The Reds are making due without their starting 1B and 3B and will have to do without Joey Votto for a bit longer. Meanwhile, a couple of unlikely candidates are being eyed for the Royals 2013 rotation.

Key injuries abound: Boston loses Middlebrooks, San Diego closes Street, New York shelves Sabathia, Texas sits Napoli; there's a new/old SP in Milwaukee, Santana rejoins the Mets, and more...

Ben Zobrist (2B/OF, TAM) gained SS eligibility in one-game-eligibility formats August 9 by making his first SS start since 2009. Zobrist replaced slumping regular Elliot Johnson (SS, TAM), carrying sub-.200 BA and sub-.500 OPS in 82 second-half AB. Johnson's season-long .225 xBA suggests his .248 BA is more likely to continue its descent than to climb.

Manny Machado called up by BAL, Brett Lawrie placed on DL, Tyler Greene traded to STL, and more...

Jim Henderson gets two saves in two days for Milwaukee, Franklin Morales gets another start in Boston, David Murphy is officially a regular in Texas, and more...

After watching Santiago Casilla (RHP, SF) blow five of his last nine save opportunities, followed by entering a tie game July 30 and taking the loss, Manager Bruce Bochy has decided he will use multiple pitchers in the ninth inning. Casilla was victimized by a 25% home run per fly ball rate and 52% hit rate in July, and his skills on the year (9.9 Dom, 114 BPV) suggest he is fit for any role. He figures to remain in the mix for saves, but his value certainly takes a hit with the news that he will split closing duties.

Brandon Phillips (2B, CIN) returned to action Monday after missing five games with a left calf strain. Phillips had been swinging a hot stick for two months before the injury, with similar numbers in June and July. He batted .311 with an .830 OPS in June, while his July stats included .317 BA and .828 OPS. His June .300 xBA and July .315 xBA supported his production. Replacements Miguel Cairo (IF, CIN) and Wilson Valdez (2B/SS, CIN) return to reserve roles after splitting time during Phillips' absence.

Cubs add two heralded young players to roster; in KC, an elite speedster works his way into the good side of a platoon; the A's have issues in both their rotation and bullpen; and Evan Longoria may be about to make his long-awaited return.

Injuries continue to deplete both TOR and COL lineups. It was announced that Christian Friedrich (LHP, COL) is going to miss the rest of the season, and Michael Cuddyer (1B/OF, COL) could miss up to three weeks with an oblique strain. Tyler Colvin (RF, COL) will get his opportunity for regular PT. Meanwhile, TOR called up prospect Adeiny Hechavarria (SS, TOR) and put him at a brand new position to offset the losses of Colby Rasmus (CF, TOR) and Brett Lawrie (3B, TOR).

WAS traded a minor-league catcher to OAK for veteran Kurt Suzuki (C, WAS) to bolster a catching corps decimated by injury. Suzuki is having the least productive season of his career, batting .218 with a .530 OPS. His 0.17 Eye suggests his once-solid plate skills have collapsed, while his .211 xBA says his lowly BA is merited. Suzuki entered 2012 off three straight seasons with 13-15 HR, but with a 57 PX and only one HR in 262 AB, his power has ebbed.

Ruiz injury, Young/Parra platoon, additional trade fallout and a couple of anticipated AL debuts ...