Rotation

Dan Haren will be skipped in the rotation in Boston next week, but the struggling right-hander will not be removed from the rotation completely. Manager Mike Scioscia said Friday that Haren, who was tagged for 10 earned runs and 12 hits in seven innings of his last two starts, both losses, will pitch Aug. 25 in Detroit. Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson will start against the Red Sox in a three-game series that begins Tuesday, and Zack Greinke will start the opener of a three-game series in Detroit next Friday.

Among the highlights of Mike Brown's pregame news conference: --Brown plans to keep the same tight rotation despite playing the second night of back-to-back games. --Brown didn't schedule a morning shoot-around. Instead, he organized a walk-through around 5 p.m. to go over various coverages. --Brown said that Matt Barnes' playing time dipped to 10 minutes the last two games because of bad defensive mistakes. Still, Brown gave a vote of confidence he could turn around his struggles in the postseason, when he's shot only 28.6% from the field.

Say one thing about the Dodgers post-Zack Greinke, they're being decisive. One day after learning Greinke's broken collarbone would keep him out at least eight weeks , they announced Saturday that left-hander Chris Capuano would move into his spot in the rotation. That's the best move for the long term, the other choice being Ted Lilly, who hasn't demonstrated his previous sharpness while in rehab from shoulder surgery. Capuano was not-so-privately upset at having to morph from starter into do-everything reliever.

On Thursday, the last of the Dodgers' 2013 starting pitching club made his first appearance. Ted Lilly, on the mound for the Dodgers for the first time since May 23, went two innings in relief of Clayton Kershaw in the Dodgers' 10-8 victory over the Angels at Camelback Ranch. It was mostly of the encouraging variety. Lilly gave up a solo homer to his second batter, Howie Kendrick, but otherwise retired his other six batters. He did not walk a hitter and struck out one. Still, for someone who got off to a terrific start last year (5-1, 3.14 earned-run average)

The Angels will skip starting pitcher Ervin Santana's spot in the rotation Friday to allow the struggling right-hander to continue sorting out “arm slot” issues in bullpen sessions, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said Wednesday. Dan Haren will now pitch Friday at home against the Tampa Bay Rays after Thursday's off day, followed by left-hander C.J. Wilson on Saturday, Scioscia said. Santana is expected to return to the rotation for a maximum 15-outs start “early next week” during the Angels' four-game road trip to Texas, the manager said.

Chris Carpenter could return to the St. Louis Cardinals rotation this week, which would be a huge emotional lift. He historically has been one of the biggest difference makers of his era. :: Reports of the Boston Red Sox being for sale appear unfounded, although you wonder how much fun it can be to own the team these days. :: The Detroit Tigers have quietly had minor league hitting coordinator Toby Harrah working with struggling young hitters such as Brennan Boesch and Mike Avila for a couple of months, helping out hitting coach Lloyd McClendon.

The Angels hope the All-Star break, which starts Monday, will provide a healing opportunity for a starting rotation hit hard by injuries and inconsistency. Dan Haren (back) and Jerome Williams (respiratory issue) are on the disabled list, and Ervin Santana (4-9, 5.75 earned-run average) has frequently struggled. But before that much-needed midseason intermission arrives, the club had another hole in that rotation to fill. Left-hander Brad Mills , called up from triple-A Salt Lake, will start Sunday against Baltimore in place of Haren, who went on the disabled list Thursday.

Joe Saunders took a significant step in his return from shoulder tightness, throwing 55 maximum-effort pitches during a three-inning simulated game in the Rogers Centre bullpen today. If the Angels left-hander feels as good after a similar workout Sunday or Monday, he will rejoin the rotation later in the week. "This is the best I've felt since last year," said Saunders, who has benefited from an Aug. 8 cortisone shot and some rest. "I long-tossed farther than I ever have for four out of five days, and my arm has responded great.

The New York Yankees made a major push to bolster their starting rotation Friday, agreeing to terms with former Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda on a $10-million, one-year contract shortly after acquiring right-hander Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners. A person familiar with Kuroda's signing told the Associated Press the deal is contingent on the 36-year-old passing a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced.

C.J. Wilson was the ace of the Texas Rangers' pitching staff last season. When the Angels signed Wilson and slotted him into the No. 4 spot of their starting rotation behind Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana, the debate raged as to whether the Angels might have a better rotation than the Philadelphia Phillies. The Dodgers let Hiroki Kuroda go because they could not afford him. They signed Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang, assembling a rotation perceived as Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and four innings-eaters in Capuano, Harang, Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly.