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.

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."

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.

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.

Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer returned to the majors with a bang on Sunday. Scherzer struck out 14 in 5 2/3 shutout innings hours after he was recalled from Triple-A Toledo, helping Detroit end a four-game losing streak. "I don't want to get crazy and carried away, because this was one outing, but obviously that was pretty impressive," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I think he was hungry to get back here, and it shows. Sending a guy down isn't punishment, it is hopefully to get results like this." Scherzer was acquired from the Diamondbacks over the winter and went 1-4 with a 7.29 ERA in his first eight starts with the Tigers.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg appears to be set for his final Triple-A start this week. Strasburg will start for Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday against Buffalo. He will throw six innings or 95 pitches, according to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo. After the start, the right-hander is tentatively scheduled to make his major league debut.

It might be worth it for the Tigers to make a play for Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, according to the Detroit Free-Press. The team has struggled this season because of the inconsistency of their pitching. They are counting on Max Scherzer, who they recalled on Sunday. Oswalt is on the hook for $23 million through 2011. The Free-Press writes that the Tigers have the prospects needed to acquire Oswalt from Houston.