Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen to start in Class AA Harrisburg  —  The inevitable became official this morning when the Nationals optioned phenom Stephen Strasburg to Class AA Harrisburg, meaning baseball's best pitching prospect will not join the Nationals until late spring or midsummer.

Lee has right lower abdominal strain  —  Left-hander could start the season on 15-day DL  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Cliff Lee's eventful week took a painful turn Friday.  —  Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner who was expected to be the club's No. 2 starter behind …

Red Sox sign Embree to minor-league deal  —  The Red Sox, unhappy with their bullpen options, today signed 40-year-old lefty Alan Embree to a minor-league deal that included an invitation to spring training.  —  With veteran Brian Shouse not particularly impressive and prospect Dustin Richardson getting hurt …

Ozzie Guillen in flap over son  —  Manager upset with organization after son quits because club wanted him to stop blunt Twitter posts  —  Ozzie Guillen watches a game against the Red Sox.  (José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune / September 6, 2009)

Mets' John Santana all smiles after erratic outing against Twins  —  Mets third baseman David Wright, left, and starting pitcher Johan Santana get together after the Minnesota Twins second home run in the second inning in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Friday.  —  But he couldn't resist a smile …

Sabermetrics: Stats guru advising Blue Jays  —  There's no statistic too obscure for Blue Jays adviser Tom Tango, a self-taught, secretive superstar in the growing field of sabermetrics … Tom Tango, one of the Toronto Blue Jays' latest acquisitions, won't be pitching, catching or hitting for the club this season.

Roy Oswalt to start Opening Day for the Houston Astros for 8th straight year  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Roy Oswalt will be the Houston Astros' Opening Day starter for the eighth consecutive year, extending his club record when Houston opens its season against the San Francisco Giants on April 5 at Minute Maid Park.

Seay definitely out, set to have MRI  —  Bobby Seay had a setback in his bullpen session Saturday morning and will have another MRI exam on his ailing left shoulder.  —  Seay said he will have the exam in the next couple days and have the results checked out by a few specialists, including orthopaedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Mixed night for Dodgers on the bump  —  Kuo sharp, McDonald roughed up, Kuroda endures scare  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Hong-Chih Kuo pitched with no pain and Hiroki Kuroda narrowly escaped another line drive at his head Friday night, but it was James McDonald who had the pained look after the Dodgers' 9-4 loss to the Padres.

Shame we can't see Dodgers' true potential  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  —  Defenders of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt — the few that exist — point to the team's two straight appearances …