Josh Hamilton expects to play Monday in Toronto despite coming out of Sunday's loss to the Rays with a stiff back. Hamilton said he felt a spasm in his back about the third or fourth step out of the batter's box on an RBI single in the first inning. He tried to loosen it up, but after playing the field in the second inning, he felt like he couldn't move the way he wanted and told manager Ron Washington, who took him came out of the game.

Chris Carpenter, who turned 37 on Friday, celebrated by going through a workout at Busch Stadium designed to especially build up in his right shoulder and arm. He hasn't thrown since mid-March and says he has no idea when he will. "Before, I didn't know what was going on except that I had zero strength in my shoulder" Carpenter said. "I didn't know what the plan was or what the likelihood was of me pitching again. This time I know what we have to do and what's in front of me. I also know there are a number of possible outcomes." The best case would have the team's medical and training staff allowing Carpenter to resume a throwing program in coming weeks, putting him on track for a possible return in June. "I'm definitely getting stronger," Carpenter said. "But any talk about when it's going to be good to go or what's going to happen next ... it's not there yet."

The Rockies have placed right-hander Jeremy Guthrie on the disabled list a day after he injured his shoulder in a fall from his bicycle. Guthrie was placed on the DL on Saturday, retroactive to Monday. He'll be eligible for reinstatement on May 8. He said he was injured on Friday when the chain on his bike snapped as he was pedaling to the ballpark, causing him to tumble to the ground. He jammed his right shoulder in the fall.

The Yankees are having second thoughts about sending Andy Pettitte to the mound in cold conditions and could instead have him pitch on Monday for Class A Tampa. Joe Girardi had said that he expected Pettitte to pitch on Monday night for Double-A Trenton, but the game against the Portland Sea Dogs in Portland, Maine, is expected to start with temperatures in the 40s. "He pitched in some pretty raw conditions [on Wednesday for Trenton] as well," Girardi said. "Because of that, you might change where he throws. He might pitch in Tampa on Monday. We're talking about some conditions. Basically, he feels good, though. That's the good thing -- he's bouncing back really well."

Ryan Howard is confident he could begin working out soon after seeing a wound specialist on Friday. The Phillies first baseman has been limited since Feb. 27, when he required a procedure to clean an infection from his original Achilles tendon surgery wound. "The priority No. 1 was making sure the wound closed up so we didn't have it happen again and now we're in a place where we start to move forward," Howard said. Howard said he has no date in mind for a return. "Not really," he said. "Right now I want to get to Florida and see how my body and leg reacts to getting things back together."

Yankees right-hander Joba Chamberlain was in the team's clubhouse before their game against the Tigers on Friday night. Chamberlain, who dislocated his right ankle bouncing on a trampoline with his son March 22, said he could ditch his walking boot next week. The slimmed-down reliever was working his way back from major elbow surgery when he hurt his ankle. He said his arm feels "better than it ever has."

Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey said he is "99 percent" certain he will need to have season-ending Tommy John surgery. He had an MRI exam that revealed a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. He will fly to Alabama to meet with Dr. James Andrews. "I'll go down and see Dr. Andrews personally and we'll go from there. But there's a 99 percent chance it's going to happen," Pelfrey said. "Obviously it's frustrating. I've never been hurt. It's only been three days and I don't know what I'm doing with myself."

Dustin McGowan has experienced shoulder pain while rehabilitating a foot injury and will be shut down for two weeks. Blue Jays manager John Farrell said the 30-year-old right-hander experienced some soreness in his shoulder during long tossing.

Carl Crawford has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left (throwing) elbow, an injury that often results in Tommy John surgery. Rather than opt for surgery, the Red Sox said the outfielder will follow a protocol of more conservative treatment. "It is what it is what it is," Bobby Valentine said. "We'll just let Mother Nature take the time to heal him up and get him back. I don't know how to explain it or put it into my thought. I wish he was 100 percent. Not playing for awhile is going to kill him more than it's killing me." A major league source told ESPN's Pedro Gomez that Crawford is expected to miss three months.

Mike Pelfrey has only officially been diagnosed with right elbow inflammation, but the Mets fear he may eventually need Tommy John surgery. New York general manager Sandy Alderson said ligament damage has not been ruled out for Pelfrey. A Major League source said that team officials are aware Pelfrey has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament and they are bracing to lose him to season-ending surgery.