MLB notes

CARDINALS

2B Ellis on DL

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals have put second baseman Mark Ellis on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to Aug. 15.

Infielder Greg Garcia was recalled from Class AAA Memphis before Tuesday night's game against Cincinnati.

The 37-year-old Ellis has not played since last Thursday against the Padres. He made four starts after rookie Kolten Wong returned from the disabled list on July 6.

The 25-year-old Garcia was batting .275 with eight home runs and 40 RBI in 103 games at Memphis. The left-handed hitter is batting .367 in August.

Garcia appeared in seven games earlier in the season and was 2 for 10 with an RBI. He was hit by a pitch in the 12th inning for the game-winning RBI against the Cubs on May 13.

PIRATES

McCutchen returns

PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen's fractured rib is healed. The reigning National League MVP is hoping his return will have the same effect on the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates activated the star center fielder off the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday. McCutchen will bat third as Pittsburgh tries to end a season-high six-game losing streak against Atlanta.

McCutchen went on the disabled list last week, retroactive to Aug. 4, with fractured rib cartilage. The Pirates went 5-9 in McCutchen's absence to fall slightly off the pace in the playoff race.

"It's pretty frustrating," McCutchen said. "It's like having your best friend out there during a race and you want to go out there and help him and you can't. It's kind of the same thing. Your teammates are out there grinding and we're getting the short end of the stick the last few games."

McCutchen was batting .307 with 17 home runs and 67 RBI at the time of the injury. He insists he isn't experiencing any lingering pain from the injury, which came after a seemingly routine sacrifice fly against Arizona on Aug. 3. He will wear extra padding for the time being as a precaution but doesn't believe he will be limited in any way.

"I'm going to play the way I've been playing," he said.

To make room for McCutchen on the 25-man roster, the Pirates sent utility infielder Michael Martinez to Class AAA Indianapolis.

Manager Clint Hurdle hopes the return of the franchise cornerstone will stabilize a lineup that's been in flux for most of the month thanks to a string of injuries to regulars like McCutchen and second baseman Neil Walker.

"I think the presence is valuable," Hurdle said. "The player is valuable but the value the presence does bring is something we would miss whenever he's not in."

The injury came a day after McCutchen was drilled in the back by a 95 mph fastball Arizona reliever Randall Delgado, which happened to be one game after Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt broke his hand after getting hit by Pirates reliever Ernesto Frieri.

While there was no direct correlation between getting plunked and the ensuing rib issue, McCutchen said he was "a little upset" Delgado was not disciplined.

"There's a chance that someone could get hurt with the same injury that I got because there was nothing that was handled," McCutchen said. "It wouldn't surprise me if something like that would happen again."

INDIANS

Atchison signs

CLEVELAND -- The Indians have signed reliever Scott Atchison to a contract for next season.

Atchison's deal includes a team option in 2016. Financial terms were not immediately available.

The 38-year-old Atchison has been major contributor out of Cleveland's bullpen this season, going 6-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 53 appearances. The 38-year-old signed a free agent minor league contract with the Indians in January and made the 25-man roster in spring training. He pitched in 50 games last season for the New York Mets.

Atchison has held hitters to a .218 average and ranks among AL relief leaders in victories, inherited runners scored and innings.

Atchison is 16-10 with a 3.51 ERA in 258 major league games since breaking in with Seattle in 2004. He previously pitched for Indians manager Terry Francona in Boston.

NATIONALS

McLouth out for season

WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals outfielder Nate McLouth is out for the season because of an injured right shoulder.

Manager Matt Williams said Tuesday that McLouth will have surgery Thursday for a torn labrum and is expected to recover in time for spring training.

Williams says McLouth has had discomfort in his throwing shoulder all season. The symptoms worsened after he dove for a ball in Miami in late July.

McLouth last played Aug. 1 and is on the 15-day disabled list. He is in his first season with the Nationals and hit .173 with one home run and seven RBI in 79 games.

Sports on 08/20/2014

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