Cleveland’s problems continue to mount, with Jake Westbrook possibly needing Tommy John surgery and Travis Hafner on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. The Indians scored 39 runs in a four-game series at Texas but gained only a split, losing 12-7 and 9-4. … Updating a recent number about the AL Central’s other big disappointment — the Tigers entered the weekend 3-33 this season when they score fewer than six runs; the first-place White Sox were 12-24 in that scenario. … A draft source calls the White Sox’s sixth-round selection of Kenny Williams Jr. “a reach,” as speed is the only tool the Wichita State outfielder has used consistently in college. It’s the third year in a row the Sox have taken a son of manager Ozzie Guillen or GM Ken Williams but the first time they have taken one in a round that matters. … The Royals have had four losing streaks of 10-plus games since the start of the 2005 season, one more than the other 13 AL teams combined. Their futility hit a low last week when they changed starting shortstops in seven straight games, using four different shortstops in four games at one point. Trey Hillman is so down on the light-hitting Tony Pena Jr. that he’s using second baseman Esteban German as his “regular” shortstop. … Remember when White Sox fans were angry Williams didn’t trade for Miguel Cabrera? The Tigers’ new first baseman has been the year’s biggest flop, hitting .218 with runners in scoring position and .107 in close-and-late situations entering the weekend. … After averaging 4.8 runs in April, the Angels scored only 3.6 per game in May, thanks largely to the continuing slump of Vladimir Guerrero. His streak of 10 straight seasons batting .300 with 25-plus homers — Lou Gehrig with 11 has the only one longer — is in danger. … Add Erik Bedard to the growing list of pitchers who could be available at the trade deadline. But the Mariners could decide to hold onto him for 2009 because they paid such a high price (Adam Jones, George Sherrill) to get him from Baltimore. … Pedro Martinez pitched in the low-90s in his season debut Tuesday against the Giants. The Mets believe they are positioned to start climbing in a bunched NL East. … Mark Mulder might never pitch again. He has said no to a third surgery on his shoulder so the hope is that cortisone shots and mechanical changes can ease the pain that has forced him to shut down rehab stints twice for St. Louis. Matt Clement finally did get on the mound in the Cardinals’ minor-league system but reportedly is throwing only in the high-80s. … A power failure led to the Astros falling from one game behind the Cubs on May 25 to eight back entering the weekend. Houston scored two runs or fewer in seven straight games, the franchise’s longest such stretch since 1991, when a 23-year-old Jeff Bagwell was the team leader with 15 homers.
