| Team | W/L | Pct | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago American Giants | 21-16 | .568 | — |
| Los Angeles Angels | 19-19 | .500 | 2.5 |
| Portland Sea Dogs | 19-19 | .500 | 2.5 |
| San Francisco Sea Lions | 18-18 | .500 | 2.5 |
| Miami Cuban Giants | 18-20 | .474 | 3.5 |
#Chicago American Giants
With Waite Hoyt on the DL, Joe Horlen (yet to allow a run in 20.2 innings of relief) and Ben Sheets moved into the rotation, and Mark Buehrle went to the pen for now. Expect more shakeups once Hoyt returns, but, for once, Chicago seems to be making good choices on the mound. That can’t last, can it?
Horlen went 6 innings in his first start, but took the 1-0 loss against Houston after allowing his first run of the season.
All of that’s alright, but here’s the big news: Frank Thomas began a rehab assignment and is expected to return to the WBL sometime in the next week or so.
#Los Angeles Angels
Dwight Evans began a rehab assignment and was activated later in the week, with Brian Giles heading back to AAA.
José Rijo improved to 2-0, striking out 10 in 5.2 innings in a 3-2 win at Portland.
#Miami Cuban Giants
Alejandro Oms came off his rehab assignment and Don Wilson (7.31 ERA, 6 homeruns in 16 innings) was optioned to AAA. With Oms and Julio Rodríguez both back from brief stints on the DL, the outfield reset, with Yasiel Puig joining those 2. Andy Pafko‘s 306/367/653 start will earn him some playing time, especially against lefties.
Dámaso Marte went to the DL for about a week, with Frank Smith (3.53 ERA over 43.1 AAA innings) recalled from Orlando.
#Portland Sea Dogs
The Sea Dogs pulled the trigger at SS, naming Hughie Jennings the starter over Royce Clayton (149/184/319), whose stellar 2001 seems more and more a mirage. More surprisingly, Gil Hodges (185/228/222, but a consistent power source over his career) was optioned to Seattle, and Eddie Yost (370/469/537 at AAA) was recalled.
Walter Johnson (278/325/611) started picking up the odd DH start against right-handers, on top of hitting during his own starts.
Bert Blyleven, Johan Santana, and Jack Billingham combined on a 3-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over the New York Gothams. Yost homered in his first at-bat of the season.
Scott Terry began a rehab assignment.
#San Francisco Sea Lions
Red Ehret was recalled, and Tom Brewer (5.53 ERA in 6 starts) was sent down to try to recapture his 2001 form. Tim Hudson came off his rehab assignment, leading to Aaron Heilman being placed on waivers after he refused a trip to AAA.
Jack Clark hit 2 homeruns and drove in 4 in a 7-4 win at Brooklyn.
Lefty Grove improved to 5-1, getting credit for a 2-hit shutout in a 1-0 win at Cleveland, called by rain in the 7th. Grove was matched by the Spiders’ Bob Feller, who allowed only 1 hit, Turkey Stearnes‘ solo homerun in the 1st, and lost.