BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : McDonald Is Sidelined

Ben McDonald will be put on a closely scrutinized rehabilitative program, and he will not return to the Baltimore Orioles’ rotation until he is in near-perfect health, Manager Johnny Oates said.

McDonald was put on the 15-day disabled list on Friday, retroactive to Thursday. He has stiffness in his right elbow, and the Orioles want to make sure to give him enough time to fully recover.

McDonald first experienced problems with the elbow in spring training and he sat out the first 10 days of the regular season. The 6-foot-7 right-hander (2-3) has one of the Orioles’ two complete games, but he also has a 7.03 ERA.

The Montreal Expos placed first baseman Andres Galarraga on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled hamstring and took catcher Mike Fitzgerald off the disabled list.