With 3B Alex Gordon out for 10 to 12 weeks after having hip surgery, Mark Teahen will get the majority of the playing time at third base. Teahen came up as a third baseman, but shifted to the outfield to make room for Gordon, who was the second player picked in the 2005 draft. Teahen opened this season at second base, his fourth different Opening Day position in as many years. Willie Bloomquist and Mitch Maier, who was called up Friday from Class AAA Omaha, will share time in right until Jose Guillen comes off the disabled list, which will probably be this week.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Jamey Wright pitched two scoreless innings Wednesday, allowing only one baserunner on a hit by pitch, but he erased him with a groundball double play. "That was huge," manager Trey Hillman said of Wright's "hold." In five games, Wright has not allowed a run in eight innings. He has allowed only four hits, all singles. He has struck out six and walked one. Opponents have a .154 slugging percentage off Wright.
--RF Jose Guillen, who went on the 15-day disabled list April 10 with a partially torn right hip flexor tendon, is taking batting practice and running. Guillen is optimistic he will be activated Saturday, the first day he eligible to come off the DL.
--SS Mike Aviles, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Wednesday, is 1-for-15 in his past four games, dropping his average to .173. Aviles, who hit .325 as a rookie, has struck out 13 times in 52 at-bats while drawing only one walk. He has only one extra-base hit, a double, in his past 12 games.
--RHP Joakim Soria picked up his fifth save in as many opportunities Wednesday, but he had to work around a single and a walk. A passed ball charged to C Miguel Olivo moved the runners up to scoring position before Soria ended the game with a strikeout. It was Soria's first appearance since April 13.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Doug Waechter (right elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 18. He did not believe the injury was serious.
3B Alex Gordon (torn labral cartilage) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15. He had surgery April 16 and could be out until the All-Star break.
OF Jose Guillen (torn right hip flexor tendon) went on the 15-day disabled list April 10. He expects to return as soon as he is eligible.
LHP John Bale (thyroid surgery on March 3) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. When he regains his strength and stamina, he will be activated, but he likely will pitch at least one or two games on a minor league rehab assignment first.
ROTATION:
RHP Gil Meche
RHP Zack Greinke
RHP Kyle Davies
RHP Sidney Ponson
RHP Brian Bannister
BULLPEN:
RHP Joakim Soria (closer)
RHP Kyle Farnsworth
LHP Ron Mahay
RHP Juan Cruz
LHP Horacio Ramirez
RHP Robinson Tejada
RHP Jamey Wright
CATCHERS:
Miguel Olivo
John Buck
Brayan Pena
INFIELDERS:
1B Mike Jacobs
2B Alberto Callaspo
SS Mike Aviles
3B Mark Teahen
INF Tony Pena Jr.
OUTFIELDERS:
LF David DeJesus
CF Coco Crisp
RF Mitch Maier
DH Billy Butler
OF/INF Willie Bloomquist
