St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa will miss the rest of St. Louis’ trip after being diagnosed with shingles.
La Russa had tests Tuesday at the Mayo Clinic, whose physicians consulted with Cardinals doctors and decided it would be best for the manager to rest and allow his medication to take effect.
St. Louis started a series at Chicago on Tuesday, with the trip wrapping up Sunday at Cincinnati. It was uncertain whether La Russa would definitely rejoin the team next Monday for the start of its four-game home series against Philadelphia and Houston.
Bench coach Joe Pettini will run the Cardinals while La Russa is away. The 66-year-old La Russa is in his 16th season as St. Louis manager.
Pettini said La Russa’s condition reached a point where something had to be done.
“He gutted it out for the games,” Pettini said. “If he needs to take some time, take the time or whatever.”
Rangers: Baseball owners are set to approve Nolan Ryan as the controlling owner of the Texas Rangers when they meet Thursday.
Chuck Greenberg and Ryan headed the group that bought the team from Tom Hicks last August in a deal valued at $590 million. Greenberg became chief executive officer, then left on March 11 and sold his ownership stake.
Braves: Outfielder Jason Heyward left a loss to Washington in the eighth inning because of a lingering shoulder injury. Heyward says his right shoulder has been bothering him since spring training, but the pain got worse in the past week or so.
He was already scheduled to get an MRI on Thursday, and manager Fredi Gonzalez says he’ll probably hold Heyward out on Wednesday against left-hander John Lannan.
Blue Jays: David Cooper, a former Cal star, hit his first major league homer and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning as the Blue Jays beat Boston 7-6 in Toronto.
Mets: First baseman Ike Davis left Tuesday’s game against Colorado after he strained his left calf when he appeared to trip over third baseman David Wright’s foot as the two closed in on a pop-up in the fourth inning by Troy Tulowitzki.
Dodgers: A former baseball executive appointed by commissioner Bud Selig to help monitor the troubled Dodgers was relieved of his duties after it was discovered he was a paid consultant last year to ex-team CEO Jamie McCourt.
An attorney for Dodgers owner Frank McCourt wrote in a letter Tuesday that Richard Freeman worked for Jamie McCourt in early January 2010. Selig announced Monday that Freeman would assist former Texas Rangers president Tom Schieffer in overseeing the Dodgers’ daily operations.
Twins: Joe Mauer says he’s making progress and regaining strength in his legs but is still not ready to target a date when he’ll be back behind the plate for Minnesota.
