Interleague play starts Friday, which is good news for the Yankees (113-79) and A’s (113-81). They have had the best records in those games. Eight of the 10 best records belong to American League teams, reflecting the league’s dominance. … It wasn’t Jim Edmonds’ fault the Padres had lost 17 of 21 games, but something had to change in San Diego, so he was cut. Given the management overlap of Kevin Towers and Sandy Alderson, you wonder what happens next if they don’t turn it around. … Eric Gagne is hardly the only problem with Milwaukee’s pitching. No starter other than Ben Sheets had a victory in a stretch of 29 games entering the weekend. The franchise is reeling from the news that Yovani Gallardo, its top pitching hope, is out for the season after knee surgery. … What do Brandon Webb, Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Sonnanstine have in common? They are the only big-leaguers who have 10 victories since Aug. 15, 2007. Sonnanstine, a Kent State product, was a 13th-round steal for Tampa Bay in the 2004 draft. … Mark Mulder was shut down after five minor-league rehab starts, but the Cardinals are hopeful he will help them before the season is over. The emergence of Todd Wellemeyer is buying time, but Kyle Lohse and Joel Pineiro haven’t been as good in May as they were in April. … Fausto Carmona’s control problems worry the Indians, but he’s minimizing the damage with quality of his stuff. … The Orioles appear to be getting close to giving Alex Cintron a chance to replace rookie Luis Hernandez at shortstop. … Curt Schilling is playing catch, but he’s considered a long shot to pitch this season. … Dumb injury of the season: Kansas City left-hander John Bale broke a bone in his pitching hand punching a hotel door. … The Angels’ Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana have become the eighth pair of teammates since 1920 to start the season at least 6-0. The other duos include Whitey Ford and Ed Lopat, Burt Hooton and Fernando Valenzuela and Pedro Martinez and John Burkett, who both started 7-0 for the 2002 Red Sox. … Look for the Angels’ John Lackey to make his delayed season debut Wednesday against the White Sox. … A 3-12 stretch has tightened collars in Seattle. The Mariners averaged five runs during a 9-8 start but only 2.9 in their next 19 games. Fans have been staying away from Safeco Field. … Nobody claimed Nelson Cruz when Texas put him on waivers in spring training. He’s hitting .359 with 11 homers for Triple-A Oklahoma and still doesn’t fit the Rangers’ outfield mix.
