Yankees Place Pitcher Andy Pettitte On the DL

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Injuries are nothing new to the New York Yankees, so the team will have to deal with yet another one as the team has placed starter Andy Pettitte on the disabled list.

The team placed the veteran starter on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left trapezious muscle. Taking his place will be Vidal Nuno, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The 40-year-old Pettitte was off to a solid start in his 15th season with the club. Pettitte was 4-3 start with a 3.83 ERA. While Pettitte is expected to return to full health, the team is playing it safe.

"It could be overly cautious, but I also understand," Pettitte said. "I probably need a few days to let it calm down before I can throw a bullpen, and I need to pitch on Tuesday, and they don't want to send me out there in Baltimore on Tuesday and star warming up and it locked up and then we don't have pitching. We're on a tough stretch right now, so I understand."

This season, the Yankees have been the walking wounded. They have dealt with injuries to the likes of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodrguez, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, and Kevin Youkilis.

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Cubs Sign First Baseman Anthony Rizzo to Contract Extension

Joe Robbins/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The Chicago Cubs may still be a few years from contending, but their rebuilding process will have Anthony Rizzo in the fold for years to come as the Cubs have rewarded the first baseman with a seven-year contract worth $41 million.

Still just 23-years-old, Rizzo is showing why he was a highly-touted prospect for so many years. In his first season as a full-time starter, Rizzo is hitting .280 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs in 37 games.

His new deal will prevent him from hitting the free agent market until after the 2018 season. Rizzo's new contract also includes two club options that could make the deal worth as much as $73 million over nine years.

Rizzo originally was a sixth-round pick of the Boston Red Sox when Theo Epstein was running the show for the team. He was then traded to San Diego in the Adrian Gonzalez switch. Rizzo's career then came full circle when Epstein, now the general manager of the Cubs, traded for Rizzo prior to the 2012 season.

Even though the Cubs have players in place like Rizzo and Starlin Castro, they are just 15-22 so far this year and the rebuilding process will be one that will require further patience from Cubs fans.

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Zack Greinke To Begin Minor League Rehab

Denis Poroy/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Zack Greinke is ahead of schedule.

The Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment in Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday. He is recovering from a broken left collarbone suffered on April 11 when San Diego Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin charged the mound at Greinke after being hit by a pitch.

Greinke is about three weeks ahead of the original estimate that he would be out eight weeks after the injury. He has thrown two 60-pitch bullpen sessions and has been clocked at 90 mph.

"He really hasn't lost much time," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We feel like his arm strength is back."

Greinke made two starts before the injury, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA.

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Red Sox Put Closer Andrew Bailey on DL, Joel Hanrahan Injured

Major League Baseball(BOSTON) -- The Boston Red Sox might have a serious problem on their hands when it comes to the back-end of their bullpen. They placed closer Andrew Bailey on the disabled list, and fellow closer Joel Hanrahan injured himself on Monday.

Bailey is suffering from right biceps inflammation and his DL stint will be postdated to April 29, making him eligible to return on May 14. An MRI confirmed that Bailey was indeed injured, but showed no "structural changes or damage."

"It confirmed the training staff's findings and what Andrew was feeling," Red Sox manager John Farrell said, "which should give him some peace of mind."

Meanwhile, Hanrahan was supposed to replace Bailey as the closer, but he left Monday night's game in the ninth inning with a forearm strain, according to Farrell. Hanrahan blew his second save in six opportunities, and struggled the regain his All-Star form.

It is unknown right now if Hanrahan will need to be put back on the DL. He previously spent time on the disabled list this season because of a hamstring strain.

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White Sox Pitcher Gavin Floyd Out For the Season

Major League Baseball(NEW YORK) -- The Chicago White Sox received some bad news Monday, as they learned that starting pitcher Gavin Floyd will miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury.

Floyd injured his right elbow April 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays. His surgery will be performed by Dr. David Altcheck in New York City.

Despite seeking multiple opinions from numerous doctors, surgery was unavoidable. He will have surgery to repair the tear in his flexor muscle near his right elbow, and will also have his ulnar collateral ligament repaired. Recovery time is typically 14 to 19 months.

The 30-year-old Floyd is in the final year of his contract with the White Sox, and his time with the team may be coming to an end.

Floyd has been with the White Sox since 2007, and has gone 70-70 with a 4.48 ERA since his rookie year in 2004.

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Cardinals' Closer Jason Motte to Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Eliot J. Schechter/MLB Photos via Getty Images(MILWAUKEE) -- After a breakout season in 2012, St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Motte will miss the rest of the season after it was determined he needed to undergo Tommy John Surgery.

Motte was placed on the disabled list back on March 29 with a torn ligament in his right elbow.

He was undergoing rehab and played catch all season to avoid surgery, but after a recent bullpen session the team decided it would be best for Motte to undergo the procedure.

Last season, Motte tied for the National League-lead in saves with 42. During the team's World Series run in 2011, Motte emerged as the team's closer when he saved five games en route to the championship.

Unfortunately, Motte will never throw a meaningful pitch for the Cardinals in 2012, and he'll likely miss part of the 2013 season as well.

Mitchell Boggs has struggled to replace Motte as the team's closer, blowing two saves and having a 12.66 ERA. Edward Mujica will take over as the team's closer for now.

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Dodgers' Hanley Ramirez Injures Hamstring, Likely Out Indefinitely

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images(SAN FRANCISCO) -- Just as the Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back shortstop Hanley Ramirez, it looks like he'll be out of action again for the foreseeable future after he injured his left hamstring Friday night.

In the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants, Ramirez had to helped off the field as he grabbed the back of his left leg after getting thrown out sliding into third base.

This is a big blow to the Dodgers, who were relying on a healthy Ramirez to help pick up some of the slack on offense. He started the season on the disabled list, and returned to the lineup less than a week ago.

"It sounds like he got it pretty good," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "It's usually a pretty good amount of time. It's not like he's going to be back in a couple days."

The Dodgers have under performed this season due to a variety of injuries among other issues. Mattingly knows the team needs to start wining soon.

"We can't keep losing guys at this rate," he added. "This is going to end. Right now it doesn't look very good. ...I'm not confident about anything at this moment."

Ramirez was hitting .455 in four games this season for the Dodgers.

Angels' Albert Pujols Playing Through Considerable Pain

Jason Wise/MLB Photos via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- While the Los Angeles Angels try to pull themselves out of their early-season funk, the same could be said about Albert Pujols. The first baseman admits his slow start is in large part due to foot pain.

"I'm dying," Pujols told the Los Angeles Times. "It's hurting real bad."

On Sunday, Pujols played in his fourth straight game as the team's designated hitter. Still, he's having trouble at his natural position on first base. Pujols says he's dealing with plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation he's experiencing in his left foot.

Despite his pain, Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto says Pujols will remain in the lineup until he can't tolerate the pain anymore.

"He is particularly tough, mentally and physically. He's handling it as well as you can," Dipoto told the paper.

While Pujols is struggling, he's not hurting his team at the plate. He's still batting .279 with two home runs and is also sporting a .398 on-base percentage. He is in the second year of a 10-year contract worth $240 million.

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Rangers Pitcher Mat Harrison Likely Out Until After the All-Star Break

Brian D. Kersey/Getty Images(ARLINGTON, Tex.) -- The Texas Rangers pitching depth has taken a hit as starter Matt Harrison will undergo back surgery to repair a herniated disk and will be out until at least after the All-Star break.

Harrison was hoping to avoid surgery after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of an inflamed nerve in his back. His treatment, which included two epidural injections, were not enough to keep Harrison from gong under the knife.

Even though he was off to a rough start in 2013, Harrison was the team's Opening Day starter and was being relied upon to stabilize their starting rotation.

"Any time you have an injury, it's frustrating," Harrison said. "[The surgery] was the last report to get it right. Hopefully, this works. I have to do what I have to do to get through it."

"I know what I have to do to get back," Harrison added. "That's the one thing I have on my side."

In 2012, Harrison won 18 games and signed a five-year contract worth $55 million.

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MRI on John Lackey's Biceps Shows No Tear

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images(BOSTON) -- The good news is that Boston Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey has no tear in his biceps, but the bad news is that the team is uncertain of his immediate future.

Lackey left the mound during the fifth inning during his start Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays. An MRI revealed no structural damage to Lackey's arm, which is a good sign that he'll be able to recover from the injury.

Red Sox manager John Farrell has already announced that Lackey will miss his next scheduled start.

The team is being cautious with Lackey as he is coming off Tommy John Surgery.

"A couple of days ago was the first time he's pitched with that kind of intensity in probably two years, and it's not uncommon that you're going to feel some soreness," Farrell said.

Since joining the Red Sox in 2010, Lackey's time with the team has been inconsistent at best. He is 26-24 with a 5.24 ERA.

He is in the third year of a five-year, $82.5 million contract.

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