Alex Rodriguez is now 5-for-5 with three home runs and 18 RBIs when teammate Mark Teixeira is intentionally walked ahead of him. The Indians opted to walk Teixeira and bring Rodriguez up with the bases loaded on Monday afternoon. Teixeira has now been walked intentionally seven times ahead of Rodriguez in a little more than a season. The 20th grand slam of his career moved Rodriguez past Eddie Murray and into sole possession of third place all-time behind only Lou Gehrig (23) and Manny Ramirez (21).

The Pirates have benched second baseman , their highest-paid player. Tired of waiting for Iwamura to break out of his season-long slump, Pittsburgh has replaced him with former first-round pick Neil Walker. Iwamura, acquired from Tampa Bay for reliever Jesse Chavez during the offseason, didn't take the demotion well despite his .172 batting average. "Hopefully, he'll take it the right way and works hard," manager John Russell said. The Pirates gambled by picking up Iwamura's $4.85 million contract even though he missed most of last season following left knee surgery.

The Tigers designated pitcher Dontrelle Willis for assignment over the weekend and the left-hander is already thinking about where he'll pitch next. Willis reportedly wants to pitch for a West Coast team and a friend told FOX Sports that he's high on the Diamondbacks. Arizona's team ERA of 5.95 is the worst in the majors. Willis was 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA in nine games this year.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella benched infielder Ryan Theriot on Monday and started Mike Fontenot in his place. "I'm not going to say one way or the other," Piniella said when asked how long the move would last. "This could be more than a one-day thing, yeah." Mike Fontenot, who is batting .337, started in place of Theriot and batted fifth on Monday against the Pirates. Theriot's slump has been so significant that Piniella had his numbers ready to recite. "One walk in one month," Piniella said of Theriot, who entered Monday batting .286 after staying over .300 for most of the season. "That's kind of hard to do."

The Marlins are selling unused tickets to Saturday's game against the Phillies, during which Philadelphia's Roy Halladay threw a perfect game. The tickets will go on sale Tuesday and will be sold at "face value."

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter left in the seventh inning of the team's 11-2 win over the Indians on Monday. Jeter was replaced by Ramiro Pena after reaching base on a single up the middle with one out. He was hit by a pitch on the back of his left thigh in the second inning and his left hamstring subsequently "stiffened up." "We won't really know [until] tomorrow," manager Joe Girardi said when asked about the extent of Jeter's injury. "He got hit in the back of the hamstring and it stiffened up."

A pair of anonymous Mets players believe it's time for the team to send struggling pitcher Oliver Perez to Triple-A or release him. "You tell him you go to Triple-A or that's it, you are finished," one Mets player said. Perez is still owed about $20 million on the three-year contract he signed before the 2009 season. "At some point you have to cut bait," said the second player. "You owe him a lot of money, but for what?" Perez, whom the Mets banished to the bullpen two weeks ago, allowed three runs over two innings on Saturday. The Mets have asked Perez to accept an assignment to Triple-A Buffalo, but the pitcher has refused, as he's allowed to do by his contract.

The Rockies have demoted outfielder Dexter Fowler to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Fowler was the club's regular center fielder until three weeks ago when an extended hitting slump cost him a job. He is a terrific defender, but is hitting .216 with one home run and four RBIs.

With Kendry Morales out for quite some time, it's conceivable that Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell could be a fit for the Angels. Morales fractured his left ankle while leaping onto home plate to celebrate a walkoff grand slam against the Mariners on Saturday. He is expected to be out until at least September. Lowell, who has played sparingly recently, could be just what the Angels seek, particularly if the Red Sox pick up at least three quarters of his $12 million salary, as they were prepared to do when trying to trade Lowell to Texas last winter.

Nationals prospect Stephen Strasburg is expected to make his major league debut sometime over the next week or so. Not only will he help Washington in the standings, but the Boston Globe reports that he'll give them a financial boost as well. In his last start for Syracuse, the Triple A team reportedly netted $100,000 more than it usually does in concessions, tickets, and other purchases at the stadium.