BALTIMORE -- Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz has been suspended eight games by Major League Baseball for having a foreign substance on his arm during a game in Miami.
Matusz immediately appealed and was in uniform Sunday for Baltimore's game against the Houston Astros. He will continue to pitch until his appeal is heard.
Matusz entered Saturday's game against the Marlins in the 12th inning. Miami manager Dan Jennings asked umpire Paul Emmel to inspect Matusz's right arm, and Emmel ejected the pitcher.
Although Matusz remains with the Orioles, manager Buck Showalter said Sunday the team is poised "to react quickly" once the appeal process is completed.
Matusz is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 14 games. He has limited left-handed batters to a .185 batting average (see full story).
Mets: Wright going to see back specialist
NEW YORK -- Mets third baseman David Wright has been sent to California to work with the staff of back specialist Dr. Michael Watkins.
Wright hasn't played since pulling his right hamstring against Philadelphia on April 14. His rehabilitation was put on hold May 6 when back pain developed. He resumed baseball activities on May 18, but the Mets said Saturday the seven-time All-Star felt lingering back pain and was diagnosed with stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column.
MLB
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Monday the New York captain will spend the next week working with Watkins' physical therapists. Alderson says the team will know more in a few days.
Alderson says "none of the doctors at this point have given us any indication that this is a long-term problem that can't be managed (see full story)."
Blue Jays: SS Reyes activated
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays have activated shortstop Jose Reyes from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Munenori Kawasaki to Triple-A Buffalo.
Reyes has been sidelined since April 27 with a fractured left rib sustained on a check swing in the fourth game of the season. He's batting .250 with no home runs and seven RBIs.
Reyes went 4 for 11 with two RBIs and scored twice during a three-game rehab stint with Buffalo that ended Saturday. He returned to Toronto on Sunday and was in the clubhouse following an 8-2 win over Seattle.
The four-time All-Star and 2011 NL batting champion is expected to return to the leadoff spot when Toronto begins a three-game series against the White Sox on Monday night (see full story).
Rays: 1B Loney lands on DL
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays have put first baseman James Loney on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left middle finger.
Loney was hurt sliding while stealing third base in the eighth inning of Sunday's game against Oakland.
The Rays recalled infielder Tim Beckham and infielder-outfielder Jake Elmore from Triple-A Durham before Monday night's game with Seattle.
Reliever Preston Guilmet was optioned to Durham after Sunday's game.
Right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (sprained left wrist) and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (groin strain), both injured Sunday, were out of Monday's starting lineup (see full story).
Athletics: Washington happy to be back
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ron Washington arrived to the ballpark at 8:30 a.m. for an afternoon game on Memorial Day, had some breakfast then headed outside to hang out with the grounds crew he knows so well. He waved to ushers and caught up with security guards.
Washington is thrilled to be back in a big league uniform at 63, and back in the familiar Bay Area with the Oakland Athletics.
"I'm having a lot of fun. I'm blessed," Washington said Monday at the Coliseum. "Every day is my future. This is exactly where I started."
He spent 11 seasons as an A's coach before becoming Texas manager in 2007 and leading the Rangers to a pair of AL pennants in 2010-11. Washington re-joined Oakland as a coach Friday at Tampa Bay after leaving his New Orleans home. He can be in uniform but not on the bench for games (see full story).