The Toronto Blue Jays activated right-hander Roy Halladay from the 15-day disabled list after Wednesday night’s game and optioned right-hander Jesse Litsch to Double-A.
Halladay (4-2), a former athlete at Arvada West High School, has been sidelined since undergoing an appendectomy May 11. He will face left-hander Mark Buehrle (2-1) today in the opener of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox.
Twins: Catcher Joe Mauer’s return from the DL has been delayed. The reigning AL batting champion, who was hitting .353 when he strained his left quadriceps this month, showed up sore for the second straight day. The team still hopes to activate Mauer for Friday’s game at Oakland.
Braves: Right-hander John Smoltz, who left Tuesday’s game after aggravating a pinkie injury while batting and then feeling a tweak in his pitching shoulder while warming up on the mound, said he felt fine after playing catch. “I was pleasantly pleased,” Smoltz said.
He is scheduled to start Sunday at Chicago.
Dodgers: Right-hander Jason Schmidt, sidelined since the middle of April with shoulder inflammation, worked six shutout innings in a rehabilitation assignment for the Inland Empire 66ers of the California League. Schmidt allowed two hits while walking one and striking out seven in the 66ers’ 2-1 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Yankees: Right-hander Roger Clemens threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium and will start Monday night in Chicago against the White Sox.
Athletics: Designated hitter Mike Piazza, out with a sprained right shoulder, took a few light swings and said his shoulder is still “cranky.” Piazza said he is on target to return in mid-June.
Angels: Right-hander Bartolo Colon’s next start was pushed back to June 8 at St. Louis. He began experiencing tightness in his triceps early this month.
Mets: Reliever Guillermo Mota returned after serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
