Truth & Rumors > MLB

07:11 AM ET 06.18 | A June swoon has set in for Rangers DH Lance Berkman, who is batting .182 since June 1. [On Monday, Berkman endured] his second consecutive game off, but don???t expect him to fight manager Ron Washington for playing time. "[Washington] has had a lot going on lately with the lineup," Berkman said Monday. "I haven't played well. It's no big deal. I don't mind it." Though Berkman's 2012 season was cut short by injuries, he said that physical issues are not the reason for his slump or lack of production. But that doesn't mean the six surgeries he's undergone on his knees, including four on the right knee, haven't had an impact. Berkman said he's noticed from watching video that he's not straightening out his right leg at the plate.

The Dallas Morning News

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03:06 PM ET 06.17 | One thing the Minnesota Twins have struggled to find is good pitching, both on the front and back ends of the rotation and bullpen. They seem to have found a solid closer in Glen Perkins but Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan fully expects to field calls about Perkins as we near the trade deadline. That being said, Ryan told ESPN's Jim Bowden that while Perkins will be sought after at the deadline, he's not going to jump through hoops to send him to a division rival. Perkins is a guy the Twins nearly traded a few years ago after they had a sort of falling out about his role within the rotation. But Perkins and the Twins found a role that suited the pitcher and the hatchet has long since been buried. But the Twins have a knack for finding guys that fit roles and then trading them away for guys they think will be able to fill that same role or a similar role in a few years.

Sporting Sota

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03:05 PM ET 06.17 | According to Ruben Amaro Jr., Carlos Zambrano is not ready to pitch for the Phillies just yet. Amaro said, "Not based on what I saw his last outing, not in my mind. I'd like to see him pitch again in the minors. We'll keep a close eye on his starts and how effective he is. But he's not ready yet in my mind. Right now he's just getting his rhythm back. He hasn't even had what amounts to a full spring training yet. It all depends on how he pitches. If we think he can help us, we'll bring him. Right now he's (Jonathan Pettibone) our starter. We've made no change in our rotation. As far as I know, he'll take his turn on Friday." The Phillies signed Zambrano in May and has made four official minor-league starts so far. In 21 1/3 innings, he has allowed 14 hits, three earned runs, 11 walks and 17 strike-outs. In his Major League career, Zambrano is 132-91 with a 3.66 ERA. If he is not in the Major League by July 1, he is able to opt out of his minor-league contract.

Section 215

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07:46 AM ET 06.17 | The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Tuesday that they will be promoting their No. 1 prospect Wil Myers to the Majors, and the long-awaited debut of one of the game's future stars has arrived. Myers was acquired from Kansas City in the offseason in a deal for James Shields, and since the day of that move, Tampa Bay Rays fans have clamored for his services with the Major League club. Myers has slugged over .500 in each of his past two minor league seasons, and in 2013, his .286/.354/.514 slash line with 14 home runs in just 288 plate appearances was good enough for promotion. Myers is a former catcher, but he profiles as a high-end corner outfielder, and there were rumors of Tampa Bay's reluctance to call him up based on defensive limitations.

FanSided.com

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07:42 AM ET 06.17 | Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb was involved in a scary incident when he took a line drive to the head and was forced to leave the field on a stretcher. In the past, we have seen instances like this where the injuries end up devastating and potentially life-threatening. For Cobb, the injuries were luckily less serious. Cobb never lost consciousness on his way to the hospital and he has now been released. Cobb will be placed on the seven-day concussion list, but there is no official timetable for his return.

FanSided.com

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