Cubs: Ernie Banks asks team to consider inviting Sammy Sosa back to Wrigley Field. Sammy Sosa does not get invite. … The ESPN broadcast team of Dan Shulman and John Kruk worked from the bleachers last week. … OF Ryan Sweeney (15-day DL with a right hamstring strain). may be sidelined three to four weeks.
Brewers: Matt Garza has been particularly critical of his work this season. “It was bumpy early, but the guys stood behind me and backed me. … There’s still some stuff I need to get better at. Baby steps,” he told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. … LF Khris Davis has 15 home runs in his two-year big league career, including five against the Reds.
Pirates: Pedro Alvarez finished April under the Mendoza Line, and Pirates return to their old losing ways. … RHP Jason Grilli played catch for the second time in three days but there is no timetable for when the closer, who is on the DL with a strained left oblique, will be able to throw off a mound. … RHP Casey Sadler was optioned to Indianapolis.
Cardinals: The team sent pitcher RHP Joe Kelly back to St. Louis to continue his rehab from a strained left hamstring. “Joe just wasn’t to the point where they thought they could push him, so keeping him around the rest of this road trip didn’t make any sense,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “I don’t know I’d call it a setback as much as he just wasn’t progressing as quickly as we wanted.” … LHP Jaime Garcia did not appear seriously injured after being struck on the elbow by a pitch during a rehab start in the minors. General manager John Mozeliak said Garcia had some significant swelling right after the game, but it had “gone down quite a bit” by morning.
Reds: RF Jay Bruce had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and will be sidelined for about a month. The Reds have been hit hard by injuries since spring training. They’re missing starters Mat Latos and Tony Cingrani, catcher Devin Mesoraco, closer Aroldis Chapman and now their cleanup hitter. Jonathan Broxton returned from the DL in mid-April, completing his comeback from forearm surgery, and taking over as closer. Utility player Skip Schumaker dislocated his left shoulder during spring training but returned last weekend.
