BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Ryan, Sabo, Galarraga, Dykstra Sidelined

Tuesday wasn’t a very good day for big league ballplayers--or their clubs, for that matter.

The St. Louis Cardinals have lost the right side of their defense. The Texas Rangers had to put Nolan Ryan on the 15-day disabled list. Third baseman Chris Sabo had to leave Cincinnati’s game with San Diego because of a sprained right ankle, and Len Dykstra of the Philadelphia Phillies suffered a broken bone in his left wrist.

Cardinal first baseman Andres Galarraga suffered a broken bone in his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch by the Mets’ Bret Saberhagen during the fourth inning of the Cardinals’ 9-2 victory over New York. He will be fitted with a cast today and is expected to sit out five to six weeks.

Cardinal second baseman Jose Oquendo, who suffered a dislocated right shoulder during Monday night’s season opener, was put on the 15-day disabled list. And right fielder Felix Jose, who suffered a strained right hamstring March 26 and hasn’t played since, also was put on the 15-day disabled list.

Ryan, 45, suffered a strained left calf muscle and an aggravated right Achilles’ tendon while pitching against the Seattle Mariners in Monday night’s season opener. He left the game in the fifth inning.

The Rangers said Ryan will be examined today in Los Angeles by Lewis Yocum, an orthopedist. Ryan was on the disabled list twice last season--for 15 days in May and for 21 days in July and August.

Sabo suffered a sprained right ankle by sliding into first base during the second inning against the San Diego Padres. Sabo, who slid hard into the bag, beat out a ground ball to shortstop. He left the game, and precautionary X-rays revealed no fracture.

Dykstra was hit by a pitch by the Chicago Cubs’ Greg Maddux during the first inning but went on to play nine innings. After the game he was sent to a hospital for X-rays, which revealed the fracture.

In addition, the New York Yankees put shortstop Mike Gallego, who has a bruised right heel, on the 15-day disabled list.

The Atlanta Braves plan to keep their name, their tomahawk emblem and their chopping fans despite protests from American Indian leaders, team president Stan Kasten said.

“No name change is being contemplated. No logo change is being contemplated,” he said. “We are the Braves. Our logo is the tomahawk. We will continue to promote the Braves and the tomahawk.”

The average baseball salary broke the million-dollar barrier for the first time, soaring 27% to $1,084,408, according to the Associated Press. Seventeen of the 26 clubs averaged more than $1 million, with the New York Mets setting a record high of $1,707,769. The Dodgers were second at $1,613,821, the Angels ninth at $1,226,846. . . . The Atlanta

Houston Astro owner John McMullen said that he is still discussing a sale of the team and said he has a prospective buyer in mind.