Baseball notes: Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter needs rest

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter will miss this weekend’s series in Pittsburgh because of fatigue and an accelerated heart rate.

Manager Mike Matheny said Friday that Carpenter remained in St. Louis while the Cardinals traveled to play three games against the Pirates. Matheny said Carpenter had “extreme fatigue” and was also dealing with the heart rate issue.

Matheny said Carpenter would rejoin the team in Cleveland for the start of a series Tuesday night.

Matheny blamed Carpenter’s condition on the grind of the season. St. Louis is nearing the end of a stretch of playing 20 games in 20 days. Carpenter, batting .333 for the NL Central leaders, had a scheduled day off on Thursday and did not immediately improve.

Votto suspended

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been suspended for one game and fined by Major League Baseball for making contact with an umpire during Wednesday night’s 3-0 victory at Pittsburgh.

The slugger will serve his suspension Friday night against the Chicago White Sox, if the teams play. The game was delayed by rain.

Votto’s trouble began when he struck out to end the third inning against the Pirates. He flung his bat and helmet to the ground. He then said something as he walked to his position and was ejected.

Votto charged umpire Chris Conroy and the two bumped chests before Reds Manager Bryan Price intervened. Votto is batting .311 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 28 games.

Setback for Wright

Injured New York Mets third baseman David Wright has developed back pain and his rehabilitation program has been put on hold.

The Mets made the announcement Friday before playing at Philadelphia. The NL East leaders didn’t give a timetable for the seven-time All-Star resuming baseball activities.

Wright went on the 15-day disabled list April 15 because of a strained right hamstring. The 32-year-old had been doing his rehab at the Mets’ spring training complex in Florida.

Etc.

San Francisco became the first city in the nation to outlaw chewing tobacco from its playing fields. Mayor Ed Lee on Friday signed into law an ordinance to prohibit the use of smokeless tobacco at athletic venues, including AT&T Park. ... Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton is scheduled to join triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. The Rangers said Hamilton is set to move up from extended spring training this weekend. The former Angel went one for five with a three-run homer while playing five innings in left field Friday against Seattle minor leaguers. ... Boston Red Sox Manager John Farrell says he will handle the duties of pitching coach for at least two days after the firing of Juan Nieves. The Red Sox went into Friday night’s game at Toronto with a 4.86 ERA, the worst in the AL. Farrell said the Red Sox are “working through some logistics” with their new hire, and said they “hope to have an announcement sometime later tomorrow.” ... Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb will have season-ending elbow ligament replacement surgery. Cobb said before Friday night’s game against Texas that several doctors have told that the ligament has a full tear. Surgery may be next week. Cobb, who left a spring training start March 17 because of pain in his forearm, was going to start opening day but instead began the season on the 15-day disabled list. He went 10-9 with a 2.87 ERA in 27 starts last season. ... Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who left his last start early because of a shoulder problem, will throw a bullpen session Saturday that will determine whether Strasburg makes his next scheduled start on Monday night in Arizona. ... The Chicago Cubs say expanded bleachers in Wrigley Field’s left and center field will open Monday when the Mets visit. The right-field bleachers are scheduled to open next month. ... Reds pitchers David Ayala and Adolfi Telleria have been suspended 25 games each for violating baseball’s minor league drug program, and free agent pitcher Dawson Brown was banned 50 games. Ayala, 20, and Telleria, 21, are right-handed pitchers with the Reds in the Dominican Summer League.