The Brewers have removed Eric Gagne from the role of closer and will use a committee while the reliever takes a "mental break", according to The Associated Press.

"He's really pushing himself really, really hard and taking it really, really hard," manager Ned Yost said. "We'll probably just mix and match, I'm not going to do anything crazy."

Gagne signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the team this offseason.

"It's mental; I think it's negative thinking that creeps back in your mind," Gagne said Saturday. "It's a matter of going out there and executing your pitches, not thinking results and I'm thinking results. I'm going out there thinking three outs before I can even get one." [READ]

Derek Jeter was ready to bat cleanup for the Yankees for just the second time in his career on Sunday afternoon before the team's game against the Tigers was postponed due to rain in Detroit, according to The Associated Press.

"He [Manager Joe Girardi] only did it because he knew the game was going to be rained out anyway," Jeter joked.

Girardi planned to use Jeter as the fourth hitter in the lineup because he was going to rest Hideki Matsui against left-hander Nate Robinson. [READ]

The Diamondbacks and Cubs withheld their scheduled starters on Sunday afternoon because of heavy rain and strong winds, according to The Associated Press.

Carlos Zambrano and Randy Johnson were scheduled to start for their respective teams, but the Cubs' Sean Gallagher and the D-Backs' Edgar Gonzalez took their places on the mound.

Zambrano will start on Monday against the Padres while Johnson will likely start on Tuesday against the Rockies.

Zambrano had planned to wear pink cleats in honor of Mother's Day and MLB's annual dedication to Breast Cancer Awareness. [READ]

The Rangers placed Kevin Millwood on the disabled list with a strained groin on Sunday before the team's game against the Athletics, according to The Associated Press.

Texas recalled Doug Mathis from Triple-A Oklahoma to take Millwood's roster spot.

Millwood, the team's number one starter, is 2-3 with a 4.88 ERA in nine starts this season.

The right-hander left his start on Saturday night in the first inning after throwing just twelve pitches. [READ]

The injury woes of the Yankees have gotten even worse as they placed infielder Wilson Betemit and pitcher Jonathan Albaladejo on the disabled list Saturday, according to The Associated Press.

Betemit injured his hamstring against the Tigers on Saturday afternoon while running to second base.

Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada are already on the DL for the Yankees, who have been bitten by the injury bug several times this season.

In order to add depth to the team's thin infield, Joe Girardi recalled Alberto Gonzalez, who was just sent down to the minors last week when Betemit was activated following an eye inflammation. [READ]

Richie Sexson's six-game suspension for charging the mound last week has been reduced to five games after he filed an appeal to the league, according to The Seattle Times.

"He wants to put it behind him," Mariners' Manager John McLaren said. "Just something that's been on his mind and stuff, and he just felt like it was better to go ahead and get this thing over with. And we're all aboard so let's go ahead and get it done."

"I might stay back and just come in [to Safeco Field] and hit," Sexson said when asked what he can do over the course of the suspension. [READ]

The Angels infield has taken yet another hit, as third baseman Chone Figgins has landed on the disabled list alongside second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Maicer Izturis, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Figgins injured his hamstring sliding home against Baltimore more than a week ago and was placed on the DL retroactive to May 4th.

"He's making progress. But not enough to where you're going to project him to play any time next week," Manager Mike Scioscia said of Figgins. "We need to reestablish some depth and get some of these guys back. But you can't rush this thing."

The Angels still had the AL's second best record heading into Sunday's game, two games back of the Red Sox. [READ]

Oakland pitcher Rich Harden has been removed from the disabled list and will start against the Rangers on Sunday, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

Harden showed his command during two rehab starts recently and will be limited to 80 pitches against the Rangers.

"It's no secret if Rich is healthy and he's out there, he makes us on the day he pitches one of the best teams in the league," A's pitching Coach Curt Young said. "When Rich starts and goes deep in the games, eight out of 10 we're winning. He can dominate a game, and not too many pitchers have better stuff."

Harden's career record is 32-18, but he has made six trips to the disabled list.

"Rich is very good when he's out there. We just want him to be out there," second baseman Mark Ellis said. "We hope he can throw well the rest of the season. The guy's in great shape and has an incredible arm. We want him out there because when he's out there, we've got a good chance to win." [READ]

John Smoltz is slowly improving and believes that he could be back on the mound for the Braves soon, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"So far, so good," Smoltz said of his progress over two weeks. "The inflammation in the shoulder is gone already."

He has still not thrown the baseball, sticking to underhanded tosses in the outfield.

"I'm going to see if I can sneak out there and get a head start," he said, "play a little catch, ease my way back into it. Each day there's progress." [READ]

Padres starter Greg Maddux finally notched the 350th win of his Major League career on Saturday against the Rockies, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

It was the hurlers fifth attempt at the milestone, and he remains ninth on the all-time wins list (four behind Roger Clemens).

Maddux said he was "never really too concerned" about getting the win, describing most of his milestone victories as "cool" and winning in the postseason as "really cool."

He pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits to the Rockies. [READ]

Ben Sheets broke Milwaukee's franchise record for strikeouts on Saturday when he fanned a Cardinal hitter in the first inning on Saturday afternoon, according to The Star-Tribune.

He struck out Albert Pujols on an 0-2 pitch to reach 1,082 career strikeouts, surpassing Teddy Higuera.

Sheets is in the final season of a four-year deal with the Brewers and probably would have surpassed Higuera long ago had it not been for numerous injuries. [READ]

The St. Louis Cardinals have yanked Jason Isringhausen from the closer's role after he blew his major league-leading fifth save on Friday, according to The Boston Herald.

"He’s still prepared to pitch important innings, but for a while we’ll try to keep him out of the ninth inning," manager Tony La Russa said. "If we’re playing well, there’s still going to be games where you can’t cherry pick his situations because if we’re playing well, you need your bullpen."

"I’m just getting sick of embarrassing myself and letting my team down," Isringhausen said Friday night. "We should be five more wins in the win column in my mind, so we should be ahead in first place even more. But they can’t keep sending me out there when I’m pitching the way I’m pitching."

"We’re going to have to figure out some kind of remedy. I’m sure that remedy will give me some time off and get somebody in there that can do a better job right now. ... I’m just pitching like a second grader." [READ]

Alex Rodriguez's return to the Yankees seems imminent as the third baseman could begin a rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues as soon as Tuesday, according to MLB.com.

He had a "good day" working out at the team's training complex in Tampa on Saturday according to Manager Joe Girardi.

Rodriguez is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday morning that will confirm whether or not he will begin the aforementioned rehab assignment on Tuesday.

"So far, so good," Rodriguez told The Associated Press, who reported that the took 65 swings in batting practice. [READ]

Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells will miss six-to-eight weeks of action after fracturing his wrist while making a driving catch against the Indians on Friday night, according to The Toronto Star.

He underwent an MRI on Saturday morning that revealed the break, and the team recalled infielder Joe Inglett from Triple-A Syracuse after Wells was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Vernon leads the Blue Jays with 25 RBIs so far this season. [READ]

San Francisco shortstop Omar Vizquel claims that he is pain-free and finally ready to make his 2008 debut, according to The Associated Press.

The 41-year-old is set to make his season debut for the Giants against the Phillies on Saturday, kicking off his 20th Major League season.

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Feb. 27.

"I feel good," Vizquel said after going through pregame warmups Friday night. "I'm trying to play long stretches without any pain. I think that was the main concern. I played five games with no pain. I hope I can continue with the same improvement." [READ]

The Marlins and shortstop Hanley Ramirez have agreed to terms on a six-year contract extension worth $70 million, according to a report on ESPN.com.

"It's a very convenient agreement for both parties," a source close to ESPN said Friday night on condition of anonymity. "Hanley secures his financial future and the Marlins secure one of the most complete players in baseball for a relatively good price."

The new deal will reportedly become official once Ramirez passes a physical. The deal will instantly become the biggest in the franchise's history. [READ]

Mariners' first baseman Richie Sexson has decided to appeal the six-game suspension the league handed down on Friday stemming from an on-field incident that took place on Thursday, according to The Seattle Times.

Because of his plans to appeal the suspension, he failed to comment on the situation.

Seattle Manager John McLaren did admit that the team plans to help Sexson through the process.

"There were some things said last night that we are aware of that we can use in our defense," McLaren said. "We'll get with Richie so that when he does appeal he'll have some things that he can give Bob [Watson, the league's disciplinarian]." [READ]