Covering the bases

Sore elbow shelves Beckett

Josh Beckett was scratched again from a scheduled start, and the Boston Red Sox ace plans to have his right elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews today in Alabama, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after Thursday's 3-2 loss to the New York Yankees.

A serious injury to Beckett would be a major blow to Boston, trying to repeat as World Series champion. The Red Sox lead the AL wild-card race after completing a 6-3 road trip.

A 20-game winner and playoffs star for Boston last season, Beckett hasn't pitched since Aug. 17, when he reported numbness and tingling in his right arm after being roughed up for eight runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings of a 15-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

He missed a turn in the rotation but had been scheduled to start tonight against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. Daisuke Matsuzaka will get the ball instead on his regular four days of rest.

Chamberlain shows progress in rehab

Joba Chamberlain thinks he could return to the New York Yankees next week, and he expects to be used out of the bullpen.

On the disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis, Chamberlain threw 45 pitches off a mound Thursday and said his arm felt good. His next step will be facing batters in a simulated game Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

If he feels OK after that session, the 22-year-old right-hander reasons he would soon be ready to come off the DL.

The Yankees made a roster move Thursday to fortify their bullpen, purchasing Alfredo Aceves' contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Right-hander David Robertson was optioned to Triple-A.

Nationals' Hill is done for the season

Washington Nationals right-hander Shawn Hill is being shut down for the season after he experienced swelling in his right elbow during rehabilitation from an arm injury.

Hill, on the disabled list since June 25 with a sore forearm, will have his arm examined by Dr. James Andrews today. Hill was 1-5 with a 5.83 ERA in 12 starts this season. Hill was on a throwing program and was projected to rejoin the Nationals in September.

SHORT HOPS: Second baseman Howie Kendrick, one of the Los Angeles Angels' top hitters this season, went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a strained left hamstring. Kendrick, batting .308, felt tightness in the hamstring running from first to second in the fourth inning and left Wednesday night's game against Oakland, a 6-5 loss.

* Braves right-handed reliever Rafael Soriano had elbow surgery Thursday and is expected to be ready by spring training next season. Soriano had an ulnar nerve transposition and a small bone spur removed from his right elbow by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

* The Cincinnati Reds sent right-hander Jared Burton to Triple-A Louisville to begin a rehab assignment. Burton has been on the disabled list since July 11 with a strained right latissimus muscle.

* The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated right-handed relief pitcher Cory Wade from the 15-day disabled list and designated reliever Tanyon Sturtze for assignment Thursday. Wade had been on the disabled list since Aug. 9 with inflammation in his right shoulder.

* The Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals will play in Omaha, Neb., for at least two more seasons, but where the team will play after that is up in the air. The city is tearing down Rosenblatt Stadium and building a 24,000-seat stadium downtown for the NCAA's College World Series. The new stadium is scheduled to open in 2011, but officials are concerned that it would be too large for a minor league team.