Aramis Ramirez, sidelined since coming out of last Friday's game in St. Louis with a strained left calf, underwent an MRI on Thursday. The test showed inflammation, but general manager Jim Hendry said the third baseman was expected to be back in action within a few days and did not need the full 15 days off. Lou Piniella and athletic trainer Mark O'Neal watched Ramirez as he ran in the outfield prior to Thursday's game. "He went through a fairly extensive array of stretching and running exercises, and he's much better than he was in Phoenix two days ago," Piniella said. "The feeling is, the next few days we can get him out there to play."

Until further notice, John Smoltz will stay under the supervision of Boston's Major League training staff. After conferring with Smoltz this weekend, the Red Sox will try to get a better handle on how to proceed with his program. Smoltz had started throwing batting practice last week, and was nearing a start in an extended spring training game before he and the club decided to apply the brakes. "I think the way he put it was, if he was already in the game, he wouldn't think about [slowing down]," said manager Terry Francona. "OK, but he's not. The whole idea is to look at the big picture, so that's basically what it is."

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels sprained his ankle in last night's win over the Nationals, but didn't immediately leave the game. Hamels tested the ankle, and was visibly frustrated on the mound after suffering the injury while fielding a sacrifice bunt. "It's not severe, so I'm not planning on missing a start," Hamels said after the game. "Obviously, we're going to see how it feels the next couple days, but I think it helps that we have an off day."

Lost in Boston's 4-1 win over New York on Sunday night was the fact that right fielder J.D. Drew left the game with a tweaked left quad in the eighth inning. Red Sox manager Terry Francona said that Drew will likely miss Monday night's game against the Indians because of the injury. Drew said he was hurt in the sixth inning while chasing down a ball hit by Hideki Matsui. "It was just a little cramp in the left quad," Drew said. "I had to change direction really fast for that ball Matsui hit into the corner. I don?t think it's anything major."

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee left the team's game against the Cardinals on Sunday with neck spasms. Lee smacked an RBI double in the top half of the first inning, but was replaced by Micah Hoffpauir at first base in the bottom half.

Trevor Hoffman will finally get to make his debut for the Brewers, after being activated from the disabled list prior to Sunday's game. Hoffman, the team's closer, is baseball's all-time leader in saves. "I asked Trevor if he's got three or four innings in him," Milwaukee manager Ken Macha joked.

The Twins could have catcher Joe Mauer in the lineup as early as Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Mauer has yet to play this season because of time spent on the disabled list with a sore lower back. He played in two rehabilitation games at Class-A Fort Myers over the weekend. "He feels really great right now," said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire, who spoke with Mauer on Saturday. A decision on his return will be made on Monday, according to the team.

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels expects to make his next start despite being hit in the left shoulder by a line drive on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. "Cole says he feels good," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said Friday night. "He says he doesn't have any soreness. He said he thought he might be sore and he's not. Right now he's in his regular turn." Hamels is expected to throw a side session on Saturday, which will confirm whether or not he'll start on Tuesday.

The Diamondbacks have shut down ace Brandon Webb for three weeks with soreness in his right shoulder. The move means that Webb won't return to a Major League mound before mid-May. He suffered a setback on Friday while warming up in a scheduled bullpen session before the team's game against the Giants. "We really don't know anything right now," manager Bob Melvin said. " ... This is absolutely confusing because he felt good last time out, and all the maintenance stuff leading up to this would suggest he felt good. But once he played catch there was just some tightness in the same spot and, we didn't want to push it any further than that."

Chien-Ming Wang is being placed on the disabled list and David Robertson is being called up. Wang has weakness in his hip abductor muscles. That, according to Brian Cashman, is a result of the LisFranc injury and the long period of inactivity. Cody Ransom strained his right quad muscle while stealing second base and is also going on the DL.