Pitcher Dontrelle Willis will return to the Tigers on Monday as part of their September roster expansion, according to MLB.com. Prior to Detroit's afternoon game against New York on Monday, Willis will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo, where he posted a 3-1 record with a 4.45 ERA in six starts. Freddy Garcia will join the club on Tuesday but won't be added to the active roster. "We have a plan in place for [Garcia], which we're really not ready to announce yet," Tigers' Manager Jim Leyland said. "He will not be immediately active. I'm assuming, at some point, there's a good opportunity he would be. But at this time, we have a plan with him. He's only pitched five innings, so we're gonna work around that some, possibly simulate him Tuesday."

The Blue Jays took two out of three from the Yankees this weekend, their final trip to Yankee Stadium, which could have helped end New York's playoff chances, according to MLB.com. The Yankees are twelve games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East and almost eight back of the Red Sox for the Wild Card with less than a month left in the season. Toronto defeated New York 6-2 on Sunday after coming back to beat the Yankees, 7-6, late in the game on Saturday afternoon.

The Mets will call up top prospect Jonathan Niese soon, and he is expected to start for the team on Tuesday against Milwaukee, according to Associated Press. He will be recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to make his Major League debut this coming week. "We think very highly of Jonathan Niese," Vice President for Development Tony Bernazard said. "He's a 21-year-old that we expect to be an important member of this organization." "You have to perform at some point, and it happens to be Tuesday against a very good team. Let's see what he has. We'll find out a lot about where we're at with him in the next month."

Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano believes that he has a 'dead arm', which might explain his struggles in the month of August, according to Sporting News. Zambrano has a 7.43 ERA in 26 2/3 innings this month. He recently told the Cubs' official website that he's going through a "dead arm" phase. "I've been doing all my things and my work and have been working out," Zambrano said. "I'm trying to throw as hard as I can, and you see the gun -- 91, 88 [mph]. Everybody goes through these, and I just have to wait for my arm strength and my arm power to come back, so I can do a good job for my team."

Joba Chamberlain could return to the mound for the Yankees as soon as Monday, and the team plans to start him out as a reliever, according to New York Post. He threw 35 pitches during a mound session on Saturday, with batters standing in the box and afterward pronounced himself ready to return. "We'll wait and see how he feels [Sunday]' and then we'll make a decision," Manager Joe Girardi said. "If he comes out feeling good [Sunday], I don't really have too many concerns." Joba is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Sunday, and he'll likely he activated afterward if all goes well.

The Phillies released pitcher Kris Benson on Saturday, ending his bid to return to the Major Leagues with the team, according to Sports Network. He was released from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Benson sat out all of last season after undergoing right rotator cuff surgery in March 2007, and signed a minor league contract with Philadelphia in spring training. He encountered a series of setbacks, notably biceps tendinitis and groin injuries that prevented him from ever pitching for the Phillies.

Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals are pondering the idea of moving the pitcher into the bullpen upon his return, according to St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He may not come back as a starter," pitching coach Dave Duncan said Friday. "It is important for him to pitch before the season ends. He doesn't care what role that is. He just wants to pitch as much as he can before the season ends so that he's comfortable going into spring training. "We have talked about starting and we have talked about reliever. He's not against either one." Carpenter threw a 60-pitch workout in the bullpen on Friday afternoon and all parties were "encouraged" by the results. "If they want me to pitch out of the (bullpen), I'll pitch out of the 'pen," Carpenter said. "It's going to be what they want me to do. I want to pitch. I want to be able to go out there and compete."

Yankees' starter Carl Pavano moved to 2-0 on the season with a victory over the Blue Jays on Friday night, according to Associated Press. Pavano pitched six innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run. He struck out one batter while walking one, as well. He threw 72 pitches in the start, 42 for strikes. "I asked for six innings and I got exactly what I asked for," Manager Joe Girardi said. "He did what he had to do. He went out there and he made pitches." The start marked his first at Yankee Stadium since Opening Day in 2007. "It's good to go out there every fifth game and feel good," said Pavano. "I'm not exactly going out there and being totally dominant. The guys behind me are making plays."

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost their eight-straight game on Friday night against the Diamondbacks, and have fallen 4.5 games back of Arizona in the NL West, according to Associated Press. "We need to find a way to get this stuff straightened out," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "There's still plenty of time left. Right now, the last couple of weeks have been ugly." The Dodgers were swept by the Phillies in a four-game series and lost three-straight to the Nationals before the opener against the Diamondbacks on Friday night. Two weeks ago the Dodgers were just one game out of first place in the division.

The Tigers could call up pitcher Freddy Garcia very soon after his second-straight appearance at Triple-A Toledo, according to Detroit News. "I felt pretty good for my second outing in almost a year," Garcia said. "I could throw my off-speed pitches. I feel great. Hopefully, everything will keep going well. I proved I can pitch." The right-hander allowed two hits, struck out four, and walked none for Toledo on Thursday.