Tuesday was not the first in a row of falling dominoes …

Helton out of hospital, waits for final diagnosis  —  Philadelphia - His condition improved but his stomach ailment undiagnosed, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton returned home Monday after four days in the hospital.  —  The Rockies expect to learn today what caused Helton's illness after a final battery of tests is analyzed.

Notes: Patterson put on the shelf  —  Big Nasty will not make Thursday's start against the Cards  —  WASHINGTON — Right-hander John Patterson was scheduled to pitch against the Cardinals on Thursday, but word came down on Tuesday evening that the right-hander will miss his turn because of a strained muscle in his right forearm.

On Soriano  —  I'm not sure how much more I can say about Alfonso Soriano than Nate already wrote in an excellent post at Nats Triple Play.  So I'm going to incorporate by reference just about everything Nate wrote.  —  On a personal level, I'm learning to love Soriano.

Council seals deal on Mets Stadium  —  Queens City Council members closed a deal Tuesday that will allow the Mets to start construction on an $800 million stadium in June.  —  "There has been movement," said Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens).  "This will pass tomorrow."

Bidders tout minority involvement  —  With Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig expected to name a new owner for the Washington Nationals within days, bidding groups are scrambling to find ways to use their minority investors to get an edge.  —  Some groups, particularly …

Notes: In pain, but Nomar can't complain  —  Izturis' recovery from surgery hits a snag  —  HOUSTON — His first two games back, Nomar Garciaparra looked like he couldn't feel better.  —  Looks can be deceiving.  —  Garciaparra missed 17 games with a strained right intercostal, a painful muscle injury in the rib area.

Eldred likely out for the season  —  First baseman has surgery to repair injured thumb  —  ST. LOUIS — The Pirates' top power prospect, Brad Eldred, likely will miss the remainder of the 2006 season after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair a fracture of the joint and collateral ligament of his left thumb.

Mike Mussina, RHP (2-1, 2.67)  —  Scouting Report:  —  Kazmir was everything the Devil Rays hoped he would be while blowing away the Red Sox in 5 2/3 innings in his last start.  He worked all parts of the plate and pitched with poise while holding Boston to one run on four hits and striking out seven.

Giants-killer Trachsel on tap for Mets  —  New York Mets (12-7) at San Francisco (11-8), 10:15 p.m. ET  —  What do statistics tell us?  Not everything, certainly.  The Mets face Giants starter Jamey Wright on Tuesday night.  His career numbers against the Mets — 1-2 record and 5.81 ERA — suggest the Giants are at risk.

Off to a flying start  —  MILWAUKEE - In a game involving the Cincinnati Reds, it is fair to expect a home run every 45 minutes or so.  They seem to have a love affair with home runs.  They hit bundles of home runs.  They give up even more home runs.  They live and die with the home run, and they ache because of it.

Striking minor league umpires draw support  —  HAGERSTOWN, Md. —Twelve hours earlier, umpire Dan Iassogna was calling balls and strikes on Alfonso Soriano at RFK Stadium in the nation's capital.  On Tuesday morning, Iassogna carried a picket sign and chanted in unison with 24 …

Mocking the mock draft  —  The Texans will switch to the shotgun formation.  Instead of "Hike," Houston quarterbacks will yell "Pull!"  Ducks Unlimited says its members "celebrate the traditions and the heritage of sport hunting as an integral part of sound wildlife management."