BY ADAM RONIS
Rays closer Troy Percival pulled himself from the field in the ninth inning today after injuring his hamstring. He felt pain in his left hamstring and fell while throwing a warmup pitch. He will have an MRI and a DL-stint looks like a strong possibility. Percival, 38, felt tightness in his hamstring on May 20 and rested for a few days. He pitched Sunday and had no issues. Dan Wheeler picked up the save today and is the favorite to get the job should Percival be out. Al Reyes might get a look, too.
Dice-K will return to Boston to have an MRI on his right shoulder. He left Tuesday's game with a fatigued shoulder.
The Yankees placed Ian Kennedy on the 15-day DL with a strained right lat. That could push Joba Chamberlain to the starting rotation quicker than anticipated.
The Blue Jays placed catcher Gregg Zaun on the 15-day DL with an elbow strain. Rob Barajas will take his place.
The Braves activated Rafael Soriano from the 15-day DL. He should be the closer until John Smoltz returns and he's no lock to stay healthy or pitch consecutve days, so he should be owned. Smoltz is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start tomorrow at Single-A. If all goes well, he could be activated this weekend.
Jake Peavy, out with an elbow injury, threw 40 pitches from flat ground yesterday. He could return next week.
Travis Hafner received a cortisone shot in his shoulder yesterday. Hafner has been dealing with a sore shoulder all season. It's the second cortisone he received this season. He's a poor bet going forward.
The Cardinals placed starter Joel Pineiro on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 21 with a right groin strain.
The Braves placed outfielder Matt Diaz on the 15-day DL with a strained PCL in his left knee.