Pirates right-hander A.J. Burnett is hopeful of returning to the rotation by mid-September following a 71-pitch bullpen session Sunday.

The 38-year-old has been on the disabled list since July 31 with a strained flexor tendon in his right elbow.

"It was good, better than expected," Burnett said of the bullpen session. "The pain is gone and I feel good."

The Astros have put catcher Jason Castro on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle, according to an ESPN.com report.

Catcher Max Strassi was recalled from Triple-A Fresno for the game Saturday at Minnesota.

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton said he still feels pain in his sore left knee that prevents him from running. Hamilton will be eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday, the day before rosters are expanded, but isn't sure if he'll be ready.

"It's a day-to-day thing," he said. "I'm tired of watching ballgames."

Kansas City manager Ned Yost says left fielder Alex Gordon is "getting close" to rejoining the Royals after missing almost two months with a strained left groin.

"He's up to about 90 percent running speed, has no issues with his leg," Yost said before Saturday night's game against the Rays.

Gordon has been out since July 9. He hit .279 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs in 78 games before the injury.

Yet again it is a hamstring strain keeping Yasiel Puig out of the Dodgers' lineup and on the disabled list.

The team placed its right fielder on the DL prior to Friday's win over the Cubs at Dodger Stadium. 

Puig missed 39 games early in the season with a left hamstring strain, and he had already missed three games during the recent road trip because of this right hamstring strain.

Giants veteran pitcher Matt Cain was put on the 15-day disabled list Friday with irritation in his pitching elbow and received a cortisone injection to help it calm down.

San Francisco recalled Chris Heston (11-7), who will pitch Sunday against St. Louis after getting a short break in the minors to rest. 

Denard Span's return from back spasms, which sidelined him for 40 games, has come to an abrupt end.

Span was not in the lineup for the Nationals win over the Padres on Thursday, and after the game manager Matt Williams said that while the absence was not related to his back, Span would be returning to the DL with left hip inflammation.

A woman was injured by a foul ball at a Phillies gameThursday night hours after the MLB commissioner was at the stadium and spoke about increasing fan safety.

Commissioner Rob Manfred talked at Citizens Bank Park before the Mets played the Phillies. He said there was a chance that extra safety nets could be put up around the majors as early as next season.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez left Thursday's game against the Reds with a bruised right knee after fouling a pitch off his leg in the third inning.

Yasiel Puig also left the game after pulling up when he beat out an infield single in the ninth inning.

Puig left a game last week in Oakland with tightness in his right hamstring. He missed 38 games earlier this season with a strained left hamstring.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said removing Gonzalez was a precautionary measure. Gonzalez said "absolutely, 100 percent" when was asked if he will return to the lineup Friday night against the Cubs. 

The Twins have put right-hander J.R. Graham on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation one day after he earned his first major league win.

Minnesota also reinstated reliever Blaine Boyer from the 15-day DL before Wednesday night's game against Tampa Bay. Boyer had missed 15 games with right elbow inflammation.