Notes

— ROYALS

Meche likely out for season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Royals right-hander Gil Meche will have surgery on his pitching shoulder that will probably end his season.

Meche, 31, has been on the disabled list since May 29 with what the club described as bursitis in the shoulder. Meche, the first upper-tier free agent the Royals signed, has battled injuries the past two seasons. He has one year left on a five-year, $55 million contract.

“I imagine it will be some type of cleanup in there with the scope,” Kansas City Manager Ned Yost said. “He still has irritation. It’s not getting better. We’re probably looking at scoping it somehow and getting him cleaned up and having him ready for next year.”

Yost said, “I would imagine so” when asked if Meche would be out for the season.

NATIONALS

Strasburg has inflammation in right shoulder

WASHINGTON - Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo says rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg has been diagnosed with inflammation in his pitching shoulder.

Rizzo says Strasburg has “stiffness and discomfort” in his right shoulder, but an imaging scan and X-ray show no structural damage, and “given a couple days’ rest and anti-inflammatories, he should be better.”

Strasburg went for tests after being scratched from his scheduled start for Washington against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night because he had trouble getting loose in the bullpen. The Nationals say their star right-hander is day to day and they’re not certain when he will next pitch.

“We’re still not sure where he’s at,” Rizzo said.

MLB Four suspended for drugs

NEW YORK - Four more minor league baseball players have been suspended for 50 games each following positive drug tests.

Washington shortstop Pedro Lopez, Detroit first baseman Cesar Nicolas, Pittsburgh pitcher Jose Acosta and free agent first baseman Jorge Castillo were penalized Tuesday by the commissioner’s office.

Lopez tested positive for Formestane, Nicolas for an amphetamine, Acosta for metabolites of the steroid Stanozolol and Castillo for Phenmetrazine, a stimulant.

The 26-year-old Lopez is with Class AAA Syracuse, where he is hitting .216 with 1 home run and 11 RBI in 148 at-bats.

Nicolas was promoted this week to Class AAA Toledo after hitting .279 for Class AA Erie with 7 home runs and 38 RBI in 244 at-bats.

Acosta is with the Pirates’ Venezuelan Summer League team. Castillo’s suspension will start if he signs with a major league organization.

There have been 60 suspensions this year under the minor league program. Cincinnati pitcher Edinson Volquez was suspended under the major league program.

Sports, Pages 24 on 07/28/2010

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