MILWAUKEE — After Zack Greinke’s three straight starts apparently left him feeling fatigued and out of his routine, the Milwaukee Brewers are skipping his scheduled start Wednesday and will sit him down until next week.
Greinke, a potential trade target for contending teams with the deadline approaching at the end of this month, was ejected in the first inning of a July 7 start in Houston. He pitched again the next day, then started Milwaukee’s first game after the All-Star break. He gave up 10 runs in eight-plus innings during those three starts.
The 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner has been the subject of trade speculation for weeks, and Roenicke acknowledged that he and general manager Doug Melvin did consider Greinke’s potential trade value before deciding to sit him down.
Red Sox’s Crawford returns to lineup
BOSTON — Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford made his season debut Monday night, starting in left against the Chicago White Sox after being sidelinedwith left wrist and elbow injuries.
The Red Sox activated Crawford off the 60-day disabled list before the game and designated utility player Brent Lillibridge for assignment.
Signed to a $142 million, seven-year contract before last season, Crawford, 30, had a disappointing 2011. He hit a career-worst .255 with 11 homers and 56 RBI, and finished with just 18 stolen bases after swiping 47 in 2010 and 60 the year before that.
• The Cincinnati Reds expect right-hander Johnny Cueto to start Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks despite a blister on the index finger of his pitching hand.Cueto developed the blister during his bullpen session last week and had to skip his scheduled start Sunday night. Homer Bailey filled in and threw eight innings in a 4-2 win over St. Louis
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Stackhouse signs one-year contract with Brooklyn
NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets signed veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse to a one-year, $1.4 million deal on Monday. Stackhouse provided the terms after general manager Billy King announced the deal.
Stackhouse appeared in 30 games with the Hawks last season, averaging 3.6 points and 9.1 minutes.
The 17-year NBA veteran did not appear in any of Atlanta’s six playoff games.
Selected third overall by Philadelphia in 1995, the North Carolina product has career averages of 17.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.8 minutes.
• The Atlanta Hawks requested waivers on guard Jordan Farmar, one of five players acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in the deal for All-Star Joe Johnson. Farmar played in Israel during the NBA lockout last summer and has indicated he may return to Europe.
• From wire dispatches and staff reports
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