Valentine: Pedroia on DL with new thumb injury  —  The Boston Red Sox put second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 15-day disabled list Friday with what manager Bobby Valentine called a sprained right thumb.  —  Infielder Pedro Ciriaco was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take his place.

Expect Astros managerial change in '13  —  No team has fired its manager this season.  But at least one is expected to make a move after the season ends, according to major-league sources.  —  The Houston Astros, under new ownership and a new front office, likely will dismiss manager Brad Mills, sources said.

D-backs may consider offers for Upton  —  Right-handed power hitters are in short supply on the trade market.  —  That could change, however, if the Arizona Diamondbacks fall from contention.  —  At that point, the D-backs would consider offers for right fielder Justin Upton, according to major-league sources.

Joba Chamberlain on track to pitch in minors next week  —  Photo credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara |  Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain points while on the mound in the seventh inning against the Tigers on Opening Day 2011.  (Mar. 31, 2011)  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Joba Chamberlain feels ready …

Orioles are ‘going hard’ after Brewers' Greinke, industry source says  —  Executive with another major league club says team appears to be most aggressive suitor for Milwaukee right-hander, but will they have enough to get him?  —  With the non-waiver trade deadline coming at the end of the month …

Red Sox could deal, if healthy  —  The Red Sox have waited all season to get healthy.  They placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the disabled list on Thursday, and could do the same with third baseman Will Middlebrooks on Friday.  So, imagining this team as healthy probably is unrealistic, not to mention premature.

Certainly a new era in Nats baseball  —  WASHINGTON  —  In at least one corner of our nation's capital, there is no talk of spending cuts.  —  Quite the opposite phenomenon is taking place at Nationals Park: The surprising Washington Nationals have the best record in the National League …

Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton to return Saturday, play in All Star festivities  —  Giancarlo Stanton returned from a 30-minute workout today to test his knee and said he will return to the Marlins lineup Saturday.  —  He also said he should be abloe to participate in the Home Run Derby Monday and the All Star game Tuesday.

Starlin Castro gets first game off  —  NEW YORK — Starlin Castro was out of Chicago's lineup for the first time this season because manager Dale Sveum wants to watch the game with the Cubs' prized young shortstop.  —  Sveum says he wanted to talk about game situations with the 22-year-old Castro …

Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio to have surgery on left knee  —  WASHINGTON — The Rockies' battered rotation took another hit Friday.  —  The club announced that right-hander Juan Nicasio will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove a loose body that is causing inflammation and fluid to build up.

Lynn pitches Cardinals past Rockies 6-2  —  ST. LOUIS—Rookie right-hander Lance Lynn tossed six shutout innings and Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran drove in a pair of runs apiece, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.