Around NL Central Spring Training, 3/19: Norris Sits One Out

Astros: Bud Norris was scheduled to start against the Blue Jays Thursday, but will skip a turn in the rotation instead after coming down with the stomach flu. Norris told Alden Gonzalez that the only thing he had to eat on Thursday was an apple, and it took him an hour to finish it. He’s confident he’ll be able to bounce back in time for his next start.

Pirates: Big league camp is over for two more of the team’s top prospects, as they optioned third baseman Pedro Alvarez and outfielder Jose Tabata to the minors yesterday. GM Neal Huntington said the Pirates would have liked to keep the pair in camp a little longer, but cited a somewhat obscure roster deadline involving options and players with no major league service time as the reason for the early demotion.

Cubs: Angel Guzman will have surgery on his right shoulder on Tuesday to repair a torn ligament. Guzman consulted with Dr. James Andrews before deciding to have surgery after a March 5 MRI showed the tear. He was shut down in September with shoulder soreness, and was unable to throw off a mound this spring.

Cardinals: Mitchell Boggs remains a candidate for a prominent role in the Cardinals bullpen, but is having a tough time getting his mechanics straight after last season’s switch from the rotation to the bullpen. Boggs pitched in his fourth Cactus League game on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while also striking out two. Overall, he’s allowed seven earned runs on 12 hits and two walks in six innings this spring.

Reds: Pitcher Ben Jukich, selected by the Cardinals in the Rule 5 draft, has been returned to Reds camp after making just one Grapefruit League appearance for the Cardinals. Jukich pitched for Louisville in AAA last season. Dusty Baker told John Fay he’s close to the major leagues, but not quite ready yet.

Brewers: Top prospect Mat Gamel, a third baseman with an outside shot to make the team, will open the season on the DL instead after a an MRI revealed a slight tear in the latissimus dorsi muscle behind his right shoulder. Gamel will be held out of action for at least six weeks.