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TORONTO — Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will throw in the bullpen today and could be ready to return to the mound Sunday, manager Joe Girardi said.
Rivera, who has a sore left groin, has not pitched since Tuesday at Baltimore. He threw in the outfield Thursday and was expected to play catch again Friday.
Girardi said Rivera’s bullpen session will be a light one. The right-hander will only throw 10 to 15 pitches and “probably won’t break 85 (mph).”
Rivera, 1-2 with a 1.78 ERA and a major league-leading 38 saves, first began to feel sore Aug. 15 in Seattle. The 39-year-old has pitched in five games since then and has converted a personal-best 34 save opportunities in a row overall.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter did not start against the Blue Jays on Friday, a scheduled day off. Ramiro Pena started for Jeter, who jammed a finger on his right hand diving for a ball in the fourth inning Thursday and did not take part in batting practice Friday. The injury is not considered serious.
PHILLIES
HOUSTON — The Phillies have activated right-hander Brett Myers from the disabled list and outrighted three players to the minors.
Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said Myers would be available out of the bullpen on Friday night, when Philadelphia opened a four-game series at Houston. The 29-year-old had hip surgery on June 4. He was 4-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 10 starts.
The Phillies also outrighted right-handers Joe Bisenius and Steven Register to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and catcher Joel Naughton to Class-A Clearwater.
Philadelphia also delayed the start of Clay Condrey’s rehab assignment at Lehigh Valley today because he’s still feeling pain in a strained left oblique muscle.
Condrey (6-2, 3.41 ERA) has been on the DL since July 23.
NATIONALS
WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals have added left-handed pitcher Victor Garate to their major league roster.
Garate was added before Friday night’s game against the Florida Marlins. He was acquired off waivers on Wednesday, completing the trade that sent Ronnie Belliard to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Garate had a 2.04 ERA in 47 appearances this season with Double-A Chattanooga of the Double-A Southern League.
His first appearance with the Nationals will be his major league debut.
ROYALS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Royals right-hander Gil Meche has been scratched from his start against the Los Angeles Angels because of shoulder fatigue.
Meche has been bothered by a tired shoulder since giving up seven runs in four innings of an 8-4 loss to Seattle on Saturday. Reliever Robinson Tejeda replaced him against the Angels.
Meche, who has an 8.14 ERA in four starts since coming off the DL on Aug. 13, will undergo tests before the Royals determine if he can make his next start.
Right-hander Brian Bannister, who lasted 32 pitches in his last start, also is scheduled to see a doctor for his shoulder fatigue.
INDIANS
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore will miss the remainder of the season because of soreness in his left elbow, an injury that will require surgery.
No date been set for the surgery.
Sizemore has been bothered by soreness in the elbow for most of the season. He was on the disabled list from May 31 to June 23. The three-time All-Star, a .279 career hitter going into the season, is batting .248 with 18 home runs and 64 RBI.
RANGERS
BALTIMORE — Former Texas Rangers first-round draft pick Thomas Diamond has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.
The 10th pick of the 2004 draft was claimed Friday, three days after the Rangers designated the oft-injured right-hander for assignment.
Diamond started the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 1-0 with a 6.55 ERA before being demoted to Double-A Frisco. He was 1-3 with 3.63 ERA in 32 relief appearances for Frisco.
RED SOX
CHICAGO — Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon has been fined again for slowing down games.
Papelbon was fined $5,000 by Major League Baseball for taking too long to throw his first pitch. A new rule allows pitchers 2 minutes, 20 seconds from the final out of the previous inning to the first pitch. They get 12 seconds to throw once the batter steps into the box.
The fine was first reported by the Boston Herald. Papelbon was fined previously this season.
“After this, I don’t know, man,” Papelbon told the paper. “I think they’re going to call my parole officer and put me away.”
Papelbon has 34 saves in 37 opportunities this season, with a 1.84 ERA.