National League notes

Arizona: LFS Jason Kubel and Gerardo Parra each played in all three games of the season-opening series. Parra twice entered as a defensive replacement, and manager

Kirk Gibson said that could continue. “It just makes all the sense in the world. Parra is as good as there is you can put out there on any team in a corner. Parra is a defensive weapon,” Gibson said. . . . RH closer J.J.

Putz and RH reliever Bryan Shaw have turned a cut fastball into a weapon. Putz added the pitch this spring, and it has been Shaw’s bread-and-butter pitch as he advanced through the organization before reaching the majors last season. Shaw threw 13 pitches — all cutters — to preserve a 7-6 victory Sunday.

Atlanta:

RHP Tim Hudson (back surgery) is scheduled to make his next rehab start Thursday, when he is to start the home opener for low-a Rome (Ga.). The goal is 65 pitches, which Hudson and pitching coach

Roger Mcdowell expect to take him through four innings.

Chicago:

SS Starlin Castro’s onbase streak was stopped at 43 games Monday when he went 0-for-5. Only Riggs Stephenson in 1928, with 44, reached base in more consecutive games as a Cub. . . . IF Jeff Baker started at first base against Milwaukee LHP Chris Narveson. Bryan

Lahair, a left-handed batter, started Monday and had a single and his first homer of the season. “I’m going to get Baker in there as much as possible,” manager Dale Sveum said.

Cincinnati:

RH reliever Nick Masset, who started the season on the disabled list because of right shoulder tendinitis, has not resumed throwing since he was shut down March 26. “My shoulder feels great,” he said. “It’s really strong. I should be able to start throwing soon.” . . . RHP Homer Bailey got two outs in the first inning Monday, then gave up a walk and three home runs to the next four hitters, and the Reds were in a 4-0 hole on their way to a 7-1 loss to St. Louis. “I just got a little passive with two outs,” Bailey said.

Colorado:

3B Chris Nelson is hitless in 10 at-bats with three strikeouts and has hit the ball to the outfield once; he also committed a throwing error Saturday. Nelson, 26, the ninth player taken in the 2004

draft, started a season in the major leagues for the first time.

Houston:

LH reliever Fernando

Abad was optioned to Class AAA Oklahoma City after two outings and a home run allowed in 1z innings. Homers have always been an issue for Abad, who has allowed nine in 40 major league innings. His exit

leaves LH Wesley Wright as the only left-handed option out of the bullpen.

Los Angeles:

CF Matt Kemp’s run-scoring groundout in the first inning Tuesday gave him at least one RBI in nine consecutive games, dating to 2011. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that ties the club record held by Roy Campanella (May 30-June 5, 1955) and Augie Galan (Sept. 18-28, 1944).

Miami:

RHP Josh Johnson is looking forward to today’s showdown with Philadelphia RHP Roy Halladay. But he is more eager to move past his loss on opening day, when he allowed three runs on 10 hits (tied for a career high) with two walks in six innings against St. Louis. He will pitch on seven days’ rest because of two off days. Johnson is 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA in six games (five starts) at Citizens Bank Park.

Milwaukee:

RH closer John Axford, used Sunday to get work when there were no save chances in the three-game series vs. St. Louis, was needed again Monday and threw 26 pitches, one fewer than in Sunday’s outing. He extended his club record to 44 consecutive saves.

New York:

3B David Wright bruised his right pinkie sliding into first base Monday and was a late scratch from Tuesday’s lineup. Wright, who is hitting .583 with one home run in four games, planned to have an X-ray to determine whether the pinkie was broken, and he wasn’t expected back before Friday.

Philadelphia:

John Mayberry Jr. on Monday became the fourth first baseman to start for the Phillies in the first four games and misplayed a bunt. Mayberry charged in to field the bunt, which was hit right at LHP

Cole Hamels. When Hamels fielded the ball and fired to first, no one was covering the bag.

Pittsburgh:

RHP Charlie Morton, coming back from offseason hip surgery, allowed one run and six hits over 7z innings in a rehab start Monday for Class AAA Indianapolis, then flew to Los Angeles to join the Pirates. He is expected to make his first start of the season Saturday at San Francisco.

St. Louis:

RH Jake Westbrook, who hadn’t pitched since March 31 in spring training, walked four in the first two innings Monday but pitched out of two-on situations in both innings and didn’t walk anyone else. Manager Mike Matheny, who threw batting practice, said he thought the balls were hard to grip early on because of the dry air and were sliding as if they had Vaseline on them. “Once he had a little sweat, Jake got a little more of a grip,” Matheny said.

San Diego:

RHP Dustin Moseley’s right shoulder has “extensive damage,” according to manager Bud

Black. Moseley was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 8 with a strained right shoulder, a day after allowing five runs against the Dodgers. Black said the damage was found by an MRI. Moseley had season-ending surgery on his left shoulder in August after going 3-10 with a 3.30 ERA in 20 starts in his first season with the Padres. RHP

Anthony Bass is expected to take Moseley’s turn Thursday. . . . With the sale to Jeff Moorad blocked by other major league owners, majority owner John Moores (51%) has retained the New York firm of Allen and Co. to explore potential buyers. The man in charge of finding potential suitors for the team is Steve

Greenberg, son of Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg.

San Francisco:

RHP Ryan Vo

gelsong is on target to make his 2012 Giants debut Sunday at home after getting a slow start to spring training because of a back ailment. The Giants have gone through their four-man rotation once. Vogelsong threw four scoreless innings April 5 in a rehab start for Class AAA Fresno.

Washington:

OF Michael Morse (strained right lat muscle) pulled himself from a rehab game Monday at low-a Hagerstown (Md.) after seven innings because he couldn’t throw from left field to shortstop. The Nationals hoped he’d return Thursday, but he’s out indefinitely.