>>Wacha Begins Throwing Program

(St. Louis, MO) -- Injured Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha [[ WAH-kuh ]] began a throwing program yesterday with hopes of returning next month. The decision to put him in a program came after Wacha's fourth MRI in seven weeks showed improvement in his right shoulder. Wacha has been on the disabled list since June 23rd and is 5-and-5 with a 2.79 ERA for St. Louis this season.

>>McCutchen Has Fractured Rib, No DL For Now

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding off on placing injured center fielder Andrew McCutchen on the disabled list. General Manager Neal Huntington says the reigning National League MVP has a fractured left rib. McCutchen left Sunday's game wincing in pain after delivering a game-tying sac-fly in the eighth inning of a 3-2 loss at Arizona. McCutchen has hit in the back with a pitch in the ninth inning on Saturday, an apparent retaliation for Diamondbacks' slugger Paul Goldschmidt suffering a broken hand when he was hit by a pitch on Friday. McCutchen did have three at-bats without incident prior to leaving Sunday's game after his fourth trip to the plate. There is no timetable for McCutchen's return. Goldschmidt is expected to miss the rest of the season.

>>Report: Manfred, Brosnan, Werner MLB Commissioner Finalists

(Undated) -- Major League Baseball is narrowing its list of candidates to be the next commissioner to three. "USA Today Sports" reports the finalists are MLB Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred, MLB Executive Vice President of Business Tim Brosnan and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. A vote is expected to take place August 14th. Approval is needed from 23 of 30 owners to elect the replacement for Bud Selig [[ SEE-lig ]], who is retiring in January after 22 season.