Prior could return on Thursday  —  Cubs pitcher Mark Prior is sick and tired of being a bench-warmer with the summer heating up and the situation at Wrigley Field sticky as ever.  So the competitor in him argued against going on the 15-day disabled list Friday, believing he could come …

Notes: Belisle placed on 15-day DL  —  Right-hander feels stiffness and soreness in lower back  —  CINCINNATI — For the second time this season, Reds reliever Matt Belisle has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with back problems.  —  According to Reds trainer Mark Mann on Friday …

Traders Take Aim at Top Pitchers  —  As the Angels pursue a slugger in trade talks, they have discovered that their highly touted prospects are not necessarily the players most coveted by opposing teams.  With young, affordable pitching at a premium, potential trade partners tend …

Notes: Cabrera may be on way out  —  Whispered trade with Pittsburgh includes Burnitz, Craig Wilson  —  NEW YORK — General manager Brian Cashman has made it clear that pitching prospect Philip Hughes is as close to untouchable as any player in the Yankees' farm system.  —  Melky Cabrera on the other hand, may not be.

Lowe overmatched as Dodgers fall  —  Bats stifled during dominant performance by Cards' Carpenter  —  ST. LOUIS — Should the Dodgers be more concerned about the two hits their offense scratched out Friday night against Chris Carpenter or the 11 hits starter Derek Lowe served up in six-plus innings?

Notes: Thomson suffers setback  —  Righty headed for DL again, this time with sore shoulder  —  SAN DIEGO — Just two months ago, there was reason to believe John Thomson was heading for a big payday.  Now there's reason to wonder if he'll even receive much attention this offseason on the free-agent market.

Snakes slide past Brewers  —  Counsell's injury dampens D-Backs' walk-off win  —  PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks' dramatic 4-3 victory over the Brewers on Friday night at Chase Field no doubt left the players with a bittersweet taste in their mouth.  —  While Johnny Estrada hit a walk-off …

Nationals place righthander John Patterson on 15-day disabled list  —  Prior to tonight's series opener, the Washington Nationals placed right-handed pitcher John Patterson on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to July 10, with a right forearm strain.  Tomorrow, the Nationals are expected …

Midseason flip is more of a big flop … Cincinnati - It's beginning to look as if mediocrity was disguised as prosperity.  —  The Rockies opened the second half as a contender.  The standings said as much.  But the way they have played for the past week screams something else, something troubling.

Warning to Rangers: Beware of Benson  —  BALTIMORE - If the Rangers know what is best, and that has not always been the case, they will have selective memory about Friday's 2-1 win against Baltimore at Camden Yards.  —  Kevin Millwood was good.  After missing one turn because of a biceps strain …

Salmon to Call It Quits Even if He's Short of 300  —  The farewell milestone suddenly appears in jeopardy.  However, even if he finishes one home run shy of 300, Tim Salmon insists this remains his final season.  —  "Sure, 300 is a well-rounded number," he said Thursday.

Jones' debut for M's a trial by fire  —  Prospect starts in CF day after being promoted  —  TORONTO — The number on the placard above Adam Jones' locker read No. 83, which wasn't accurate.  That was the jersey number Jones wore five months ago as a Mariners spring training invitee.

Over and way out for Beckett  —  He is the Bridgemaster, the Bombino, the man most likely to send you home with a souvenir if you are sitting in the Monster Seats.  Big league hitters, most of them American Leaguers, are takin' it to the streets at a record pace against Red Sox righty Josh Beckett in 2006.

Ponson, Under Scrutiny, Stresses Keeping His Focus  —  It is generally a good thing to be a starting pitcher for the Yankees, as is now the case for Sidney Ponson.  But it is not so good to be with your third team in less than a year with your career and your behavior being evaluated game by game.

Orioles send Cabrera to minors, recall Loewen  —  The Baltimore Orioles optioned struggling right-hander Daniel Cabrera to Triple-A Ottawa on Friday, hopeful the move will enable him to regain a measure of confidence after going six straight starts without a victory.

South Side stove  —  White Sox heat up pitching market; Philly fire sale  —  A decidedly drab pitching market is on the verge of receiving a major shot in the arm.  The White Sox are sending out word that they're willing to trade one of two veteran front-line starters …

Teixeira's 3 HRs help Rangers win  —  INDIANS OVERPOWER LIRIANO, TWINS 6-4  —  BALTIMORE - Texas Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira has been insisting for months that his swing is no different from a year ago, when he had 43 home runs and 144 RBIs.  —  He backed up that assertion Thursday …